Movies Update: A wicked thriller

Plus, a Chinese smash hit reaches American theaters.
Movies Update
August 22, 2025

Hey, movie fans!

As we continue through August, we're gearing up for the fall movie season blitz. But before that, you can find a few quality releases lurking in theaters now. One of those is actually called "Lurker." It's an unsettling thriller about fame and obsession that the critic Alissa Wilkinson calls "a tight and wicked little film." You can read an interview with the director and cast here.

Another intriguing one-word thriller out this week is "Relay," starring Riz Ahmed as a fixer hiding in the shadows. In her review, Manohla Dargis calls the film "slick" and "sneaky," and says that Ahmed "has a silent-era performer's gift for feverish stillness."

Also opening is the English-language dub of the global smash Chinese animated film "Ne Zha II." The critic Maya Phillips calls the ambitious movie "a testament to the level of artistry in the Chinese animation industry right now." If you haven't even seen the first "Ne Zha" and have some questions about what to expect, we have an explainer.

And continuing its run, the smash horror film "Weapons" still has audiences talking. We spoke to Amy Madigan, who has a key villainous role in the film, about playing such a creepy, offbeat character.

Enjoy the movies!

CRITICS' PICKS

An animated character with black hair in buns, dressed in a red outfit, stands on a mossy rock striking a martial arts pose, with green forested mountains in the background.

A24

Critic's Pick

'Ne Zha II' Review: A Captivating Demon Hero

This ambitious sequel serves as a testament to the level of artistry in the Chinese animation industry right now.

By Maya Phillips

Four adults, two men on the left, two women on the right, stand on wooden steps outside a modern house with glass walls.

Neon

Critic's Pick

'Splitsville' Review: Separation Anxieties

Michael Angelo Covino's callous but funny second feature concerns two marriages on the skids.

By Ben Kenigsberg

MOVIE REVIEWS

Aubrey Plaza, dressed as a police officer, sits next to Margaret Qualley, who is wearing a polka dot dress.

Focus Features

'Honey Don't!' Review: Wry, Weird and Sometimes Cruel

The second solo feature by Ethan Coen stars Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans in a murder mystery that involves a sex cult and a grisly revenge cycle.

By Beatrice Loayza

Two young men at a rocky beach lifting Ana de Armas, dressed in reddish-orange robes, on their shoulders.

Jasin Boland/Vertical

'Eden' Review: Twilight of the Europeans

In Ron Howard's new historical drama, set in the Galápagos Islands, there are erotic shenanigans galore and harrowing acts of violence.

By Glenn Kenny

A young woman with curly hair lies on her back on a diving board above blue water, looking up thoughtfully while holding a red fruit in one hand.

Ben Hardwicke/Utopia

'Pools' Review: Wading Through Grief

This coming-of-age movie is too preoccupied with emulating the vibes and tropes of other indie teen films than finding the heart in its own.

By Brandon Yu

Three young women pose for a selfie against a backdrop of bubbles outside the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Lucia Faraig/Prime

'The Map That Leads to You' Review: Baring It All in Barcelona

A meet cute between Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa leads to a sentimental journey through Europe.

By Chris Azzopardi

NEWS & FEATURES

Denzel Washington, left, with his pal, Shorty (Spike Lee), in Lee's

Largo International NV/Getty Images

With 'Highest 2 Lowest,' Stars Perfect the Art of Friendship

Across 35 years and five films, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington redefined Black male filmmaking and cemented an indestructible personal bond.

By Salamishah Tillet

A black-and-white image shows a woman sitting on the ground, leaning against a stump. Behind it is a small white dog looking at her.

Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times

The Secret Weapon of 'Weapons': Amy Madigan

The star says her uncanny villain, Aunt Gladys, is actually misunderstood. And her unforgettable appearance? "I just think she looks fab!"

By Kyle Buchanan

In an image taken on set of two men, one man dressed in a black T-shirt and pants holds his hands as if framing the other, who is dressed entirely in cream hues, in a photograph.

Mubi

With 'Lurker,' a Writer of 'The Bear' Makes Obsession His Main Course

The director and stars of the Sundance hit delve into their new film, in which a superfan befriends his pop-singer idol, with unsettling results.

By Leah Greenblatt

A fierce animated child character with an angry expression, wearing a red outfit and gold necklace, stands with red ribbons swirling around them.

A24

What to Know About the Chinese Blockbuster 'Ne Zha II'

This animated film has been a box office phenomenon in China. As an English-language version opens in the United States, we provide an explainer.

By Esther Zuckerman

Riz Ahmed, wearing a cardigan, T-shirt and shiny trousers, reclines on a chaise longue draped with a yellow fabric.

Photograph by Casper Kofi. Styled by Jay Massacret

Riz Ahmed Is Forever Ready to Reinvent Himself

In a world obsessed with rigid identities, the actor and rapper strives to let the stories he tells expand who he is.

By Emily Lordi

A boy runs along the dark street at night, his arms outstretched.

Warner Bros.

Summer Movies in New York Swerve Into Horror

From timeless classics to new sensations, our horror expert has some scary movie recommendations to help make summer's final stretch feel like hell.

By Erik Piepenburg

A fictional New York Times newspaper that reads

Avery Brunkus

Times Insider

Onstage and Onscreen, The New York Times Is Ready for Its Close-Up

The recognizable masthead has been portrayed in a Betty Boop musical on Broadway, a Marvel movie and many other creative works.

By Sarah Bahr

STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS

Two men, one in a suit and tie and the other in a gray shirt, look shocked at an office counter.

WILL HART

Five Free Movies to Stream Now

This month's films, including Sidney Lumet's last feature and Abel Ferrara's grimy portrait of New York, examine the underbelly of society.

By Brandon Yu

A woman and a man in business attire stand facing each other, their bodies obscured up to their chest in shiny white marker.

Mubi

Five International Movies to Stream Now

This month's picks include a Romanian essay film about television ads, a raucous action-comedy from South India, a Swiss drama about a middle-aged woman's sexual explorations and more.

By Devika Girish

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