What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 7th May 2026.

This years 52nd Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is held from Thursday 7th May up to Sunday 17th May, in the the US city of Seattle in Washington state. Beginning in 1976 with the annual Seattle International Film Festival, then expanding into year-round programming, SIFF envisions a thriving arts ecosystem where film discovery encourages a more empathetic, joyful, and connected world. In its three theatres, SIFF offers year-round screenings, Film Talks and a series of spotlight festivals throughout the year. SIFF also serves the community through educational programmes and SIFFsupports, a partnership programme that hosts and provides technical support to a variety of special screenings and festivals. The festival traditionally attracts nearly 150,000 attendees to celebrate films from more than eighty countries and regions around the world. Many of the features, short films, and documentaries screened will not have a return to US cinemas, making it an amazing event to discover new and underrepresented voices and stories . . . . . so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night film presentation is 'I Love Boosters' from the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Boots Riley. A fearless crew of inventive young women turns shoplifting into a radical act of defiance. Led by Corvette, they move across Oakland, boosting coveted goods as both survival and protest—challenging a system built on exclusion and excess. When their exploits draw unwanted viral attention and their feud with fashion mogul Christine Smith turns personal, the Boosters plan one final, audacious heist. Starring Keke Palmer, Demi Moore, Naomi Ackie, LaKeith Stanfield, Don Cheadle, Eiza Gonzalez, Taylour Paige and Poppy Liu. The Closing Night movie is 'The Invite' from the USA and Directed by Olivia Wilde. Two couples (Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen, and Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton) drop into the crucible of a seemingly innocuous dinner with their neighbours, where awkward small talk unearths insecurities, codependencies, failed aspirations, and deep sexual FOMO.

Films in the Official Competition demonstrate some of the finest filmmaking this year from around the world. Spanning a variety of genres, these films advance themes of worldwide resonance, like friendship, coming of age in times of political turmoil, and the challenges inherent to romantic and familial relationships. The Official Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning film, which will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards on 17th May and awarded a cash prize of US$5K. Those films are as follows :-

* 'Burn' - from Japan and Written and Directed by Makoto Nagahisa. When runaway teen Ju-Ju is embraced by a tribe of misfit youths in Kabukicho, she finds belonging for the first time - until betrayal and despair twist her haven into a prison.

* 'The Friend's House is Here' - from Iran and the USA and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Directed by Hossein Keshavarz and Maryam Ataei, and Edited by Hossein Keshavarz. Pari and Hanna are best friends and active participants in Tehran’s vibrant underground arts scene. But the risk of running afoul of the government is omnipresent, forcing difficult decisions.

* 'Lady' - from the UK and is Co-Written and Directed by Samuel Abrahams. In this absurdly hilarious mockumentary, a young filmmaker agrees to film the behind-the-scenes vanity project of the obnoxiously entitled aristocratic Lady Isabella (Sian Clifford) at her imposing country estate, Ravenhyde Hall, only for something unseen and quite strange to happen. North American Premiere.

* 'Marama' - from New Zealand and Written and Directed by Taratoa Stappard. This anti-colonial psychological horror story confronts the brutal legacy of British oppression and its attempts to fracture culture, while honouring the strength, resilience, and enduring leadership of Maori women.

* 'Silent Friend' - from Germany and Hungary and Written and Directed by Ildiko Enyedi. The film unfolds across three time periods - 2020, 1972 and the early 1900's at a historic German university in Marburg, with loosely connected narratives anchored by the presence of a single ginkgo tree.

* 'Sundays' - from Spain and Written and Directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azua. At 17, Ainara faces a life-changing choice - after high school, she considers becoming a nun. Her decision unsettles her family, especially her aunt Montse, who fears it means losing freedom.

