Bob Odenkirk unleashes his inner badass in a rollicking, slam-bang “family” adventure inside a small-town amusement park
Nobody 2 Starring Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Colin Hanks & Christopher Lloyd Directed by Timo Tjahjanto Rated R
In theaters Friday, Aug. 15
Nobody plays Nobody like Bob Odenkirk.
In this follow-up to the 2021 action-thriller, the Better Call Saul star reprises his role as a former government assassin who just wants to disappear into mild-mannered family life as a “nobody.” But his past keeps bleeding into his present, quite literally.
After the events of the first film, Hutch Mansell now finds himself deep in debt and back at his old job, taking “assignments” to run a gauntlet of global thuggery—a gaggle of Croatians with MP7s, an elevator crowded with Chinese assassins, and a parking garage full of Mexicans with machetes. Like a lot of us, he needs a vacation. So he gathers his wife (Gladiator‘s Connie Nielsen) and their two kids (McKenna Grace, who played little Tonya in I, Tonya, and Gage Monroe), plus his still-sprightly dad (Christopher Lloyd) for a getaway to a small-town lakeside resort he remembers visiting as a child with his brother (played by the Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA).
But at Plummerville, he runs into more trouble, including a viciously corrupt cop (Colin Hanks) and an extravagantly wicked criminal mastermind (Sharon Stone) with her thumb on a pipeline of bootlegged vice. John Ortiz is the top dog in Plummerville, but all his badassery barks and bites mask another, more nuanced side.
Setting the movie in a theme park provides for some colorfully creative action scenes, including a knock-down drag-out fight aboard a “Duck Boat” ride, a shootout in a house of mirrors and a children’s ball pit turned into a multi-hued minefield. It has a lot of bang-bang, boom-boom, snapped necks, broken bones and brutal hand-to-hand walloping—and one particularly memorable encounter where a head is sliced neatly in two. But there’s a come-together theme of family, of fathers and sons, and the bonds that can bring people closer—to right wrongs, fight bad guys, or weaponize a Ferris wheel.
“Making memories” is what Hutch tells everyone he’s doing on vacay with his family. See Nobody 2 and your memories will include seeing Bob Odenkirk as an infinitely resourceful badass who can turn a waterslide into a death trap.
A hunka-hunka weeklong dose of Elvis, a new ‘Alien’ invasion & supermarket food that knows how to party!
Watch ‘Blue Hawaii’ and other Elvis flicks all this week!
FRIDAY, Aug. 8 Freaky Tales Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn and Jay Ellis are among the cast of this movie, set in 1987, about a group of colorful characters (an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis and a debt collector) on a collision course in Oakland (HBO Max).
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Prequel to the hit romantic series (below) stars Hermoine Corfield, Jeremy Irvine, Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy and is set in the Highlands of 18th century Scotland (8 p.m., Starz).
SATURDAY, Aug. 9 Finding Faith Paula Patton stars as a woman whose life is shattered by an unexpected tragedy that makes her lose faith in God, but then embarks on a journey of rediscovery, hope an purpose (Lifetime).
American Prince: JFK Jr. Documentary examines the remarkable life and enduring legacy of President John F. Kennedy’s son, John Jr., from his father’s assassination to founding the political magazine George and beyond (9 p.m., CNN).
SUNDAY, Aug. 10 Professor T Season four of the British crime drama stars Ben Mlller as professor Jasper Tempest, a criminologist working at Cambridge University using his genius intellect to solve crimes, all while suffering from OCD and an overbearing mother (PBS Masterpiece).
MONDAY, Aug. 11 Irish Blood Alicia Silverstone (who’s come a long way since appearing in Aerosmith’s 1993 video for “Cryin'”) stars in this new crime drama series (above) as a divorce lawyer who discovers the truth about her father…and about the family she never knew even existed (Acorn).
Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends The title kinda says it all. The Marvel Comics superhero gets kid-sized for preschoolers in this new animated series also featuring Captain America, Black Panther and Iron Spider (Disney Jr.)
Elvis Week Seven days of The King’s movies, including Roustabout, G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii and Fun in Acapulco, starts today. It’s a hunka-hunka Elvis flicks, for sure! (4 p.m., AXS TV).
TUESDAY, Aug. 12 Alien: Earth New series spinoff from the film franchise, about a ragtag group of soldiers who make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat. Starring Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther and Timothy Olyphant (FX and Hulu).
Chef Grudge Match Boxing champ Laila Ali jumps into the ring for the new season of this series, a winner-takes-all culinary battle between elite chefs (9 p.m., Food Network).
