Just last night, we rewatched Toy Story 2, and I was reminded what a great sequel this was. It’s creative, exciting, and thoughtful. In other words, it wasn’t just a cash grab for the studio. The creators clearly cared about these characters.

A Favorite Scene

The opening of Toy Story 2 is excellent, the scene of Woody’s rescue team crossing the street disguised as traffic cones is absolutely hilarious, and the ending sequence that gives a nod to classic Westerns is wonderfully creative. But “The Cleaner” coming to repair Woody is a hidden gem tucked away in the narrative.

The scene gives off some similar vibes to YouTube videos that have become known as ASMR. For those unfamiliar with the term, here’s a bit about ASMR:

Some have suggested that the rise of ASMR videos is connected to the lack of tactile interactions human beings experience today. More and more of our day-to-day lives are being replaced by things that occur on a screen, robbing us of some of the embodied experiences we were created for.

While the sounds of Bob Ross’s brushes scratching against a “happy” canvas may be among the earliest ASMR videos known to mankind, this scene from Toy Story 2 gives a slight nod to that category.

Early in the movie, Woody gets a snag on a seam that holds his arm in place, robbing him of the opportunity to accompany Andy to Cowboy Camp. As the movie progresses, the snag does as well and Woody’s arm eventually falls off completely. In order for Woody to be sold by the film’s antagonist, his arm must be repaired by The Cleaner, leading to the scene below.

Many ASMR videos involve restoring something broken or refreshing something worn down. That reality strikes a chord deep within the human heart.

Restoration is something we all long for.

Perhaps that’s why scenes like this affect us more than we realize. We’re not just watching Woody get repaired. We’re watching a picture of what we hope happens to all of us.

All of us—and all of our possessions, for that matter—are worn down by life in a fallen world. This world, as beautiful as it is, is broken. And the brokenness of this life rubs off on us. We don’t function the way we should; therefore, we all long to be made whole.

The scene above gives us a glimpse of the restoration we all desire. It’s part of the reason that, when we reached this moment in the movie, our entire family loved it.

Sometimes during a movie, a few of us will get up to grab a snack...or three. One or two of my children were getting something from the kitchen when this scene began. Those of us still watching made some comment about how great it was, prompting those outside the room to ask if we would pause the movie so they wouldn’t miss it.

Even though the scene is brief and there are certainly others that are more memorable, it highlights the creativity that has marked Pixar since its inception. The sounds, the detail, the textures—all of it—resonate with hearts that know what it means to be broken.

Which is why it resonates with yours.

Or, at least it should.

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Needless to say, writing weekly articles may be something I struggle to do. My aim is to continue giving you something worthwhile each Tuesday, but I wanted to give you a bit of a heads-up because I know these articles are often the highlight of your Tuesday. (Let’s face it, the bar for Tuesdays is pretty low.)

I may pull some articles from the archives and write some shorter pieces at times, but I’ll still try to keep things regular.

The Breadwinner

As I said, we ended up taking the entire “Perritt Posse” to see Nate Bargatze’s first movie, and we were not disappointed.

If you’ve been following reviews, you may be aware that The Breadwinner hasn’t received much love from critics. Let’s be honest—most critics can be a tad pretentious, so take what they say with a grain of salt.

Let me ask you this: When was the last time a feature-length, non-animated comedy was released that the entire family could go see? Seriously, can you think of one? If so, share it in the comments. The Breadwinner is trying to occupy a rare space in modern cinema by offering something that’s surprisingly difficult to pull off. I think it succeeds.

I couldn’t encourage you more to go see this movie. Sadly, it hasn’t done particularly well at the box office, but we need more movies like this being made.

I’ve heard some critics take issue with Nate’s acting. Listen, I don’t think he’ll be in the Oscar race this year for Best Actor or Best Screenplay. I’m not ready to crown him the next Brando, but he gave a solid performance. Anyone who’s overly critical of his acting really needs to relax and enjoy life a little more.

My children range in age from 9 to 19, and every one of them laughed. Nobody hated the movie. No one walked away disappointed. And isn’t that the point of taking your family to the movies? Sharing a fun experience and creating a memory together.

