New movies to watch this weekend: See 'Highest 2 Lowest' in theaters, rent 'Superman,' stream 'Night Always Comes' on Netflix

Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Brett Arnold, film critic and longtime Yahoo editor, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything.

Two very different movies hit theaters this weekend, and I think both are worth seeing on the big screen — the latest work from prolific filmmaker Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest, starring frequent collaborator Denzel Washington, and Bob Odenkirk's better-than-the-first-one action-comedy sequel Nobody 2.

At home, Superman soars from the cineplex to your couch, where you can sit comfortably and rent or buy it. You can also check out Eddington, the polarizing COVID-era satire-slash-thriller that defies genre definition.

On streaming services that you're already shelling out your hard-earned cash for each month, Sharp Corner and Night Always Comes make my shortlist of recommendations. But wait, there's more!

Read on, because there's something here for everyone!

🎥 What to watch in theaters

My recommendation: Highest 2 Lowest

Why you should watch it: The fifth collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington is a remake, or rather, more of a reimagining, of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa's 1963 classic High and Low. It's also a love letter to New York City, as Lee is wont to do, opening with an asynchronous yet beautiful rendition of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma blaring over swooping images of skyscrapers and landmarks.

If you're familiar with the original work, it unfolds similarly until it doesn't, at which point it flourishes into an electric and singular Spike Lee joint that is so exciting and so undeniably his own, it's nearly impossible for fans to keep from grinning as they watch.

Washington plays David King, a best-in-his-field record company executive who is targeted in a kidnapping plot when a mysterious individual takes who he thinks is King's son and demands $17.5 million for his safe return. As in the Kurosawa masterpiece, the kidnappers accidentally take the wrong boy, nabbing the son of King's chauffeur and confidant Paul (Jeffrey Wright). The moral dilemma over whether King should pay the ransom for somebody else's kid, decimating his entire business and life in the process, is as compelling as ever. In case you haven't seen the original, I won't say any more here, as discovering this story in real time is a treat.

An even greater delight is watching Lee upend the story in the back half as the film becomes more of an exhilarating revenge thriller. There's a crackerjack centerpiece sequence late in the film, an elaborate chase through an active NYC subway train on the way to Yankee Stadium on the same day of as the Puerto Rican Day Parade, that is as tightly constructed and rousing as anything Lee's ever done. Rapper A$AP Rocky also holds his own performing against the imposing and totemic Washington, and their scenes together are among the best in the movie.

Highest 2 Lowest is an exemplary "late style" work — that is, a film made late in a director's career that often feels like it's commenting on the filmmaker's past art and legacy. It's clear that Lee sees King as a stand-in for himself, made evident via dialogue about how much King cares about supporting young Black artists. It's a movie about an industry titan asking himself, "Am I losing my edge in the modern world?" By the end of the movie, it's clear the answer is a definitive brushing off of the idea entirely, as Lee shows off in the finale, suggesting "nah, I'm the king, and I've still got soul."

What other critics are saying: Everybody loves it! Stephanie Zacharek of Time says that it "fulfills every expectation you might want from a modern Spike Lee movie." The Associated Press's Lindsey Bahr writes that it "may not reach the heights of some of Lee's best films, but it's the kind film that makes you hope Lee and Washington have more to make together."

How to watch: Highest 2 Lowest is now playing in select theaters ahead of its Apple TV+ debut on September 5.

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Bonus recommendation: Nobody 2

Why you should watch it: It's rare that a sequel improves upon its original, but in the case of Nobody 2, everything is kicked up a notch in all the right ways.

Beloved character actor Bob Odenkirk returns in the action-comedy sequel that sees his character Hutch attempting to vacation with his family only to get caught up in a series of increasingly satisfying and violent set pieces. The plot is as barely there, but in a commendable way: it gets in, gets out and doesn't waste any of our time. We get an upgrade in the big bad department here with Sharon Stone hamming it up as a menacing villain. The rest of the cast returns, including RZA and Christopher Lloyd, who is cashing the easiest check he ever made here, as he's barely in the thing.

