By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

After the first two Night at the Museum movies proved to be a hit, future Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy finished the trilogy with the star-studded Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014). The movie is criminally underrated, and it also happens to feature the final performance from legendary Hollywood funny man, Robin Williams. Whether you’d like to pay your respects or just seriously laugh it up, you can now stream this quirky comedy on Netflix.

The premise of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is that Larry Daley now has a working relationship with the exhibits that come to life at night at the Museum of Natural History and is dealing with a new addition: a walking, talking Neanderthal exhibit sculpted to look like him. But that proves to be the least of his problems when the ancient tablet that gives these exhibits life starts corroding, causing chaos throughout the museum. Unless he can figure out what’s going on, all of the exhibits will go completely lifeless, finally fading into history. 

A Cast For The Ages

As with other Night at the Museum movies, the primary reason to watch this third entry is the stacked cast full of Hollywood legends. Ben Stiller (best known for Tropic Thunder) once again plays the hapless security guard surrounded by living exhibits played by the likes of Owen Wilson (best known for The Royal Tenenbaums) and Steve Coogan (best known for Philomena). Meanwhile, Rebel Wilson (best known for Pitch Perfect) plays a new guard, Dick Van Clark (best known for Mary Poppins) plays an old guard, and  Rami Malek (best known for Mr. Robot) plays Ahkmenrah, the Pharaoh whose tablet gives the exhibits life and may soon take it away.

On a more bittersweet note, the performer to really watch in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is Robin Williams, the comedy legend who reprises his role as the wise and affable exhibit of Theodore Roosevelt. He has always been one of the primary reasons to watch these movies, and Secret of the Tomb is actually the last movie he starred in before his tragic death. Because of that, his final line (“Smile, boy…it’s sunrise”) becomes so powerful that you might just have to reach for the tissues while the credits roll.

Losing The Critics, Winning The Audience

When Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb came out, it proved to be a hit, earning $363.2 million against a budget of $127 million. This marked the last live-action franchise entry from superstar director Shawn Levy, who would later go on to direct the wildly successful Deadpool & Wolverine for Disney. Speaking of Disney, after they bought 20th Century Fox, they released an unexpected sequel to Secret of the Tomb to Disney+: the traditionally animated film Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Strikes Again. 

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ended up animating critics in all the wrong ways. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 48 percent, with reviewers generally agreeing that this third film doesn’t pack the comedic bite of its predecessors. They felt this movie was a poor way to end a very unconventional film trilogy, but acknowledged that the movie still has moments of greatness peppered throughout its runtime.

An Acting Legend Takes His Final Vow

To some extent, that critical consensus is correct: this third Night at the Museum movie doesn’t introduce anything really innovative to the franchise formula, and it’s unlikely to win over anybody who doesn’t get a kick out of Ben Stiller talking to animated museum exhibits. Of course, that logic goes both ways, and if you are a fan of these movies, the third entry offers more of the easy laughs and star-studded comedy you’ve come to expect. The fact that Robin Williams offers such a killer performance in what would be his final role is just the cherry on top for established fans.

There’s also something to be said for how uncynical and earnest the comedy in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is. With its general absence of vulgarity or raunchy humor, it’s actually the perfect movie to watch with your family, and children are sure to love the “what if the museum came to life at night?” premise. Even without the little ones, this is a perfect movie to watch for anyone sick of quippy, irony-laden “he’s right behind me, isn’t he?” style dialogue that Hollywood now puts in almost every single comedy.

Will you agree that Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a thick, star-studded slice of imaginative movie magic, or is this one aging comedy that belongs in a museum? You won’t know until you grab your remote (it’s right next to the enchanted tablet!) and stream it for yourself on Netflix. Come for the gentle punchlines and stay for one last performance from Robin Williams, the man who could light up an entire screen with only a smile. 

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 11 seconds ago

In the age of streaming, it’s common to hear people say that they’ll wait for a series to end before bothering to watch it. Every year, an incredible show has its run cut short, but there are also shows that linger too long past their expiration date.

