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👋 Your watchlist just got better. From overlooked gems to major releases, we keep cinematic tastemakers up-to-date on what’s happening, like what to watch this week:

• 📺 Long Bright River | 3.13

• 🎥 Black Bag | 3.14

• 🎥 Novocaine | 3.14

Read time: 3 minutes | 659 words

TRENDING

• 🔄 First look at Freakier Friday ahead of the trailer — Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return for the sequel (we also spoke to the writer).

• 🦇 Here's actual footage of the 1950s Fulton Surface-to-Air System (skyhook) that was used in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight.

• 🚗 Edgar Wright’s The Running Man will be a “very intense, dangerous road movie,” teases the writer-director (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver).

• 🎞️ Apple rejects Criterion Collection's offer to release Flowers of the Killer Moon on physical media, keeping Scorsese's film streaming-only.

• 🏆 Oscar statue The Flow draws hour-long lines at Latvian National Museum of Art as fans queue to view the prestigious award.

• 👀 First look at Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jack Quaid (dude is everywhere right now) in new film, Neighborhood Watch.

• 🪧 Stephen King shares a new poster for Mike Flanagan’s adaptation, The Life of Chuck, starring Tom Hiddleston.

• 🔴 Darth Maul actor Ray Park thrills Star Wars convention crowd by demonstrating his impressive double lightsaber combat skills live.

• ⏰ Disney celebrates daylight saving time with video of Cast Members adjusting park clocks guided by the White Rabbit.

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FEATURE 

🎬 The Russo Brothers' $320 Million Flop

THE ELECTRIC STATE Scores Dismal 19% on Rotten Tomatoes (meanwhile, Joe Russo also says Mickey 17 spent too much money?).

After years of Marvel success and algorithm-approved blockbusters, Netflix desperately needed directors who could deliver streaming relevance — unfortunately, the Russo brothers weren't the answer.

While Hollywood continues its obsession with throwing astronomical budgets at established names, they've somehow overlooked the disconnect between spending power and storytelling integrity.

The financial miscalculation that makes The Electric State fascinating is exactly what modern streaming lacks: that rare ability to recognize when adaptation requires both respect and reinvention. 

As filmmaker Justine Bateman explains:

1. The Content Conveyor Belt. Unlike the cinema of previous eras, the Russos' work exemplifies Bateman's observation that "the 100-year old film business died and was replaced with this 'content conveyor belt' when making the best films possible ceased being their 'true north.'" Their $320 million adaptation demonstrates a consistent prioritization of scale over substance.

The streaming landscape doesn't need another expensive CGI showcase — they need what Bateman calls "real filmmakers who value great filmmaking above all else." That's precisely what The Electric State lacks.

2. The Adaptation Failure. When tackling Stalenhag's novel, the Russos transformed a subtle, atmospheric story into a bombastic sci-fi road trip featuring Millie Bobby Brown, Ke Huy Quan, and a giant robot Mr. Peanut voiced by Woody Harrelson.

Their collaboration with screenwriters Markus and McFeeley provides continuity from their Avengers work, while demonstrating they've never really left the superhero formula behind.

Go Deeper: Here’s what people want to see instead…

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