Lights flicker, schedules wobble, and we still make it to the movies. We open with a surprising miss: a Hindi vampire romance positioned to ride the Diwali wave that instead sputtered at the New Zealand box office. That sets the tone for a candid look at audience behavior right now—how ratings, region, and timing twist outcomes—and why some films soar in big cities while others struggle to find momentum in smaller markets.

From there, we highlight Train Dreams, a Netflix-bound drama anchored by Joel Edgerton. It’s a slow, textured portrait of a man and a landscape, the Pacific Northwest etched by railway expansion and loss. Think rich cinematography, careful character work, and awards buzz. It’s the kind of film that proves streaming and cinema serve different appetites: at-home immersion for patient storytelling and in-theater spectacle for communal thrills.

Speaking of spectacle, Predator Badlands delivers a sharp franchise pivot by telling the hunt from the Predator’s perspective. A runt exiled, a cyborg ally, and a planet designed to kill—this R13 action-thriller blends creature feature energy with tight world-building. Early reviews are strong, and we dig into the exhibitor realities around R13 IDs, attendance patterns, and how word of mouth can turn a solid opener into a summer mainstay.

We also unpack Edgar Wright’s reimagining of The Running Man, leaning closer to Stephen King’s source novel than the Arnold classic. With Glenn Powell, Josh Brolin, and a satirical edge, it’s poised as an adult-skewing action drama that might surprise skeptics. Add a quick tour of the British and Irish Film Festival—Ralph Fiennes’s wartime choral drama, a charming seasonal standout, an icy Emma Thompson action piece—and a sleeper to watch in Sydney Sweeney’s The Housemaid, and you’ve got a stacked watchlist.

We close with fresh box office predictions for Predator Badlands and The Running Man and a few war stories from managing triple reschedules during rolling blackouts. If you’re into smart film talk, honest forecasts, and a mix of blockbuster and festival finds, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: which title are you seeing first?

Book your tickets to the movies at Cathay Cinemas Kerikeri here - or at Lido Cinema Hamilton here!