Trailer Blitz! O Horizon, Marty, Life Is Short and More
🎥 Here’s a list of films coming to screens soon!
🎥 “O Horizon” Trailer: Maria Bakalova Reconnects With Her Late Father Through AI in Madeleine Sackler’s Darkly Comic Tech Fable with David Strathairn — Hitting Theaters June 12th
Technology can be a blessing and a curse. Sure, it can make life easier, faster, and maybe even a little less lonely. But what happens when it starts offering something much bigger (and much messier) than convenience? Like, say, the chance to keep talking to someone you’ve lost, like a parent, only to have them continue scolding you like one too.
That’s the emotionally loaded question sitting at the center of O Horizon, a new darkly comic tech fable starring Academy Award nominees Maria Bakalova, of Borat 2 and Bodies Bodies Bodies fame, and veteran character actor David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck and the Bourne films).
Here, Bakalova plays Abby, a young neuroscientist trying to balance a promising career, a new romance, and the recent death of her father, played by Strathairn. But when a new technology gives her the ability to speak with him again through an AI-generated voice avatar, grief suddenly gets a software update... and a phone number.
On paper, the idea sounds comforting. Who wouldn’t want one more phone conversation with a loved one? But the trailer seems to be tapping into the stranger, thornier side of that fantasy. Because if an AI version of someone we loved can still offer advice, comfort, and connection, what happens when it also starts questioning our choices, stepping over personal boundaries, or worst yet, refusing to let us move on?
That’s where O Horizon appears to find its sweet spot, treating the technology less as a cold sci-fi gimmick and more as an emotional complication that comes with speaking to a digital echo of someone who’s gone.
Written and directed by Madeleine Sackler, whose past work includes the HBO prison drama O.G. and the acclaimed education documentary The Lottery, the film appears to walk that uneasy line between whether technology should be allowed to recreate someone through personal data and whether opening that door is a good idea at all.
The cast also includes Adam Pally and Maggie Grace, along with Avi Nash, Paulina Porizkova, and singer-songwriter Aimee Mann.
O Horizon opens in theaters June 12th.
🎥 “Marty, Life Is Short” Trailer: Martin Short Looks Back on Five Decades of Big Laughs, Wild Characters, and Comedy Gold — Premiering May 12th on Netflix
Sometimes we take our favorite comedians for granted. We see them as joke machines, forever ready to make us laugh with silly pratfalls, mugging buffoonery, riffing jabs, or funny faces on command. Their job is simply to entertain us. Yet once the bit is over, we move on to the next person.
But lately, there’s been a wave of documentaries looking back at beloved comedy legends with a little more care and affection. From John Candy to Steve Martin to Paul Reubens to Stiller & Meara, these portraits have reminded us that the funniest people in the room often carry whole worlds behind the jokes and gags. Clowns they may be, but real people they most certainly are.
And it’s so nice to see Martin Short finally getting his flowers while he’s still here to enjoy them.
The new Netflix documentary Marty, Life Is Short takes an intimate look at one of comedy’s quickest-minded goofballs, tracing Short’s more than five-decade career through never-before-seen archival footage, personal material, and interviews with friends and collaborators.
Short, of course, has been making people laugh for generations, from his breakout work on SCTV and Saturday Night Live to scene-stealing film roles, Broadway triumphs, and his recent Emmy-nominated run opposite Steve Martin and Selena Gomez on Only Murders in the Building. He’s one of those performers who can go big, weird, silly, and strangely precise all at once.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind The Big Chill, Body Heat, and The Accidental Tourist, the documentary seems less interested in packaging Short as a nostalgia act and more focused on how his comedy mind works. Because Martin Short has never been just “funny.” He’s fast, inventive, fearless, and often just one wig, accent, or deeply committed facial expression away from turning a normal moment into a belly laugh. Short might be his name, but big laughs have always been his game.
Marty, Life Is Short is slated to premiere May 12th on Netflix.
{ Also check out this week’s new trailers }
- - -
🎥 “Boy George & Culture Club” Trailer: Documentarian Alison Ellwood Chronicles the Chaos, Charisma, and Candy-Colored Pop Legacy of ’80s Hitmakers Behind the Pop Classics “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” — Coming Soon
After digging into the tangled history of The Eagles, the trailblazing rise of The Go-Go’s, and the singular voice of Cyndi Lauper, documentarian Alison Ellwood is heading back to the ’80s for another pop-music deep dive. This new documentary tells the story of Culture Club through Boy George, Jon Moss, Mikey Craig, and Roy Hay, tracing the band’s rise from the UK’s New Romantic scene to global fame, internal turmoil, addiction struggles, and complicated romance within the group. Consider it a stylish, messy, music-soaked portrait of a band whose look was unforgettable and whose story was anything but simple.