For the details of the other competitive strands being showcased - the Short Films Competition, the New Directors Competition, the New American Cinema Competition, the Ibero-American Competition and the Documentary Competition, plus the other sections being screened, and a whole bunch of other good stuff too, you can visit the official website at : http://www.siff.net

Looking forward to this weeks five new movies coming to your local Odeon, we kick off with the second film in this rebooted franchise based on a popular video game series in which an ageing Hollywood martial artist joins other fighters in the ultimate, no-holds-barred battle to defeat the dark rule of a powerful tyrant who threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders. This is followed by a story of a fifteen-year-old boy from a remote Macedonian village who escapes into music amidst parental expectations, societal conservatism, and forbidden love for a promised girl. Next up we turn to a mystery comedy film where a flock of intelligent sheep, who love listening to mystery novels, must solve the murder of their beloved shepherd. Then we have a film captured during this singers sold-out world tour - a concert experience from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation, presented in immersive 3D. And closing out the week we have a musical doco charting this bands five decades in the business from their humble beginnings playing the pubs and clubs in East London to their headlining gigs in some of the worlds biggest stadiums and arenas. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'MORTAL KOMBAT II' (Rated MA15+) - is an American martial arts fantasy film that is a sequel to 2021's 'Mortal Kombat' and the fourth instalment in the Mortal Kombat film series, both based on the video game series 'Mortal Kombat'. The live action film series launched in 1995 with 'Mortal Kombat' Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and was followed up in 1997 by 'Mortal Kombat Annihilation' Directed by John. R. Leonetti. Simon McQuoid Directed the rebooted 'Mortal Kombat' in 2021, and he returns to the Directors chair for this offering. The first three films in the series have grossed US$204M off the back of combined production budgets of US$103M. The film is released in the US this week too, and allegedly a third film is already in development.

Following the events of Mortal Kombat, Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) tasks Earthrealm champions to find new warriors to prepare the upcoming tournament against Outworld as they attempt to resist the rule of Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) whose rise threatens the survival of Earthrealm and its defenders. One such recruit is an ageing Hollywood martial artist, Johnny Cage (Karl Urban). Also starring Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks and Damon Herriman. 

'DJ AHMET' (Rated PG) - this North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia and Croatian Co-Produced drama film is Written and Directed by Georgi M. Unkovski in his feature film making debut. The film centres around the life of 15-year-old boy, Ahmet (Arif Jakup), who falls in love for the first time, desires to be a DJ, and contends with the conservatism of his rural village in North Macedonia. It saw its World Premiere screening at the Sundance Film Festival in late January 2025 where it was in the World Cinema Competition ultimately taking home the Audience Award, among its total haul of nine award wins and another ten nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. The film had garnered positive critical reviews and has so far taken US$1.1M at the Box Office.

'THE SHEEP DETECTIVES' (Rated PG) - is a UK and US Co-Produced mystery comedy film that is Directed by Kyle Balda who Co-Directed 2012's 'The Lorax' and went onto helm 2015's 'Minions' then 2017's 'Despicable Me 3', and 2022's 'Minions : The Rise of Gru'. This film is based on the 2005 novel 'Three Bags Full' by Leonie Swann. Here, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can't possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, and George winds up mysteriously dead, the sheep realise they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers. Also starring Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, with a voice cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein and Rhys Darby. The film is released this week too in the USA and has generated positive critical acclaim.

'BILLIE EILISH - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT' (Rated PG) - this American 3D concert film is Produced, Directed and stars acclaimed Director James Cameron and acclaimed singer and songwriter Billie Eilish. The film stars Eilish and features performances from her seventh headlining 2025 concert tour at the Co-Op Live venue and filmed over four nights during her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour', in Manchester, England. It is Eilish's second concert film after 'Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles' which was Directed by Robert Rodriguez. The production utilised virtual reality 3D technology, via a partnership with Meta Platforms and Cameron's Lightstorm Vision, for a release on Meta Quest headsets. The film is released Stateside too this week. 