The biggest improvement comes behind the camera, as Indoesnian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto steps in, stamping this American studio film with his uniquely stylized ultra-violent bloody carnage that fans of the action genre will recognize from The Night Comes For Us or The Shadow Strays. The action and violence is often shockingly and grotesquely over-the-top, no surprise for fans of the director, but a bit much for general audiences.

It's a lot of fun, if you're into this sort of thing. John Wick clones like this live or die by the action within, and thankfully, Nobody 2 delivers in that department. Having the wonderful Odenkirk as your lead is basically a cheat code; he gets some great laughs mid-fight, as his reluctance to participate shines through. You can't ask for much more out of a brisk, 80-ish minute action flick.

What other critics are saying: It's a hit! TheWrap's William Bibbiani really gets it, writing, "It’s like a National Lampoon movie where Chevy Chase is a mass murderer. That’s a great pitch, dang it, and Timo Tjahjanto throws it at 105 miles per hour." Owen Gleiberman from Variety says "its even more maximally heightened, ridiculous, and diverting" than its predecessor, and he means that as a compliment.

How to watch: Nobody 2 is now playing in theaters nationwide.

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But that's not all...

• Witchboard: This remake of a 1986 cult classic horror film is directed by Chuck Russell, well-known in the genre for helming A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and The Blob, but likely more widely known for the 1994 Jim Carrey vehicle The Mask. It's better than it should be with Russell behind the camera, taking advantage of its New Orleans setting. In the movie, a group of teenagers finds a cursed object, and bad stuff happens to them, of course! The devil is in the details here — all the film really needs to do is provide some decent enough kills — and it does that along with a compelling-enough backstory about the witch at its center. It's nothing new, but it's a fun-enough watch with just enough visual style. Get tickets.

• The Knife. After the mysterious appearance of a stranger in their home, a young Black family must deal with the fallout of their choices, big and small, as a steadfast detective tries to crack the case over the course of one fateful night. The performances are all great — you'll recognize Melissa Leo — and it'll make your skin crawl as well as provoke discussions about what you'd do in this exact situation. Did the characters do the right thing? Is there ever a circumstance in which lying is acceptable? Get tickets.

💸 Movies newly available to rent or buy

My recommendation: Eddington

Why you should watch it: Eddington is the most divisive movie of the year, though it's hard to say that definitively given that box office receipts indicate very few people actually saw it. Now that it's available for home viewing, it's time to check it out for yourself and see which side you land on.

When I reviewed it upon its debut in theaters, I wrote that it's about as far from escapism as movies get. It's a politically-charged modern Western that takes the form of a violent confrontation for both its characters and the audience, forcing us to reckon with the collective mindf*** that was summer 2020, when COVID-19 entered our lexicon and lockdowns changed everything about our lives.

Despite the satirical bent — it's laugh-out-loud funny throughout, even when hitting easy targets — Eddington is earnest in its depiction of that time period and how it broke all of our brains, and how we're still very much living in the aftermath of it. It all builds to a pulse-pounding third act that sees filmmaker Ari Aster try out yet another genre.

What other critics are saying: For every instance of praise, there's also a pan. Lindsey Bahr at the Associated Press wrote that the film "somehow seems both too late and too soon" and that it "feels like the last thing any of us need." The Daily Beast's Esther Zuckerman praised Phoenix's performance, adding, "While Eddington has a very starry cast, Phoenix is [Aster's] anchor."

How to watch: Eddington is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms.

Rent or buy 'Eddington'

Bonus recommendation: Superman

Why you should watch it: When I posted my review ahead of Superman's release, I did not expect to be the outlier, but it's clear as day that my negative opinion is far outside the mainstream. Maybe I'm just sick of superhero movies, or this one isn't for me, but I found it to be frustrating in how little it does to set up its characters and the world they inhabit.

