Best New Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Week

☕️ TL;DR

Recent recommendations worth your time: [Chinese Drama] Low IQ Crimes, [K-Drama] Wish Your Death, [British Drama] Good Omens Season 3, [French Drama] The Heist Queens, [Film] Montreal, My Beauty, [Anime] Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3, [Documentary] Max Verstappen: A New Journey, [Reality Show] Old Donggi Friends

A few exciting new trailers: a new trailer for Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL, the first trailer for Silent Judgment, a new trailer for Fire in the Eyes, the release date trailer for Love City Stories, and the official trailer for Ultraman Origins

A few entertainment industry updates: Normandy: 72 Hours is set for mainland China release on June 6, Masters of the Universe: Rise of He-Man arrives on June 5, Family Murder Service premieres on May 29, Supergirl opens on June 26, and the new Marvel series Vision Quest has officially received a release date.

[Chinese Drama] Low IQ Crimes

Keywords: Comedy / Crime
Runtime: Approximately 45 minutes per episode × 24 episodes
Where to Watch: iQIYI / Migu Video; Douban link

When luck suddenly takes over!

@利兹与青鸟: Zhang Yi’ang, a police officer in Ping’an City, isn’t exactly competent, but he absolutely loves reciting poetry, often at the worst possible moments in ways that become unintentionally hilarious. Even after being reassigned to the retired cadres department, he still manages to create chaos everywhere he goes. By sheer coincidence, he picks up an anonymous举报 letter and is assigned alongside the equally eccentric Li Qian to Sanjiangkou to investigate whether the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau’s death hides deeper secrets. But Zhang Yi’ang’s sudden arrival is far from welcomed, and his work is restricted at every turn. Still, through a chain of absurd accidents, he somehow captures a wanted fugitive and unexpectedly earns everyone’s respect, gradually being elevated into the role of a “master detective.”

Meanwhile, two dimwitted thieves from Ping’an City come up with the brilliant idea of robbing corrupt officials and also arrive in Sanjiangkou. At the same time, Zhou Rong — the boss of a criminal syndicate operating in the city — is busy planning a new business venture while secretly investigating the death of his childhood friend Ye Jian, the captain of the criminal police squad. Three storylines and two murder cases (possibly more) slowly collide in Sanjiangkou, creating what promises to be a chaotic and explosive mess.

The series is adapted from the novel of the same name by Zi Jinchen, and right from the beginning it embraces a darkly comedic sense of absurdity. Criminals and police constantly overestimate one another, and although everyone’s IQ seems to drop offline every now and then, that doesn’t stop blind luck from producing bizarre successes. It leaves you curious to see just how many ridiculous coincidences this streak of “good fortune” can continue to create. Comedic actors like Ma Xudong, Yan Peilun, and Zhan Xin also help land the jokes effectively. Although the crime investigation storyline can feel a bit dragged out at times, the show still works well as entertaining comfort viewing.

[K-Drama] Wish Your Death

Keywords: Drama / Horror
Also Known As: 기리고 / Wish Your Death / If Wishes Could Kill
Runtime: Approximately 44 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
Where to Watch: Netflix; Douban link

How far would you go to make your wishes come true?

@潘誉晗: The latest math exam results shocked everyone — Choi Hyung-wook somehow scored full marks, despite clearly not being the academic type. When his friends ask how he did it, Hyung-wook smugly shares a link to an app called “Girigo.” According to him, all you need to do is write down your birth information, attach it to your body, record a video, and upload it to the app. Your wish will then come true. Nobody really believes him, and Hyung-wook himself pays little attention to the mysterious countdown timer that suddenly appears on his phone. But 24 hours later, Hyung-wook hangs himself in front of the entire class — because this so-called wish-granting app always claims a life after fulfilling a wish.