'IRON MAIDEN : BURNING AMBITION' (Rated M) - is a US and UK Co-Produced biographical musical documentary film that is Directed by Malcolm Venville whose previous feature film credits are '44 Inch Chest' in 2009, 'Henry's Crime' in 2010, and the sports documentary film 'And We Go Green' in 2019. The film chronicles the band’s five-decade journey from East London pubs to sell-out global stadiums. Featuring exclusive interviews with band members and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, fan stories and archival footage, as well as all-new animated sequences of the band's legendary mascot, Eddie, the film offers a rare and intimate look at Iron Maiden's uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their truly global army of fans. The film is released worldwide this week. 

With five new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd June 2022.

The 69th Sydney Film Festival came to a close on Sunday 19th June after twelve days and nights of showcasing inspiring and entertaining premieres, talks and parties, and the greatest, strangest and most exciting work that cinema has to offer. Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW; the Federal Government through Screen Australia and the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund; and City of Sydney the Festival’s Principal Local Government Partner. Sydney Film Festival also runs the Travelling Film Festival year-round, taking the best of international and Australian cinema to twenty-two regional centres around the country.

Twelve films are selected for the Official Competition, which celebrates 'courageous, audacious and cutting-edge' cinema with an AU$60K cash prize. Sydney Film Festival also presents eight other cash awards over the course of the festival. This years winners and grinners in those categories are :-

The Sydney Film Prize for the Best Film in Official Competition, was awarded to 'Close' from Belgium and Directed by Lukas Dhont. Winner of the Grand Prix Award at Cannes earlier this year, the film tells the story of two thirteen-year-olds Leo and Remi who are best friends. We meet them running happily through vast fields of flowers. They dream of unimaginable wealth, of being stars on YouTube. Remi is an aspiring musician, and Leo is his greatest fan. Theirs is a loving and genuine friendship. And then they start high school. For the very first time, their closeness comes into question as they are teased and taunted by their schoolmates. Gradually a rift develops between the friends, with tragic consequences.

The Documentary Australia Award for Australian Documentary is 'Keep Stepping', Directed by Luke Cornish. On Sydney’s urban fringe, two young women battle for a better life in the underground world of competitive street dance. Patricia, Romanian-born and hanging out for a visa, is a breakdancer. Gabi, of Chilean-Samoan heritage, pops with power. Both dream of escaping the rough hand they’ve been dealt. Will a win at Australia’s biggest dance competition Destructive Steps – in which 60 contestants compete in the preliminary rounds - be their golden ticket? Or will the external pressures of financial hardship and volatile relationships stop them from even reaching the dancefloor?

The Dendy Awards for Best Australian Short Films sponsored by Dendy Cinema's offers two awards - The Dendy Live Action Short Award and the Rouben Mamoulian Award (named after the Director who first presented the award in 1974). The former was presented to 'The Moths Will Eat Them Up' Directed by Luisa Martiri and Tanya Modini, and the latter was awarded Luisa Martiri and Tanya Modini for 'The Moths Will Eat Them Up'. This fourteen minute short film tells the story of a woman’s ordinary train ride home at night which turns into a terrifying game of cat and mouse with a stranger until an unforeseen force is summoned.

The Sustainable Future Award is presented to a narrative or documentary film of any length that deepens our knowledge and awareness of the impact of the global climate emergency. The winner of this award is 'Delikado', Directed by Karl Malakunas. A tourist destination and home to one of the world’s most diverse rainforests, the island of Palawan in the Philippines is a dangerous place for land defenders. Bobby Chan, a local environmental lawyer, leads a group of renegade land protectors who confiscate the chainsaws of illegal loggers. Up for re-election, local Mayor Nieves Rosento is the focus of a dirty campaign supported by land developers and President Rodrigo Duterte. Along with ex-illegal logger Tata, they confront murder and betrayal in their efforts to preserve this precious environment.

