Movies Update: A new Wes Anderson and another ‘Karate Kid’

Plus, will Cannes winners become Oscar winners?

View in browser|nytimes.com May 30, 2025 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! A lot of you seemed to have gone to the movies over Memorial Day weekend. Box office receipts totaled $252 million in the United States and Canada, much of that coming from the live action version of "Lilo & Stitch," which pulled in $146 million over a three-day period. We caught up with cast members from both the animated film and the remake to discuss working alongside the mischievous Stitch. Another of last week's box office successes was the latest in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, "The Final Reckoning." The new picture includes one cast member brought back from the first film installment, which released all the way back in 1996. In an interview, the actor discussed how his return was even a surprise for him. And Cannes wrapped up last weekend as well, with an Iranian film that was shot in secret taking the top prize. Last year, many Cannes winners went on to Oscar success. Our awards columnist, Kyle Buchanan, has thoughts on whether that might happen again with this year's winners. Out this week are a few new movies that will add to the variety already in theaters. The latest from Wes Anderson, "The Phoenician Scheme," is among them. In her review, the critic Alissa Wilkinson called it "a rather soul-obsessed movie, the kind you often see from artists who have been pondering the meaning of life lately." Another new movie ponders the meaning of death: "Bring Her Back," a chilling and relentless horror film from the Australian brothers Danny and Michael Philippou. In her Critic's Pick review, Jeannette Catsoulis wrote, "during one horrifying episode, I didn't exhale until it was over." And for those looking for more "Karate Kid," yet another entry in the franchise has arrived, "Karate Kid: Legends," which pairs Ralph Macchio with Jackie Chan. Though the critic Brandon Yu was not impressed, writing, "strangely, the final stretches, when Chan and Macchio's team-up occurs — the entire selling point of this venture — is when the movie decides to forgo all sense of pacing or storytelling impact." All in all, you have plenty of options out there. Enjoy the movies! TPS Productions/Focus Features 'The Phoenician Scheme' Review: Benicio Del Toro Plans to Save His Soul Wes Anderson returns with another intricately designed film, and an inquiry into the meaning of goodness. By Alissa Wilkinson Jonathan Wenk/Sony Pictures 'Karate Kid: Legends' Review: The Student Becomes the Teacher The latest installment to the long-running franchise is a messy entry that tries to throw too many legacies into a blender. By Brandon Yu Jafar Panahi Productions/Les Films Pelleas the Projectionist Last Year's Cannes Winners Won Big at Oscars. Can the 2025 Crop Do the Same? The most likely movies to grab academy voters are "Un Simple Accident," "Sentimental Value" and "Nouvelle Vague." But none are primarily in English. By Kyle Buchanan CRITICS' PICKS Ingvar Kenne/A24 Critic's Pick 'Bring Her Back' Review: A Foster Mother Like No Other Sally Hawkins plays a menacingly unhinged foster parent to two bereaved siblings in this emotionally potent chiller. By Jeannette Catsoulis Norman Wilcox-Geissen/IFC Films Critics' Pick 'Tornado' Review: She Wants Revenge In the title role, the singer-songwriter Koki is both charming and indomitable as she goes after a band of thieves led by Sugarman (Tim Roth). By Glenn Kenny Sony Pictures Classics Critic's Pick 'Jane Austen Wrecked My Life' Review: It's Not Me, It's Jane A modern heroine learns about love, and a whole lot more, at a writing residency. By Alissa Wilkinson MOVIE REVIEWS Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Film Forum Documentary Lens When the Whole Country Watched a Nuclear War Movie at Once The 1983 ABC movie "The Day After" was a landmark moment that proved contentious even before it aired, as a new documentary shows. By Alissa Wilkinson Music Box Films 'Ghost Trail' Review: A Cat and Mouse Thriller A hypnotizing Adam Bessa anchors this tale about a Syrian refugee living in France who believes he has found the man who tortured him. By Beatrice Loayza Disney 'Lilo & Stitch' Review: Creature Chaos The live-action remake of the hit 2002 Disney film is mostly serviceable and often adorable, even if the best parts of the original got left behind. By Brandon Yu Arbelos/Venera Films Rewind 'The Sealed Soil': Modesty and Its Discontents The Iranian director Marva Nabili's first feature gets a weeklong run at Brooklyn Academy of Music. By J. Hoberman NEWS & FEATURES Max Miechowski for The New York Times Wes Anderson's Newest Star Finds Inspiration Everywhere (Even a Napkin) Mia Threapleton is Kate Winslet's daughter but she's intent on making her own way in Hollywood. That includes her deadpan nun in "The Phoenician Scheme." By Sarah Bahr Disney Then and Now, It's a Thrill to Star Alongside Stitch Cast members from the original 2002 animated film and the live-action remake explain what lured them to — or back to — "Lilo & Stitch." By Sarah Bahr Aleksey Kondratyev for The New York Times As George Lucas's 'Starship' Museum Nears Landing, He Takes the Controls The 'Star Wars' director parted ways with the museum's top boss and is clearly calling the shots as his Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles approaches completion. By Robin Pogrebin Manon Cruz/Reuters Iranian Movie Shot in Secret Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival The film, "Un Simple Accident," was directed by Jafar Panahi, a longtime festival favorite. The award capped a contest that was widely seen as the strongest in years. By Manohla Dargis Victor Llorente for The New York Times A 'Mission: Impossible' Fan Favorite Returns 3 Decades Later. Even He's Surprised. Rolf Saxon thought he was being pranked when the director of the new film contacted him for a role that actually expanded during production. By Esther Zuckerman Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press Kevin Costner Is Sued by 'Horizon' Actor Over Rape Scene A stunt double said she was left with trauma by an unscripted scene that did not include an intimacy coordinator. Mr. Costner's lawyer said the claims were meritless. By Derrick Bryson Taylor STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS MTV Documentary Films Three Great Documentaries to Stream This month's picks follow a journalist facing an Alzheimer's diagnosis and a unionization effort for Amazon workers. Plus, an exploration into the nature of film editing. By Ben Kenigsberg Warner Bros. Pictures Stream These Movies and TV Shows Before They Leave Netflix in June A handful of great titles are leaving as early as the first weekend of the month. Catch them while you can. 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? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. To stop receiving Movies Update, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018