Best Of Lists

7 Best Things I Watched in June

There were a lot of great contemporary movies out last month.

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Summer certainly kicked off with a bang. The Tribeca Film Festival happened, and while I wasn't there in person I was fortunate to see several good movies courtesy of some kindly reps. I got a new puppy (welcome Vivvy to Casa de Lopez!) so that meant not a lot of reading got done. Apologies for those who are loving my book recommendations.

Regardless, this month's films include a lot of new releases, as well as some classic films I want you to fall in love with just as much as I did. Be sure to drop the movies and books you discovered last month in the comments.

Masters of the Universe (2026)

From my review: It's easy to write off director Travis Knight's remake of Masters of the Universe – an adaptation of both the 1983 animated cartoon, He-Man, and the 1987 feature starring Dolph Lundgren – as another attempt to court male Gen Xers who have certainly benefited from the decade's boom in cinema and television. And, in many ways, it is.

This new take is a Masters of the Universe that thrives on being big and, in some parts dumb. If anything, it acknowledges how silly the original 1980s versions were. But wipe away the '80s cheese and its script (credited by Chris Butler, Aaron and Adam Nee, and Dave Callaham) is an incredibly fun and witty send-up of '80s mythos features. Though far from the satirical heights of Barbie, it's one of the more surprisingly entertaining films of the summer.

Hollywood Does Abortion (2026)

This documentary on how Hollywood has historically presented abortion is a fascinating combination of social justice and media representation. From film and television presenting abortion as something dangerous and frightening, to moving towards how it's available (yet unnecessary for most women) is thought-provoking, particularly in a post-Roe v. Wader overturned world. The documentary tries to be comprehensive in how it illustrates the dichotomies of abortion regarding BIPOC or trans characters, but completely ignores the very few examples of abortion with regards to disabled women. There are a few examples, all of them problematic, and for a movie trying to explore how limited the worldview is it's upsetting that disabled women don't even rate. Regardless, if you're looking for something that explains where we are regarding abortion in this country, and the role entertainment plays in making those things palatable, this is a worthwhile watch.

Hadestown: The Musical (2026)

I'm loving the trend of bringing musicals to the big screen. It allows for those who can't travel (whether because of finances or accessibility issues) the opportunity to experience Broadway in their own way.

I've written about my love of Hadestown before, and how it's painfully relevant today. It's my favorite musical of all time. And yet I figured I'd never get to see the iconic cast perform the characters and songs I know and love. Thankfully, the cast was reunited for one last show which has been recorded for posterity and it is, no surprise, perfection. Seeing Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada as Orpheus and Eurydice was amazing. Unlike the recent recording of Merrily We Roll Along, this interpretation's cinematography balances the need to show the overarching characters with wanting to do more cinematic touches like close-ups. Because of this, I walked away with a far deeper appreciation for Patrick Page's Hades than I ever have. This just reminded me why I love live theater and why I love Hadestown.

El Vampiro Negro (1953)

I'd been told about this Spanish-language take on M (1931). That movie focuses on a child killer and El Vampire Negro tells the same story, but told from the POV of the mothers of the murdered and potential victims. Director Román Viñoly Barreto has such an eye for mood and tone that it's a shame he's not a bigger name (or didn't come to make American movies). The film is impeccably shot and just looks stunning.

But it's in actress Olga Zubarry's performance that the movie shines the brightest. Zubarry plays Amalia, a young nightclub performer trying to hide her profession to protect her daughter's honor. But because of that same job to put clothes on her child's back she faces extreme misogyny from the men in her life, including the local police. (There's also a very dated "good disabled woman" character here that made me roll my eyes.) The movie also presents a nuanced portrayal of the killer that feels very "Freud was big at this time."

The Invite (2026)

Olivia Wilde's latest rocketed its way up into my top 3 movies of the year. The story of two different couples – one in the early throes of a relationship and the other on its last legs – there's a real Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice vibe to the movie. It's got a crackingly funny script courtesy of Rashida Jones and Will McCormack and everyone's acting here is on point. The standouts are Wilde, playing a manic disaster on par with Catherine O'Hara, while Penelope Cruz is astounding as the sympathetic and magnetic Pina. It's also great to see the return of good, old-fashioned sex comedies. The movie is just so brilliant. I cannot wait to see it again.

Up the Down Staircase (1967)

My cinematic love affair with Sandy Dennis continues with this Robert Mulligan/Alan J. Pakula joint. Dennis plays an idealistic young teacher working in a tough inner-city school and if you think you've seen this movie already you haven't seen it the way Dennis plays it. Her performance here is so captivating in its sincerity and vulnerability. The script, based on Bel Kaufman's book, isn't an inspirational narrative, but a dark story about the ways schools are limited and how it forces teachers to give over too much of themselves. (It's aged far too well, unfortunately.) Sandy Dennis can do no wrong in my eyes.

The Sheep Detectives (2026)

Best. Movie. of 2026! I don't care what comes out between now and year's end it has a helluva job beating this movie about mystery-solving sheep! In all honesty, The Sheep Detectives is a movie we don't get anymore. Take a high concept, ridiculous premise ("sheep solving crimes!"), infuse it with a fantastically well written script that never dumbs it down for an audience, and just make it fun. Screenwriter Craig Mazin did just that and it is a perfect movie.

There's a lot of Lion King, weirdly enough, in this story of a flock of sheep trying to solve the murder of their shepherd. That's the inciting incident but the rest of the movie is a deep examination of community, how we grow beyond our bubble, and ultimately finding a belief system that gives us comfort. The final scene in this movie...if you aren't a blubbering idiot it's proof you have no soul. I just want to talk to everyone about this movie.

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