Not because I don’t love this franchise. Quite the opposite. Toy Story has been a constant companion for most of my life, and after the emotional farewell of Toy Story 3 and the unexpected meetings and partings of Toy Story 4, I genuinely wondered what was left to say. I expected another Woody and Buzz adventure, nostalgia. I expected comfort.

What I didn’t expect was Jessie.

And honestly, I’m so glad that’s the movie we got.

Directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by McKenna Harris, Toy Story 5 reunites nearly every voice fans have grown up with. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Tony Hale, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Blake Clark, Annie Potts, Bonnie Hunt, Kristen Schaal, Keanu Reeves, Ally Maki, Melissa Villaseñor, and others return with the same warmth and chemistry that have defined this series for decades. The newcomers, including Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Craig Robinson, Bad Bunny, Ernie Hudson, Alan Cumming, and several more, slide naturally into this world without feeling like stunt casting.

But the real heart of the film belongs to Joan Cusack.

For years, her story in Toy Story 2 gave us one of the franchise’s most devastating moments. That fear of abandonment never truly disappeared, and Toy Story 5 wisely recognizes that trauma doesn’t simply vanish because time passes. Seeing Jessie wrestle with those lingering scars gives the film an emotional foundation I never saw coming. Joan Cusack delivers some of her strongest work in the entire series, and there were several moments where I found myself far more invested in her journey than I expected.

The “toys versus technology” premise initially seemed like the obvious hook. Trailers suggested a story about screens replacing playtime, and while that idea is certainly present, the film digs much deeper than that.

What Toy Story 5 is really asking is why so many children today feel pressured to grow up so quickly.

The film quietly examines the expectations placed on kids, the fear of not fitting in, and the way structured lives sometimes leave very little room for imagination. Technology becomes less of a villain and more of a symptom. The real issue is a world that often forgets how important play actually is.

That message hit me harder than I expected.

As someone who grew up creating stories with toys scattered across the floor, I found myself thinking about how much those moments shaped who I became. Toy Story 5 understands that play isn’t wasted time. It’s how children process emotions, discover themselves, and learn to connect with others. That’s a surprisingly profound idea for a movie about talking toys.

And thankfully, the film never forgets to have fun.

The comedy lands beautifully. The returning cast still feels like a family, and the chemistry between everyone remains one of Pixar’s greatest strengths. Whether it’s Rex spiraling into panic, Hamm delivering dry observations, or Duke Caboom stealing scenes once again, the movie balances humor and emotion with remarkable confidence.

Visually, Pixar continues to impress. The animation is stunning, but what stood out to me most were the smaller details. Expressions carry so much feeling. Quiet moments are allowed to breathe. There is a maturity to the filmmaking that trusts the audience without ever losing the wonder that made the original film special back in 1995.

By the time the credits rolled, I found myself smiling for a reason I never expected.

Toy Story 5 didn’t try to recreate the past. It didn’t chase nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Instead, it found a new story worth telling and gave one of the franchise’s most beloved characters the spotlight she deserved.

And somehow, against all my expectations, I think this movie was one of the best Toy Story films ever made.

That was perhaps the biggest surprise of all.

After thirty years, this franchise still understands something many films forget: growing up doesn’t mean leaving play behind. It means carrying the lessons, friendships, and imagination we discovered through it into the next chapter of our lives. Toy Story 5 celebrates that idea with sincerity, humor, and a tremendous amount of heart.

I walked into the theater wondering why this movie existed.

I walked out grateful that it does.

Rating: 5/5 atoms

Toy Story 5 comes alive in theaters this Friday, June 19th.

The post Toy Story 5 Review – Celebrating the Power of Play appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The audio links are available here.

About Paw Patrol: Dino Movie

Synopsis: After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs. They meet Rex, a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the PAW Patrol’s archrival, Mayor Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The PAW Patrol pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they’ve done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.

It’s directed by Cal Brunker and written by Brunker and Bob Barlen. It’s based on the television series created by Keith Chapman.

The voice cast includes Carter Young, Mckenna Grace, Terry Crews, Meredith MacNeill, Ron Pardo, Jennifer Hudson, Hayden Chemberlen, Fortune Feimster, Jameela Jamil, Rain Janjua, Bill Nye, Paris Hilton, Lucien Duncan-Reid, William Desrosiers, Nylan Parthipan, and Snoop Dogg, introducing Henry Bolan.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie will release in theaters on August 14, 2026.

