Eddie Murphy returns to a leading role, something we don't see often these days. Following his comeback in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) and Coming 2 America (2021), he can now be seen as a grumpy money truck driver in a new action-comedy. The Pickup (2025), directed by Tim Story, featuring Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer, is now available on Prime Video and is at the top of the charts.

Russell Pierce (Murphy) is a weary veteran in the world of cash transport. Along with the young, reckless Travis (Davidson), he drives a weekend route through New Jersey. They are unaware that Zoe (Palmer), a mysterious woman from Travis' past, has plans involving them.

Rotten Tomatoes

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Pickup has only 32 percent positive reviews. Christy Lemire (RogerEbert.com) calls it "one of the most forgettable films of the year". Andrew Lawrence (The Guardian) states: "It is a challenge to make Murphy unfunny, but this film effortlessly manages to do so."

Yet, there are also softer opinions: Lovia Gyarkye (The Hollywood Reporter) praises the chemistry between the leads as "natural and convincing."

Most Popular Film

Despite the criticism, the film attracts a large audience. With its mix of action, humor, and chaos, The Pickup is now the most popular film on Prime Video.

Apple TV+ is making waves globally with a new historical series showcasing significant ambition. Chief of War, an expansive miniseries about the unification of Hawaii, is rapidly climbing the ratings charts and currently dominates the streaming rankings in numerous countries. The series demonstrates a serious approach to the genre, as evidenced by its international success and impressive reception so far.

Chief of War is the second project Jason Momoa is developing for Apple TV+, following See. This time, he not only stars in front of the camera but is also involved in script development. The series narrates the story of Kaʻiana, a nobleman and war hero living at the end of the 18th century, when the various island kingdoms of Hawaii are on the brink of being united under one flag.

Warrior In A Torn Kingdom

Kaʻiana initially tries to distance himself from the conflict but is called back by his former commander Kahekili. What follows is not a straightforward tale of heroism but a personal quest within a political landscape filled with pressure, division, and foreign interference. The series links personal dilemmas to historical events, as the protagonist becomes increasingly entangled in the repercussions of loyalty, power, and colonial influence.

Since August 1, the first episodes have been released on Apple TV+, and the title has steadily climbed. Currently, the series holds the top spot in over 60 countries.

Strong Start For Momoa's Prestige Project

Early reactions are also positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series boasts an 82 percent audience score on the Popcornmeter, while professional critics are even more enthusiastic with a score of 93 percent on the Tomatometer. Whether Chief of War can maintain this success will be revealed as the weekly episodes lead toward the finale on September 19.

Director Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo, is bringing a new series to the streaming services Hulu and Disney+. Set in the beloved universe, Alien: Earth is the first television series within the iconic franchise. The reception has proven to be incredibly strong.

Alien: Earth follows various characters fighting for survival after terrifying extraterrestrial beings have appeared on Earth. The story explores themes such as humanity, power, and the instinct to survive. Currently, the series holds a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Expansive and Ominous
Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter describes the series as "a captivating, large-scale, and sometimes awkward, but ultimately compelling epic about humanity, pride, and the primal instinct of fighting against aliens". She especially praises the balance between action and deeper themes.

Ben Travers from IndieWire notes that Alien: Earth is not always stable, but still forms an engaging and eerie expansion of a normally limited setting. He compares it to Hawley's earlier work, appreciating the new approach.

True to the Franchise
Nick Schager from The Daily Beast sees the series as "a dream for fans". He states that Hawley remains true to the existing mythology while adding new, horrifying elements that keep the story fresh for both existing and new viewers.



Alan Sepinwall from Rolling Stone notes that, as with Fargo, Hawley has taken a concept that seems "difficult to translate to television and made it something thrilling, strange, and surprising".

Visually Haunting
Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair points out the visual work of Hawley and cinematographer David Franco. He describes images that slowly blend into one another, creating a "dreamlike atmosphere that subtly turns into a nightmare".

Streaming from August 12, catch Alien: Earth on Hulu and Disney+. There are a total of eight episodes, with the first titled "Neverland."

