June 5, 2026
Masters of the Universe and Scary Movie couldn’t be more different if they tried. One is a kid-friendly, toy-based action-adventure. The other is rebooting one of the most profitable parody-comedy franchises of the past quarter-century. Critics have responded positively to Masters of the Universe so far (it currently holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), while Scary Movie will deliver its signature combo of shockingly crude jokes and shameless pop-culture references. (Naturally, it didn’t receive any advance screenings for critics.)
For me, the interesting movies in theaters this weekend aren’t wide releases. Actually, some of them aren’t playing in very many theaters at all. But don’t let that scare you away; these smaller films are earning rave reviews and popping up on critics’ lists everywhere. If the weather forecast calls for rain on Sunday, consider the movies your excuse to spend the afternoon indoors, entertained and out of the rain.
The Cost of a Second Chance
Our favorite limited release from last week is still turning heads; Power Ballad is scoring big with critics this week, with a 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Featuring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, Power Ballad tells the story of dreams, friendship, and the balance between success and happiness through music and humor.
Rick, played by Rudd, is a wedding singer who just may have peaked. But then he meets Danny, played by Jonas, another musician who also just happens to have been in a boy band. As they bond over music, one of Rick’s songs gets Danny back on track in the music world and Rick is left questioning jealousy, credit, and how much he is willing to risk to get it back. Filmed by Once and Sing Street director John Carney, expect all the heart that those films gave us.
It’s playing within 15 to 30 miles of Mystic:
Love, Lies, and the Open Road
In need of something with a little more edge? Caroline Caroline, one of this weekend’s highest-rated movies, might be just what you’re looking for. Sporting a shiny 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, this crime thriller centers on Caroline Daniels (Nicole Alvarez), a young woman yearning to escape her small-town origins in West Texas. When she meets a handsome confidence man with wanderlust in his heart, Caroline jumps at the chance to join him on a cross-country crime spree through the American South.
Things inevitably turn out darker and more dangerous than she could have imagined, and Caroline transforms from wide-eyed dreamer into infamous outlaw. With twists and turns that explore larger themes of identity and self-delusion, Honey Don’t! blends genres from crime to romance to mystery to drama.
It’s playing at the following theaters:
Internet Phenomenon Reaches Its Finale
Speaking of smaller, more under-the-radar releases primed for fans of internet cartoons, mark your calendars for The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act. The whole movie event — which will screen Episode 8 and then Episode 9 (filmed entirely for this event as a never-before-seen hour-long finale) back-to-back — will allow viewers to see the resolution of this quirky mystery before it premieres anywhere else.
Without Caine leading the troupe and the circus gone dark, our favorite dysfunctional losers are forced to face their regrets, fears and the questions they’ve avoided. As they learn more about the truth of the Digital Circus and how it came to be, they’ll be forced to make decisions that may impact their lives forever.
Over the course of its runtime, The Amazing Digital Circus garnered quite the following with its unique brand of bizarre comedy, heart, and heady philosophizing. If you’re a fan of the series, its big-screen conclusion is shaping up to be one of the stranger film events of 2026.
You can see it at:
Until Next Week
Seeking a box-office smash? An award-winning indie flick? Something entirely different? You’ve got options worth checking out at the movies this weekend. Sometimes the best cinema experience isn’t about the tentpole film. It’s the movie you didn’t know you wanted to see.
Last modified: June 4, 2026