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13 Sausage Party: Foodtopia The bawdy for-adults-only animated comedy series—featuring various supermarket foods as characters—based on the 2016 movie now returns for season two (above), with voices of creator Seth Rogen plus Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera and Ed Norton, among others (Amazon Prime).
Butterfly Character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics within the treacherous world of global espionage, starring Daniel Dae Kim and Piper Perabo (Prime Video).
THURSDAY, Aug. 14 It Could Have Been Us Feature film sheds light on the harsh realities of exclusion while offering glimpses of resilience, hope, and moments of joy as Emma Örtlund and Ida Johansson, from the Catwalk docuseries, explore the historical treatment of individuals with disabilities (Viaplay).
True Crime Story: Smugshot Season two begins tonight, spotlighting more privileged individuals with a lot to lose who think they can get away with elaborate misdeeds (Sundance TV and Sundance Now).
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Fleetwood Mac’s first album is 50, and the remixed re-release of the band’s self-titled 1975 debut is now available from Rhino. (Happy anniversary, all!) Rediscover what made the album the pop breakthrough for Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Christie McVie, with songs including “Rhinnon,” “Over My Head,” “Landside” and “Say You Love Me.”
BRING IT HOME
Ben Affleck returns to the action-packed world of The Accountant in The Accountant 2 (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) with more murder, another deadly conspiracy and some serious cloak-and-dagger. With Jon Bernthal and Cynthia Addai-Robinson.
The return of ‘Platonic,’ Jason Momoa goes Hawaiian, & women rock all day!
Rose Byrne and Seth Rogan rekindle their ‘Platonic’ relationship.
FRIDAY, Aug. 1 Chief of War Jason Momoa stars in this drama based on historical events about a native Pacific chieftain trying to unify the islands of Hawai’I before Western colonization in the late 18th century (Apple TV+).
Marc Marone: Panicked In his second HBO comedy special, the actor and comedian offers his perspectives on the increasingly uncertain world (8 p.m., HBO).
SATURDAY, Aug. 2 Women in Music Marathon In-concert performances and behind-the-scenes docs about trailblazing females including Cher, Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, DianaRoss, Heart, Blondie and Pat Benatar (11 a.m., AXS TV).
Naming the Dead Six-part series unearths the untold stories of tens of thousands of “unidentified” bodies, using DNA evidence and genetic genealogy to help law enforcement crack the country’s most confounding cold cases (10 p.m., National Geographic).
SUNDAY, Aug. 3 1000 Ways to Dine Take a tour of some of the world’s most exciting, unique and outrageously delicious restaurants, where what’s on the menu is just one part of the bigger experience, hosted by actor/comedian Michael Yo (9 a.m., A&E).
The Great Food Truck Race Host Tyler Florence pushes nine talented teams to the culinary limit as they road trip up the Atlantic coast in pursuit of food truck glory and a $50,000 grand prize (9 p.m., Food Network)
MONDAY, Aug. 4 Atomic People Eighty years after it happened, this doc explores the United States’ bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, gathering testimony from some of the last survivors of the two atomic bombs—the most momentous and destructive attacks in the history of the world (10 p.m., PBS).
King of the Hill Can creator Mike Judge’s animated grownup comedy sitcom really be starting its 14th season? Yes, with more domestic adventures of Hank and Penny Hill, and Bobby all grown up and working as a chef (Hulu and Disney+).
TUESDAY, Aug. 5 The Las Culturistas Culture Awards SNL‘s Bowen Yang and comedian Matt Rogers host this presentation of pop-culture awards, spiced with a bit of silliness, based on their popular podcast and now televised for the first time (9 p.m., Bravo).
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6 The Pickup Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson (above) are joined by Eva Longoria and Keke Palmer in this new crime comedy (Prime Video).
Platonic Season two of the sorta-romantic comedy series, starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as two platonic friends, launches its second season today (Apple TV+).
THURSDAY, Aug. 7 Demascus Comedic sci-fi series stars Station 19’s Okieriete Onaodowan as a Black man on a journey of self-discovery following a reality-bending technological experiment (Tubi).
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The Boss is back in Lost and Found: Selections from the Lost Albums (Legacy), a new curated collection of 20 previously unreleased, available-for-the-first time Bruce Springsteen cuts spanning more than 30 years of his ever-evolving, always-rocking career. “I’ve played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I’m glad you’ll get a chance to finally hear them,” says Springsteen. All we can say is, “Thanks, Bruuuuuuuuce!”
FRIDAY, July 25 Happy Gilmore 2 Start the weekend by teeing up for more Adam Sandler goofball golf antics, this time with a “hole” lot of guest stars, including Ben Stiller, Julie Bowen, Travis Kelce and Sandler’s own wife and their daughters, Sunny and Sadie (Netflix).
