Movies

As a critic, I’ve always believed some of the most compelling films start with a great book, and honestly, there’s a treasure trove of stories out there just waiting to be adapted for the big screen. I’m particularly excited about science fiction – we’ve seen how well something like Jurassic Park can do, and there are so many other novels in that same vein – think grand adventures with monsters, or even time travel stories with a prehistoric angle – that are practically made to be blockbusters.

Need a movie night idea? While science fiction films are known for futuristic technology and space adventures, they can also be surprisingly good at showing us what it means to be human, especially when it comes to love and connection. If you’re looking for something a little different this Valentine’s Day, here are ten sci-fi films that fit the bill.

M. Night Shyamalan initially became famous for directing popular movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. However, films like The Happening, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and After Earth weren’t as successful and slowed his career momentum. More recently, though, films like The Visit, Split, and his 2024 thriller Trap have been praised as a return to form for Shyamalan.

Shawn Ryan, the creator of The Night Agent, has a history of making compelling TV thrillers. He’s also behind shows like The Shield on FX and its spin-off, S.W.A.T. But before the new season of The Night Agent arrives, you should definitely check out one of his lesser-known series – it’s really good!

Okay, so a lot’s happening with everyone on The Rookie. Grey’s starting fresh with a new job, and it’s great to see Bradford and Chen working things out both at work and in their relationship – they really deserve it! We’re getting little bits and pieces of stories for Celina, Miles, Lopez, Evers, and Nyla, which is good. But honestly, this season feels like it’s really centering on Nolan and Bailey. They finally got that honeymoon in Prague, which was adorable, but things got complicated fast. Bailey’s been offered a job in Washington DC, and it’s causing a real strain because Nolan isn’t sure he wants to move.

In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Chekov and the crew of the USS Reliant are sent to explore a barren planet as part of testing a new technology called the Genesis Device. When they beam down to Ceti Alpha VI to check it out, they’re unexpectedly captured by Khan Noonien Singh and his followers. This is confusing to Chekov, as he believed Khan was supposed to be on the nearby planet, Ceti Alpha V.

Image Comics has revealed all the covers for the upcoming issue of The Scorched #50, created by writer Todd McFarlane and artists Stephen Segovia and Carlo Barberi. This issue is part of the 50/50/50 Project, which also included Gunslinger Spawn #50 (released in December) and King Spawn #50 (released in October).

While the second movie hasn’t started filming yet, preparations are underway. A recent social media post featuring Nicholas Hoult – the acclaimed actor who is currently training – strongly suggests he’ll be involved in the sequel to David Corenswet’s first appearance as Kal-El in 2025.

Although the Yellowstone franchise is a major player in the Western genre and continues to be popular, it’s not the only Western finding success these days. Netflix has released several Western shows recently, including hits like American Primeval and Ransom Canyon, and now another Western series is climbing its viewership charts.

As a huge fantasy fan, I’m really excited about Sanderson’s work. It’s got everything – incredible, windswept worlds, stories that feel ancient, and a magic system that actually makes sense. That’s already a big deal. But what really gets me thinking is how this could be something huge, like Game of Thrones was. If the adaptation can capture what made that show so popular before the dragons even showed up, we’re in for something special.