Is The Breadwinner the funniest movie I’ve ever seen? No.

Did I laugh consistently through most of the movie? Absolutely.

In short, ignore the critics and take your family to see this movie.

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The Cost of Rushing Grief

I know it’s a bit jarring to go from a family-friendly comedy to a discussion on grief, but I wanted to pass this article on to others.

If you read my Expository Thoughts from last week, which reflected on a scene from Manchester by the Sea, you’ll appreciate this article by .

I found this article deeply impacting and helpful. Those who experience grief often struggle to help others understand what they’re going through, and this piece accomplishes that remarkably well.

For those on the outside of grief, patience is often tested. Empathy gets stretched. The long-suffering spirit we should strive for can fade sooner than we realize.

As I’ve heard someone say, “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

Everywhere you go—at the office, at church, at athletic events, at restaurants, at coffee shops, and even among friends—people are carrying grief in one form or another. In light of that reality, we should strive to show more grace to those we rub shoulders with each day.

This article will help you understand why grief should never be rushed. We all need to grow in this area, so take the time to give it a read.

Your grieving friend will thank you for it.

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The most depressing movie I’ve ever seen is Million Dollar Baby. I only saw it once, and I don’t think I will ever see it again.

This doesn’t mean it’s a movie completely void of great scenes, memorable dialogue, and superb acting. It possesses all of those. I just don’t think I can handle it.

While Manchester by the Sea isn’t an uplifting film—some would call it depressing—I’ve seen it twice, and I may actually watch it again someday. The content is extremely weighty and difficult to take in, but there’s a certain aspect to it that makes it rewatchable.

I want to guard against spoilers, so I’ll be vague in the summary. Suffice it to say, it’s a movie filled with loss, trauma, grief, and the toll they take on those left behind.

This summer, I’ll be teaching middle schoolers and high schoolers about grief and suffering. Nothing screams “summertime” quite like grief and suffering. I’m sure it’ll be a hit.

But any adult reading this knows the truth. There’s no way to protect the next generation from the harsh realities of life in a fallen world. Grief and suffering will find them. It already has.

Why not prepare them for it?

Embracing Weakness

In Manchester by the Sea, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is asked to care for his nephew, Patrick Chandler (Lucas Hedges), after his father dies. Lee is forced to put his life on hold to care for his nephew during this difficult season.

Not only is Lee grieving the death of his brother, but he’s also grieving what some may say is an even greater loss connected to his previous life in Manchester. Throughout the movie, Lee battles his own depression and trauma, but the narrative of his life never lets up.

Grief upon grief upon grief continues to be stacked on Lee’s shoulders. The viewer wonders if he will ever get any reprieve, but that never comes. The burden Lee carries only grows, so it becomes clear that he has to leave Manchester.

The loss connected to Manchester only amplifies Lee’s suffering. He tries to press on, but the weight of that loss proves too much for him to bear.

Not only does this mean he will have to leave a place, but also a person—his nephew. He tries to make it work, but he just can’t, which leads us to this powerful scene.

As other critics have noted, Manchester by the Sea pushes back against the idea of a protagonist who triumphantly overcomes loss by the movie’s final act. Instead of a character who pushes beyond the trauma of his life, we have Lee admitting that his grief and trauma have won.

He just can’t beat it.

As strange as this may sound, there’s encouragement here. Those dealing with insurmountable grief and trauma often feel the added weight of needing to “conquer” it—whatever that looks like. When they can’t, they simply spiral and multiply their pain.

Manchester by the Sea gives viewers a nuanced perspective on the severity of trauma and suffering. Some sufferers need to hear that you may not be able to rise up victorious over your pain, but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

Don’t mishear me. I’m not saying that one should give up and lean into despair or despondency. Like Frodo Baggins, there are some wounds that never heal. We will carry them with us throughout this earthly life. Some wounds are so deep that we will remain forever marred this side of glory.

As a Christian, I find freedom in this.

This world can, and often will, deal us some heavy blows. This life takes a toll. As Christians, we don’t have to find the strength within ourselves to beat anything. In fact, it’s the beatings of this world that allow us to loosen our grip on it and long for our true home.

