On Screens This Week's Picks | 43rd Edition

Published on 23 May 2025 at 12:00

This week's screen selections showcase an exciting array of genres, from pulse-pounding thrillers to uplifting comedies and impactful documentaries.

Whether you're gearing up for a movie night, diving into a binge-worthy series, or exploring a captivating real-life story, you will find content that not only informs but also entertains and inspires. We've got you covered!

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In Cinemas

Drama

A poetic and emotionally layered story about love, grief, and the complexities of youth. Set in Iceland, it explores how a sudden tragedy ripples through lives.

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Synopsis: When the light breaks on a long summer’s day in Iceland. From one sunset to another, Una, a young art student, encounters love, friendship, sorrow and beauty.

Writer & Director: Runar Runarsson

Cast: Elin Hall, Katla Njalsdottir, Mikael Kaaber, Agust Wigum, Gunnar Hrafn Kristjansson, Baldur Einarsson

Cine-grapher: Sophia Olsson

Costume Design: Helga Ros Hannam

Production Designer: Hulda Helgadottir

Producers: Heater Millard, Runar Runarsson, Sarah Chazelle, Mike Downey, Xenia Maingot, Igor Nola, Raymond van der Kaaij & Thora Margretardottir

Editor: Andri Steinn Guojonsson

Release Date: 23 May 2025

Screening Territory: UK (Curzon Cinema Bloomsbury & The Garden Cinema), Ireland, Austria, Taiwan

Production Location: Reykjavik, Iceland

Production Countries: Iceland, Netherlands, Croatia & France

Language: Icelandic

Cert: 12

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nGXHdz7J2I&t=5s

Rating: 5 stars
3 votes

Comedy | Sci-Fi | Family | Alien Invasion | Action | Adventure

The beloved Disney tale returns to the big screen — a wild and heartwarming story of family, acceptance, and one very mischievous alien.

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Synopsis: The wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.

Writers: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Mike Van Waes, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

Cast: Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Tia Carrere, Sydney Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Zach Galifianakis, Courtney B. Vance, Chris Sanders, Jason Scott Lee, Amy Hill

Cine-grapher: Nigel Bluck

Costume Design: Wendy Chuck

Production Designer: Todd Cherniawsky

Producers: Jonathan Eirich, Dan Lin & Kurt Humpherys

Editor: Phillip J. Bartell

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Release Date: 21 May 2025

Screening Territory: Global Release

Production Location: Hawaii, US

Production Country: US

Cert: U

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWqJifMMgZE

Rating: 4.6666666666667 stars
3 votes

In Cinemas

Period Drama | Thriller | Samuria | Action

A stylized action-drama blending samurai honour with natural disaster stakes — think Kurosawa meets catastrophe cinema.

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Synopsis: Set in the rugged landscape of 1790s Britain, Tornado is a young and determined Japanese woman who finds herself caught in a perilous situation when she and her father's travelling puppet Samurai show crosses paths with a gang of ruthless criminals led by Sugarman, and his ambitious son Little Sugar. In an attempt to create a new life for herself, Tornado seizes the opportunity to take matters into her own hands and steal the gold from their most recent heist. With her father murdered by the gang and her life in grave danger, Tornado races against time to escape a violent demise and avenge her father's death.

Writer & Director: John Maclean

Cast: Koki, Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, Takehiro Hira, Rory McCann, Ian Hanmore, Jamie Michie, Douglas Russell, Nicole Cyrille, Jack Morris, Sammy Hayman, Nathan Malone

Cine-grapher: Robbie Ryan

Costume Design: Kirsty Halliday

Production Designer: Elizabeth El-Kadhi

Producers: Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, James Harris, Mark Lacey & Peter Vaughan

Editors: Selina Macarthur & Ryan Morrison

Release Date: 23 May (UK) 30 May (US) 6 June (Turkey) 12 June (Russia) 13 June (Ireland) 2025

Screening Territories: UK, US, Turkey, Russia & Ireland

Production Location: Edinburgh & Glasgow, Scotland

Production Country: UK

Cert: 15

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCW7OoSp0bI

Rating: 5 stars
1 vote

Epic Action | Epic Adventure | Thriller

Tom Cruise’s final run as Ethan Hunt delivers high-octane espionage, jaw-dropping stunts, and emotionally charged closure to the franchise.