🎥 “Giant” U.S. Trailer: Amir El-Masry Becomes ’90s Boxing Champ Prince Naseem Hamed in This British Underdog Boxing Drama Produced by Sylvester Stallone and Co-Starring Pierce Brosnan — Hitting U.S. Theaters May 22nd
If Rocky taught us anything, it’s that you should never count out the underdogs... especially if they have a wicked left hook. Amir El-Masry stars as British-Yemeni boxing legend Prince “Naz” Hamed, the flashy, fearless fighter who rose from Sheffield kid with a dream to one of the most electric boxers of the 1990s. Directed by Rowan Athale and produced by Rocky himself, Sylvester Stallone, with Pierce Brosnan taking on the role of tough-love trainer Brendan Ingle, this boxing drama steps into the ring with a true story about belief, showmanship, and finding greatness in the most unexpected corner.
🎥 “Signal One” Trailer: Isabelle Fuhrman Joins Dennis Quaid’s Secret Cosmic Project in Jonathan Sobol’s Sci-Fi Mystery with David Thewlis & Josh Hutcherson — In Theaters and on VOD/Digital June 5th
The truth may be out there, but cracking it open comes with a few serious risks. Orphan’s Isabelle Fuhrman stars as a brilliant scientist recruited by a charismatic tech billionaire (played by Dennis Quaid) to join a secret project that could change humanity’s place in the universe. Written and directed by Jonathan Sobol and co-starring David Thewlis and Josh Hutcherson as a fellow young scientist chasing the possibility of extraterrestrial life, this sci-fi mystery turns one world-shaking discovery into a dangerous leap into the unknown. Call it a giant step for mankind, assuming mankind survives the landing.
🎥 “Seven Snipers” Trailer: Radha Mitchell and Tim Roth Face Off in This Tense Aussie Action Thriller — On VOD/Digital June 5th
It’s sniper versus sniper in this tense Aussie action thriller, where the one with the sharper scope gets to walk away. Radha Mitchell stars as a retired elite sniper living quietly with her daughter (Annabel Wolfe) in the remote Australian countryside, until a ruthless sharpshooter from her past, played by a menacing Tim Roth, comes looking for retribution. Directed by Sandra Sciberras and co-starring Ioan Gruffudd and Ryan Kwanten, this locked-and-loaded revenge thriller turns one mother’s quiet life into a long-range fight for survival. In this game, missing the target isn’t an option, especially if the target is coming for your family.
🎥 “Finnegan’s Foursome” Trailer: Edward Burns and Brian D’Arcy James Tee Off on Family Grudges in This Ireland-Set Golf Comedy — On VOD/Digital June 19th
Family baggage meets the back nine in this warmhearted sports comedy from writer-director Edward Burns. Burns and Brian D’Arcy James star as rival brothers who drag their adult children to Ireland to fulfill their late father’s final wish: scattering his ashes on the coastal golf course he loved. With Erica Hernandez, Brian Muller, and Ian McElhinney rounding out the cast, this family getaway turns old grudges, bad swings, and comic misadventures into a reminder that forgiveness sometimes takes a full round.
🎥 “Masters of the Universe” Featurettes: Go Behind the Scenes of Travis Knight’s Live-Action He-Man Reboot Starring Nicholas Galitzine — In Theaters June 5th
By the power of Grayskull, ’80s fantasy is taking another swing at the big screen. Nicholas Galitzine stars as Prince Adam, reimagined as an Earth-raised hero who returns to Eternia after reclaiming his legendary Power Sword and discovering his destiny as He-Man. Directed by Travis Knight and co-starring Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, and Kristen Wiig, this live-action fantasy reboot goes behind the scenes with a batch of featurettes exploring the handcrafted worlds, larger-than-life characters, and sword-swinging spectacle bringing Eternia back to life.
🎥 “Wildwood” Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: LAIKA Reveals the Handmade Magic Behind Its Soaring Stop-Motion Fantasy — Arriving In Theaters October 23th
Take a look at this behind-the-scenes featurette for LAIKA’s upcoming stop-motion fantasy. Directed by Travis Knight and based on the bestselling novel by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, Wildwood opens up the Avian Principality, a winged realm built through handcrafted sets, intricate design, and frame-by-frame animation.
🎥 “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” 35th Anniversary Trailer: James Cameron’s Sci-Fi Action Classic Returns to Theaters — Re-Releasing May 22nd via Rialto Pictures
Say “hasta la vista” to your normal moviegoing plans. James Cameron’s landmark sci-fi action sequel returns to theaters for its 35th anniversary, bringing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reprogrammed cyborg protector back into the fight alongside Linda Hamilton’s battle-hardened Sarah Connor and Edward Furlong’s young John Connor. With Robert Patrick’s liquid-metal T-1000 still ranking among cinema’s great nightmare machines, this big-screen comeback is a reminder that some sequels don’t just age well... they come back stronger.
