Zoey Deutch is set to release a new film soon. The Threesome is a romantic comedy-drama about a trio that complicates the love lives of three people.

The film is directed by Chad Hartigan (Little Fish), with Ruby Cruz and Jonah Hauer-King in the other lead roles. The first reviews are now available online: we summarize them for you here.

Score

Currently, the film has a score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is very positive. Critics are particularly impressed with how the film handles the 'rom-com' genre.

"The Threesome does not do what you expect," writes the reviewer from IndieWire, for example. "That makes it fitting [as] a modern rom-com." Variety agrees and calls the film both "intriguing [and] charming."

Criticism

Unfortunately, this approach does not work for everyone. Various reviewers label the film as "too predictable" and even "too polished."



The cast receives much praise, although a few are not so convinced by Hauer-King's performance. According to the reviewer from RogerEbert.com, the actor cannot "keep up with [Deutch and Cruz]."

Not Until 2026

The Threesome is already showing in American cinemas this week, In other countries, fans will have to wait a bit longer. The film is set to be released in the coming months worldwide.

View on Instagram

Edward Berger is set to release a new film, Ballad of a Small Player. The director of the Oscar-nominated films All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave hopes to garner awards again with this project.

Whether that will happen remains to be seen. The film recently premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and the first reviews are now surfacing online. We have gathered them for you.

Story

Ballad of a Small Player revolves around Lord Doyle (Colin Farrell), a gambler leading a reclusive life in Macau. He drinks heavily and struggles to pay off his enormous debts.

One day, a casino employee (Fala Chen) offers him a chance to turn his life around. Yet, at the same time, a private detective (Tilda Swinton) appears who knows everything about him...

Score

The film currently holds a score of 70% on Rotten Tomatoes with 10 reviews. Critics are particularly impressed with Farrell's performance, with Deadline stating it is "one of his best performances ever".



Farrell's performance has been described as over-the-top, much like Berger's own style. The critic from The Wrap labels the film as "campy and bombastic" while Awards Radar describes it as a "stylish" film.

Criticism

This style, however, does unsettle some viewers. The IndieWire critic feels that Berger "loses control" of the narrative, and The Hollywood Reporter points out a lack of "depth".

View on Instagram


With only a few reviews available, it remains to be seen how the majority will ultimately perceive the film. Ballad of a Small Player will be available on Netflix starting October 29.

While box office numbers have been disappointing for Marvel this year, audiences seem to have flocked to Disney+. The release of Thunderbolts*, also known as The New Avengers, is creating a surge of viewers. Within days, the title dominates streaming charts worldwide.

The film was added to Disney+ at the end of August. Although its box office earnings reached only $382 million globally, the streaming audience appears to be much more enthusiastic. Previously, Captain America 4: Brave New World managed to attract attention online after a lackluster theater run, and a similar trend is now emerging for Thunderbolts*.

Number One In 73 Countries

According to FlixPatrol, the film ranks first in viewership in 73 of the 77 countries studied. This marks a rare global success for Disney+, something the service does not frequently achieve with original releases.

The plot of Thunderbolts* revolves around a group of anti-heroes, each struggling in their own way. Yelena Belova, US Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster are tasked with eliminating each other but decide to join forces instead. Together with Red Guardian and Winter Soldier, they turn against their employer Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

Streaming As A Lifeline

While Marvel has scored multiple billion-dollar hits in theaters in recent years, such as Avengers: Endgame and Deadpool & Wolverine, current earnings are clearly lagging. Nonetheless, Thunderbolts* demonstrates that audience interest hasn't disappeared but has shifted to streaming. For Disney+, this is a reassuring confirmation that the platform can still attract global viewers with exclusive Marvel content.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is known as Hollywood's muscle man, regularly appearing in action-packed comedies every year. With [i]The Smashing Machine[/i], he takes a completely different approach. This surprisingly works out very well.

This is Johnson's first truly serious role, and the reception has been overwhelming. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it was warmly received. In fact, the film and Johnson himself are already being mentioned as a potential Oscar candidates.

Reviews

This is also reflected in the initial ratings the film is achieving. As of this writing, it holds an impressive score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is, excluding documentaries and animated films, the best rating Johnson has ever received.

Critics praise his remarkable transformation into MMA legend Mark Kerr. For example, Flick Feast states: "This is by far the best performance of his career". Variety calls the film "extraordinary", and The Guardian commends the actor for going both physically and emotionally to the limits.

Raw Vulnerability

Director Benny Safdie is also receiving much acclaim. His style is compared to classics such as The Wrestler and Raging Bull. That's quite the list. Still not convinced? Check out the impressive visuals below.

View on Instagram

Netflix has released the first teaser trailer of the new series Amsterdam Empire, starring Famke Janssen, Jacob Derwig, and Elise Schaap. This marks Janssen's first role in a Dutch production, making it something to look forward to.

Set in the heart of Amsterdam's cannabis scene, the series is described as a crime drama filled with glamour and grime. Alongside Janssen, Derwig, and Schaap, the cast includes Jade Olieberg, Jesse Mensah, Romana Vrede, Raymond Thiry, Victor Löw, and Yannick van de Velde. The series is created by Nico Moolenaar, Bart Uytdenhouwen, and Piet Matthys, known for the series Undercover and Ferry.

Empire In Amsterdam

The direction is in the hands of Jonas Govaerts and Max Porcelijn, with the story revolving around Jack van Doorn (Derwig), the founder of the coffee shop empire Jackal. His carefully built empire comes under pressure when his affair with a journalist (Schaap) leaks.

However, the greatest threat comes from within: his wife Betty (Janssen), an ex-pop diva who knows him inside out and understands his vulnerabilities. Determined to take everything from her husband, she unleashes a battle centered on power, revenge, and secrets.

Next Month

Amsterdam Empire will be available on the streaming service starting October 30. Below you can watch the first teaser.

Fans of Wednesday no longer have to wait. After the first half of Season 2 released in August, Netflix today (Wednesday) brings the remaining four episodes. This concludes the second season, promising viewers another mix of terrifying monsters, supernatural figures, and intricate mysteries.

The series thus returns with part two of the season, a choice made deliberately by Netflix. The first four episodes already provided excitement and cliffhangers, but the interruption of a few weeks left many viewers with questions. This strategy is not appreciated by everyone, as it diluted some of the suspense for certain viewers.

The Choice Of A Split Season

According to creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the division was always part of the plan. We felt that if we split the season, episode four had to end with something spectacular; a cliffhanger that would pull the viewer back in, Millar stated. Their aim was to enhance the feeling of hunger for more.

Gough also emphasized that this approach was chosen carefully. At the end of episode four, Wednesday literally lets the crazies out of the asylum. The rest of the season focuses on the consequences. She has solved one mystery, but at the same time opened a Pandora's box full of new problems.

To Conclude

Whether the interruption was the right choice remains a topic of debate. The fact is that the concluding episodes are now ready to be watched. Thus, Wednesday Season 2 ends with a series that promises to elevate the suspense to an even higher level.