Movies Update: Training dragons and making matches

Plus, what to watch on Father's Day

View in browser|nytimes.com June 13, 2025 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! If you loved "How to Train Your Dragon" but you want to see real-life people in Viking costumes this time, the new live-action version of the movie is here. The critic Brandon Yu writes that the movie is "entertaining, bears a sense of heart and brings a tight script of fantasy and friendship to life." He also writes that it is "all of the original, only too much so." For grown-ups aching for a new rom-com, there's a new one starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans called "Materialists" now in theaters. It's from the writer and director of "Past Lives," Celine Song, and it's a Critic's Pick. In her review, Manohla Dargis writes that it's "a seductive, smartly refreshed addition to an impossibly, perhaps irredeemably old-fashioned genre." Read an interview with the director and watch her narrate a scene from the film as well. And generally looking for movies to watch for Father's Day? We highlight a number of father- and father figure-related movies for you. Also on the big screen this week, a little smoke (of the cigarette variety) and a little fire (of the flamethrower variety). Enjoy the movies! Atsushi Nishijima/A24 Critic's pick 'Materialists' Review: When Dakota Met Pedro (and Chris) The director Celine Song follows up her "Past Lives" with a side-eyeing update on the rom-com, starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. By Manohla Dargis Universal Pictures 'How to Train Your Dragon' Review: The Return of Hiccup and Toothless This live action remake of the 2010 animated film is religiously faithful to the original. The result is exhilarating at times, if somewhat mechanical. By Brandon Yu MOVIE REVIEWS Film Forum 'Sex' Review: Two Men Talk About and Around the Subject A chimney sweep and his colleague get deep on the roofs of Oslo in Dag Johan Haugerud's curious meditation on marriage and masculinity. By Manohla Dargis Magnolia Pictures Documentary Lens 'Prime Minister' Examines a New Zealand Leader and a Global Issue The film is a memoir of sorts for Jacinda Ardern, who governed at a time of multiple disasters. But it was misinformation that proved hardest to cope with. By Alissa Wilkinson XYZ Films and Flawless AI 'Tatami' Review: A Bitter Fight, Both on and Off the Mat A flinty Iranian judoka competing in the World Judo Championships is menaced by her government in this absorbing political thriller. By Beatrice Loayza Peter Mountain/Copertura Productions, via Amazon MGM Studios 'Deep Cover' Review: Fighting Crime With Improv Three hapless comics, played by Orlando Bloom, Bryce Dallas Howard and Nick Mohammed, infiltrate the criminal underworld. By Glenn Kenny Apple TV+ 'Echo Valley' Review: Mother Knows Best, Daughter Does Worst A stellar cast led by Julianne Moore is unable to breathe life into this unsuccessful blend of maternal drama and crime caper. By Jeannette Catsoulis Janus Films 'Will' Review: Heartache and Hope in Harlem In Jessie Maple's restored 1981 drama, one of the first feature-length films by a Black woman, a heroin addict mentors a young boy and tries to find his footing. By Lisa Kennedy Strand Releasing 'Meeting With Pol Pot' Review: Snapshots of Totalitarianism The director Rithy Panh dramatizes events from 1978, when a group of outsiders was allowed to enter Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. By Ben Kenigsberg Netflix 'Titan: The OceanGate Disaster' Review: A Company's Failures Netflix's documentary about the catastrophe uses familiar techniques to spotlight the faulty judgment of Stockton Rush, who ran OceanGate. By Natalia Winkelman ANATOMY OF A SCENE Atsushi Nishijima/A24 Anatomy of a Scene Watch Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal Spark in 'Materialists' The writer and director Celine Song narrates a sequence from her film, which also features Chris Evans. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times How Much Are You Worth Romantically? This Director Has Thoughts. Celine Song's new "Materialists" takes a deep look at love and value via a rom-com, a genre that she argues is wrongfully dismissed: "What is more important than love?" By Kyle Buchanan Murray Close/Lionsgate How 'Ballerina' Set People on Fire Ana de Armas wields a flamethrower in "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" and torches, well, a lot. Here's how they made that sequence come to life. (And yes, the flames are mostly real.) By Esther Zuckerman Victor Llorente for The New York Times The Director of 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' Unpacks Key Moments The filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie discusses major character deaths, the end (or is it?) of an action-movie franchise and what comes next. By Leah Greenblatt Atsushi Nishijima/A24 Critic's Notebook Pop Culture Takes Up Smoking Again From movies and TV shows to music, the habit is no longer taboo. It's even being celebrated for the way it makes characters look cool or powerful. By Esther Zuckerman John C. Reilly Wants to Talk to You About Love The actor's passion project is a cabaret act in which he sings the standards. "It might sound Pollyanna-ish," he says, but his goal is to connect. By Melena Ryzik and Sinna Nasseri Ariel Fisher for The New York Times Tom Hiddleston Dances Up a Storm: 'I Just Wanted It to Fly' In "The Life of Chuck," the actor known for spontaneous eruptions of joyful movement, lets loose with a feast of footwork. By Gia Kourlas Malike Sidibe for The New York Times How a D.C. Prep-School Kid Became Hollywood's Most Dependable Bruiser Jon Bernthal's strange journey taught him to bring a surprising softness to his tough-guy characters. By Irina Aleksander STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Sasha Ostrov/Netflix Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a gaslit mother, a hungry shark, vengeful French cops, and more. By Robert Daniels 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 A24 The 50 Best Movies on Max Right Now In addition to new Warner and HBO films, the streamer has a treasure trove of Golden Age classics, indie flicks and foreign films. Start with these. By Scott Tobias 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