The Best Films Out Now

THE BEST FILMS OUT NOW theartsdesk recommends the top movies of the moment

theartsdesk recommends the top movies of the moment

There are films to meet every taste in theartsdesk's guide to the best movies currently on release. In our considered opinion, any of the titles below is well worth your attention.

Enola Holmes ★★★★ Millie Bobby Brown gives the patriarchy what-for in a new Sherlock-related franchise

Eternal Beauty review - imagination in every frame

★★★★ ETERNAL BEAUTY Craig Roberts's fantasy has imagination in every frame

Craig Roberts's fantasy conjurs surreal images and magnetic performances

Barring a few outliers, British indies tend to follow the same formula: serious subjects told seriously. Whether it’s a council estate, a rural farm, or a seaside town, you can always rely on that trademark tension and realism we Brits do so well. What a shock to the system Eternal Beauty is then, filled with more imagination than almost anything else out this year.

Mulan review - Niki Caro's live action take on the '98 classic underwhelms

★★★ MULAN Niki Caro's live action take on the '98 classic underwhelms

Disney's latest live-action classic works out some kinks but loses the magic

Whilst New Mutants slips surreptitiously into cinemas, Disney’s live-action spin on Mulan arrives with more fanfare on their streaming platform, even if it does come with a price-tag of nearly £20.

Alice, A Virtual Theme Park review – down the technological rabbit hole

★★★ ALICE, A VIRTUAL THEME PARK Bonkers Zoom production is ideal for kids

Bonkers Zoom production is ideal for kids, but leaves adults wanting more

I have a confession to make: I don’t like Alice in Wonderland. I know, I know, a lot of people disagree. I do appreciate its place in the cultural pantheon – I just find all the caterpillars and tea parties and pointless riddles really, really dull. So it’s hard to be sure if it was the subject matter of Alice, A Virtual Theme Park that left me a little chilly, or its form.

Scoob! review - mostly bark, little bite

★★★ SCOOB! Feature adaptation crams in a lot of references but not much substance

Feature adaptation crams in a lot of references but not much substance

Scooby fans have waited over 50 years for a proper big screen adaptation of everyone’s favourite cowardly dog (sorry Cartoon Network’s Courage). The 2003 live-action version starring Matthew Lillard and Sarah Michelle Gellar failed to capture the paranormal-busting mystery of the TV series, and although the follow-up Monsters Unleashed recreated the classic villains, it was still a slog.

The Old Guard review - serious silliness

★★★ THE OLD GUARD Serious silliness

Netflix immortality action flick is predictable but pleasurable, thanks to a winning cast

It’s hard to take The Old Guard seriously — it’s an action film about thousand-year-old immortal warriors. Pulpy flashbacks and fake blood abounds. But The Old Guard doesn’t need to be serious or even memorable: it’s a fun, feel-good film, a rare commodity these days.

Artemis Fowl review - flash bang nothing

★★★ ARTEMIS FOWL A poor adaptation of a magical world

A poor adaptation of a magical world

It’s taken over 18 years for Artemis Fowl to reach the big screen, with Miramax originally buying the rights in 2001. Finally, Disney have brought the world’s youngest criminal mastermind to life, but was it worth the wait? Well, the fact it’s appearing on streaming service Disney+ rather than waiting for a cinematic release probably answers that question.