Netflix Korea seems to have another breakout hit on its hands, with the series quickly climbing to No.1 in 13 countries after release. The pacing is extremely tight throughout, and the horror atmosphere is executed remarkably well, successfully blending high school youth drama with supernatural terror while cleverly tying together smartphone apps and shamanistic rituals. The mysterious deadly app feeds on teenage desires, gradually becoming an invisible prison no one can escape from. Not only can it not be deleted from your phone, but it also relentlessly closes in on every wish-maker until death finally arrives.

[British Drama] Good Omens Season 3

Keywords: Drama / Comedy / Fantasy
Also Known As: Good Omens Season 3
Runtime: 99 minutes
Where to Watch: Prime Video; Douban link

I have the universe, and I still have you. I already possess everything I could ever want.

@SHY：After becoming the Supreme Archangel, Aziraphale begins preparing for the “Second Coming,” only to discover that the resurrected Jesus has mysteriously disappeared. Left with no other choice, he turns to the self-destructive Crowley for help. Can this angel and demon duo, who have known each other since the beginning of creation, once again set aside their differences like they always have? And what kind of ending will the hidden forces manipulating everything behind the scenes ultimately bring upon the world?

Due to the sexual assault scandal involving original author and lead creative force Neil Gaiman, the final season was cut down into a single special episode, leaving the story with painfully limited room to breathe. Unsurprisingly, the finished version carries obvious traces of cuts everywhere. The uneven pacing, constantly swinging between rushed and sluggish, makes the narrative feel noticeably more chaotic, and the overall viewing experience suffers quite a bit because of it. Even so, despite all the altered and compressed material, the two new screenwriters still do their best to preserve the ending Gaiman originally envisioned, and within the fragmented remains, you can still glimpse flashes of inspiration.

Once the usual dark humor can no longer fully hold things together, the focus this season shifts toward what was originally a somewhat tongue-in-cheek love story between two immortal beings. David Tennant and Michael Sheen once again save the series through sincere performances and their endlessly strong on-screen chemistry. A thoroughly fan-oriented conclusion like this was always bound to divide audiences. Thankfully, the show was originally conceived as a limited mini-series anyway, so if this season’s direction feels difficult to accept, there’s nothing wrong with treating Season 1 as the true canonical ending.

[French Drama] Cash Queens

Keywords: Comedy / Thriller / Crime
Also Known As: Les Lionnes / Cash Queens
Runtime: Approximately 55 minutes per episode × 8 episodes
Where to Watch: Netflix; Douban link

We robbed the bank because we truly had no other choice.

@潘誉晗：One day, Rosa approaches her manager hoping to increase her credit card limit. Not only is her request quickly rejected, but she is also informed that her limit is being lowered because her credit score has been negatively affected by debts left behind by her ex-husband, who is currently in prison. Rosa can barely believe what she’s hearing, and at that exact moment, the bank alarm suddenly goes off — it turns out the bank is conducting one of its routine emergency drills. As she listens to her manager yelling for employees to prioritize saving their own lives, an unthinkable idea begins forming in her mind: she decides to rob the very bank where she works, together with her closest friends.

Released by Netflix France two months ago, Cash Queens is a female-led crime comedy about five women forced by desperate circumstances to disguise themselves as men in order to rob banks. The series is filled with situations that feel both absurd and painfully realistic. The five women at the center of the story work hard and genuinely try to live honest lives, yet happiness always seems out of reach. Workplace sexism, crushing debt, being sabotaged by colleagues and losing jobs, domestic abuse from husbands… Aren’t people always told that hard work leads to good outcomes? Why is it that for these women, the harder they try, the sadder life seems to become?

[Film] Montreal, My Beauty

Keywords: Drama / LGBTQ+
Also Known As: Montréal, ma belle
Runtime: 117 minutes; Douban link

When trapped between worlds, do you confront your true self or continue living inside a lie?