The strength comes from acknowledging that we had no strength to begin with. The strength comes from acknowledging that we were never in control of our lives, no matter how much we may think otherwise.

Lee Chandler realized he couldn’t beat his suffering. He lacked both the zeal and the ability to do so. Suffering reminds us of the weakness that permeates every fiber of our being.

The strength comes from embracing that weakness.

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I know what you may be thinking: Did John really get to ask Nate Bargatze questions about his new movie, The Breadwinner?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Now, before you imagine me backstage cracking jokes with Nate, this wasn’t an in-person interview, so let me explain how this came about.

But first, I need to tell you something else that directly impacts you.

If you checked out my article last week, you know that I’ve been anticipating Nate Bargatze’s new/first movie, The Breadwinner. As I mentioned, when my family first saw the trailer, I immediately knew we’d make the release a fun family outing. Barring sickness, scheduling chaos, or one of my children suddenly deciding they hate movies, we’ll be there opening night.

And if we didn’t need another reason to head to the theater, I recently learned about the “Nate Rate” for movie tickets. To quote Nate’s agent:

Nate encouraged theaters across the country to give special pricing to make the movie more affordable for families — like it used to be.

As someone with a large family, I deeply appreciate this. Check with your local theater to see if they’re participating in the “Nate Rate” promotion.

Here’s the Story of How I Got to “Interview” Nate Bargatze

(Feel Free to Fast-Forward to the Main Feature)

One challenge with running a weekly newsletter is figuring out what’s actually worth writing about. Even though I can follow movie release schedules and share thoughts on upcoming films, I often have ideas I want to write about that don’t necessarily line up with what’s hitting theaters.

That said, I knew I wanted to do something to highlight The Breadwinner because it feels like one of those rare movies that could genuinely work for the whole family. Now, I haven’t seen it yet, but at face value, it seems like there’s something here for both adults and children.

At first, I thought I might simply write a review after seeing it. Then I had another idea: What if I tried to reach out to someone connected to Nate and ask for an interview?

I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?

I wouldn’t find a contact.
They’d ignore me.
Or they’d say no.

Well, after a little digging, I found someone who helps Nate with various media opportunities. Below is a portion of the email I sent:

Hello [Person’s Name],

My name is John Perritt, and I’m the creator of the Family Movie Night Substack. I’ve been hosting this newsletter for two years and have a small following of just over 1,000 subscribers.

I was wondering if there might be a way to interview Nate to help promote his forthcoming film, The Breadwinner. I know Nate has many other avenues that would spread the word far better than mine, but I figured I’d at least reach out and ask.

I appreciate your consideration.

I hit “send” and forgot about it.

Three hours later, I received this reply:

“Hey John — Could you send over a few questions I could potentially run by Nate?”

As you can imagine, I was pretty surprised — and a little nervous.

Okay, now that he said “yes,” I need to come up with some good questions. What can I ask that won’t sound dumb or waste his time?

Based on the response, I assumed I was simply sharing potential questions — kind of like: Hey, here’s the style of questions I’d ask Nate if this actually happens.

I didn’t think this was my one shot, so I shared some sample questions. But before I knew it, I got another response.

Not only did Nate’s rep respond, but he had now included two individuals connected with Sony Studios. And, to my surprise, Nate had answered my questions. (I mean, it was either Nate or AI, but I’ll take it.)

In all seriousness, I’m genuinely grateful to Nate’s rep for taking the time to consider my request and then acting as the mediator between me and my dear friend, Nate. I also want to publicly say “thank you” to Nate Bargatze and Sony Studios for making this happen.

So…here’s what you’ve all been waiting for.

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My “Interview” with Nate Bargatze

John Perritt: How did this story come about? Were you approached with this concept or was it a story you had been working on?

Nate Bargatze: I wrote this movie with my good friend Dan Lagana. We wanted it to be a feel-good family comedy that was nostalgic but still modern. Something families could all go watch together and everybody leaves feeling good. That was important to me, especially for my first movie.

JP: Had you ever dabbled in screenwriting before? How is the process similar/different to writing stand-up material?