Director Tim Burton, known for the recent box office hit Beetlejuice Beetlejuice from 2024, returns with a new season of Wednesday. It appears that a strong follow-up is on the way for the exceptionally performing first season.

The new season again follows Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams during her time at Nevermore Academy. As old mysteries unfold, new threats emerge in her path. Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia) previously indicated that family ties will be put to the test. The current Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes is decent, with 82%, while the first season only reached 73%.

Dark Sweetness
Clint Worthington from RogerEbert.com notes that the first part of the season sets the series up nicely for a second half that ideally should have a strong conclusion. His tone suggests that the foundation has been firmly laid.

Vicky Jessop of the London Evening Standard describes Burton's work as "still delightfully twisted, and it goes down like a spoonful of poisoned sugar". She writes that something with such addictive qualities is probably not good for us, yet remains irresistible.

Artistic Flair
Lorraine Ali from the Los Angeles Times especially praises the performances, casting, and artistic accents. These elements, according to her, make Wednesday a "macabre delight", with atmosphere and characters taking center stage.



Lili Loofbourow from the Washington Post believes that Ortega’s strong presence gives the prickly teenager enough humanity to carry the story, despite horror clichés and sometimes unconvincing storylines. According to her, Ortega manages to anchor the series.

Limited Content
Ben Travers from IndieWire is more critical. He states that the attention to detail is lacking, aside from the stylish presentation. According to him, the neat, teen-oriented aesthetic emphasizes a message that "doesn’t amount to much".

HBO Max will begin stricter enforcement against sharing accounts outside of one’s household come September. According to CEO JB Perrette, users will receive notifications that cannot be ignored and will require action.

Currently, account sharing is already technically discouraged, but alerts can easily be dismissed. Starting in September, these notifications will be more compelling, prompting users to respond immediately.

More Active Enforcement

Like other streaming services, HBO aims to limit account sharing to drive subscription growth and revenue. Unlike Netflix or Disney+, HBO Max has taken limited concrete actions thus far.

In March 2024, it was still announced that actions would be introduced by 2025, but without details on implementation. Perrette made it clear that the first step would be taken in September with pinned warnings.

Long-term Goals

HBO has been working on technology in recent years to determine if someone is a legitimate user. How this will be verified remains unclear.

Perrette expects that by 2026, the alerts will become even more stringent, which he believes will lead to more paying subscribers and higher revenues. Your freeloading mother-in-law (and father-in-law) will not be pleased.

Fans of horror series and films know that Pennywise always delivers nightmares. In the upcoming series It: Welcome to Derry, the demonic clown makes his return once again. Now, a first glimpse of his new appearance has surfaced, and it is unlikely to disappoint fans of the original.

Although trailers and promotional images have kept Pennywise carefully hidden so far, the mystery has been solved with the release of two new Movie Maniacs action figures. They clearly show that HBO Max is staying largely true to the iconic design.

Faithful With A Twist

The standard version of the figure depicts Pennywise almost identical to the films. There is also a ‘flashback’ variant, featuring a notably brighter costume and a somewhat loose-fitting headpiece. This detail fuels speculation about the role of this younger version of the clown.

It may suggest that Pennywise has yet to fully grow into his frightening form at this time. Another option is that the figure has interchangeable parts, allowing fans to create their variations.

This Is Not All

Those familiar with the films know that Pennywise is a shapeshifter. This increases the chance that he will appear in the series not just as a clown but also in other horrifying forms.

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The action figures are 15 centimeters tall and come with a decorative background, a display stand, art cards, and mysterious bonus items. For collectors, this is a delicious preview of what’s to come.

Where It All Began...

It: Welcome to Derry is created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, together with Jason Fuchs. Andy also directs multiple episodes, including the first. The series serves as a prequel and explores the dark history of Derry, long before the events of Stephen King’s story unfold.



Alongside Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, the cast includes Joshuah Odjick, Chad Rook, James Remar, and Madeleine Stowe. The series premieres in October, just in time to make the fall a bit scarier.