Bones, Brooklyn 99, Modern Family, Westworld, all shows that went one or two seasons too far past the story’s natural conclusion, and none of them can match Showtime’s 2005 comedy-drama series, Weeds. What started as a fun show about a suburban mom selling pot rebooted itself every few episodes by constantly upping the stakes and treating the term  “status quo” like a terminal disease. 

Weeds Burned It All Down And Kept Going

When Weeds begins, Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) is dealing with the sudden death of her husband, Judah (in photos and, eventually, flashbacks, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan), and struggling to care for her boys, Silas (Hunter Parrish) and Shane (Alexander Gould). The solution is to get into the marijuana business. Her brother-in-law, Andy (Justin Kirk), helps her fledgling business, while frenemy Celia (Elizabeth Perkins), the local overbearing PTA mom, constantly gets in the way. Local councilman Doug (Kevin Nealon) ends up being one of her best customers, and from there, the stage is set for a comedy about suburban consumerism. And it was, for three seasons. 

By the time the third season ends, Nancy has become embroiled with the DEA and escalating levels of dangerous criminals before pissing off a group of bikers and turning to the Mexican Cartel for protection. The entire town of Agrestic burns to the ground (complete with the show’s opening sequence on fire), and Season 4 kicks off along the Mexican border. A romantic relationship with the head of the cartel takes a violent turn, so naturally, Season 6 has them on the run across the country, while Season 7 and 8 put the Botwins in New York to start over. Again. 

Every time you think the show is going to settle down, wether it’s when Nancy early on sits around the table with the supporting cast and everyone agrees to start their own criminal enterprise, or seasons later, when they do the same scene again, or maybe when Silas starts up a front called “Headcheese” with Julia Bowen’s “Yoga Butt” character, you’re wrong. Each of the new status quo setups lasts for three episodes or less before it’s blown up again. 

Mary-Louise Parker Defied Hollywood Expectations

Weeds was a huge hit for Showtime the moment it debuted, culminating in record-breaking viewership for the Season 3 finale. Part of the appeal was the setting, the comedy, and since it was on Showtime, the series didn’t hesitate to throw out nudity and sex scenes in almost every episode, turning the 41-year-old Mary-Louise Parker into a sex symbol. Even at its lowest point, in Season 5, the show kept its dark sense of humor, which worked with the gratuitous nudity to keep eyeballs on the show until it finally ended in 2012. 

The show’s creator, Jenji Kohan, went from Weeds to Orange Is The New Black, another show that kept resetting the status quo on itself. Even if Kohan never works on another show in her career, she managed back-to-back successes that both overstayed by a few years but remain beloved years after they came to an end. 

One of the best parts of Weeds is the opening song in Seasons 1-3, and again in Season 8, “Little Boxes” by Malvina Reynolds. Starting in Season 2, the show used cover versions from artists including Elvis Costello, Randy Newman, Billy Bob Thornton, Linkin Park, the Mountain Goats, and Death Cab for Cutie. The satirical song captured the first few seasons perfectly, which is why it’s removed when the show goes way off the rails and returns when the show finally settles down again.

Over a decade after the end of its run, Weeds might be one of the best shows to binge-watch. The off-kilter narrative 180’s keep it exciting the whole way through, but if you end up bailing after the Season 4 finale’s twist, that’s alright, as you’ve already seen the show at its best. 

1981 was a year of transition. The bold experimentation of 1970s filmmaking was colliding with the emerging blockbuster logic of the 1980s. The result was a diverse slate of films: muscular and thoughtful, mythic and grounded, commercial and deeply personal.

With this in mind, this list looks at some of the most enduring classics of 1981. They helped define what action, horror, romance, historical drama, and political cinema could look like in a changing industry. The best of them more than hold up today.

10

‘Excalibur’ (1981)

Image via Warner Bros.