NB: I’ve done screenwriting before, but this was my first time really doing it all the way through. It was similar to the way I write my stand-up in that I like to follow whatever idea makes me laugh and just see where it goes. I don’t Google or over-research stuff because sometimes knowing too much can take the fun out of it. With stand-up, it’s usually just me onstage talking about something small that turns into a bigger story. With a movie, you get to build a whole world around those ideas and they really come to life.

JP: Family stories often find their way into your material, did you have any real-life stories that you wove into the narrative of the film?

NB: Yes, definitely. A lot of my stand-up is based on real-life stories with my family, and some of those jokes found their way into the movie. I have a joke about my wife getting a new roof on our house and I didn’t even realize it until a neighbor mentioned it to me. True story! In the movie, Will Forte plays the roof worker, which came from that joke. There’s a lot of little moments in the movie that feel very relatable to me and probably to a lot of families too.

JP: Why do you think families should go and see this movie?

NB: I remember going to the movies with my family growing up and it felt like a whole event. We’d get popcorn and candy, bring blankets, sit there together, and just laugh. You always left feeling good afterward. I think people still want that. Life is always busy, but it’s nice to have something that gives families a reason to go be together for a couple hours. That’s what I hope this movie can be.

JP: What would you say is the overall message of The Breadwinner? What do you hope audiences take away from it (besides it being hilarious)?

NB: I think the movie is really about family and all the love, chaos, and work that goes into keeping one together. My character steps into the stay-at-home dad role and realizes pretty quickly that it’s a lot harder than he thought it was. In a lot of ways, this movie is a love letter to moms. I hope families watch it and see a little bit of themselves and their family in it.

JP: Now that you have a motion picture under your belt, would you like to do another one?

NB: That’s the goal. We’ll see how this one does, but I really enjoyed the entire experience of making a movie and I want to keep making experiences that families can enjoy together.

JP: How was the overall movie-making experience? Were you able to have much say in the finished film?

NB: The movie-making experience was incredible. There are so many people involved all working towards the same thing. The days can be long, but the cast and crew really start to feel like family. I was very involved in the movie from start to finish, and I’m really proud of how it turned out. I can’t wait for people to see it.

JP: You’ve done stand-up, sold out arenas, been on SNL, written a book, screenplay, movie, what’s next for you?

NB: You may know that I’m building a theme park in my home city of Nashville, which sounds made up when you say it out loud. At this point, nobody’s told me “no” yet so we’re still moving forward with it. Hopefully more movies, more stand-up, etc. I just like making things families can enjoy together and I want to keep doing that.

There You Have It

Again, I was sincerely humbled that Nate and his team took the time to make this happen for a small newsletter like this. Last week, Nate was touring and appearing on numerous talk shows. The fact that he still took the time to answer these questions gives you a glimpse into his character.

At the end of the day, this newsletter isn’t going to tip the scales of public opinion. Last I checked, Jimmy Fallon still has a slightly larger audience than this Substack.

Either way, this was a really fun experience for me, and I’m grateful I got to share it with all of you.

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Like peanut butter and jelly, summer and movies just go so well together. While I always enjoy the movie theater experience, it just has a different feel in the summer.

Some of that is due to the large tentpole movies studios have created. They’ve invested so much time and money into some of these titles; therefore, that investment can also be seen in the hype for a particular movie. Since anticipation has been built through the marketing campaign for these summer releases, you can feel a little bit of that permeating the theater upon entry.

With that being said, ticket prices are still something that tempers the hype surrounding summer movies. Should I really pay that much for something I can potentially stream in a month? I get it. Streaming is a cheaper and more convenient option.

For me, there are still those movies every summer that I want to see in the theater. As I’ve considered what’s being released, here are 5 movies that I want to see on the silver screen. Some of these contain a higher degree of spectacle that will be magnified on the big screen, and some of these I simply want to watch with an audience to potentially increase my enjoyment.

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 2hr/25mins

Genre: Sci-fi, drama, thriller

Excitements: It’s hard for me to measure Steven Spielberg’s impact on my life. There’s a sense in which I feel like I owe a lot of joy from my childhood to this man. Added to that is the reality that he might not be directing for many more years, so I basically want to watch anything he creates. Since he created Jaws, he’s responsible for creating the Summer Movie Season, because that film is credited as the first summer blockbuster. From E.T. to Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg has left an indelible mark on Hollywood. I also love Emily Blunt and was very impressed by Josh O’Connor in Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man.

