What to Watch This Week

The biggest story in film this week wasn’t a record-breaking opening or a shocking scandal. It was a headline so perfectly absurd it broke the internet’s collective brain for a few hours: Ryan Gosling reportedly consulted astronaut Katy Perry for his role in the upcoming sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary. For a brief, beautiful moment, everyone forgot which timeline they were in.

Of course, the story is satire. But its massive viral spread says something about Gosling’s reputation as an actor so committed, so willing to go the extra mile, that consulting a pop star about the physics of deep space felt bizarrely plausible. The story dominated r/movies, not because people were fooled, but because everyone loves a joke that lands this perfectly. It’s proof of both Gosling’s mystique and the internet’s readiness to believe just about anything, as long as it’s entertaining.

While other streaming services are busy hiking prices and purging their libraries, Tubi is out here making moves. The free, ad-supported platform just added a massive catalog of content, including 250 episodes of classic Sesame Street. For anyone with kids, or just a deep-seated need to see Mr. Snuffleupagus, this is a huge win.

The drop isn't just for kids. Tubi also licensed over 600 titles from major studios like Disney, Sony, and Warner Bros. Discovery, bolstering its already surprisingly deep library. In a week where streamers are feeling more expensive and less valuable, Tubi delivered a clear message. Elsewhere, the sketch comedy duo BriTANicK dropped their new stoner-comedy Pizza Movie on Hulu, which is worth a look if you're a fan of their very specific brand of chaos.

The big theatrical play this weekend is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a follow-up hoping to recapture the box office magic of its predecessor. The official Reddit discussion thread is already buzzing with over 1,500 comments, suggesting audiences were eager to return to the Mushroom Kingdom. The general sentiment seems positive, with an 88% upvote ratio indicating that the film is landing well, even if it's not a universal critical darling.

Also opening this week is The Drama, a smaller release that's nevertheless carving out its own space for discussion. If you're looking to escape the all-ages spectacle of Mario, this might be your best bet at the multiplex.

Something was in the water on Reddit this week, as a massive wave of nostalgia for 80s and 90s films took over the conversation. It started with a huge thread from viewers discovering Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 masterpiece RoboCop for the first time, realizing the film is less a cheesy action flick and more a brilliant, biting satire of corporate greed that feels more relevant than ever.

The trip down memory lane continued with a celebration of DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt, with many users shocked to rediscover its unbelievably stacked voice cast (Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Patrick Stewart, to name a few). Add in a gorgeous new 40th-anniversary poster for Highlander and an appreciation thread for the 25th anniversary of Christopher Nolan's breakthrough film Memento, and you have a clear verdict: the archives are where the gold is this week.

A few major stories broke this week. Eugene Mirman, the beloved voice of Gene on Bob's Burgers, is recovering after being pulled from a fiery car crash by witnesses, including the Governor of New Hampshire. In development news, Peacock is adapting the cult-favorite book series Dungeon Crawler Carl with Seth MacFarlane producing, a pairing that has fans cautiously optimistic. Finally, industry-shaker J.J. Abrams is significantly scaling down his Bad Robot production company and moving its headquarters to New York, signaling a potential shift in his creative focus.

Two bits of casting news sent fanbases scrambling. First, Brian Cox is set to lend his signature intensity to Dexter: Resurrection, joining the cast as a new villain called the New York Ripper. Meanwhile, Andy Serkis confirmed that the role of Aragorn is being recast for the upcoming film The Hunt for Gollum, officially dashing hopes that Viggo Mortensen might return to the role. One actor's entrance has fans hyped, while another's exit has them preparing for the worst.

If you're looking for something new next week, horror fans have a double feature to look forward to on Friday, April 10. The day brings the premiere of the new thriller Exit 8 and the long-awaited reboot of the infamous and controversial Faces of Death. Prepare accordingly.