“You will be the land, and the land will be you.” Excalibur retells the legend of King Arthur as a dark, operatic myth rather than a chivalric fairy tale. It charts Arthur’s (Nigel Terry) rise from illegitimate child to king, the forging of the Round Table, and the eventual collapse of his kingdom through betrayal, ambition, and moral decay. Knights quest for the Holy Grail, loyalties fracture, and magic slowly drains from the world. As Arthur weakens, so does the land itself.

The film was directed by John Boorman, the mind behind Point Blank and Deliverance, explaining its grimmer, grittier edge. Still, the fantasy aesthetic remains striking and immersive. Watching Excalibur now, the stylized performances, gleaming armor, and ritualistic tone feel intentionally heightened rather than dated. The supporting cast is strong, too, including Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, and a bewitching Helen Mirren as Morgan le Fay.

9

‘Body Heat’ (1981)

Image via Warner Bros.

“You’re not too smart, are you? I like that in a man.” Body Heat follows a small-town lawyer (William Hurt) who becomes entangled in a dangerous affair with a married woman (Kathleen Turner) intent on escaping her wealthy, controlling husband (Richard Crenna). What begins as pure lust quickly evolves into manipulation, deception, and even murder, with the lawyer gradually realizing he may not be the one in control.

The plot is tightly wound, drawing heavily from classic film noir while updating its sexual frankness and moral cynicism. Every decision compounds the last, turning desire into a trap that tightens without warning. In particular, the movie’s understanding of power dynamics, whether sexual, economic, or psychological, gives it lasting bite. In other words, while it has the trappings of an erotic thriller, Body Heat is really a sharp neo-noir. Much of its success hinges on the phenomenal femme fatale performance from Turner.

8

‘Thief’ (1981)

Image via United Artists

“There’s a thousand ways to get hurt in this business.” Thief was Michael Mann‘s debut, and it contains many of his stylistic calling cards in microcosm. At the center of it is Frank (James Caan), a professional safecracker determined to complete one last big job so he can finally build a normal life. When he agrees to work for a powerful crime boss, his carefully controlled world begins to unravel as independence gives way to obligation. Every step toward legitimacy pulls him deeper into the criminal underworld. Frank’s tragedy isn’t moral failure, but believing he can negotiate with systems that only consume.

All this makes for an unusually smart thriller, one of the best crime films of the early ’80s. While Mann’s later work would get much more ambitious and elaborate, Thief remains punchy even now. Its cool visual style and electronic score have aged well, and its de-romanticized take on crime feels much more honest than you usually find in this genre.

7

‘Reds’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

“I want to make a difference.” Reds dramatizes the life of American journalist John Reed (Warren Beatty, who also directs), whose radical politics and romantic idealism draw him into the Russian Revolution. The film traces his relationship with fellow writer Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), their political commitments, and the strain ideology places on their connection. The movie is simultaneously epic and intimate, moving between personal romance and historical upheaval.

To accommodate this ambitious storytelling scope, the movie clocks in at well over three hours long, something that not every viewer will appreciate. Others have taken issue with the way it presents the protagonists’ politics. Still, for those interested in this period, there’s a lot to be enjoyed here. Weatty and Keaton’s acting is great, as one would expect, and the film does make some nuanced points about both potential and the perils of trying to bring about revolution.

6

‘An American Werewolf in London’ (1981)

Image via Universal Pictures

“Beware the moon.” This seminal comedy-horror follows two American tourists (played by David Naughton and Griffin Dunne) attacked by a mysterious creature on the English moors. One is killed, the other survives, only to discover he is slowly transforming into a werewolf. As his body changes, he’s haunted by visions of his dead friend, who warns him of what he’s becoming. While that sounds like typical horror fare, the story is shot through humor as well, as well as more than a little of that classic John Landis absurdity.

The special effects alone ensure An American Werewolf in London‘s place in genre history. The transformation scenes were groundbreaking for the time: painful and intimate, emphasizing bodily violation rather than spectacle. All in all, this movie is funny, frightening, and unexpectedly sad, a genre hybrid that has never really been replicated. It paved the way for many great comedy-horrors that followed.

