Movies Update: ‘Inside Out 2’ is here. Are you feeling Joy or Anxiety?

Plus, seeing new horizons with the Brat Pack documentary.

View in browser|nytimes.com June 14, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey movie fans! "Inside Out 2" is now in theaters. Are you feeling Joy? Anxiety? Perhaps a little Ennui? New emotions arrive in this sequel set mostly inside the mind of a girl named Riley, causing a bit of chaos. But in her review, the critic Manohla Dargis posits that Nostalgia may be the star of this show. "Franchises often bank on nostalgia, so it's easy to fall for 'Inside Out 2,' which works largely because the first one does wonderfully well," she writes. (Check out a scene from the film, narrated by its director, Kelsey Mann.) Speaking of nostalgia, some Gen X-ers may be rejoicing over a new documentary about the Brat Pack. Andrew McCarthy (of "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Pretty in Pink") directs and places himself at the center of "Brats," a look back at the actors whose careers exploded in the 1980s when they appeared in multiple coming-of-age movies. McCarthy visits and interviews Brat Pack members about the often-negative effect that moniker (coined in a New York Magazine article) had on their careers. In her review, the critic Lisa Kennedy writes, "The film's through-line of woundedness is by turns touching, irritating and occasionally illuminating." Head here for some key takeaways from the movie. In other news this week, we look at movie press tours (which are sometimes better than the movie) and the rare acquisition of a movie theater chain by a major studio. Enjoy the movies! Pixar/Disney/Pixar, via Associated Press Critic's pick 'Inside Out 2' Review: PUBERTY! OMG! LOL! IYKYK! Anxiety meets Joy in Pixar's eager, predictably charming sequel to its innovative 2015 hit. Sadness is still around, too, as are Fear and Disgust. By Manohla Dargis ABC News Studios 'Brats' Review: Feeding St. Elmo's Ire In this documentary, Andrew McCarthy examines fame and disappointment as a member of the so-called Brat Pack of the 1980s. By Lisa Kennedy CRITICS' PICKS Dark Star Pictures Critic's Pick 'Tiger Stripes' Review: A Ferocious Change Myth and the changes of puberty combine in Amanda Nell Eu's fierce, funny debut feature. By Alissa Wilkinson Cartilage Films Critic's Pick 'Summer Solstice' Review: Through Thick and Thin A triumph of sensitivity, Noah Schamus's debut feature tracks a rural reunion between old friends struggling to recover their bond. By Natalia Winkelman 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 ANATOMY OF A SCENE Netflix Anatomy of a Scene Watch Glen Powell and Adria Arjona Fight and Flirt in 'Hit Man' The director Richard Linklater narrates a pivotal sequence from his rom-com thriller. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Netflix 'Ultraman: Rising' Review: Bringing Up Beastie A superhero raises a baby monster in this animated film. But the action is dragged down by talky sequences about parental responsibility. By Amy Nicholson Larry Horricks/Roadside Attraction/Vertical 'Firebrand' Review: Placid Queen Top-shelf actors and authentic Tudor table-setting fail to quicken this glumly unfocused take on the exploits of Henry VIII's last wife, Katherine Parr. By Jeannette Catsoulis Lukasz Bak/Bleecker Street/FilmNation 'Treasure' Review: Unearthing the Past Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry star in a Holocaust-memory drama that uneasily doubles as a father-daughter road movie. By Ben Kenigsberg Vertical 'Reverse the Curse' Review: Baseball Is Life The writer-director David Duchovny plays a long-suffering Red Sox fan with cancer who may yet live to see the team defeat the Yankees. By Glenn Kenny Fab Fernandez/Well Go USA 'Ride' Review: Heists, Heifers and Hospital Bills A father and son resort to desperate measures to save an ailing child in this Texas-set dramatic thriller. By Calum Marsh Luke Dyra/IFC Films 'Ghostlight' Review: With Patient Ears, Attend The film is a gentle, emotional drama about a family struggling to stay together. It's also about the power of theater. By Alissa Wilkinson NEWS & FEATURES Kayla James for The New York Times Adria Arjona on 'Hit Man' and How the Production Surprised Her The actress, who stars with Glen Powell, said that with the contract-killer movie, her ideas were finally valued in a writers' room. By Sarah Bahr Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Now Playing: The Press Tour (Shh, It's Better Than the Movie) For Jennifer Lopez, Sterling K. Brown, Dakota Johnson and others, the standard publicity push isn't so standard anymore. By Esther Zuckerman Andy Kropa/Invision, via Associated Press Sony Pictures Acquires Alamo Drafthouse in Lifeline to Cinema Chain The deal is a rare example of a traditional Hollywood studio owning a movie theater chain. By Danielle Kaye Black Disney Princess Ride Replaces Splash Mountain and Its Racist History The ride was closed last year because of its connection to a racist film. Disney overhauled it to focus on Tiana, Disney's first Black princess, drawing praise and backlash. By Brooks Barnes and Todd Anderson Rebecca Smeyne for The New York Times Out & about Robert De Niro Doesn't Mind Being Celebrated Blake Lively, Jude Law, Selma Blair and many more turned out for the Tribeca Film Festival's annual artists dinner, ahead of a weekend devoted to Mr. De Niro's work. By Melissa Guerrero Syfy Chucky, Queer Icon? A graphic on the Peacock home screen seemed to induct the killer doll into the gay pantheon. His creator, however, says Chucky's queer credentials are well established. By Sandra E. Garcia STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Netflix Critic's Notebook 'Dancing for the Devil': A Cult Docuseries That Takes Its Time This three-part Netflix documentary examines the supposed scheme to exploit TikTok dancers — and proves why cult narratives shouldn't be rushed. By Alissa Wilkinson Netflix Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include bruised bodies and bruised male egos. By Robert Daniels Sony Pictures Classics 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 Neon The Best Movies and Shows on Hulu Right Now We've handpicked the finest movies and television shows currently streaming on Hulu in the United States. Take a look. By Jason Bailey How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? 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