For details of the other award winners, and the SFF Audience Awards (announced one week after the close of the festival), plus details of the upcoming SFF Travelling Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://www.sff.org.au/

Turning attention back to this weeks upcoming new release movies, of which there are seven, we kick off with a drama biopic of the King of Rock 'n' Roll who rose to fame in the 1950's while maintaining a complex relationship with his Manager. This is followed up by doco chronicling the tumultuous - yet creatively fruitful - period of this British singer and songwriters life and career following the release of his 1987 solo debut, 'Faith', then through the creation and release of his 1990 follow-up 'Listen Without Prejudice, Vol.1'. Next up we have a French drama offering telling the story of the rise and the fall of a young man in Paris who dreamed to be a writer and became a journalist. Then we turn to an American action drama about a burlesque dancer who must go on the run to save a neighbour boy whose life is threatened by her ex-lover. Following on, we have a New Zealand comedy romance film about a suburban couple who make a last ditch attempt to salvage their marriage by going to a new age retreat on a remote island where they hope to reconnect. Up next is the first of two animated features closing out the week, with an origin story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain, followed by a Russian family action adventure film of a princess who is captured by a robber in the woods, and so she takes it upon herself to turn his world upside down.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'ELVIS' (Rated M) - is an Australian and US Co-Produced biographical musical drama film Co-Written for the screen, based on a story, Directed and Co-Produced by Baz Luhrmann whose previous film making credits take in his debut 'Strictly Ballroom' in 1992, 'Romeo + Juliet' in 1996, 'Moulin Rouge!' in 2001, 'Australia' in 2008 and 'The Great Gatsby' in 2013. The film had its World Premier screening at the Cannes Film Festival on 25th May where it received a twelve minute standing ovation. Released in Australia and worldwide this week, it was originally scheduled to be released in early October 2021, before being delayed to early November 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then later to this week. It cost US$85M to produce and has garnered generally positive critical acclaim.

The film chronicles the life and career of singer and actor Elvis Presley, from his early days as a child (played by Chaydon Jay) growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi to becoming a rock and roll star and movie star (played by Austin Butler) in Memphis, Tennessee and his conquering of Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as his complex relationship with his Manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Also starring Richard Roxburgh, Olivia DeJonge, Luke Bracey, David Wenham, Xavier Samuel, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Dacre Montgomery, Kate Mulvany, Josh McConville and Anthony LaPaglia.

'GEORGE MICHAEL : FREEDOM UNCUT' (Rated MA15+) - Directed by George Michael and David Austin this career-spanning documentary marks the final work from the internationally renowned superstar and features incredible, unseen archival and private home footage, taken before his untimely death at the age of 53 on Christmas Day 2016. Giving the audience a first-person account of this dramatic period in his life from his debut solo album 'Faith' and following the making of his acclaimed, best-selling album 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1' it reveals how he became one of the most influential recording artists of all time, who alone fought a corner for all artists by challenging the standard recording contract and helped to rewrite the rules of the music industry. Featuring interviews with some of Michaels’ most famous friends and music legends, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rogers, Mark Ronson, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Jean Paul Gaultier, James Corden and Tony Bennett. This documentary is narrated by the singer, who was heavily involved in the making of the film that serves as his final work, and why he stepped out of the limelight and turned his back on celebrity.

'LOST ILLUSIONS' (Rated M) - is a French drama film Co-Written and Directed by Xavier Giannoli whose previous feature film making credits include his debut in 2003 with 'Eager Bodies' then 'When I Was a Singer', 'In the Beginning', 'Superstar', 'Marguerite' and 'The Apparition' in 2018. This film is based on the serial novel of the same name written by Honore de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, and saw its World Premier showcasing at the Venice Film Festival back in September last year, before its release in its native France towards the back end of October. Costing US$17.5M to produce the film has so far taken US$8M and has garnered largely positive Reviews. In 1821, Lucien de Rubempre (Benjamin Voisin) arrives in Paris as a sensitive, and idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead, he finds himself swept into journalism, whose influence and reach is booming with the help of the printing press, recently having become widely available. Under the mentorship of cynical editor Etienne Lousteau (Vincent Lacoste), Lucien agrees to write glowing theatre reviews for bribes, achieving material success at the expense of his conscience. Also starring Xavier Dolan, Gerard Depardieu and Cecile de France. 