5

‘Blow Out’ (1981)

Image via Filmways Pictures

“You can hear the screams.” Blow Out is Brian De Palma‘s pulpier, harder-hitting take on Michelangelo Antonioni‘s Blow-Up, but switches that movie’s focus on photography to a focus on audio recording. John Travolta is great in it as Jack Terry, a sound technician who accidentally records evidence of what may be a political assassination while gathering audio for a low-budget horror film. He begins piecing together the truth using sound, images, and film fragments, but soon becomes entangled in a conspiracy far larger than himself.

While the movie is structured like a paranoid thriller, its real subject is perception itself. Jack believes that if he can assemble the evidence correctly, reality will assert itself. Instead, every step toward clarity reveals how easily truth can be distorted, erased, or repackaged. His technical expertise becomes both his power and his curse. In this sense, Blow Out very much channels the spirit of Alfred Hitchcock.

4

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

“It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.” One of the most purely entertaining movies of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark introduces the legendary Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), an archaeologist-adventurer racing against Nazi forces to locate the Ark of the Covenant, a biblical artifact said to wield immense power. The plot moves briskly across continents, blending chases, puzzles, and narrow escapes into a relentless pursuit, all harking back to the classic adventures of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Every obstacle escalates the stakes, and every action sequence advances the character development.

All these decades later, the movie’s clarity of storytelling, sense of wonder, and tonal confidence remain unmatched. Raiders is joyful and fun, simply jam-packed with plot in the best way. Plus, in contrast to most adventure blockbusters of the era, the protagonist is not invincible. Indy survives through improvisation, endurance, and occasional luck. That vulnerability grounds the spectacle.

3

‘Escape from New York’ (1981)

Image via AVCO Embassy Pictures

“Call me Snake.” Escape from New York is set in a near-future where Manhattan has been converted into a maximum-security prison. When the President (Donald Pleasence) crash-lands inside the city, the government recruits Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell), a disgraced former soldier, to rescue him within a strict time limit. The story that follows is spare and cynical. Snake navigates rival gangs, collapsed infrastructure, and shifting alliances, not out of loyalty, but obligation. In this world, authority is corrupt, survival is transactional, and heroism is deeply suspect.

John Carpenter wrote it as a direct response to the Watergate scandal and the pessimistic public mood it engendered. On release, some critics dismissed all this as genre pulp. However, as is often the case with Carpenter movies, Escape from New York went on to become a cult classic. It’s grimy, action-packed, and full of attitude. Snake’s refusal to play along becomes the film’s quiet act of resistance.

2

‘Das Boot’ (1981)

Image via Neue Constantin Film

“It’s cold. It’s dark. And it’s very quiet.” Das Boot follows the crew of a German U-boat during World War II as they patrol the Atlantic under constant threat from Allied forces. Hours stretch into days stretch into weeks as tension mounts and morale deteriorates. The film confines the audience within the submarine’s cramped interior, creating a claustrophobic experience that mirrors the crew’s psychological state. Attacks are sudden, survival is uncertain, and victory offers no relief, only temporary reprieve.

This refusal to glorify combat allows fear and exhaustion to dominate. The result is one of the most immersive war films ever made. The tension is tautly controlled throughout, the plot elements are all bolted into their right place, and the realism of the submarine is genuinely impressive. Every movie since that takes place owes Das Boot a debt of gratitude, and probably falls short of the high bar it set.

1

‘Chariots of Fire’ (1981)

Image via 20th Century Studios

“I believe God made me for a purpose.” That year’s Best Picture Oscar was won by this inspirational drama. Chariots of Fire follows two British athletes preparing for the 1924 Olympics: one (Ian Charleson) driven by religious conviction, the other (Ben Cross) by a desire to overcome class prejudice. For them, running becomes an expression of belief, whether spiritual or personal. Their parallel journeys become vehicles to explore faith, discipline, and the cost of ambition. Breaking with genre convention, the emphasis here is on training, doubt, and moral conflict rather than competition itself.

