New Movie Weekend Guide: 5 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About

For readers deciding what to see this weekend, this New Movie roundup frames the choices by audience, not just by press attention. Movie critic Travis Hopkins highlighted a short list that ranges from a studio-backed title to intimate character drama — a helpful split if you’re weighing bold, conversation-starting cinema against quieter, performance-driven storytelling.

Which New Movie fits your weekend mood

Here’s the part that matters: pick by what you want to feel afterward. The critic’s selections include the latest A24 feature, How to Make a Killing, which occupies the position of the more high-profile, discussion-ready release. If you prefer quieter, actor-led work, Midwinter Break — described as a film about an elderly couple grappling with the realities of long-term relationships — is notable for its leads, Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds.

Other entries mentioned alongside those two roughly cover a spectrum of smaller-scale and genre offerings, giving weekend audiences a variety of tones to choose from. If you’re deciding for a group, think about whether you want a title that sparks debate or one that leans on intimate performance.

What’s easy to miss is that the lineup cuts across different distribution lanes, which will influence how long each film stays available locally and how widely it will be discussed in the days after opening.

Quick rundown of critic picks and what to expect

Movie critic Travis Hopkins presented a short list of must-see titles for the weekend. The named films include:

• How to Make a Killing (the latest A24 movie)
• Midwinter Break (about an elderly couple; stars Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds)
• Psycho Killer
• Montreal
• My Beautiful
• Sirat
• EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

The list mixes higher-profile studio fare with a handful of smaller, likely more specialized films. If festival-style or performance-centric movies are your preference, prioritize titles that emphasize acting and relationship-driven drama. If you want a film to take with a group keen on lively post-screening conversation, consider the A24 entry first.

• If you follow buzzy studio releases, the A24 entry is the New Movie most likely to generate wider discussion.
• If intimate drama and actor-driven narratives are your priority, Midwinter Break targets that audience directly.
• The remainder of the roundup spans indie and specialty films that may play selectively — check showtimes early.
• A sign that a title is gaining traction will be additional critic attention and broader local screening availability over the next few days.

The real question now is whether local programming will mirror the critic buzz: stronger early reviews can expand a film's footprint quickly, but quieter releases often rely on word-of-mouth from viewers who connect with them.

Editor’s aside: The bigger signal here is how this mix reflects the current weekend marketplace — critics are splitting attention between headline-grabbing studio pieces and compact dramas that travel on performance strength rather than marketing muscle.

If you’re mapping a plan, decide whether you want to prioritize conversation and reach or quiet craftsmanship and acting — that choice will guide which of these New Movie picks you should see first.