Movies Update: When the apes take over, again.

Plus, about that "Challengers" ending.

View in browser|nytimes.com May 10, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! This week, it's the apes' world, we just live in it. A new installment in the "Planet of the Apes" franchise has arrived in theaters, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." It's set generations after the previous film and has a rising young new chimpanzee as its lead, Noa, performed by Owen Teague. In her Critic's Pick review, Alissa Wilkinson writes that the film offers plenty of food for thought, and that it "points directly at the immense danger of romanticizing the past, imagining that if we could only reclaim and reframe and resurrect history, our present problems would be solved." If you need a refresher of what the apes have been up to over the years, we have you covered here. Plus, watch a scene from the film, narrated by its director, Wes Ball. Then read how Andy Serkis, the star of the previous trilogy, passed the baton to Teague. Although Serkis isn't in this film, if you're missing him, don't worry. The performance capture actor who captured hearts as Gollum in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films will be returning to that franchise, directing and starring in "The Hunt for Gollum," scheduled for 2026. And we have an additional word on the love-triangle tennis drama "Challengers": We've told you about how they shot those tennis scenes and we've talked to the stars of the movie. Now two of our critics weigh in not only on the film's ending, but also on what the expectation of a movie's ending should be in the first place. It's a fun conversation. Enjoy the movies! 20th Century Studios Critic's Pick 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Review: Hail, Caesar The latest installment in an excellent series finds mythology turning into power. By Alissa Wilkinson Max Miechowski for The New York Times Q. and A. How Andy Serkis Gave Owen Teague the Keys to the 'Planet' A conversation with Serkis, the star of the earlier films in the "Planet of the Apes" franchise, and Teague, the lead of the latest film, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes." By Roslyn Sulcas MGM 'Challengers' and That Ending: Our Critics Have Thoughts The tennis movie comes to an abrupt stop midmatch, so we don't know who won. Does that matter? By Wesley Morris and Alissa Wilkinson ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Mubi/courtesy of Department of Motion Pictures Critic's Pick 'Gasoline Rainbow' Review: We're on a Ride to Nowhere This semi-fictional tale of a road trip for weirdos is full of joy. By Alissa Wilkinson Strand Releasing Critic's Pick 'A Prince' Review: Let New Passions Bloom Sex, death and domination fuel this beautifully enigmatic pastoral drama from France, which presents the gay coming-of-age of an apprentice gardener. By Beatrice Loayza MOVIE REVIEWS Edglrd 'Aggro Dr1ft' Review: Glow-Stick Dreams and Thermal Nightmares Harmony Korine ("Spring Breakers") parties too hard in this fusion of feature filmmaking and video game. By Ben Kenigsberg Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Netflix 'Mother of the Bride' Review: An Old Flame in a Tropical Locale Brooke Shields plays a single mother who comes face to face with her college ex-boyfriend at her daughter's destination wedding in this tired romantic comedy. By Natalia Winkelman Darren Michaels/Vertical 'Poolman' Review: In the Sun Too Long Chris Pine's shaggy debut feature has a charismatic cast that rambles along with him on a Los Angeles detective adventure. By Nicolas Rapold Patrick Redmond/Samuel Goldwyn 'Aisha' Review: Seeking Asylum in Ireland The "Black Panther" star Letitia Wright shows understated vulnerability in this immigrant drama by Frank Berry. Josh O'Connor ("Challengers") also stars. By Lisa Kennedy Courtesy of Netflix Critic's Notebook In 'Power,' Policing and Politics Are Inextricable Though Yance Ford's new Netflix documentary takes on a much-explored topic, its mix of personal and polemic makes for a strong argument. By Alissa Wilkinson ADVERTISEMENT ANATOMY OF A SCENE 20th Century Studios Anatomy of a Scene How a Village Comes to Life in 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' The director Wes Ball narrates a sequence from his film. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Dean Rogers/Focus Features How Should an Amy Winehouse Movie Be? Several depictions of the singer's life have explored her tense relationship with fame. The new biopic "Back to Black" instead centers her romantic life. By Simran Hans 20th Century Studios What to Know Before Seeing 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Who is Caesar? And how did apes learn to talk, anyway? Your burning questions about the "Planet of the Apes" franchise answered. By Esther Zuckerman Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press Film Academy Looks Overseas for Donors The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a global $500 million campaign to shore up its financial future. By Robin Pogrebin New Line Cinema New 'Lord of the Rings' Movie Will Put Gollum Center Stage Andy Serkis, who played the creature in the trilogy, will direct and star in "The Hunt for Gollum," an expansion of the fantasy epic scheduled for 2026. By Emmanuel Morgan STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Vertical Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now In this month's sci-fi picks, surviving a pandemic and predicting a catastrophe. By Elisabeth Vincentelli CBS ENTERTAINMENT, via Associated Press The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don't have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We'll do the heavy lifting. You press play. By Jason Bailey ADVERTISEMENT How are we doing? 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