Basically, this is a well-crafted prestige sports drama, anchored by strong performances. The visuals are granded and the score is great. It all builds up that famous slow-mo sequence to the sounds of Vangelis, a sence that has been endlessly referenced and parodied in the decades since. The movie’s admirers include Christopher Nolan, who called it “a masterpiece of British understatement.”

c

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Release Date

May 15, 1981

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Runtime

125 Minutes

Director

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Hugh Hudson

Writers

Colin Welland

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After what seemed like a major return to form in the last five years, Jason Statham‘s hot streak has been hit with its second setback. His new movie, Shelter, has been struggling at the box office despite having earned mostly positive reviews. This is difficult to explain, but it reflects the unpredictable nature of the movie business these days. While similar original genre movies starring Statham have done well in the recent past, Shelter was outright rejected by audiences. The movie still hasn’t recovered its reported $50 million budget theatrically, and seems poised to fall short of even Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, the star’s lowest-grossing film of the decade. During this decade, Statham has headlined both franchise films and original action vehicles — reviews have hardly come between him and box office success. It turns out that reviews don’t mean much when one of his movies underperforms, either.

Shelter isn’t just a setback for Statham, but is also the second underperformer in the span of a month for director Ric Roman Waugh. The filmmaker only recently saw the commercial failure of Greenland 2: The Migration, the Gerard Butler-led sci-fi sequel that grossed only around $20 million worldwide against a reported $90 million budget. Greenland 2‘s underperformance may partially be explained, since it will be released on digital in most markets outside North America. Shelter, however, was given a proper theatrical release. It’s now sitting at a 62% critics’ score and an 87% audience score on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Classing up an overdone premise with professional execution, Shelter is highly derivative of previous Jason Statham action vehicles but lean and mean enough to forgive the recycled tropes.”

Here’s How Much ‘Shelter’ Has Grossed So Far

The movie’s positive audience score sets it up for a solid performance on digital, but its box office run so far has to sting. The movie has grossed less than $10 million domestically — one-fifth of its reported budget — and only around $25 million worldwide. By comparison, Statham’s last two films — The Beekeeper and A Working Man — made around $160 million and $100 million worldwide, respectively. In the last half-decade, he has also delivered the hit film Wrath of Man, which made more than $100 million worldwide, and the action sequel Meg 2: The Trench, which grossed nearly $400 million globally.

You can watch Shelter in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

January 30, 2026

Runtime

107 minutes

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Director

Ric Roman Waugh

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Writers

Ward Parry

Producers

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Greg Silverman, Jason Statham, Jon Berg, John Friedberg, Brendon Boyea

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Stassie Karanikolaou vs. Kylie Jenner
Who’d You Rather?!
Workout Besties Edition!

Published
February 9, 2026
2:00 PM PST

Imagine this: After months of finally coming to the conclusion that you want a divorce, you lay it out for your spouse, and then the next morning, Russia invades Ukraine. Okay, sure, perhaps if you don’t live in Eastern Europe, the invasion might not really affect you as much as the reality that you now need to retain a divorce attorney. But for Vytas (Marius Repšys) and Marija (Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė), in Lithuania, the war presents a new complication during this unpredictable time for them and their daughter, Dovilė (Amelija Adomaitytė). Director and screenwriter Andrius Blaževičius puts a microscope on the complex family dynamic that inevitably appears after a divorce and sets it during the timely invasion of Ukraine to put the realities of war and social justice into sharp focus.

What Is ‘How To Divorce During the War’ About?

In 2022, Marija and Vytas wake up in separate beds to the news that Russia is launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is just a day after Marija told Vytas that she wants a divorce, not telling him that she’s been quietly having an affair with her co-worker, Jūratė (Indrė Patkauskaitė), for months. While Vytas feels completely blindsided by this, his more immediate problem is now that he must find a place to live. Marija is the sole breadwinner of the family, working for a video production company that makes social media video slop. Vytas, a once-successful filmmaker currently out of work, both looks down on Marija’s day job and actively benefits from her salary. In exchange, he is the primary homemaker, taking care of their daughter Dovilė, making dinner, and cleaning the house meticulously.