@利兹与青鸟：Fengxia’s family immigrated to Canada more than a decade ago and now runs a small grocery store in Montreal, Quebec. Her husband is conservative and repeatedly struggles to find stable work due to lacking local qualifications. Her eldest daughter is deep in a rebellious phase and mostly responds to her parents with complaints and accusations. Her son is still only in elementary school, leaving no one in the family able to provide emotional support for Fengxia as she quietly suffers through menopause. During French classes, Fengxia becomes inspired by the younger students’ passion for chasing their dreams. She begins exploring LGBTQ+ dating websites and eventually meets Camille, a 30-year-old woman. Through this connection, Fengxia slowly rediscovers herself, but it also pushes her family toward crisis.

The film’s Chinese-Canadian female director clearly draws heavily from personal experience. Through generational clashes, marriages built more on responsibility than love, and the idea that caring for family often outweighs personal fulfillment, she presents the shell of a traditional yet deeply repressive immigrant Chinese family. Many of the actors are also local Chinese Canadians, and the Mandarin spoken throughout the film sounds natural and authentic, making it especially comfortable for Chinese-speaking audiences to listen to. Although the story revolves around a middle-aged woman searching for herself within moral gray areas, the film avoids dramatic slogans and emotional outbursts. Instead, it adopts a restrained, gentle style and a calm rhythm, giving Joan Chen ample room to perform. Her portrayal breathes life into Fengxia — a woman past middle age yet still naturally romantic, graceful, and quietly magnetic — delicately and subtly conveying the confusion and struggle hidden deep within her heart while drawing the audience fully into her emotional world.

[Anime] Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 3

Keywords: Manga Adaptation / Sci-Fi / Adventure
Also Known As: Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE 第3クール
Runtime: 24 minutes per episode × 13 episodes, updated every Thursday
Where to Watch: Bahamut Anime Crazy; Douban link

We choose to go to the Moon.

@SHY：After a desperate struggle, the Kingdom of Science finally defeats the North American faction. Faced with an imminent threat, Senku and Xeno temporarily put aside their differences and join forces to build a spaceship capable of reaching the Moon in search of the truth behind humanity’s petrification. In order to revive more humans and secure essential materials, the group splits into three separate teams to carry out missions around the world. Meanwhile, the mysterious “WHY-Man” delivers an even more dangerous message.

From the Stone Age to modern civilization, spanning two million years of history, this scientific adventure built from absolute zero has finally reached its final chapter. Beginning with crude handmade tools crafted shortly after awakening, the series gradually reconstructed gunpowder, ironworking, steam power, electricity, and now, in this season, the technology tree has finally advanced into the age of computers and the internet. To achieve the ultimate goal of reaching the Moon, Senku and his allies now require manpower and resources on a scale far greater than before, pushing them into a globe-spanning journey to unite the strengths of different nations.

Even as raw materials evolve from stone into superalloys and the setting expands from tiny villages into outer space, the core appeal of the series remains unchanged. With rationality and curiosity as guiding principles, the story uses science to confront fantasy, delivering passionate moments filled with heroic spirit while carving a path toward humanity’s future and expressing a pure sense of romantic idealism. This “Apollo Program,” forged within a petrified world through the collective efforts of humanity, is genuinely exhilarating, and after everything the characters have endured, they deserve nothing less than the best possible ending.

[Documentary] Max Verstappen: A New Journey

Keywords: Documentary
Also Known As: Max Verstappen – New Ground / Speed New Horizons: Verstappen’s Journey on the Nordschleife
Runtime: Approximately 23 minutes per episode × 3 episodes; Douban link

Let’s go, racers!

@潘誉晗：For Formula One fans, Max Verstappen is already an extraordinary name. Born into a racing family, his achievements on the track speak for themselves. But beyond his identity as a Red Bull driver, Verstappen actually lives another life as well — the owner and driver of a GT3 (Grand Touring 3) racing team. This three-episode documentary focuses on that second identity.

“Look, the boss is driving himself.” Verstappen carries none of the airs of a team owner. After greeting everyone, he simply heads straight onto the track. He also doesn’t crave all the applause and attention for himself, instead actively searching for new talent. That’s how he discovered Chris, a gifted young racer who, like Verstappen, started out in karting (and even raced with the number 3). However, lacking the €150,000 needed for professional training, Chris had no choice but to shift his dream toward simulator racing. When Verstappen finally invites him to test a real race car on track, Chris doesn’t even have a driver’s license yet.

