Movies Update: Do real hit men exist?

Plus, will you be watching "The Watchers"?

View in browser|nytimes.com June 7, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans. Perhaps by now you've heard of the action rom-com "Hit Man." It led our list of the best movies of the year so far and has been praised by critics all over. It's a career-defining moment for its star, Glen Powell, who has already been having a banner year. And now, finally, "Hit Man" is on Netflix for your viewing pleasure. While the movie is about a fake hit man, it may get you asking questions about whether hit men really exist in the ways they have been portrayed in film. We answer that question, and others, for you. Plus, want to know more about Glen Powell's story? Dive into our profile on the actor and discover a few facts that might surprise you. Also out this week is a new thriller from a daughter of M. Night Shyamalan. "The Watchers" is directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan and stars Dakota Fanning as a woman who finds herself stranded in the woods, a situation you don't want to be in, especially when you're the lead in a Shyamalan thriller. We spoke to Ishana and her sister Saleka about their summer film projects and the ways they are following in their father's footsteps. In New York, the Tribeca Festival has kicked off. We offer some thoughts on the standout movies. And if you aren't in the city, a few films from the fest, like the Brat Pack documentary "Brats," will soon be streaming. There's this little animated movie in theaters about the friendship between a robot and a dog that you may not know much about, but you should. It's called "Robot Dreams" and it very well could win your heart. Its director, Pablo Berger, dissected one frame to give a sense of what makes the film special. And after all that, if you're still wondering what you gonna do this weekend, try "Bad Boys: Ride or Die." Enjoy the movies! Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times Glen Powell Is Absolutely Willing to Play the Hollywood Game In a town littered with would-be superstars, he's trying to beat the odds by giving studios what they crave. It's no coincidence he's everywhere. By Brooks Barnes Evelyn Freja for The New York Times The Shyamalans: A Family That Scares Together Saleka and Ishana Night Shyamalan are collaborating with their father, M. Night Shyamalan, on the thrillers "The Watchers" and "Trap." The release dates are a happy coincidence. By Esther Zuckerman Sony Pictures Classics Critic's Notebook At the Tribeca Festival, Vision and Vibes The festival favors abundance, which can make it easy for cinema fans (and critics) to miss the loveliest trees for the sheer breadth of forest. By Natalia Winkelman ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Netflix Critic's Pick 'Hit Man' Review: It's a Hit, Man Glen Powell stars in one of the year's funniest, sexiest, most enjoyable movies — and somehow it's surprisingly deep, too. By Alissa Wilkinson Frank Masi/Columbia Pictures Critic's Pick 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' Review: Older, but Never Wiser In their latest buddy cop movie, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are still speeding through Miami. The franchise has rarely felt so assured, relaxed and knowingly funny. By Robert Daniels Kevin Baker/A24 Critic's Pick 'Tuesday' Review: Expiration Point Julia Louis-Dreyfus journeys from denial to acceptance in this imaginative fantasy-drama about grief and motherhood. By Jeannette Catsoulis Utopia Critic's Pick 'I Used to Be Funny' Review: Bruising Punchlines The film, which stars Rachel Sennott as a stand-up comedian, looks at the aftereffects of trauma on a character who wields quips as both weapon and shield. By Amy Nicholson MOVIE REVIEWS Emily Knecht/HBO 'Am I OK?' Review: When It's Time to Grow Up Dakota Johnson stars in an expansive friendship comedy about coming out in your 30s and finding yourself. By Alissa Wilkinson Warner Bros. Pictures 'The Watchers' Review: Now They See You The folk-horror genre welcomes a young new voice in the director Ishana Night Shyamalan, but she's singing a familiar old tune. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Kino Lorber 'Banel & Adama' Review: A Parable of Two Young Lovers The filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy illuminates this elliptical story, set in unnamed Senegalese village, with daubs of strong colors and strikingly vivid imagery. By Manohla Dargis Darren Goldstein/Lionsgate 'Longing' Review: A Test of Paternity Richard Gere plays it way too cool as a man learning about the son he didn't know he had. By Ben Kenigsberg ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Arcadia Motion Pictures, Lokiz Films, Noodles Production, Les Films du Worso Bringing a New York Street Scene to Life in 'Robot Dreams' The director Pablo Berger dissects a frame from his Oscar-nominated animated film about the friendship between a dog and a robot. By Leah Greenblatt Fred Ranneau/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Going Down the Garfield Rabbit Hole He hates Mondays, he's No. 1 at the box office and he's been the subject of a lot of weirdness over the last 40-plus years. By Fred Bierman Netflix 'Hit Man' Says Contract Killers Aren't Real. Here's the Truth. The romantic shenanigans are the stuff of Hollywood, but the film's fake contract killer is based on a real man profiled in a Texas Monthly article. By Sarah Bahr Netflix Critic's Notebook 'How to Rob a Bank' and the Limits of a True-Crime Documentary The story of a Seattle-area bandit is rife with big questions, but the movie doesn't explore them. Not every podcast needs to be a film. By Alissa Wilkinson Angel Delgado/Getty Images Will Smith Taps Nostalgia as He Attempts a Post-Slap Comeback "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," the latest entry in a nearly three-decade- old franchise, will be Smith's first wide-release film since he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022. By Marc Tracy STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Columbia Pictures/Getty Images Don't You Forget About These: 5 Defining Brat Pack Movies With the documentary "Brats" coming to the Tribeca Festival and Hulu, here's a look back at '80s movies featuring young stars who defined a generation. By Mekado Murphy Toho Company Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now This month's sci-fi picks include alienoids, bionic athletes and a little creature named Godzilla. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Netflix, via Associated Press 5 Children's Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include an animated musical comedy starring Brittany Howard and a Marvel superhero adventure packed with martial arts. 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