The separation completely throws both Marija and Vytas’ lives into disarray. The couple is pro-Ukraine and makes every effort to show it. Vytas is forced to move home to his Russian-sympathetic parents, but every other day, he’s throwing rocks into the windows of Russian cars. He begins volunteering at a food bank and participates in artistic protests in the city, using his modicum of fame to amplify their message. Meanwhile, Marija brings in a Ukrainian family of refugees to live with her and Dovilė shortly after the war begins. She actively opposes her company’s continued partnership with Russia at the risk of her own career, and ties up the Ukrainian flag on her balcony with her daughter in a firm show of support.

However, as the war wages on, Vytas’ actions feel more and more performative, and Marija becomes annoyed with the extended stay of the refugees in her home, with whom she can barely communicate. In the background, Dovilė experiences troubles at school as children echo the varying sentiments of their parents. How To Divorce During the War carefully and deliberately illustrates the very real and complicated feelings that come with the Russian invasion, and rather than wag a finger at anyone, the film forces you to look at the nuances of the war, warts and all.

‘How To Divorce During the War’ Depicts Performative Activism’s Upsides and Downsides

Living in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, both Marija and Vytas are no stranger to working with their European neighbors, and many Lithuanians have some kind of tie to the two warring countries. Although Marija and Vytas outwardly express their support for Ukraine, this support wanes in ferocity as time stretches on. It’s not that they are just posting black squares on social media or tweeting into a void — they aren’t slacktivists — but their performative actions and the desire to be on the right side of history feel, in many ways, self-serving.

The upper-middle-class privilege comes on full display after the split. Marija is happy for a Ukrainian mother and her two sons to come and live with her, in a very bold show of how eager she is to help. But she jams all three of them into Vytas’ former office, and it’s not long before she’s complaining about how dirty they are and struggling to communicate with them. When she defiantly quits her job due to the fact that her company won’t break ties with Russia, she doesn’t consider that she still has to provide for her daughter and also the new family living with her. It’s a perfect example of that privilege that Marija is so confident in quitting based on her morals, when the reality is that most people work for morally-dubious companies and remain there for the simple reason that they need a paycheck.

Related

‘2000 Meters to Andriivka’ Review: A First-Hand Look at a Nightmare With No End in Sight | Sundance 2025

Mstyslav Cherno takes us into the darkest depths of the war in Ukraine.

With Vytas, his return home means that he’s plagued with his parents essentially watching the Russian version of Fox News, a channel spouting propaganda that he desperately tries to push his parents not to believe. Whenever he sees a Russian license plate, he doesn’t even hesitate to throw a rock through the car window as a violent form of protest. Of course, the Russian government is to blame for the invasion, but should these citizens pay the price of something they have little to no control over? Vytas thinks so. Rather than seeking employment, he volunteers (occasionally helping himself to the food that is meant to go to refugees thanks to his dwindling funds) and participates in artistic protests to a crowd of dozens where he lies on the ground covered in fake blood.

Protesting, volunteering, and housing refugees all benefit the Ukrainian effort, which, for Marija and Vytas, might excuse the fact that their motives behind their actions are largely an effort to self-soothe. Being fully aware that Russia is in the wrong means that they are also conscious that they might not be doing enough. Add to the fact that Russia is less than a five-hour drive away, and the growing fear of what Putin might do next, and both characters are pushed to their extremes.

Andrius Blaževičius Gets the Details Right in ‘How To Divorce During the War’

Image via M-Films

Blaževičius carefully toes the line between the politics and the domestic drama of How To Divorce. While it might be easy for us to shame Marija for how she treats her new house guests and chastize Vytas for his vandalism, it’s also hard to paint them as pure villains. Galvanized by good intentions, Blaževičius makes a very pointed commentary on the burden of living in this world where we are constantly exposed to the horrors of war and disaster. Feeling helpless and hopeless, it’s not hard to see why the protagonists of the story want to do everything they can, even if it’s not sustainable for them.

