Movie Reviews

Cosmic Circus has been covering movies and TV/streaming series for over five years now. Please take some time to read through some of our movie reviews below to find out what the writers think of past and new films.

Refer to the Stellar Picks archive to find some of our top-rated movies, shows, books, games, and more!


 

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‘The Running Man’ is an Action Movie Born in the Wrong Era

The Running Man is a notable Stephen King adaptation from the ’80s, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger. From the material alone, it was difficult to envision what an Edgar Wright take on it would look like in execution. After seeing the movie, it seems like a choice to try something different. For the majority of The Running Man, Wright throws away every signature

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Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Review: Highs & Lows of this New Take on Shelley’s Classic Tale

John and Vin are back to talk about the new film from director Guillermo del Toro, based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. The two compare their memories of reading the book as well as other film adaptations of the classic novel, before diving into the new film more. They discuss Jacob Elordi’s fantastic performance as The Monster, what worked in the

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‘Predator: Badlands’ is Trachtenberg’s Weakest Entry in the Franchise

I won’t win many friends with this review, but I genuinely hated almost every second of Predator: Badlands. This is Dan Trachtenberg’s third go-around in the Predator franchise, after revitalizing the series with the (very good) Prey in 2022 and the (nifty, but forgettable) Predator: Killer of Killers earlier this year. With Badlands (not to be confused with the Terrence Malick film

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‘Frankenstein’ (2025): Guillermo del Toro’s Abusive Parent Allegory

Passion projects are sometimes tricky endeavors for directors. They often range from the ambitiousness of Peter Jackson’s King Kong to the fascinatingly disastrous wonders of projects like Megalopolis. The story of Frankenstein is a project Guillermo del Toro has discussed for years. Similar to Peter Jackson’s King Kong, it’s an adaptation that seems like a match made in monstrous heaven. Frankenstein

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‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ Biopic Tries but Fails to Overcome Clichéd Trappings

Music biopics are in a bit of a rut when it comes to innovation lately. While there’s always the occasional film like Better Man that finds creativity within standard templates, many biopics are picked apart with critiques of their clichéd nature and inability to show us anything truly fascinating about the musicians they’re focused on. Unfortunately, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

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‘V/H/S/Halloween’ Is A Cruel Addition To The Shudder Film Franchise

Many people do not realize how much anthologies are a group effort within the film industry, whether it’s Rod Serling‘s The Twilight Zone, Charlie Brooker‘s Black Mirror, Tim Miller‘s Love, Death + Robots, Marvel’s What If…?, Star Wars: Visions, and so on. Every piece of a film or a season of television requires input from an individual storyteller through screenwriting and

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‘Good Fortune’ Review: A Terrific Life-Affirming Comedy

Good Fortune sees Aziz Ansari return to storytelling since Master of None. Similar to that series, Ansari brings a rich commentary to his latest film. Master of None made Ansari an award winner with the segment “Parents,” which spoke about the immigrant experience and the entitlement of second-generation children. With Good Fortune, he scripts a wild blend of Heaven Can Wait

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‘Ballad of a Small Player’ is Energetic, Stylish yet Familiar

Ballad of a Small Player is a fascinating follow-up to Edward Berger’s Conclave. Most of Conclave’s tone was overly serious and at times felt like a detective procedural wearing a pope’s uniform. Ballad of a Small Player is a complete gear shift in terms of style and feel. The film oftentimes has an enthralling, fast-paced energy that keeps the viewer hooked

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‘Tron: Ares’ Review: A Sensory Sledgehammer of Hollowness

Tron: Ares inspires perplexing feelings. Everything about the movie should work, and sometimes it really tries to dazzle the viewer. Yet, the entire experience feels like a Walmart putting out Christmas items and music in October. The music is undeniable, and the visuals are pretty, but the Wally World employees make some clear, baffling decisions. The new sequel aims to push

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