Death of a Unicorn When a father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentaly hit a unicorn with their vehicle, their friends want to exploit its magical powers and, well, bad things start to happen (Max).
SATURDAY, July 26 Before Your Father Finds Us A woman (Alexa PenaVega) forced to go into witness protection finds out her ex-husband has escaped from prison, causing her to flee with her teenage daughter into remote woodlands cabin (Lifetime).
Dinner and a Movie Hosts Jason Briggs and Jenny Mollen welcome actor Nick Swardson for a screening of his 2011 comedy Just Got With It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston (8 p.m., TBS).
SUNDAY, July 27 In the Eye of the Storm More horrendous weather disasters—from monstrous Iowa twisters to raging California wildfires and nearly apocalyptic Appalachian flooding—as recalled by ordinary people who lived it…and captured it on camera (10 p.m., Discovery).
Katrina: Race Against Time Another wild-weather documentary series, this one covers one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history when it roared into Louisiana in 2005, killing more than 1,300 (National Geographic).
MONDAY, July 28 Slumlord Millionaire Find out about a group of determined residents and lawmakers fighting corrupt landlords eager to swap long-term tenants for higher rent profits (10 p.m., PBS).
Disability in Film Watch a triple feature of movies featuring characters with disabilities, including Bad Day at Black Rock(1955) with Spencer Tracy and Ship of Fools (1965), starring Vivien Leigh, Jose Ferrer and Lee Marvin (TCM).7.29
Mud Madness Climb aboard for another season following off-road subculture and extreme UTV and ATV mud racing. And maybe bring along some spot remover (8 p.m., Discovery).
TUESDAY, July 29 United Gangs of America Current and former gang members reveal the innermost workings of some of the most dangerous gangs across the U.S. (9 p.m., Vice).
WEDNESDAY, July 30 The Challenge: Vets and New Threats Former “veteran” contestants across 40 seasons of hit reality competitions—including Big Brother,Survivor and The Amazing Race—return to see who’s got what it takes to survive a gauntlet of new threats, betrayals and challenges (8 p.m., MTV).
Mr. and Mrs. Murder Four-part true crime docuseries explores the mysterious disappearance of a Tallahassee man, Mike Williams, who failed to return from a duck hunting trip. But when his widow marries his best friend, new suspicions arise (Hulu).
THURSDAY, July 31 Twisted Metal Season two of the futuristic drama (above) begins as John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) risk their lives to compete in a highly dangerous demolition derby. But can they beat the killer clown Sweet Tooth? (Peacock).
Project Runway Reality competition about fashion design returns for season 21 with former superstar model Heidi Klum back as one of the judges (9 p.m., Freeform).
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The new deluxe edition of the Talking Heads’ classic 1978 album More Songs About Buildings and Food (Rhino), available in multiple formats, features the remastered album plus rarities, alternate versions, live recordings and performance video, and a 60-page hardcover book. Re-live the retro new age groovery with tunes including “Psycho Killer,” “Take Me to the River” and “Stay Hungry,” and much more.
Do you remember when rock was young? Elton John: Live from the Rainbow Theater with Ray Cooper (Universal Music Entertainment) is a new vinyl and CD re-release culled from EJ’s six-show 1977 residency at London’s iconic venue, stripped down from a full band with accompaniment by his percussionist—and former band member—Ray Cooper. Tracks include “Roy Rogers,” “Border Song,” “Sweet Painted Lady” and more.
The greatest band ever with a flute-playing frontman (Ian Anderson) rises again with Still Living in the Past, a new reissue of Jethro Tull’s cult-fave 1972 album (available on 5 CDs plus a Blu-Ray or an LP set). It’s been newly expanded with singles, album tracks, demos and outtakes, plus a live-in-concert Blu-ray recording from 1979s and four promo films (proto videos). Dig it!
BRING IT HOME
Fans of action flicks will flip over The Jet Li Collection (Shout! Studios), a roundup of five seminal Hong Kong classics from the legendary actor, martial arts expert and producer. (who found movie “crossover” fame in flicks like Lethal Weapon, Romeo Must Die and Kiss of the Dragon). The 10 discs also feature a bounty of bonus content, including commentary, interviews and deleted scenes.
Director Wes Anderson is up to his inspired quirkiness again in The Phoenician Project (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), starring Benico del Toro as an unscrupulous industrialist cooking up a mega project in the Middle East, dodging would-be assassins and meeting all sorts of colorful characters. The all-star ensemble cast includes Michael Ciera, Mia Threapleton, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson and Bryan Cranston.