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Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team continue their search for the terrifying AI known as the Entity — which has infiltrated intelligence networks all over the globe — with the world's governments and a mysterious ghost from Ethan's past on their trail. Joined by new allies and armed with the means to shut the Entity down for good, Hunt is in a race against time to prevent the world as we know it from changing forever.

Writers: Bruce Geller, Erik Jendresen & Christopher McQuarrie

Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Angela Basset, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Mariela Garriga, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer

Cine-grapher: Fraser Taggart

Costume Design: Jill Taylor

Production Designer: Garry Freeman

Producers: Christopher McQuarrie, Jake Myers & Tom Cruise

Editor: Eddie Hamilton

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Release Date: 21 May 2025

Screening Territory: Global Release

Production Locations: Norway, South Africa & UK

Production Country: UK & US

Cert: 12A

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1VBfMCZVkw

 

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

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In Cinemas

Drama

A raw and compassionate story about class, loyalty, and survival in modern China. A stray dog becomes a poignant metaphor.

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Synopsis: Set in the remote mountains of rural Taiwan, Oom an undocumented immigrant has no formal training but is good at caring for the elderly and disabled. When his situation as a caregiver in the mountains becomes too much for him, he has to choose between survival or dignity.

Writer: Wei Liang Chiang

Cast: Wanlop Rungkumjad, Yi-Ching Lu, Yu-hung Hong, Shu-wei Kuo, Achtara Suwan

Cine-grapher: Michael Capron

Production Designer: Liv Chih-wei Ye

Producers: Lynn Chen, Yung-Ting Chu, Weijie Lai, Marie Dubas & Elizabeth Wijaya

Editor: Dounia Sichov

Directors: Wei Liang Chiang & You Qiao Yin

Release Date: 23 May 2025

Screening Territory: For accurate info. Visit: https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/mongrel

Production Country: Taiwan, Singapore & France

Language: Min Nan, Mandarin & Thai

Cert: 15

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aLjP-sawkQ

Rating: 5 stars
1 vote

Black Comedy | Spy | Crime | Drama | Action

Wickedly witty and cleverly layered, this espionage satire skewers power, politics, and the absurdity of global conspiracies.

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Synopsis: Wealthy businessman, Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.

Writers: Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola

Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Truman Hanks, Scott Shepherd, Willem Dafoe, F. Murray Abraham, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Richard Ayoade, Bryan Cranston

Cine-grapher: Bruno Delbonnel

Costume Designer: Milena Canonero

Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen

Producers: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, John Peet, Steven Rales, Molly Rosenblatt, Ben Adler & Marius Ehlayil

Editor: Barney Pilling

Director: Wes Anderson

Release Date: From 23 May 2025…

Screening Territories: Europe: France, UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey & Poland. North America: Mexico. Canada & US. Asia: South Korea, Kazakhstan, Singapore & Taiwan. South America: Brazil & Argentina. Australia

Production Location: Babelsberg Studios, Potsdam, Germany

Production Countries: Germany & US

Cert: 15

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEuMnPl2WI4&t=5s

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

Streaming TV Series

Dark Comedy | Drama | Comedy

Sharp, offbeat, and darkly hilarious — follow a group of paramedics navigating personal crises and absurd emergencies.

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Synopsis: Devon thinks her sister Simone has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell. Michaela's cult-ish life of luxury is like a drug to Simone, and Devon has decided it's time for an intervention. When Devon tracks her sister down to say WTF, she has no idea what a formidable opponent Michaela will be. Told over the course of one explosive weekend at The Kells' lavish beach estate.

Writers: Molly Smith Metzler, Colin McKenna & Bekah Brunstetter

Cast: Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Glenn Howerton, Bill Camp, Felix Solis, Kevin Bacon, Julianne Moore, Britne Oldford, Lauren Weedman, Trevor Salter, Josh Segarra, Jenn Lyon

Cine-graphers: Gregory Middleton & Zoe White

Costume Design: Caroline Duncan

Production Designer: John Paino

Producers: Bruce Dunn, Maureen Shepard, Kristyn Macready & Kelly Mackey

Editors: Catherine Haight, Laura Zempel, Jen Bryson & Isaac Hagy

Directors: Nicole Kassell, Quyen Tran & Lila Neugebauer

Release Date: 22 May 2025

Streaming On: Netflix

Production Location: Steiner Studios, New York, US

Production Country: US

Cert: 15

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxSpZ9khchU&t=3s

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

Korean Drama | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

A gripping Korean thriller where a criminal profiler pieces together the chilling case that shaped her past.

