Movies Update: The mystery of ‘The Sheep Detectives.’
Plus, the box office is going strong.
Movies Update
May 8, 2026

Hi, movie fans!

It’s been a heady few weeks at the box office, with the one-two punch of the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” and “The Devil Wears Prada 2” sending film lovers to theaters in droves.

As my colleague Brooks Barnes pointed out, the comedy sequel, which took in $234 million globally last weekend, upended studios’ conventional wisdom: “Older actresses aren’t bankable? The blockbuster era for traditional comedies is over, with streaming having siphoned away the audience? Meryl Streep, 76, stepped back into Miranda Priestly’s sky-high heels over the weekend and demolished those Hollywood orthodoxies.”

Meanwhile, “Michael” is going strong, bringing in $54 million domestically its second weekend for a global total of $424 million, and even “Project Hail Mary” was still a draw more than a month after opening (it’s now at $640 million worldwide).

My point isn’t so much about the numbers as that it’s heartening to see movie lovers back in theaters. Sometimes a film is meant to be a collective experience, and I think these releases in particular really benefit from being seen in a theater.

Speaking of enjoyable film experiences in theaters, have you heard about “The Sheep Detectives”? I’ll admit that I did not know anything about this one going in — my colleague Sarah Lyall has the charming back story — but, as my colleague Alissa Wilkinson put it in her critic’s pick review, “Not only is ‘The Sheep Detectives’ delightful, but it’s funny and emotionally complex.” For the record, the film is about exactly what the title says.

Whatever you decide to see this weekend, enjoy the movies!

CRITICS’ PICKS

Two sheep stand outside and peer through the lower window panels of a door, looking inside with curious expressions. A car and houses are in the blurry background.

Amazon MGM Studios

Critic’s Pick

‘The Sheep Detectives’ Review: A Murder Most Fleecy

A flock of sheep and Hugh Jackman star in a delightful Agatha Christie-style mystery set in an English village.

By Alissa Wilkinson

A shirtless young man with tattoos lies on a blue surface, holding a vape pen and looking up with a relaxed expression, one arm behind his head.

Obscured Releasing

Critic’s Pick

‘Blue Film’ Review: The Sex Is Expensive. The Talk Is Priceless.

An older man pays a camboy $50,000 for a night that goes to difficult, existential places in this breakout feature from Elliot Tuttle.

By Wesley Morris

MOVIE REVIEWS

A woman in a jersey that reads "hard and soft 01" and plaid shorts stands onstage with arms outstretched under bright spotlights.

Henry Hwu/Paramount

‘Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft’ Review: 3-D Is What She Was Made For

The pop superstar teamed up with James Cameron to create a concert movie that, playing with shiny camera technology, reinvigorates the concert experience.

By Brandon Yu

A man in a sharp black hat and black leather armor is surrounded by blue light.

Warner Bros. Pictures

‘Mortal Kombat II’ Review: Eye-Popping Pyrotechnics

The movie, directed by Simon McQuoid and based on the cult video game, unleashes another gruesome fighter tournament to determine the fate of the universe.

By Glenn Kenny

A man examines a large tree with electronic sensors on a blue strap attached to the trunk.

Szilagyi Lenke/Special

‘Silent Friend’ Review: What a Ginkgo Can Teach Us

Starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Léa Seydoux, this cerebral drama explores the mysteries of plant and human connection.

By Beatrice Loayza

NEWS & FEATURES

Two separate photos of Blake Lively wearing a strapless dress and Justin Baldoni wearing a suit jacket.

Associated Press

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settle Their Legal Dispute

Ms. Lively had accused Mr. Baldoni of waging a smear campaign against her after she complained of harassment when making a film together. He had denied her accusation.

By Julia Jacobs

A white sheep and a brown sheep peer into a window.

Amazon MGM Studios

The Detectives Are Sheep. (No, That’s Not a Metaphor.)

The filmmakers behind this adaptation of a best-selling novel were adamant that their ovine sleuths not seem like humans in, well, sheep’s clothing.

By Sarah Lyall

A woman and her dog stand on concrete slabs next to a few free-standing concrete walls. They’re surrounded by dirt and stakes marking out the lot.

Chantal Anderson for The New York Times

After a Fire, a Director Finds a Lifeline in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’

Olivia Newman lost her home in the 2025 California wildfires. Telling the story of a woman who connects with an octopus after a major loss proved a balm.

By Nicole Sperling

A man on the left is outside taking a photo of another man a few feet away.

2026 Chiandoni/FEFF

In Italy, a Link Between the Cannes Film Festival and the Far East Film Festival

FEFF, in Udine, Italy, has become a partner with Marché du Film, one of the world’s most important film markets and a parallel event at Cannes.

By Dean Napolitano

A man with a beard wearing a beret, looking up at another man to his left. A rifle leans against the wall to his right.

via Cannes Film Festival

New Che Guevara Documentary Shows There Is More to Know

The film “Che Guevara: The Last Companions,” premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, tells the story of Guevara’s last surviving comrades in arms.

By Farah Nayeri

A well-dressed man standing behind a bar pouring a drink into a glass.

Jonathan Stokes for The New York Times

At the Cannes Film Festival, This Hotel Celebrates With a Drink

For the past decade, the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, close enough to the action that guests can see stars arrive, has offered a colorful cocktail to honor the event.

By Alix Strauss

A middle-aged woman is laying on a bed with a book, propped up on her elbow.

Guy Ferrandis

At Cannes, French Cinema is Front and Center

Frenchness is a common theme among the films selected to open the festival. The opener also premieres in hundreds of theaters across France the day the festival begins.

By Jillian Rayfield

A man in a red shirt and a woman in a white and blue checked dress stand outside a low rise restaurant building.

Clark Hodgin for The New York Times

This Film Provides a Trapezoidal Window Into Former Pizza Huts

A documentary about the popular chain presents its repurposed buildings as protective shells where new businesses can grow.

By Steven Kurutz

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