Both Repšys and Jakštaitė deserve praise for their performances. After the separation, Repšys plays the awkwardness of Vytas perfectly. From awkwardly asking a Ukrainian sex worker about her family after doing the deed to being covered in red corn syrup while waxing on about the purpose of their protest, Repšys can make us both sympathize with Vytas while also cringing at him. Jakštaitė has the difficult task of making us empathize with Marija. As the cheating spouse and the homeowner stressing out her refugees, it’s not easy to like her. But Jakštaitė is able to show Marija’s frustration and depression without saying a word, humanizing her in just a few quiet moments that remind us that Marija is not the one we should shift all our blame onto.

Blaževičius follows the timeline of events, carefully documenting with an inobtrusive eye as feelings change, politics shift, and a desire for equilibrium trumps the passion for social justice. Lithuanian cinematographer Narvydas Naujalis is able to speak volumes in his shots of the quiet daily life of a country that is on edge. Simple things like the setting of the film depict the evolution of the characters; what starts as a clean and bright apartment where Marija and Vytas live with their daughter slowly dims and becomes cluttered as the film progresses. Layered with symbolism and unafraid to show the spectrum of reactions to a tumultuous time, How To Divorce During the War is a thoughtful drama that highlights the global impact of a war on the smallest scale.

How to Divorce During the War debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

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Release Date

January 26, 2026

Runtime

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108 minutes

Director

Andrius Blaževičius

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Writers

Andrius Blaževičius

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Producers

Marija Razgutė

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Cast

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  Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė

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  Marija

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Pros & Cons

• Strong performances from the leads, especially during the characters’ most unlikeable moments.
• Bla?evi?ius presents a complex issue without losing the intimate look at the divorcing couple.

• The film loses focus with the family dynamic and Dovil?’s character is kind of neglected.

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By Chris Sawin
| Updated 9 seconds ago

In a nutshell, Whistle is about a group of high school kids terrorized by an Aztec death whistle. Originally thought to “summon the dead,” once someone is inclined to blow on this obviously very deadly, skull-shaped, probably doesn’t feel great to rub all over your lips, contraption, this whistle actually summons your death.

Directed by Corin Hardy (The Hallow) and written by Owen Egerton, Whistle dictates that your specific death is chasing you the moment you are born and is trying to catch up with you your entire life. Sometimes we die of old age, and sometimes we die young and far too soon, but blowing the whistle makes your future death find you in a matter of days. Death looks exactly like you and suffers from whatever you would have on your deathbed.

The Whistle Is Much Better Than It Should Be

Chrys (Dafne Keen) moves in with her cousin, Rel (Sky Wang), and starts at Pellington High, where she meets Grace (Ali Skovbye), her jock boyfriend, Dean (Jhaliel Swaby), and Grace’s friend, Ellie (Sophie Nelisse), whom Chrys likes. Hoping to blend in and forget her past, Chrys finds a whistle in her locker. After a shared detention, someone blows the whistle, and those who hear its piercing screech soon face death. Now, the survivors must uncover if they can escape the whistle’s deadly power.

There’s a strange art to Whistle; it shouldn’t be as good as it is. The film is a cliché high school drama, infused with the year’s bloodiest deaths so far. Chrys, being a lesbian, feels like a natural, non-stereotypical progression in the story. She’s gay and facing a world of trouble. That’s the main draw, aside from the Native American kazoo of death, massacring people for fun. The youth pastor-drug dealer-switchblade wielder isn’t essential, but horror films always find a use for such characters.

Chrys’s situation was already difficult before her introduction: she recently recovered from an overdose and her father’s death. Keen’s performance is withdrawn and hesitant, yet eager for normalcy. Chrys and Ellie are the film’s most grounded characters, likely explaining their attraction.

Yes, The Whistle Is Basically Final Destination

Whistle is not unlike any other horror film revolving around a cursed artifact; in fact, it’s incredibly similar. This is The Monkey with a different toy or Final Destination with a skull-faced instrument calling the shots. Whistle is Jumanji with fatalities and a little bit of The Frighteners just for good measure.

