Picture this: a thirteen-year-old witch soars through cloudy skies on her broomstick, black cat perched behind her, wind whipping through her hair as she discovers what independence really means. That's Kiki, and honestly? Her story might be the perfect entry point for your weekend movie plans.
Kiki's Delivery Service is having a theatrical re-release, and look - I get it if Studio Ghibli feels like homework to some people. But here's the thing: this isn't your typical "chosen one saves the world" fantasy. Kiki's just trying to figure out how to pay rent while dealing with creative burnout. Sound familiar?
Hayao Miyazaki crafted something that feels both timeless and totally relevant. When Kiki loses her ability to fly, it's not because of some dark curse - it's because she's stressed, overwhelmed, and questioning everything. The animation is gorgeous without being showy, and Kiki's relationship with her talking cat Jiji actually evolves in ways that'll surprise you. This one's absolutely worth the theater experience. The flying sequences on the big screen? Chef's kiss.
Now, if you're feeling nostalgic for a different kind of adventure, The Mummy Returns is also playing select theaters as part of a throwback series.
Honestly? This Stephen Sommers sequel holds up better than people remember. Yeah, the CGI Scorpion King looks like a PlayStation 2 cutscene, but Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz have such genuine chemistry as Rick and Evelyn O'Connell. Their kid Alex isn't even that annoying, which is basically a miracle for early 2000s family adventure movies.
The action sequences still slap. That double-decker bus chase through London? The dirigible fight? Pure popcorn entertainment. But here's my slightly controversial take: this works better as a streaming rewatch than a theatrical experience. The pacing feels very "turn off your brain and enjoy," which is fine, but you're not missing much watching it on your couch.
Things get significantly weirder from here.
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist tackles the biggest question of our time through the lens of impending parenthood. The filmmaker-father tries to figure out whether he's bringing a kid into a world that's about to be fundamentally transformed by artificial intelligence.
I think this documentary works because it doesn't pretend to have easy answers. Instead of the usual "AI will save us" or "AI will destroy us" talking points, it sits with the genuine uncertainty we're all feeling. The personal angle keeps it grounded - this isn't some abstract tech discussion, it's a dad wondering what his kid's world will look like.
But honestly? This feels like essential viewing that you could watch just as effectively at home. It's the kind of doc that'll have you pausing to discuss with whoever you're watching it with.
Now Touch Me - this is where things get genuinely strange. Two best friends become addicted to the literal touch of an alien being who might be planning world domination. It's part body horror, part addiction metaphor, part weird relationship drama.
Here's the thing: this movie is going to be deeply divisive. The whole "alien touch as heroin" concept could either be brilliant commentary on dependency and intimacy, or it could be pretentious nonsense. I'm leaning toward the former, but barely. The performances from the two leads feel raw and committed, which sells even the most ridiculous moments.
This is definitely a "see it in theaters if you're going to see it" situation. The tactile weirdness needs that communal experience - you'll want to gauge how other people are reacting to what you're witnessing.
Finally, there's Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead, which sounds like it was generated by an AI that watched too many post-apocalyptic action movies. Water races, death sports, storm barriers - it's got all the dystopian greatest hits.
Look, I wanted to love this more than I did. The world-building is actually pretty solid, and the water-based action sequences have some genuinely cool moments. But Neb and Ana's rebellious storm rider arc feels like we've seen it a dozen times before. The "uncover hidden truths" plot goes exactly where you think it will.
That said, if you're craving big-budget sci-fi spectacle, this delivers on the visual front. The storm sequences are legitimately impressive on a big screen. Just don't expect it to reinvent the genre.
So here's my honest ranking for your movie dollar: Kiki's Delivery Service is the clear winner for theatrical experience - it's beautiful, emotionally resonant, and those flying scenes deserve the big screen treatment. Touch Me earns second place purely for its bold weirdness. The others? Perfectly fine streaming options.
Want to find more movies that match your specific taste instead of just whatever's trending? I've been using CinemaSearch lately and it's actually pretty solid for discovering stuff based on what you've already enjoyed. Way better than scrolling through the same Netflix recommendations forever.