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The film is directed by Kenji Tanigaki, known for his action directing in the Rurouni Kenshin live-action films. It stars Xie Miao as Wang Wei, a tradesman who will fight his way to save his kidnapped daughter. Joe Taslim portrays Navin, a journalist also on the hunt for the criminal organization.

“Last decade, I got lucky to be part of such an amazing action project called The Raid, and it changed how people watch action movies,” Taslim tells Nerd Reactor. “And now this decade, 2020 to 2030, in The Furious, I know for sure this movie is a game-changer as well. I’m part of it as well. Well, I can’t complain. This has been an amazing two decades, and to be a part of the movies that really changed the game of people watching action movies.”

Brian Le is a rising martial arts star who has appeared in Everything Everywhere All at Once opposite Michelle Yeoh. In The Furious, he is a tough henchman who will give Wang and Navin a tough time.

“I found it very beautiful,” Le said. “I think it’s a very special case where all the cast themselves have 20+ years of martial arts experience as well as action filmmaking experience. Within the rehearsal rooms, on camera, off camera, we actually spent a lot of time together, and we actually became friends. We actually became brothers.”

Joey Iwanaga, who can be seen in Alice in Borderland and the upcoming live-action Blue Lock film, is a villain who is trying to move up in the world.

“The first thing [Director Kenji] told me was that we want to make this the best action movie in history,” Iwanaga recalled. “When I first got the call from him, I was like, ‘Really? Like me? Are you sure?’ Because I’m the young guy in this team and I just had to give it my all.”

About The Furious

Synopsis: After the daughter of Wang Wei (Xie Miao) is kidnapped by a criminal network and he receives no help from the corrupt police, Wei sets out on a rampage to find her himself. His only ally is Navin (Joe Taslim) – a relentless journalist whose wife has mysteriously disappeared. Fueled by a furious vengeance, the unlikely duo ruthlessly fights against the kidnappers in this explosive martial arts showdown.

The film is directed by Kenji Tanigaki and written by Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zhilong, Shum Kwan Sin and Frank Hui. It’s produced by Bill Kong, Shan Tam and Frank Hui.

The cast includes Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Yang Enyou, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul, Guo Junqing, Winai Wiangyangkung, Yayan Ruhian and Jija Yanin.

The Furious releases in theaters on June 12, 2026.

The post Joe Taslim Believes The Furious Can Change Action Movies Like The Raid Did appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

For those attending San Diego Comic-Con, here’s your chance to experience the ultimate Transformers concert. Hasbro and Reigning Phoenix Music will host the music event, which will take place on Thursday, July 23, at House of Blues San Diego.

The concert will feature The Transformers: The Movie – The Soundtrack – The Reformatted Edition and will be performed live by Knights of Unicron. Stan Bush will be performing “The Touch.” Original composer Vince DiCola will also perform, along with Cold Slither and Britta Phillips (original singing voice of Jem from Jem and the Holograms). More guest announcements to come.

Tickets and VIP Packages are available for purchase at https://www.universe.com/events/the-transformers-the-movie-40th-anniversary-celebration-of-life-concert-tickets-VND0R2.

“I’m thrilled to be part of THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE 40th Anniversary Celebration of Life Concert and to celebrate this incredible film with the fans who have kept its spirit alive for four decades,” said Stan Bush in a statement. “It means so much to me that the music, especially ‘The Touch,’ still connects with people in such a powerful way. This anniversary is a tribute to the lasting impact of the movie, the memories it created, and the amazing TRANSFORMERS community that has embraced these songs for 40 years.”

Additionally, Hasbro will have Transformers exclusives at the convention, including the Transformers Optimus Prime & Autobot Jazz Cereal Box Set and Transformers Jem and the Holograms Autobot Blaster & KP GLIT, KP Sundor, and KP Rosanna.

The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Concert

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: Doors at 7 PM | Show at 8 PM
Venue: House of Blues, 1055 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
General admission – $50.00 plus service charges
VIP packages – $100.00 plus service charges
Merch: Exclusive show merch will be available day of

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“I would be first-wave dead,” Riggs tells Nerd Reactor. “I would be out like the first 12 hours of the virus. I would be dead.”