The movie wasn't just a hit with critics, but also with audiences, as it's still hanging on at the box office and nearing $600 million worldwide. The future is bright for Warner Bros. and James Gunn's new take on the DC Universe: he's already teasing 2026's Supergirl and says the HBO Max series Peacemaker will set up more. Gunn is also already at work on the next story in the "Superman saga," whatever that means.

I found that it was ultimately just another superhero movie, even if it looks more like a CW show, with little to offer a casual fan of comic-book movies and blockbusters. Fans of the actual Superman comics and the character may appreciate it more than I did, though I would argue the Man of Steel is barely the star of his own movie!

What other critics are saying: My negative opinion is in the minority, so don't be dissuaded just yet! The Telegraph's Robbie Collin wrote that "Gunn’s kitchen-sink approach feels refreshingly generous, and his excitement for the character shines through." Jake Coyle at the AP noted that "a weird Superman is better than a boring one."

How to watch: Superman is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms.

Rent or buy 'Superman'

📺 Movies newly available on streaming services you may have

My recommendation: Sharp Corner

Why you should watch it: As I wrote when I recommended it for rental, Sharp Corner is either a twisted drama or super-dark comedy, depending on your sicko level. It stars Ben Foster and Cobie Smulders about a family that moves into their dream home only to discover their property is on a dangerous stretch of road where people constantly crash their cars and die. The father’s obsession with the accidents soon spirals out of control.

Foster is an incredibly underrated performer and it's always a treat to see him in stretch his legs in a starring role versus the more regular supporting work he does. He's terrific here, selling the tragicomedy of it all while also making you feel queasy.

It's ultimately a psychological drama ("thriller" sounds too strong) about obsession and how it can be all-consuming. It's thought-provoking and entertaining as hell!

What other critics are saying: It's very well-regarded. Kristy Puchko at Mashable writes, "a smart premise is poignantly brought to life by Foster and Smulders, making for a psychological thriller that is nerve-rattlingly tense and a family drama that is unapologetically gutting." The Guardian's Benjamin Lee praises a "knockout ending that’s both hauntingly downbeat yet crushingly inevitable."

How to watch: Sharp Corner is now streaming on Hulu.

Stream 'Sharp Corner'

Bonus recommendation: Night Always Comes

Why you should watch it: Vanessa Kirby stars in this stressful thriller based on a 2021 novel about a woman trying to buy a house to help lift her family out of poverty but getting thwarted every step of the way. It's Uncut Gems-level upsetting to watch her character make increasingly poor decisions, but you always are with her character because you want her to succeed. It's the system that's unfair, too, not just her own personal problems.

It's a relatable movie to watch in 2025 as price rise and stability becomes further and further out of reach for many. The movie isn't subtle about what it's getting at, with every newscast heard in the background talking about how bad everyone has it in the current economy.

The premise is simple — Kirby's character needs to raise $25,000 in one night so she can close on the house she's set to buy, because her mom bought a car instead and wasted the money meant for the purchase. It's pretty bleak stuff, but well-performed and engaging enough to recommend.

What other critics are saying: Check back soon!

How to watch: Night Always Comes is now streaming on Netflix.

Stream 'Night Always Comes'

But that's not all...

• The Legend of Ochi: In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when she discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home. When I recommended it for rental, I wrote that it's a familiar tale with enough style and practical effects-based magic that it makes up for a relative lack of substance. What makes it stand out is the incredible designs of the creatures and the use of puppetry and animatronics to bring them to life. Now streaming on HBO Max.

• Fixed: The animation work in this film from beloved animator Genndy Tartakovsky is lovely; everything else is incredibly off-putting. It's a raunchy R-rated comedy about dogs. Much like the similar but live-action Strays, it has a few jokes and repeats them often. Now streaming on Netflix.

That's all for this week — we'll see you next week at the movies!

Looking for more recs? Find your next watch on the Yahoo 100, our daily updating list of the most popular movies of the year.