The film opens at a Pellington High basketball game. A player named Mason (Stephen Kalyn) is haunted by a burnt figure (I nicknamed him Crispy Carl) lurking in the bleachers. Mason noticeably freaks out during the game, but makes the game-winning shot. Not before the burnt figure, still smoking with embers glowing all over his body, lunges at him. Back in the locker room, Mason screams about it not being his time yet and takes the whistle out of his locker before smashing it on the ground. Later, thinking he’s cheated death, the burnt figure finds him in the shower and puts his burning arm down his throat. Mason’s teammates find him flailing about as his engulfed body burns to a crisp.

The Most Creative, Entertaining Horror Deaths In Years

The deaths in Whistle are super creative and among the most entertaining in a horror film in a long time. Some of them range from lung cancer to old age, but there are two deaths that are unbelievable. One involves drunk driving, and the other involves working at a sawmill, but what makes them special is that the causes are invisible.

You see the effect and know the cause, but since the death is instantaneous, it’s just this gruesome display that makes little sense to anyone not familiar with the whistle. The drunk driving death sees the victim get bent up and contorted while floating in the air, and it’s as nasty and memorable as it sounds. The saw mill death is more of a presentation as it sprays blood everywhere and leaves the victim in this crumpled, limbless ball.

Whistle‘s writing is standard and mediocre, typical of films about summoning death with percussion. However, horror fans will appreciate the creative deaths, solid acting, and an ending that leaves you wanting a sequel.

Whistle was released nationwide in theaters on February 6.

If you ask Us, midi skirts are always on trend. Recently, fashionistas are turning to the effortless style as an alternative to uncomfortable, stiff pieces. And Gwyneth Paltrow proved just how fabulous midi skirts are. Thus, we found a budget-friendly alternative to get her recent look.

For the Los Angeles Times‘ Envelope Oscar Actresses Roundtable, the Marty Supreme actress paired together a cropped, ivory bralette with a matching midi skirt. The posh ensemble is one we’d love to recreate for romantic dates, after-work drinks and events in between. This Sebowel Satin Midi Skirt appears just as dreamy and elevated as Paltrow’s pick, and it only costs $15!

Get the Sebowel Satin Midi Skirt for $15 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change. 

Similar to Paltrow’s pick, this midi skirt is made from a luxe-looking fabrics that resembles high-end satin. The high-waist design, stretchy elastic waistband and delicate ruffles help this flattering number slim curves without the digging discomfort. Another impressive detail? This skirt features delicate ties on the side for a whimsical touch. Whether you wear it out or tied in a bow is up to you.

Matching Paltrow’s clean, rich mom shade is a breeze. The skirt’s beige color is a perfect match. However, it comes in seven other shades, ranging from vibrant picks like rose to deeper hues like brown.

Fans rave about the midi’s high-end appeal. “I absolutely love this skirt. It looks and feels expensive,” one reviewer shared. “The color is as shown. I am going to purchase another color. I was truly satisfied with the fit and the match to my attire.”

The budget-friendly price tag was a huge selling point for reviewers. One shopper shared, “Most silk skirts are much more expensive, so I was pleased with the value for your money. Very comfortable and fits great.”

Want to look polished in a hurry? This expensive-looking midi skirt mirrors Paltrow’s effortless style for just $15! With spring approaching, it’s a versatile piece you won’t regret adding to your collection.

Get the Sebowel Satin Midi Skirt for $15 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change. 

Looking for something else? Explore more skirts here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds.

Related: Over Jeans? These Satin Maxi Skirts Are the Chic (and Easy) Swap

If you’ve been side-eyeing your jeans lately, you’re not alone. Satin-like maxi skirts are the chic alternative we keep reaching for instead, and for good reason. They instantly elevate even the simplest outfits, adding movement and striking the perfect balance between relaxed and put-together style. Plus, these skirts play incredibly well with closet staples you […]