Worlds collide! Snoopy and sharks, Billy Joel and Mickey Mouse, LL Cool J, bagpipes, housewives with guns, and ‘Clueless’ turns 30!
FRIDAY, July 18 Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang break out in original songs (by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds) in this franchise special about the magic of summer camp (Apple TV+).
Billy Joel: And So It Goes New two-part documentary presents an expansive portrait of the singer-songwriter’s life and career. Continues on July 25 (HBO).
SATURDAY, July 19 Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story Chrissy Metz stars in this faith-based drama as a nurse torn between her duty to protest her patients and her desperation to find her missing husband and kids (Lifetime).
Clueless Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ‘90s high-school satirical classic (below) starring Alicia Silverstone as a Beverly Hills teen who upsets the pecking order and becomes a matchmaker, which will air three times in a row today—once for every decade it’s been around—on Pluto TV’’s 90s Throwback channel.
SUNDAY, July 20 Shark Week Annual week-long event of shark-centric programming kicks off tonight, celebrating its 37th year. With shows like “Dancing with Sharks,” “Expedition Unknown Shark Files” and “How to Survive a Shark Attack,” it’s fin-tastic! (8 p.m., Discovery).
Shark Week Support Movie Marathon Dive into this watery trio of shark-adjacent flicks: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Aquaman (begins 2 p.m., TBS).
MONDAY, July 21 The Hunting Wives In this new ensemble drama (above) based on the hit mystery thriller by May Cobb, a woman moves to deep East Texas and becomes consumed by a socialite’s charms, tumbling into a world of obsession, seduction and murder. Starring Malin Ackerman, Brittany Snow, Chrissy Metz and Dermot Mulroney (Netflix).
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse New animated incarnation of the iconic kiddie show, geared to preschoolers, continues the adventures of Mickey and his pals—and features the song “Hot Dog!” by They Might Be Giants (9 p.m., Disney Jr.).
Battle of the Bagpipes Discover the history of Scotland’s musical heritage with performances from the military and civilian “piper” bands, below (streaming on Acorn TV).
TUESDAY, July 22 The 1% Club Joel McHale hosts season two of this game show in which contestants vie for cash prizes by attempting to answer questions that only 1% of the population can answer (8 p.m., Fox).
WEDNESDAY, July 23 Hip Hop Was Born Here LL Cool J hosts this docuseries about the creation, evolution and ongoing legacy of the music which became a global culture sensation (Paramount +).
Washington Black New series follows the 19th-century odyssey of an 11-year-old boy, George “Wash” Washington Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.), on a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love (Hulu)
THURSDAY, July 24 The Congregation Season two of the award-winning Swedish psychological drama is based on a real-life cult and its abuses, infidelities, threats and feverish prophecies (Viaplay).
Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965 Learn the story of the civil rights era from the perspectives of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life (PBS on Prime).
BRING IT HOME
As the old saying notes, death comes to us all. One of the most successful modern-horror franchises returns with Final Destination: Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), with another group of young characters meeting their inevitable ends in more gruesome, nightmarish and horrifically inventive ways.
Live Aid turns 40, sports in the spotlight & a home tour of Disney parks
July 11 – July 17
Freddy Mercury and Queen thrilled the crowd at Live Aid in 1995.
FRIDAY, July 11 The Wild Ones No, not the Marlon Brando classic. This docuseries follows a trio of wildlife experts on a global trek to protect the planet’s most endangered species (Apple TV+).
One Night in Colorado Four-part docuseries looks at the 2022 event in which four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in the middle of the night (Prime Video).
SATURDAY, July 12 Mysteries From Above: Lost at Sea Season two returns to the air to investigate a Pacific island that’s always intrigued scientists and geologists, using revealing images from drone, satellite and other aerial devices (9 p.m., History).
CBS Weekend Family friendly a.m. programming block includes Lucky Dog: Reunions, Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin, Mission Unstoppable and Tails of Value (CBS).
SUNDAY, July 13 Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took on the World New documentary commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1995 global concert event that raised tens of billions of dollars to offset world hunger, with iconic performance videos, backstage footage and interviews with organizer Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting and many more (9 p.m., CNN)
The Institute New series about a kidnapped teen genius who finds out he’s being “held” at a special place (above) where all the kids have unusual abilities. Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, Joe Freeman and Simone Miller (MGM+).
MONDAY, July 14 Life After People: Water World What would happen in a world if suddenly there were no humans anymore? Tonight’s season three continues the “investigation” with convincing computer graphics and animations, depicting what a much more watery globe would look like (10:30 p.m., History).
