Weekend Watch - May 2024 Recap
Some solid above-the-line films mark this as a mildly better May than last year, but it’s still nowhere near the hit-churning month that it was in the 2010s, with most films either flopping with critics, audiences, the box office, or all three more often than they don’t.
Welcome back to the Weekend Watch where each week we take a look at a new piece of film or television media and give it a rating, review, and recommendation. This week, we’re looking back at the films released in the month of May and letting you know which ones have the best chance of making it on this blog’s list of the Greatest Films of All Time. As always, they’ll be categorized by likelihood, with Long Shots being films still worth checking out but that need a big boost from either extended theater time, awards, or both to have a shot at making it, Possible Things being the films that are already building steam toward the success that they need to cement themselves in the long term, and Sure Things being those instant classic films that have already secured their spot in cinematic history. So far in 2024, we’ve had only one Sure Thing, and May won’t be changing that. Some solid above-the-line films mark this as a mildly better May than last year, but it’s still nowhere near the hit-churning month that it was in the 2010s, with most films either flopping with critics, audiences, the box office, or all three more often than they don’t. Still, there’s a decent offering of films released this month that you may already have seen or that you might have missed. Let’s get into it.
Long Shots:
Turtles All the Way Down: It’s a John Green adaptation, so of course it’s going to be alright. This one also features rising star Isabela Merced and explores themes of mental health, so don’t let its debut on Max keep you fully down on it. It’ll probably please the younger audiences more than the wide public, but it’s still one worth keeping on your radar.
The Contestant: This is one of the more fascinating documentaries I’ve heard of in recent history, chronicling a year-long experiment(?) where a Japanese gameshow contestant stayed in a single room with no clothes on, filling out magazine sweepstakes to receive his food and clothing. Hulu has it, and apparently, it’s not too bad if not that groundbreaking either.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Success at the box office seems to be a given for the Apes franchise at this point, even if this distant sequel looks to be hitting audiences and critics more closely to Rise than Dawn or War. The visual effects and stunts could be enough to overcome its slight critical deficit and get it fully there.
Babes: This indie comedy about motherhood and friendship starring Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau seems to have found its niche. Fans and critics are in agreement that it’s a solid film, both funny and poignant. It certainly looks to be a film more for the girls than the whole crowd, but don’t let that keep you away.
Jim Henson: Idea Man: Ron Howard’s documentary about the mind behind the Muppets landed on Disney+ after opening at Cannes, and it’s again proving that the audiences want more of the Muppets. Critics are more middling on the doc, but it’s got a shot with its fairly beloved topic to make a run.
The Blue Angels: Amazon’s documentary about the iconic stunt performers and their training regimen released this month and looks to be doing alright with its target audience. If this is something that interests you, it’s probably worth checking out, but don’t expect it to be on any lists at the end of the year.
The Beach Boys: Disney’s documentary about the classic boy band celebrates their impact on culture and music, so it’s been a hit with fans. The upbeat, all-good vibes of the doc have kept critics from being as high on it, but don’t let that keep you from giving it a shot.
Young Woman and the Sea: This film looks to be Disney’s answer to last year’s Nyad, starring Daisy Ridley as the first woman to swim the English Channel. Audiences are certainly higher on it than they were on Nyad, but critics are saying basically the same thing. Sports biopics tend to have some legs in awards season, though, and Ridley has certainly earned some sympathy in Hollywood in the past few years, so it’s still got a shot.
Possible Things:
The Fall Guy: As the film that’s working to reinvigorate the world’s and Hollywood’s appreciation of stunts and stunt men, its middling box office achievement and slightly above average reviews have this fun action rom/com sitting a little lower than it probably should be to have a legitimate chance, but Gosling and Blunt tend to have some mojo, so it’s not fully out of it.
I Saw the TV Glow: A24’s first little hit of the year comes in the form of the 90s TV nostalgia trip from Jane Schoenbrun, starring Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine. Critics are in awe of the film’s visuals and aura, even if audiences are a bit more divided on how much this film ends up being style over substance.
Evil Does Not Exist: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest film released in the U.S. this month after having wide festival success last year. His exploration of gentrification and environmentalism sparked a lot of conversation among critics last year, and it’s possible that he’ll get the nod from Japan as its submission for the International Feature Oscar this year.
We Grown Now: A hit from last year's Chicago Film Festival and TIFF, this coming-of-age tale set in Chicago’s public housing in the 1990s opened across the U.S. this month. The film has been a hit with those who have seen it, so you might as well join them and find it where you can.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: Though not as critically or financially successful (Fury Road was also technically a box office flop) as its predecessor, Furiosa still looks to be the best overall film from this month, as its technical prowess already has plenty of people buzzing about its awards potential at the end of the year.