🎥 “Is God Is” New Trailer: Kara Young & Mallori Johnson Hunt Down the Father (Sterling K. Brown) Who Broke Them in Aleshea Harris’ Fierce Adaptation of Her Award-Winning Play — Coming to Theaters May 15th
Revenge runs hot, but sisterhood burns hotter. Kara Young and Mallori Johnson star as twin sisters who set out across harsh terrain to confront the abusive father who shattered their childhood. Written and directed by Aleshea Harris, adapting her own award-winning play, and co-starring Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, and Sterling K. Brown as “the monster,” this fierce revenge saga asks what happens when justice starts feeding the fire.
🎥 “Pitfall” Trailer: Richard Harmon Falls Into a Spike-Filled Nightmare in James Kondelik’s Survival Horror Thriller with Alexandra Essoe and Randy Couture — In Theaters May 29th
One wrong step turns the great outdoors into a nerve-shredding trap. Final Destination: Bloodlines actor Richard Harmon stars as a young man who gets separated from his friends in the woods, only to tumble into a 10-foot-deep pit lined with spikes and realize his fall was no accident. Directed by James Kondelik and co-starring Alexandra Essoe and Randy Couture, this survival horror thriller digs into the terrifying question of what happens when escape is above you, pain is below you, and someone wanted you there.
🎥 “Badland Rising” Trailer: Jake Ryan Hits the Road and Fights for Survival in This Gritty Australian Action Thriller — On VOD/Digital June 12th
One long drive home turns into a full-throttle nightmare in this gritty action thriller. Taekwondo-trained Australian action star Jake Ryan plays an ordinary dude whose 19-hour road trip takes a violent detour when two unhinged criminals begin hunting him down. Also starring Nathan Phillips, Steve Mouzakis, and Hannah Levien, this road-bound nightmare puts survival in the fast lane, proving that the open road isn’t always the safest way home.
🎥 “The Battle for Castle Itter” Trailer: U.S. Troops and French Prisoners Unite Against SS Forces in This WWII Siege Thriller — Streaming May 1st on TUBI
A prison castle, a rescue mission, and one wildly unlikely last stand. This WWII thriller follows a ragtag unit of U.S. soldiers who clash with the French elites they were sent to save, only to realize their real enemy is closing in fast. Directed by Maximilian Elfeldt and starring Aleksandar Trmcic, Daniel Grogan, Frano Lasic, Boris Lukman, and Laurent Rouy, this battle-tested siege story turns wartime tension into a fight for survival where nobody gets out by standing alone.
🎥 “The Crash” Trailer: Netflix’s True-Crime Documentary Turns a Deadly Car Wreck Into a Shocking Murder Investigation — Premieres May 15th on Netflix
A horrific crash becomes something far more sinister in this true-crime documentary. After a teen slams her car into a brick building at 100 miles per hour, killing her boyfriend and his friend, investigators begin picking through the wreckage and questioning whether this was really an accident. What starts as a tragedy soon shifts into a murder case, where the only survivor may also be the key to what really happened.
🎥 “The Murder of Rachel Nickell” Trailer: Netflix Revisits the Shocking Wimbledon Common Killing in This True-Crime Documentary — Premieres June 4th on Netflix
A brutal crime in broad daylight becomes the center of a yearslong search for justice in this chilling true-crime documentary. This Netflix original examines the murder of young mother Rachel Nickell, who was killed on London’s Wimbledon Common in front of her toddler, and the long, troubling investigation that followed. It’s a grim case where horror, grief, and unanswered questions stretch far beyond the crime scene.
🎥 “Ask E. Jean” Trailer: This Documentary Profiles Trailblazing Advice Columnist E. Jean Carroll, the Woman Who Beat Donald Trump in Court... Twice! — Opening in Select Cities May 21st
Truth, wit, and one hell of a backbone drive this documentary portrait of E. Jean Carroll, the trailblazing journalist, author, and beloved advice columnist whose life story is anything but ordinary. Directed by Ivy Meeropol, the film traces Carroll’s rise from Miss Cheerleader USA to gonzo media force, breaking barriers at Esquire, Playboy, and Outside before taking on Donald Trump in court (twice) and winning. It’s a story about the kind of fearless persistence that refuses to be silenced no matter who’s trying to shut it down.
🎥 “U.S. Against The World: Four Years With the Men’s National Soccer Team” Trailer: HBO’s New Docuseries Follows Team USA’s Road to the World Cup — Premieres May 12th on HBO Max
The world’s biggest stage is coming home, and Team USA is under the microscope. This new HBO docuseries follows four years with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team as players, coaches, and fans look toward a World Cup moment with plenty of pressure, promise, and national pride riding on it. It’s a behind-the-scenes sports story about preparation, expectation, and what happens when the beautiful game comes with a very American-sized spotlight.