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Synopsis: Ten years ago, Yoon Ena came home to a nightmare - her uncle murdered and a lone puzzle piece by his side. With no memory of how she got there, she immediately became Detective Hansaem's prime suspect. Driven to uncover the truth, she becomes a criminal profiler to find out if she really was responsible.

Writer: Lee Eun-Mi

Cast: Kim Da-mi, Son Suk-ku, Hwang Jung-min, Kim Sung Kyun, Hyun Bong-sik, Kwak Ja-hyung, Kim Do-gun, Jang Gyeok-su, Park Gyu-young

Director: Yoo Jong-bin

Release Date: 21 May 2025

Streaming On: Disney+

Production Country: South Korea

Cert: TV-MA

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UKrjg6RrjI&t=7s

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

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Streaming TV Series

Comedy | Politics | War | Sitcom

A sharp political satire following a fictional female president’s offbeat cabinet and comedic behind-the-scenes misfires.

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Synopsis: Antoinette Dunkerson (Terri J. Vaughn) becomes Lieutenant Governor but faces hurdles including a sexist governor and helping her family adjust to life in public in the Tyler Perry drama series.

Writers: Niya Palmer & Tyler Perry

Cast: Terri J. Vaughn, Kevin Thoms, J. Elliott, Jade Novah, Drew Olivia Tillman, Jo Marie Payton, Dyon Brooks, Robert Craighead, Michael Rose, Heather Simms, Liz McGeever

Cine-grapher: Justyn Moro

Costume Design: Raiyonda Vereen

Producers: Angi Bones, Tyler Perry, Tony L. Strickland

Editor: Lane Farnham

Director: Tyler Perry

Release Date: 22 May 2025

Streaming On: Netflix

Production Country: US

Cert: TV-MA

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLiJiBTLdFM&t=3s

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

Drama

A coming-of-age drama with horsepower — a group of teens build dreams (and engines) in the heart of rural America.

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Synopsis: After moving to Ironwood, siblings Caitlyn and Zac Torres are drawn into a thrilling car culture where street racing reigns and high school status is all about your ride. Haunted by their father's dark past, they join forces with loner Curtis and outcast Marcel to rebuild his legendary car.

Writers: Carrie Gutenberg, John A. Norris, Obiageli Odimegwu, Adrian Dukes, Kenny Neibart & Wendy Straker Hauser

Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Michael Cimino, Melissa Collazo, Uriah Shelton, Nicolas Cantu, Nathalie Kelley, Drake Rodger, Mia Healy, Johnna Dias-Watson, Matt Lanter, Joseph Chiu

Cine-grapher: Colin Hoult & Kristin Fieldhouse

Costume Design: Leslie Kavanagh

Production Designer: Kate Ferry

Producers: Morgan Howard, Matt Code, Wendy Straker Hauser, Jessica Bahia & Adrian Dukes

Editors: Erin Deck, Roderick Deogrades & Christopher Minns

Directors: Neil Burger, Rebecca Rodriguez, Tara Nicole Weyr, Glen Winter & Ryan Zaragoza

Release Date: 20 May 2025

Streaming On: Prime Video

Production Location: Toronto, Canada

Production Country: US

Cert: 13

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW-hafmct8Y&t=22s

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

Streaming Films

Adventure | Action | Mystery | Fantasy

A globe-trotting, treasure-hunting fantasy with lush visuals and Indiana Jones-style thrills — all in search of the mythical elixir of life.

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Synopsis: Two estranged siblings join forces to seek the legendary Fountain of Youth. Using historical clues, they embark on an epic quest filled with adventure. If successful, the mythical fountain could grant them immortality.

Writer: James Vanderbilt

Cast: John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza Gonzalez, Domhnall Gleeson, Laz Alonzo, Arian Moayed, Stanley Tucci, Carmen Ejogo, Benjamin Chivers, Michael Epp, Perdita Weeks

Cine-grapher: Ed Wild

Costume Design: Loulou Bontemps

Production Designer: Martyn John

Producers: Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Don Granger, Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson, Jake Myers, James Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein, Tripp Vinson & William Sherak

Editor: James Herbert

Director: Guy Ritchie

Release Date: 23 May 2025

Streaming On: Apple TV+

Production Location: Cairo, Egypt

Production Country: US & UK

Cert: 12A

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7S28bH8iDs&t=4s

Rating: 3 stars
1 vote

Drama | Comedy | Romance

This feel-good Nordic sequel blends snowy sports mishaps, romantic fumbles, and life’s second chances with lots of heart.