After watching this documentary, it becomes impossible to deny Verstappen’s genuine passion for racing. He takes off the familiar Red Bull jacket and continues charging forward on another path within the world of motorsport.

[Reality Show] Old Donggi Friends

Keywords: Reality Show
Also Known As: 구기동 프렌즈 / Six Singles Under One Roof
Runtime: Approximately 90 minutes per episode × 10 episodes; Douban link

Let’s live together.

@潘誉晗：Korea has recently launched another reality show titled Old Donggi Friends, bringing together six celebrities around the same age — Jang Do-yeon, Jang Keun-suk, Ahn Jae-hyun, Lee Da-hee, Kyung Soo-jin, and Daniel Choi— to experience communal living together.

As celebrity observation-style programs become increasingly common, more and more viewers are naturally growing tired of the format. Yet Old Donggi Friends once again proves how creative Korean variety shows can still be. On the surface, it may seem like another fan-oriented celebrity reality program gathering familiar stars with established fanbases, but it finds an unexpectedly delicate angle: taking celebrities who once lived alone and placing them into a shared living environment.

Living alone often looks incredibly freeing from the outside, so why do people who have experienced that freedom sometimes no longer want to live by themselves? That question feels like the true purpose behind observation-style reality shows in the first place — exploring broader social themes. After all, “if something exists, there must be a reason for it.” The daily lives of these six stars born in the mid-1980s also turn out to be genuinely entertaining. They each have strong personalities, yet still manage to grow closer and naturally adapt to one another. Even though they’re all celebrities used to grand situations, they still panic helplessly and scream loudly when confronted with an 18-kilogram octopus.

Turns out living together might not be such a bad thing after all.

[Film] The President’s Cake
@利兹与青鸟：Under Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship in Iraq, ordinary people struggle through unbearable hardship. Young girl Lamia lives in a hut woven from reeds, and even the apple in her schoolbag gets confiscated by her teacher. Worse still, she is chosen to bake a cream cake for the president’s birthday celebration. Lamia then embarks on a journey, trading away every valuable thing her family owns in exchange for the ingredients needed to make the cake. The film won the Caméra d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Its cinematography is beautiful, the soundtrack is filled with rich Arabic influences, and beneath the touching innocence lies the terrifying cruelty of life during wartime Iraq.

[Film] Hiraba no Tsuki
@潘誉晗：The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Kasumi Asakura. One day, Aoto Ken unexpectedly reunites with his middle school classmate Sudo Yoko after 35 years apart. The two had feelings for each other back in middle school, and through this reunion, the divorced Aoto Ken and widowed Yoko finally come together. Set in a small town in Saitama, this long-delayed middle-aged love story feels like two incomplete halves finally finding one another. The atmosphere is restrained, calm, and tinged with gentle melancholy.

[K-Drama] The Absolute Value of Romance
@潘誉晗：Every night, seemingly ordinary high school student Yeo Yiju secretly writes BL novels. Unfortunately, nobody reads her work. One day, four young male teachers move in next door, giving her a sudden burst of inspiration. She begins writing stories based on the four of them, and the novels unexpectedly become a huge online hit. One of those teachers, Jia Yuxiu, also happens to be her math teacher. School dramas using teacher-student dynamics as a hook often create plenty of hilarious moments, and this series is no exception, making it perfect lighthearted entertainment for stress relief.

[British Drama] The Agency
@潘誉晗：Kate, head of the Russia desk at MI6, receives intelligence suggesting that Russia has planted a mole inside the British government. Worse still, the Prime Minister announces his resignation due to cancer, and the mole is believed to be one of the two candidates competing to become the next Prime Minister. This new British political thriller leaves behind a deep sense of helplessness after watching, because politics is never as simple as black and white. Even when you discover who the mole is, there may still be nothing you can do.

