Welcome to the Weekend POURcast; your boozy guide to the box office.
Every Thursday, we serve up what’s new in theaters and on streaming (movies only!), paired with curated cocktail suggestions to match the mood. Whether you’re catching the latest blockbuster on the big screen or mixing a drink for a night on the couch, we’re here to help you turn your weekend watchlist into a cinematic experience. Let’s pour it up. 🍸🍿
Weekend in Review (August 15 – 17)
Last weekend, Weapons down the number one spot, while Nobody 2 delivered action-packed thrills with Hutch Mansell back in finely tuned, rage-fueled form, and we loved it. While not great, it was wild fun with the group. Highest 2 Lowest showed us that Spike Lee and Denzel Washington can still pack emotional weight in a tense drama. Horror fans got their fix with Witchboard and the offbeat cult twist of Jimmy and Stiggs. Indie charm from Americana and East of Wall rounded out the receipts. Streaming-wise, Night Always Comes and The Legend of Ochi offered mood and myth to the stay-at-homes. A wild, genre-spanning weekend, and yep, we had cocktails for each vibe.
New in Theaters (Aug 22 – 24)
Honey Don’t!
The latest sapphic noir from Ethan Coen (yes, that Coen), follows a Luddite P.I. (Margaret Qualley) and a distracted cop (Aubrey Plaza) as they chase clues in Central California. Early word praises its deadpan charm and snappy banter. Consider this your “gumshoe meets indie comedy” feature for the weekend.
Ne Zha II
This epic Chinese animated action-fantasy finally lands stateside after shattering global box office records, $2.2 billion, no big deal. Myth meets monster fights in visually lush CGI. Might challenge audiences with fast pacing and heavy mythology, but damn, it’s gorgeous.
Primitive War (Action / Sci‑Fi Horror – Limited Release)
This Aussie indie just landed stateside in summer movie purgatory, and yes, it’s the one where recon soldiers in Vietnam face off against de-extinct dinosaurs. Featuring Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Jeremy Piven, and Nick Wechsler, the film has already generated buzz back home and earned praise from Piven, who likened director Luke Sparke’s ambitious vision to that of an Australian Spielberg. Watch for this if you’re craving off‑the‑wall creature action with a retro, war movie twist.
Relay, Eden, Splitsville, Afterburn, Trust, and more
From Riz Ahmed’s thriller Relay to the sun-drenched tension of Eden, teen drama Splitsville, and the surreal Afterburn, there’s indie variety streaming (er, screening) at your local multiplex. Check MovieInsider and FirstShowing for the full scoop.
New Movies At-Home (Since Last Weekend)
The Pickup (Prime Video)
Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson star in this heist comedy about armored truck drivers caught in a criminal ambush. Streaming now.
Long Story Short (Netflix)
A BoJack Horseman creator’s animated family saga, sweet, clever, and streaming as of August 22. Think heartfelt with retro wit.
Hostage (Netflix)
A high-concept British thriller starring Suranne Jones as Prime Minister caught in a kidnapping and blackmail crisis. Dark and tense. Streaming now.
Eenie Meenie (Hulu)
Samara Weaving leads this crime-thriller about a reformed criminal coaxed back into darkness. Smart casting, slick heists. Stream it.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Now available for purchase via Prime Video (streaming rights still pending), this is the action spectacle you’ve been waiting for.
Weekend POURcast Picks & Themes
1. Primitive War
A dino‑war mashup in the Vietnam jungle, this one’s loud, weird, and 100% not your dad’s war flick. Great for fans of practical effects and over‑the‑top thrills.
2. Honey Don’t!
Coenesque noir comedy starring Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza. Snappy, stylish, and full of dry wit, perfect counter-programming to creature chaos.
3. Ne Zha II
Epic visual spectacle, finally in 3D and IMAX with an English dub (Michelle Yeoh, anyone?). Chinese mythological action fantasy at its most dazzling.
4. Eden
From Ron Howard, starring Ana de Armas and Jude Law: a dark, Lord-of-the-Flies–style drama set on a remote island where the real threat is human nature.
Final Pour
August’s winding down with a powerful punch, cult noir, mythic animation, home-bound thrillers, and old-school action. Whether you’re shouting lines at the screen or shaking cocktails on your couch, make it cinematic. Hit us next Thursday for the next round of pours and picks.
DRINK UP. WATCH ON.
