Materialists is the second film by acclaimed director Celine Song, who debuted with the melancholic Past Lives. Once again, love is at the center of this film, but in a very different way. The story follows Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a matchmaker at a profitable New York agency, who views dating, love, and marriage as a science, something that can be calculated. Her beliefs are challenged when she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), who seems to be the wealthy match of her dreams, while she reconnects with her ex, John (Chris Evans), an actor who is financially struggling. Song examines love from its pragmatic, utilitarian side, in a story that feels colder than her previous feature, due to its nature and less developed male characters. However, it remains a great film that explores the complex facets of love and human relationships. Read more in our full review of Materialists.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the cinematic debut of the First Family from Marvel's "House of Ideas" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, the film doesn't take place in the main continuity but in an alternate universe known as Earth-828, where technology is incredibly advanced but has a retrofuturistic 1960s look. The plot follows the titular team (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn), revered as protectors and leaders of Earth, with two huge missions: welcoming a baby into the family and facing Galactus, a cosmic deity known as the Devourer of Worlds. Visually, it's one of the most striking films in the MCU, although narratively it doesn't offer much. It's more of the same in a franchise that's been stuck for quite a while. However, if you're a fan of the saga or if these are your favorite heroes, there will be plenty to enjoy here. Read more in the full review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Eddington – Ari Aster masterfully conveys the sense of chaos and terror that the pandemic amplified, after years of feeding fake news and conspiracy theories that contributed to Donald Trump’s election as president—and which become even more frightening with his return to power after four years. Check out our special review of Eddington, straight from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
One of Pedro Pascal's first prominent roles in cinema was in the action genre, with the sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service. In Kingsman: The Golden Circle, he plays Whiskey, a charismatic agent of Statesman, the American counterpart to the British intelligence agency, who must work alongside Harry and Eggsy. However, beneath his charm lie other intentions.
Pascal's charisma is versatile: the actor easily moves between seductive heroes and likable villains. Such is the case with Maxwell Lord, the businessman whose path crosses with Wonder Woman in this sequel. Although he isn't the central villain of the action, he does trigger the film's events.