The actor commented while discussing his latest dark comedy film, Hacked: A Double Entendre of Rage-Fueled Karma. The inspiration for the film came from director/writer Shane Brady and producer Emily Zercher, who were hacked and lost $20,000 that was supposed to be a down payment on their first home. As a result, they both crafted a comedic revenge film. It also reunites Riggs with his former The Walking Dead co-star Katelyn Nacon.

Riggs portrays the antagonist who wreaks havoc on the Rumble family. Later on, the family gets their revenge. Parts of the film were shot inside and outside of his real home at the time.

“A lot of the stuff that we shot in the hacker’s house was my actual house,” Riggs revealed.

“His house at the time,” Nacon clarified. “He does not live there anymore. So do not go to that house and try to bug the people who live there.”

Riggs’ role as the hacker was more than he bargained for, with the filming feeling very intense.

“This film was probably one of the most invasive experiences in my life,” he said.

However, it was still a film that he cherishes.

“It would have sucked if it were anyone else at the helm other than Shane,” he explained. “But we had just the best experience and the best time. It was the best cast and the best crew.”

Nacon jumped at the opportunity because of Shane.

“[Shane] has a very interesting way of writing, and his humor is so specific that sometimes you don’t get it until you hear it out loud,” she said. “But once you hear it out loud, you’re going to be laughing your guts out until you’re vomiting.”

Even with the film’s chaotic scenes, both actors talked about its message of connection and collaboration.

“It’s just a group of people coming together to create something cool,” Riggs said. “It’s more honest. It’s more of a love letter to making movies and creativity and indie filmmaking in general.”

Nacon added about the importance of being in a community.

“Community is a huge thing,” she said. “Even if you’re going through the worst parts of your life, if you have the right people around you, those horrible things don’t seem as bad.”

About Hacked: A Double Entendre of Rage-Fueled Karma

Based on true events that happened to Director Shane Brady and Producer Emily Zercher, the film stars The Walking Dead alum Chandler Riggs, Owen Atlas (Little Evil), Collin Thompson, Richard Riehle (Office Space), Katelyn Nacon (The Walking Dead), Shane Brady (Breathing Happy), and NHL Hall of Famer and Founder of the Tampa Bay Lightning Phil Esposito.

Hacked: A Double Entendre of Rage Fueled Karma was released on VOD on June 2, 2026.

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Anyone expecting Disclosure Day to play like Ready Player One or War of the Worlds might be caught off guard. This isn’t that kind of Spielberg sci-fi movie. There’s action here and there, but the film isn’t really built like a traditional summer blockbuster. It’s slower, talkier, and more interested in the questions than the explosions. This is Spielberg working in a more reflective mode. He uses science fiction to explore fear, faith, uncertainty, and the strange comfort of searching for answers when everything around you feels unstable.

At the center of the film are Margaret and Daniel, played by Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor. The mystery surrounding them is easily the film’s strongest hook. Spielberg lets the story unfold piece by piece, never rushing to the explanation. There is a genuine pull to Disclosure Day’s way of keeping its cards close to its chest. You want to know what happened to them, and why the events around them feel so much bigger than they first appear.

Disclosure Day is a slower, thoughtful Spielberg sci-fi mystery, led by a fantastic Emily Blunt and built more on wonder than action.

That slow-burn structure works, but not without some drag. Disclosure Day has several scenes where the momentum noticeably softens. Characters stop to talk through broader ideas, explain pieces of the story, or unpack the themes Spielberg clearly wants on the table. To his credit, Spielberg is still one of the few filmmakers who can make these kinds of conversations feel cinematic. He knows how to frame silence, hesitation, and awe. He understands how to make a quiet exchange feel meaningful.

Emily Blunt is the emotional engine that keeps it all from becoming too distant, delivering one of the strongest performances of her career here. Her role asks for so much, and she delivers it in spades. Blunt makes Margaret feel like a real person caught in an impossible situation. She keeps the film grounded and, more importantly, gives the audience someone to hold on to.