A Killer Among Friends Jennifer Love Hewitt narrates this new true-crime series about a group of friends haunted by memories of the murder of one of their own. Whodunnit? (10 p.m., ID).
TUESDAY, July 15 Trainwreck: Balloon Boy A homemade flying saucer lifts off, and a 6-year-old boy might be inside. National panic ensues—but what truly happened? This documentary investigates (Netflix).
The Kelly Clarkson Show Kelly’s guests are Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass, from the new movie Dying for Sex (syndicated, check local listings).
WEDNESDAY, July 16 The ESPYS Sports celebs an others celebrate the year’s top athletic achievements and unforgettable moments, hosted by funnyman Shane Gillis (8 p.m., ABC).
Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful Here’s your front-row ticket to the full-length “visual companion” to Cyrus’ latest album, a one-of-a-kind pop opera with 13 original new songs (Disney+ and Hulu).
THURSDAY, July 17 The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster True-crime docuseries dives into a 2018 event in the “furry community” that exposed a horrifying conspiracy of animal abuse lurking beneath the fandom of people who like to dress up as animals. Yes, it’s a thing (Sundance TV and Sundance Now).
Disney Resort POV Walkthrough Can’t make it to a Disney park this summer? Well, sit back and enjoy this immersive “tour” of Disney resorts and attractions, and its salute to seven decades of Disney ingenuity. It’s the next best thing to being there (Disney+).
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Get down to one of the earliest recordings of the iconic funk band Sly & the Family Stone with the newly unearthed (and remastered) The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedrail 1967 (High Moon Records). It’s a time tunnel back to the young days of the band sowing seeds of greatness that would soon bloom bright with “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Higher” and “Dance to the Music.”
‘Jaws’ at 50, a lotta fireworks & families go back to the 1800s!
Learn all about the movie that created the concept of summer blockbusters back in ’75.
All times Eastern.
FRIDAY, July 4 A Capitol Fourth Celebrate our nation’s 249th birthday with this annual tradition, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, with fireworks along the Potomac and musical performances from multiple genres of music (8 p.m., PBS).
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks In addition to a lot of kaboomy razzle-dazzle up in the sky, there’ll also be ground-level performances from Eric Church, the Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer and Trisha Yearwood (8 p.m., NBC).
SATURDAY, July 5 The Summer Hikaru Died Anime thriller based on an award-winning manga novel about a young man in a rural Japanese village who discovers his best friend has been “replaced” with a replicant (Netflix).
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Show All this month, you can watch material from the groundbreaking talk show, spanning the 1960s into the early ’90s, with 50 episodes (never before seen after their original airings) featuring classic Carson bits, sketches, guests and musical acts. It’s a time capsule of retro TV, when Johnny ruled late night (MeTV).
SUNDAY, July 6 Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Yep, that Wild Kingdom, the great-grandaddy of wildlife TV series hosted by Marlin Perkins for more than two decades beginning in 1963, returns in reruns (7 a.m., MeTV).
The Princess Bride Always worth a rewatch, this 1987 classic from director Rob Reiner has an all-star cast (Billy Crystal! Robin Wright! Chris Sarandon! Andre the Giant!) in a whimsical, swashbuckling bedtime-story tale of a princess, a giant and “true love” (9:03 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, July 7 Such Brave Girls A young woman, her sister and their mother flee their cramped, crumbling home for a shot at love and adoration in this six-episode comedy series. With Kate Sadler, Lizzie Davidson and Louise Brealey (Hulu).
Bachelor in Paradise Returning cast members from across the franchise hit the beach in Costa Rica for season 10 or the hit reality-show matchmaking competition (8 p.m., ABC).
TUESDAY, July 8 Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty How the greatest works of art in western civilization sprung from one of the most turbulent periods in history (9 p.m., PBS).
Born to be Viral: The Real Lives of Kid Influencers Six-episode docuseries follows the first generation of kids to be raised in the media spotlight, with their lives streamed to millions—and some of them becoming millionaires in the process (Hulu)
WEDNESDAY, July 9 South Park The acclaimed animated grownup comedy from Trey Parker and Matt Stone (above) begins season 27 tonight. So they must be doing something right, right? (Comedy Central).
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia The gang of chronic underachievers stoops even lower in season 17 in their cravings for money and societal privileges. With Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Katilin Olson and Danny Devito (FXX and Hulu).
THURSDAY, July 10 Brick A couple becomes trapped in their apartment behind an impenetrable, futuristic wall that has materialized overnight, enclosing their entire building. Can everyone band together to find a way out, solve the mystery, and survive? (Netflix).