[Anime] Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 4
@SHY：To remain in the Royal One classroom, the Misfit Class must have every first-year student reach Rank 4. After the Harvest Festival concludes, everyone begins preparing for their final opportunity to level up — the Music Festival — only to realize they’ve overlooked an important problem right in front of them. After hiding in the background for three seasons, the inconspicuous demon Soi finally takes center stage. Can Iruma successfully lead all 13 classmates onto the stage together? Continuing the formula of previous seasons, this installment once again delivers chaotic yet heartwarming everyday life in the demon world. Both the Music Festival and the fierce Akudol Games are packed with fun, bringing weekly doses of joy.

[Anime] Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of the Lord
@SHY：To protect her family, Myne chooses to become the adopted daughter of the Lord of Ehrenfest, stepping into noble society under the name Rozemyne. A new identity and an entirely new set of rules await her, but her passion for books remains unchanged as she continues moving forward. WIT STUDIO, a company often known for abandoning projects halfway through, surprisingly took over this light novel adaptation after dropping several major IPs. Although the season faced backlash for using AI-generated visuals in the opening sequence backgrounds, the overall production quality has improved significantly compared to the previous three seasons. The pacing has also slowed down, allowing the worldbuilding and charm of the original source material to shine through much more effectively.

📅 This Week’s New Trailers

New Trailer for Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL

On May 11, the TV anime Ghost in the Shell: THE GHOST IN THE SHELL released a new trailer and confirmed a July 7 premiere date. Directed by Shoma Kimura, written by Tow Ubukata, with character design and chief animation direction by Shuhei Handa, music composed by Taisei Iwasaki, and produced by Science SARU, the series will become the first faithful adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s original manga storyline. Source

Silent Judgment Releases New Trailer

On May 11, Silent Judgment, the latest series from Wong Ching-Po, director of The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon, released a new trailer and is expected to premiere later this year. The cast reunites Ethan Juan, Gingle Wang, and Yiwen Chen, while also featuring Alyssa Chia, Joseph Chang, Nikki Hsieh, Vivian Sung, Moon Lee, and Fu Meng-po. The story revolves around a bombing and kidnapping case in Taipei in 2004, gradually uncovering deeply buried grudges, secrets, and emotional entanglements spanning three families and two generations.

New Trailer for Blind Fury

On May 13, the action film Blind Fury released its Hong Kong trailer and confirmed a June 12 theatrical release in Hong Kong. Directed by Kenji Tanigaki and written by Mai Tin-shu, the film stars Tse Miu, Yang Enyou, Joe Taslim, Yayan Ruhian, and JeeJa Yanin. After Wang Wei’s daughter Yuqing is kidnapped, he finds himself facing ruthless enemies from every direction, launching an all-out revenge mission filled with brutal hand-to-hand combat and deadly strikes in the name of justice. Source

Love City Stories Release Date Trailer

On May 13, the film Love City Stories officially announced its May 20 release date. Starring Wu Bai alongside an ensemble cast including Angelica Lee, Kuo Shu-yao, Tsai Chen-nan, Stephy Tang, Liu Kuan-ting, Sammi Cheng, Chang Chen, Ronald Cheng, Sandrine Pinna, Julia Wu, Ethan Juan, Karena Lam, 9m88, and Chu Hsuan-yang, the film is produced by Bowie Tsang with a special appearance from Lin Chi-ling. Using a newspaper delivery worker as its visual anchor, the film explores the emotions hidden within every corner of the city, with each character carrying their own joys, heartbreaks, and personal stories.