Josh O’Connor has a harder time finding that same spark. He is not bad, but next to Blunt, his performance feels a little muted. Part of that comes from the writing. Daniel is often used as the character who explains the situation, fills in the gaps, or gives shape to the film’s larger ideas. That makes him important to the story, but less gripping as a character. O’Connor brings intelligence to the role, though he never quite matches Blunt’s charisma or emotional immediacy.

Overall, even with its slower sections, Disclosure Day lands because Spielberg’s sincerity still matters. The film offers a surprisingly hopeful message about what people do when the world starts falling apart. While it may not be the explosive sci-fi adventure some audiences expect, it has the warmth and craft of a storyteller who still believes movies can make us feel small, scared, hopeful, and human all at once.

Rating: 4/5 atoms

Disclosure Day hits theaters on June 12th.

The post Disclosure Day Review – Spielberg’s Latest Finds Wonder in Uncertainty appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

We spoke with both actors about joining the franchise, what surprised them on set, and the personal moments that made this larger-than-life project feel special.

Portraying Ram Man wasn’t just any other role for Jon Xue Zhang; it was something that went all the way back to his childhood.

“Absolutely surreal, because I grew up watching this with my older brother,” Zhang tells Nerd Reactor. “So I was familiar with the characters. So we had all the comic books, we watched all the cartoons, and we had all the action figures. When the audition came through, it’s like, ‘MOTU? It sounds like Masters of the Universe. Surely not.’ Scroll down. ‘Ram Man?! No! This is amazing!'”

Zhang being a part of this project was very personal for him.

“My dad helped me with the audition tape,” the actor explained. “He said, ‘Hey, I remember buying you the action figure. I remember the springy legs.’ And so honestly, for my parents, for my brother, and for childhood me, I couldn’t NOT book this role.”

Christian Vunipola on Entering the World of Eternia

The majority of the film is set in Eternia, but audiences will see Adam trying to live a normal life on Earth. He has a mission to find the Sword of Power, but the people of Earth think he’s crazy. Vunipola plays Adam’s friend, and he tries to tell him not to share his childhood backstory in Eternia.

The actor felt blessed to be joining Masters of the Universe.

“It wasn’t a secret that it was for Masters of the Universe,” Vunipola said. “And I was really excited. I did my best with the audition, and I think they liked something I did. And now we’re here.”

One cannot have Eternia without Castle Grayskull, and Vunipola was not prepared to witness the glory of the iconic location.

“Seeing the set was actually such a surreal moment; to walk outside and see Castle Grayskull,” Vunipola explained. “To actually see that thing in front of you, it was wild. It’s like a dream come true. I couldn’t believe it was real.”

Both Jon Xue Zhang and Christian Vunipola represent the different worlds in Masters of the Universe, but also in real life with the former rooted in childhood nostalgia and the latter in awe and wonder.

Synopsis: After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.

Masters of the Universe releases in theaters on June 5, 2026.

The post Masters of the Universe Stars on Ram Man, Castle Grayskull and Childhood Dreams appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

And they mostly do.

The new Scary Movie takes a shotgun approach to its humor and references. It fires at everything. Scream, obviously. Smile. Elevated horror. Legacy sequels. Requels. Influencer culture. Final girls who over-explain their trauma. Some jokes land with that classic Wayans style, the kind that makes you laugh before you can decide whether you should. Others fly right past you, either because the reference feels too obvious or because the movie is already loading up the next punchline before the last one has had time to breathe.

That is the film’s biggest problem. It tries hard. Sometimes way too hard. There are stretches where it feels like the writers made a checklist of every popular horror franchise from the past five years and refused to leave the room until each one got at least one gag. Paramount’s own horror properties get dragged into the mess, with the recent Scream reboot films and Smile taking some of the most obvious hits. That part makes sense, of course. Scary Movie was born out of a Scream parody. But there are moments when the film becomes so crammed with references that it starts to feel less like a movie and more like someone trying to win a bet on how many they can fit in.

And yet, when the movie slows down just enough to focus on itself, it becomes a blast.

The Wayans return for a new chaotic Scary Movie that spoofs modern horror with messy, offensive, and often hilarious results.

True to their word, the Wayans go after everyone. No one is safe, and that gives the reboot a spark most modern studio comedies are too nervous to touch. The humor is rude, stupid, occasionally gross, and absolutely designed to offend as many people as possible. Not every joke works, but something is refreshing about watching a comedy swing with that kind of shameless confidence again.