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story Go inside the making and behind-the-scenes shark drama of the movie that launched the era of summer blockbusters back in ’75—and made just about everyone afraid of going in the water (National Geographic).
Back to the Frontier Chip and Joanna Gaines challenge three families in this new adventure/reality series to reimagine their lives as 1880s homesteaders, forgoing present-day comforts for old-fashioned life on the frontier (Magnolia Network and Max).
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Everyone’s a photographer now, with cameras built into phones. But decades ago, when photography was a marvelous new thing, there were all sorts of innovations and experimentation to be found—and all sorts of new “high tech” trickery even danger. Anika Burgess’ fascinating Flashes of Brilliance (W.W. Norton) examines the long arc of photographic advancement, from early cameras attached to ballons, to X-rays, photography deep under the sea, on the moon and deep into the cosmos. It’s an engrossing combination of science, history, art and wild eccentricities about the human desire to document our existence in our world, and beyond.
Find out what it’s really like—and I mean really, really like—to be a stand-up comedian in Doing Time (Jawbone Press), author JT Habersaat’s refreshingly candid and gloriously uncensored look at the artistry and hard work that go into making people laugh. With reflections and recollections, and more than a few hard-earned battle scars, from Patton Oswalt, Bobcat Goldthwait, The Kids in the Hall, Dana Gould and dozens of others who share their anecdotes and stories.
Remember the promotional-tie-in toys you used to get with food at McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and other fast-food places? Author Jonathan Alexandrotos for sure does, in Free With Every Kids Meal (McFarland), he digs deep to examine the past and present, the cultural impact, and the full-throttle fun of all sorts of “happy meals.”
BRING IT HOME
Vampires attack the South in Sinners (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a tale of two brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home after World War II only to face an even greater (and graver) threat than the Klan. Hailee Steinfeld also stars in this horror show gloriously a-swirl with undertones about music, culture, history and race. Loaded with extras and bonus features, including making-of docs, interviews and a closer look at the movie soundtrack.
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Get deep into the retro grooves of The Legends of Surf Guitar, recorded live in California, with musicians from the ‘70s and ‘80s surf-music revival recreating such classics as “Wipe Out,” “Pipeline,” the Peter Gunn theme and “Baby Elephant Walk.” And some special guest stars take the stage, too! Surf’s up! (Oglio Records).
Dinos roar again in sixth sequel, with an all-new cast and Spielberg-ian overtones of the 1993 original
Jurassic World Rebirth Starring Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey & Rupert Friend Directed by Gareth Edwards Rated PG-13
In theaters Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Dinosaurs became extinct some 66 million years ago, until, that is, director Steven Spielberg brought ‘em back in a big way. His Jurassic Park in 1993 established a dino-mite film franchise that’s still roaring, now into sequel number six.
In Jurassic World Rebirth, set several years after the events of the previous film, 2022’s Dominion, the Earth’s climate has proven unwelcoming to laboratory-bred dinosaurs. (Despite the franchise title, it’s just not “Jurassic” enough.) So, a team of covert operatives infiltrate an abandoned dino research facility on a remote island now inhabited by crossbred dinosaur mutants, which continue to thrive in the wilds of the equatorial tropics. They’re on a mission to extract dino DNA, while there are still some dinos around to provide it, that a pharmaceutical company intends to use for medical purposes.
What could possibly go wrong?
Scarlett Johannson stars as a mercenary for hire, lured by a multimillion-dollar payday. Ditto for the boat captain played by Oscar-winning Mahershala (Moonlight) Ali. They’re both working for a tagalong pharmacy rep (Rupert Friend), who also enlists a hunky-nerd paleontologist (Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey, who also starred in Wicked). To keep things interesting, they all cross paths with a papa Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (from The Lincoln Lawyer) and his three kids, who just happen to be on their own collision course with dinosaur island.
It’s a Jurassic movie, so of course there are monsters—in the water, in the air and romping and stomping and snarling all over the place. Director Gareth Edwards creates some intense, dramatic encounters with an array of menacing creatures, including some crossbred amphibious mutations like the terrifying Distortus Rex, with a bulbous head and six limbs, and the Mutadons, flying carnivores the size of military F-16s.
Spielberg, who only directed two Jurassic flicks, remains onboard as a producer. Maybe that’s one reason so much of Rebirth seems to be retreading the past, with scenes that echo moments from the 1993 film and callbacks to the original, like a big unfurling museum banner that reads “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth,” which appeared in the closing shot of the first movie. One character misdirects a lurking dinosaur with a red flare, as Sam Neill did more than 30 years ago, and there’s another, whose greed leads him to a fate akin to Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) when he tried to smuggle dino embryos off the island.