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Synopsis: Lisa, who now lives a sober family life with her daughter Elvira and boyfriend Anders, is set on doing the 200-mile-long bike ride, Vätternrundan, with her brother Daniel. But when Daniel's wife Klara says she wants a divorce, Daniel decides to do the race with her instead. Lisa, in turn, hesitates about buying a house and marrying Anders because she doesn't feel she is good enough. While Daniel and Klara try to patch up their relationship, Lisa starts flirting with an old ex.

Writers: Maria Karisson, Christin Magdu & Marten Klingberg Ma

Cast: Katia Winter, Fredrik Hallgren, Rakel Warmlander, Ulf Stenberg, Alexander Karim, Mark Lewis, Sten Ljunngren, Claes Mansson, Sara Chaanhing Kennedy, Sofia Zouagui

Cine-grapher: Jan Jonaeus

Costume Design: Ellen Utterstrom

Production Designer: Karin Myrenberg

Producers: Josephine Wallner

Editor: Henrik Kallberg

Director: Marten Klingberg

Release Date: 23 May 2025

Streaming On: Netflix

Production Location: Vattern, Sweden

Production Country: Sweden

Language: Swedish (Subtitles & Dubs)

Cert: TV-MA

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQejbuTNm7c

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

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Documentaries

Crime

A chilling, in-depth investigation into one of the UK’s most notorious criminal couples. Gripping and disturbing.

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Synopsis: In 1994 in Gloucester, England, social services alerted the police to a horrifying rumour they were told by the children of Fred and Rose West. If they misbehaved, the children said, they'd end up under the patio like their sister, Heather, who had not been seen since 1986. Some months later, the police began a search at 25 Cromwell Street, where they would eventually uncover not only the murdered and dismembered remains of Heather, but also eight additional bodies buried in the garden and cellar. So begins the investigation uncovering one of the most heinous and heartless murder sprees in modern history. Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story tells how a couple who were, to those who observed them, in a loving, committed relationship could be capable of such gruesome crimes. Through 107 police interview tapes covering over 50 hours of interrogations, much of it previously unseen and unheard, this three-part docu-series sheds new light on the notorious murders of at least 12 women, including their own daughter.

Cast: Dezra Chambers, Leo Goatley, Paul Britton, Marian Partington, Rachel Carlyle, Mary-Ann Mitchell, Howard Ogden, Howard Sounes, Russ Williams, Jayne Hamer

Cine-grapher: Steve Middleditch

Producers: Dan Chambers, David Herman & Fiona Stourton

Editors: Rose Glandfield & Luca Salvatori

Director: Daniel Dewsbury

Release Date:  14 May 2025

Streaming On: Netflix

Production Country: UK

Cert: TV-MA

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX18_KDHddg&t=5s

Rating: 4 stars
1 vote

Biography | History | Drama

A joyful portrait of fashion icon Iris Apfel, whose bold style and enduring spirit redefine age and creativity.

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Synopsis: IRIS pairs legendary 87-year-old documentarian Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Iris’ dotage, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life’s sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment.

Cast: Iris Apfel, Carl Apfel, Tavi Gevinson, Bruce Weber, Harold Koda, Bill Cunningham, Rory Gevis, David Hoey, Linda Fargo, Naeem Khan, Nancy Prideaux, Margaret Russell, Duro Olowu

Cine-grapher: Nick Canfield, Albert Maysles, Nelson Walker III & Sean Price Williams

Producers: Jennifer Ash Rudick, Laura Coxson, Rebekah Maysles & Paul Lovelace

Editor: Paul Lovelace

Director: Robert Mayles

Streaming On: Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/505986/iris

Production Country: US

Languages: English & French

Cert: 12

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo8jwJ_2l0c&t=4s

Rating: 5 stars
1 vote

Whether you're craving pulse-racing thrillers, rich character dramas, or eye-opening documentaries, these recommended titles are ready to light up your screen. Dive in, stream or hit the cinema, and discover your next favourite story with On Screens This Week.

Share your thoughts on the comment box and vote for your favourite film, TV series and documentary.

*Posters, synopses and trailers are copyrights of the original owners.

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