The characters are also a mixed bag at first, though the movie slowly reveals that this is kind of the point. The new younger characters are annoying, loud, and constantly trying to prove they belong in a franchise that clearly doesn’t need them. That could’ve been unbearable, but Scary Movie turns it into a joke. Its message that no one can replace the legacy characters is blunt but also very true.

That’s also why it’s frustrating that the legacy cast doesn’t get more screen time. Whenever Cindy, Brenda, Shorty, Ray, Gail, and Doofy are back on screen doing deeply stupid things again, the movie comes alive. Their timing, weirdness, and complete lack of shame instantly remind you why these characters became so memorable in the first place. The reboot knows they are the main attraction. It just does not always give them enough room to take over.

Overall, Scary Movie is messy, overloaded, and desperate to hit every target in sight. Yet, despite its flaws, Scary Movie is funnier and more alive than it has any right to be. Because when the joke hits, it hits hard. The Wayans may not fully reinvent the franchise, but they do bring back its reckless, ridiculous soul. And after years of horror getting more serious and polished, watching Scary Movie act like a complete idiot again feels pretty damn good.

Rating: 3/5 atoms

Scary Movie hits theaters on June 5th.

The post Scary Movie (2026) Review – The Wayans Are Back, and No Horror Franchise Is Safe appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The film brings a sense of familiarity between Jack Ryan and Mike November. The joyous relationship between Krasinski and Kelly off the screen helped add to their on-screen chemistry.

“The more you get to know Michael Kelly, you have to just embrace what you got, which is a wild horse,” Krasinski tells Nerd Reactor. “He’s the nicest, funniest, most generous person who also makes me laugh incredibly hard. It’s no coincidence that his character went from being a buttoned-up CIA guy to a complete wild man.”

Kelly reiterates the sentiment, focusing on the same energy on set.

“Personally, I’m in tears every single day of filming,” Kelly added. “We laugh that hard every day, even through a lot of difficult days on set. Somehow, we always find a way to get through it by making each other laugh.”

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War is now available to stream on Prime Video.

You can watch the full interview via the video above.

About Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War

Synopsis: In this new film, Jack Ryan is reluctantly thrust back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, forcing him to confront a rogue black-ops unit, and the clock is ticking. Operating in real time with lives on the line and the threat escalating at every turn, Jack reunites with battle-tested CIA operative Mike November (Michael Kelly) and former CIA boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce), their combined experience the only edge they have against an enemy who knows their every move. Backed by an unlikely new partner – razor-sharp MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) – Jack and the team navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past they thought was long put to rest – making this the most personal, high-stakes mission any of them have ever faced.

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Voicing the English version of Hathaway is Caleb Yen (Metaphor: ReFantazio), the leader of MAFTY, who seeks to disrupt the Federation government. The character is very serious, who is the complete opposite of Yen.

“I like to play a character that’s so different from me,” the actor said. “So getting to be someone who thinks a lot more than I do and has a mission that he’s very dedicated to, but thinks about it instead of talking about it. Whereas I would just talk about it a lot. And what’s great about this movie or the trilogy, you’re not sure who to root for.”

Voicing Lane Aim, the young Gundam pilot on the Federation side, is Kieran Walton.

“That’s kind of real-life adjacent,” Walton said of the morally grey characters in the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway films. “Sometimes it feels like you don’t know who to root for, and it really is important to sort through those matters on your own and really figure out where you’re passionate.”

About Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe

Synopsis: The year is U.C. 0105, twelve years after Char’s Rebellion. “MAFTY” has begun resisting the Federation government’s tyrannical rule by assassinating its ministers. Its leader is actually Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa, who fought in the One Year War alongside Amuro Ray.

Haunted by past trauma, Hathaway is drawn to a mysterious girl named Gigi Andalucia, whose strange powers stir memories within him. While swayed by her cryptic words, he continues preparing for MAFTY’s mission — the attack on the Adelaide Conference. Kenneth Sleg of the Earth Federation Forces prepares a defense operation for the Adelaide Conference and a plan to eliminate MAFTY and is approached by Handley Yoxon of the Criminal Police Organization with a secret proposal.

As Hathaway and Kenneth pursue their respective goals, Gigi also sets off for Hong Kong to fulfill her own role.

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