There’s still that good ol’ Spielberg sentimentality, too, especially with a little girl (Audrina Miranda) who becomes a hero, her big sister’s wayward-teen boyfriend (David Iacono, from Netflix’s The Summer I Turned Pretty) who also proves his worthiness, and a cute little tagalong dino nicknamed Delores, which you’ll most likely be seeing as a mass-merched kids’ toy.
There’s plenty of talking in between the post-prehistoric action, including discussion about the situational ethics of dinosaur breeding and big pharma spending mega money to make even more mega money. It’s hard to miss the parallel to the entire Jurassic franchise, which continues to mine movie dinos for astronomical profits.
And now, in the world spawned by Jurassic Park, humans and dinosaurs continue to coexist, even though the dinos don’t really have much use for the ongoing exploitation of us puny bipeds. “They may be through with us,” says the movie’s pharmacology dude, “but we’re not through with them.” Somewhere in the distance, I hear the roar of an eighth Jurassic movie…
Mormon wives, a new Capt. Nemo & Jayne Mansfield’s daughter tells all!
It’s a ‘Mormon Wives’ reunion!
FRIDAY, June 27 Smoke Taron Edgerton stars in this based-on-real-event drama about an arson investigator who teams with a police detective in a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. With Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo and Anna Chlumsky (Apple TV+).
My Mom Jayne Come along for actress and director Mariska Harigaty’s journey to understand and embrace the public and private legacy of her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, in this probing documentary (8 p.m., HBO).
SATURDAY, June 28 Pretty Hurts Hillary Duff stars in this new network movie as a mom who discovers the ugly truths behind the glamor of the teen pageant world, highlighting a disease for which young people are especially at risk (8 p.m., Lifetime).
What Would You Do? Onlookers and bystanders react to a workers’ comp scam, customers being rude to an employee with Down Syndrome and a mother pressuring her gay son into conversion therapy (8 p.m., ABC).
SUNDAY, June 29 Nautilus Epic adventure drama (above), inspired by Jules Verne’s classic Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, tells the story of an Indian Prince seeking a fabled Viking treasure—but you know him better as Capt. Nemo. Starring Black Mirror’s Shazad Latif (9 p.m., AMC).
Homeward Bound Two dogs and a cat set off on a heartwarming adventure to reunite with their owners (9 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, June 30 The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys New season begins of the doc series about a Missouri mega-rancher and his family, now facing personal and business challenges including an FBI investigation and possible foreclosure (Bravo).
TUESDAY, July 1 Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel Featuring interviews with insiders and former staff, this exposé traces American Apparel’s journey from fashion phenomenon to financial flop (Netflix).
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives The cast of the show—all the #MomTok and #DadTok—congregates again in this reunion special to watch unseen footage, uncover new secrets and scandals and make a surprise announcement (Hulu).
WEDNESDAY, July 2 The Old Guard Charlize Theron, Henry Golding and Uma Thurman are among the ensemble cast in this flick about a team of immortal warriors on a mission to protect the world (Netflix).
THURSDAY, July 3 The Sandman, Vol. I Season two begins of the adaption based on the DC comic book series by Neil Gaiman about Morpheus, the King of Dreams, as he seeks to regain his power after a century of imprisonment (Netflix).
BRING IT HOME
The cheerleading comedy classic gets a rah-rah resurrection in the 25th anniversary re-release of Bring It On (Shout! Studios), starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union. Bonus content includes a making-of doc, audio commentary, wardrobe and makeup tests and deleted scenes. And didja know both Dunst and Union were real-life high school cheerleaders?
A wind-up toy simian causes all kinds of hellzapoppin’ in master horror director Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey (Neon Home Entertainment), based on a Stephen King story and starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany and Collin O’Brien.
Hell of a Summer (Neon) is a coming-of-age horror/slasher comedy (yes, really) about a young summer-camp counsellor (Fred Hechinger) who discovers something deadly lurking in the woods. Both familiar (to horror fans) and fresh at the same time, it also marks the co-directorial debut of Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, who provides commentary in one of the bonus features.
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Bruce Springsteen breaks out the pedal steel, fiddle and other Nash-centric instruments with Somewhere North of Nashville (Sony), a previously unreleased collection of rockabilly, honky-tonk tunes and foot-tapping country. The Boss says the songs were recorded back in 1995, when he was working on what would become The Ghost of Tom Joad album. “I ended up making a country record on the side,” he says, but those side songs never made it onto an album…until now!
‘The Bear’ roars, Janis Ian breaks the silence & see Nashville’s biggest party
Jeremy Allan White heats up the kitchen in season four of “The Bear.”