Ultraman Origins Official Trailer

On May 14, the official trailer for the 60th anniversary Ultraman documentary Ultraman Origins was released ahead of its July 3 premiere in Japan. Planned by Hirokazu Kore-eda, the documentary features appearances from top creators across multiple creative fields, including Guillermo del Toro, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Hideo Kojima, Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi, and Nicolas Winding Refn, offering an in-depth exploration of Ultraman’s unique and enduring appeal. Source

More

Final Trailer for Mononoke the Movie: Snake God

The final trailer for the animated film Mononoke the Movie: Snake God has been released. Serving as the concluding chapter of the theatrical trilogy, the film features Kenji Nakamura as chief director, Tomoaki Koshida as director, and is produced by Studio Kafka and EOTA studio daisy. Continuing the storylines established in Karakasa and Fire Rat, the Medicine Seller’s final ritual of salvation is about to begin. The film premieres in Japan on May 29. Source

Official Trailer for Refrigerated

The official trailer for Refrigerated has been released. Directed and written by Yusuke Iwasaki, the film stars Shota Sometani, Erika Karata, and Masahiko Nishimura. Set inside a convenience store in Tokyo, assistant manager Sakai lives through the same repetitive routine every day. However, the quiet balance of his life gradually begins to collapse after the arrival of a new part-time employee named Ogawa. The film opens in Japan on July 17. Source

Wildwood Stop-Motion Film Releases Trailer

The stop-motion animated film Wildwood has released its first trailer. Written by Chris Butler (Missing Link), the story is adapted from the fantasy children’s novel of the same name by Colin Meloy, lead singer of the American rock band The Decemberists. The voice cast includes Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, and more. The film will premiere in North America on October 23.

The Human Vapor Releases Trailer

The Human Vapor has released its first trailer. Adapted from the film of the same name, the series is directed by Shinzo Katayama, with scripts written by Yeon Sang-ho and Ryu Yong-jae. The cast includes Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi, Suzu Hirose, Kento Hayashi, and Yutaka Takenouchi. The series will premiere on Netflix on July 2.

📽 Film & TV Weekly News

Normandy: 72 Hours Confirmed for Mainland China Release on June 6

On May 11, the film Normandy: 72 Hours released its mainland China release trailer and poster, confirming a June 6 theatrical debut. Created by the team behind Darkest Hour, the film stars Andrew Scott, Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, and Damian Lewis, focusing on Allied meteorologist Colonel James Stagg as he attempts to rewrite the fate of 300,000 people amid the chaos of an approaching storm.Source

Masters of the Universe: Rise of He-Man Confirmed for Mainland China Release on June 5

On May 14, the film Masters of the Universe: Rise of He-Man released its mainland China release trailer and poster, confirming a June 5 theatrical release. Directed by Travis Knight and starring Nicholas Galitzine, the story follows an alien prince forced to survive on Earth before returning home, only to discover his kingdom devastated by Skeletor. Armed with his legendary sword, he transforms into the mighty warrior He-Man and launches a battle against the forces of evil. Source

Housemaid Service Confirmed for Mainland China Release on May 29

On May 14, the film Housemaid Service released its mainland China release trailer and poster, confirming a May 29 theatrical release. Directed by Paul Feig and starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar, the story follows the desperate Millie as she unexpectedly lands a live-in maid job inside a luxurious mansion. Hidden secrets, dangerous games, and escalating power struggles between master and servant soon unfold — but in the end, who will survive? Source

Supergirl Confirmed for Mainland China Release on June 26

On May 15, the film Supergirl released its mainland China release trailer and poster, confirming a June 26 theatrical debut. Directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Milly Alcock, the film officially introduces Kara as she travels across the vast universe searching for where she truly belongs. A massive interstellar adventure is about to begin as the rebellious and fearless Supergirl charges from Earth into the stars without hesitation. Source

Marvel’s New Series Vision Quest Officially Receives Release Date

On May 13, Marvel officially confirmed that its new series Vision Quest will premiere on Disney+ on October 14. The series serves as the final chapter in the MCU spin-off trilogy following WandaVision and Agatha All Along. Paul Bettany returns as Vision, James Spader reprises his role as Ultron, and Ruaridh Mollica plays Tommy, the son of Wanda and Vision. Set after the events of WandaVision, the story follows Vision’s journey to recover his memories and humanity. Source

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