'NINE BULLETS' (Rated MA15+) - this American action drama film is Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Gigi Gaston whose prior feature film credits take in her debut in 2001 with 'Rip It Off', then 'The Nanny Murders' in 2020, and 'Fatal Memory' this year, before the release of this film. Here then, a former burlesque dancer turned author named Gypsy (Lena Headey) discovers a second chance at life and redemption when she risks everything to rescue her young neighbour Sam (Dean Scott Vazquez) after he witnesses his parents' murder. Now on the run from the local crime boss Jack (Sam Worthington), who happens to be her longtime ex, she makes a desperate attempt to get the boy to safety. Also starring Cam Gigandet and Barbara Hershey, the film has garnered less than favourable press. 

'NUDE TUESDAY' (Rated MA15+) - is a New Zealand comedy drama romance film Co-Written, Directed and Co-Produced by Armagan Ballantyne in only his second feature film outing following 'The Strength of Water' in 2009. When middle-aged suburban couple, Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) are gifted a remote couples’ retreat for their anniversary, they decide to give their failing marriage one last shot before calling it quits. Arriving in an idyllic sanctuary nestled in the snow capped mountains of a fictional island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Laura and Bruno uncomfortably enter a world of laughter workshops, tantric dance, sexual liberation and emotional animals, helmed by the charismatic guru Bjorg Rassmussen (Jermaine Clement), who all communicate with each other in complete made up language 'gibberish'.  When new temptations start to take hold, the couple are pushed to the brink forcing them to look within to find what they really want. The film has so far generated much critical praise.

'MINIONS : THE RISE OF GRU' (Rated PG) - this American CGI action comedy films is the sequel to the spin-off prequel 'Minions' from 2015, and the fifth entry overall in the 'Despicable Me' film franchise. Directed by Kyle Balda who Co-Directed 'The Lorax' in 2012, 'Minions' in 2015 and 'Despicable Me 3' in 2017. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 13th June before its release in Australia this week and the US from 1st July. Set following the events of the first film in the 1970's, a young twelve year old Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) tries to join a group of supervillains known as the Vicious 6 after they oust their leader - the legendary fighter Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin). When the interview turns disastrous, Gru and his Minions (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) go on the run with the Vicious 6 hot on their tails. Luckily, he finds an unlikely source for guidance in Wild Knuckles himself, and soon comes to learn that even bad guys need a little help from their friends. Also starring the voice talents of Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundgren, Danny Trejo, Russell Brand and Julie Andrews.

'MY SWEET MONSTER' (Rated PG) - is a Russian animated family action adventure film and Directed by the the pairing of Viktor Glukhushin and Maksim Volkov. Here, the 16-year-old Princess Barbara (Haylie Duff) throws a tantrum at her birthday party. While everybody is distracted, the throne is seized from her father King Elijah (Martin Cooke) by a sneaky post clerk Weasel. However, unsatisfied with being the sole ruler of the Kingdom, he also plans to marry Barbara. Princess Barbara runs away from the palace and finds herself deep in the woods. She bumps into Bogey the Outlaw (John Heder) and his friend the Wicked Rabbit (Josh Wilson). Barbara's interference wreaks havoc into the ordinary bachelor-style life of the two friends, which sees her meddling into everything, arranges her own set of rules, and keeps getting on their nerves with her assumptions about the dashing Prince Edward. To get rid of Barbara, Bogey decides to go as far as to find the Prince Edward, stop the Weasel and restore the world of some semblance of order. Also starring the voice of Pauly Shore.

With seven new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-