FRIDAY, June 20 Janis Ian: Breaking the Silence All about singer-songwriter Janis Ian—who hit the charts in 1976 with “At Seventeen”—and how she continues to make music that challenges social norms and speaks her truth (9 p.m., PBS).
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Guy Fieri gets funky in Atlanta with chicken sandwiches, patty melt empanadas and hot fish (9 p.m., Food Network).
SATURDAY, June 21 Dateless to Dangerous: My Son’s Secret Life Jody Sweeten stars in this network drama as a mom dealing with a son who tumbles into the dark online world of incels—celibates guys who they think they’re not attractive to girls, and hostile toward girls and boys who are sexually active (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, June 22 The Gilded Age Season three of the Julian (DowntonAbbey) Fellowes’ lavish period drama—set in 1880s New York—returns tonight with Carrie Coon (above), Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Taissa Farmiga among its sprawling cast (9 p.m., HBO).
WWE LFG The LFG stands for “Legends and Future Greats” in this wrestling “greatest hits” smackdown competition (10 p.m., A&E).
MONDAY, June 23 Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything Feature-length documentary examine the broadcast legend’s career, her pivotal role in journalism history and her pioneering example for women in the industry (Hulu).
TUESDAY, June 24 Chopped The kitchen is buzzing tonight as four social media influencers take to the stoves for a bout of post-worthy food challenges (8 p.m., Food Network).
Enigma Documentary explores transgender identity through the paths of women who helped shape trans culture and history (9 p.m., HBO).
WEDNESDAY, June 25 The Bear Season four of the Emmy-winning series finds the restaurant team not just even more determined to survive, but also looking for ways to take The Bear to the next level. With Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Abby Elliot (Hulu)
Human Footprint A biologist travels the globe in this docuseries, telling the ongoing story of how our everyday choices shape the planet and reflect who we really are (9 p.m., PBS).
THURSDAY, June 26 Butchers of L.A. True-crime doc about three predators whose horrifying crimes terrorized Southern California for more than two decades, killing more than 50 victims (Sundance Now).
CMA Fest In case you didn’t make it to Nashville for June’s annual week of country music shows and fan events, you can watch this special of on- and offstage highlights hosted by entertainers Ashley McBride and Cody Johnson (8 p.m., ABC).
Rush Hour Marathon Watch all three of the 1998-2006 buddy-cop comedy flicks starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in this back-to-back movie “rush” (10 p.m., TNT).
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Dance like it’s the ‘80s again with this splendid reissue of albums by the B-52s, the era’s ultimate party band. The Warner and Reprise Years (Rhino) collects all the Georgia-based band’s 1979-1992 albums—on 9 vinyl discs or 8 CDs—into a rainbow-hued set with the songs “Rock Lobster,” “Private Idaho,” “Good Stuff,” “Love Shack” “Roam” and dozens of other shake-your-groove-thing tracks.
The golden cinematic era of Western movies made in Italy, with their signature soundtracks, is revisited in Jeymes Samuel’s Spaghetti Western Collection (CAM Sugar/UME), a roundup of classic film music from composers of 1963-1972 flicks like Django, In a Colt’s Shadow and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.
Didja ever wonder what classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs would sound like as bluegrass? Well, now you find out, with Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival (CMH Records), a new take on CCR hits like “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and more, all performed by the group Iron Horse, the crackerjack acoustic ensemble behind all the “Pickin’ On” toe-tapping tribute projects to Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers and The Beatles, Taylor Swift, U2 and ZZ Top.
BRING IT HOME
Remember when Mel Gibson and Danny Glover teamed up in the ‘80s for the rip-roaring’ buddy-cop action comedy Lethal Weapon? Now that 1987 classic is available for the first time on digital and 4K, accompanied by a later “director’s cut” with footage never seen in theaters, plus a salute to the film’s late director, Richard Donner. (Warner Bros. Discover Home Entertainment).
The first-ever live-action movie spinoff of the popular videogame, A Minecraft Movie stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa and made big box-office bucks in theaters earlier this year. Now it’s available on 4K UHD, Blue-ray and DVD (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment), loaded with extras, including features on the film’s special effects and music.
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Visit an apocalyptic, post-nuclear world in artist/author Ben Mauro’s Huxley, the fantastically detailed, six-part graphic novel about a A.I., cloned humans, interplanetary wars and a robot named Huxley, all with chilling overtones about where we might be headed, indeed, in our world. And it’s probably no coincidence that the robot has the name of the British author of the classic Brave New World, about a future where humanity is dehumanized to uphold an authoritarian ideal. (Thames & Hudson)
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