Concerns: It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Spielberg movie that I really liked. While I enjoyed The Fabelmans, it fell short of my expectations.

Rating: PG

Runtime: 1hr/42mins

Genre: Animated, comedy, drama, family

Excitements: As I’ve said before, the first three installments of this franchise create one of the most perfect trilogies in all of cinema. (If you scoff at that, what trilogies would you put against it?) The fourth has grown on me a bit, but is still disappointing when compared to the previous three. That said, I just want more of this story. I want to see where the characters go. Not only that, I want to see how the narrative of this movie addresses the endless concerns surrounding children and screen time. Keep in mind, Pixar Studios are in the same area of the country as Google, Meta, Apple, etc. In other words, the creators of this story are probably friends with various employees of the aforementioned tech giants. Pixar’s creativity has waned through various entries in their catalogue, but they were at the height of storytelling creativity for many years, so I’m curious where this will go.

Concerns: That this installment will become the worst entry in the franchise.

***Scroll to the bottom to hear some exciting news related to this.***

Rated: PG

Runtime: 1hr/35mins

Genre: Comedy, family

Excitements: Nate Bargatze. He has brought consistent laughs to my family for years. Not only is he hilarious, he’s family-friendly. While that might become a droning take on his work, I think we sometimes forget how rare (and difficult) it is for comedians to remain funny while still being good for the whole family. That takes some serious effort and creativity, which shouldn’t be downplayed. I’m also just excited for Bargatze to get a shot at making a full-length movie. Our family has this on our calendar for a family date at the movies. Since we have five children, that means we’ll have to take out a small loan, but it’s going to be worth it. Without even seeing the movie, I would encourage you to make this a rare family trip to the theater. Movies like this are fairly unique, and I want more studios to be encouraged to make more like them.

Concerns: We love Nate Bargatze the comedian, but what about Nate Bargatze the actor? While it will be a different experience from his stand-up, I’m still excited to see him in a different way.

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: TBD (most Nolan films are lengthy)

Genre: Action/adventure, fantasy, drama

Excitements: Christopher Nolan, Homer’s classic story, and (most of) the cast. Nolan has consistently created some of the greatest movies across a variety of genres. And while some of his sci-fi films may come close to fantasy, The Odyssey will be his first true venture into that genre. Although I’ve become a little less excited about this film due to the source material and some of the casting decisions, I still can’t turn down a Nolan film on the big screen with a solid cast. I’m definitely seeing this in the theater, because Nolan is one of the most meticulous directors creating films that look amazing in IMAX. I also really like Matt Damon and most of what he’s involved in.

Concerns: See the above comment about the source material and some casting choices. Just do a bit of Googling and you’ll see what I’m referencing.

Rating: PG

Runtime: 1he/49mins.

Genre: Family, comedy, mystery

Excitements: Full disclosure, I didn’t even consider wanting to watch this in theaters until recently. If you look back at my Summer Movie Guide, I didn’t speak enthusiastically about this. However, the reviews have been quite strong for this family-friendly mystery, with one critic saying this is “Knives Out meets Babe.” I’ve also been surprised to hear how emotionally moving this film is. The strong audience reception and critical acclaim poured out on this movie have moved it up on my list. While I might not be able to make it while it’s still in theaters, I’m definitely putting this on our family movie night calendar. I’m also a fan of Hugh Jackman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Bryan Cranston.

Concerns: My expectations have now been elevated, and we know what expectations can often do.

If I Have Time

1. Moana - Our family enjoyed the animated movie.

2. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu - Even though I couldn’t finish the final season, I still like Star Wars so I can’t help but be slightly interested.

3. Coyote vs. Acme - Nostalgia and Will Forte

4. The Death of Robin Hood - Hugh Jackman and an intriguing story

5. The End of Oak Street - I’m curious but the trailer is a little cheesy

I May Check it On Streaming

1. In the Grey

2. Supergirl

3. Masters of the Universe

4. Spider-Man: Brand New Day

What movies are you most excited about?

Take some time to share yours in the comment section of this article. Perhaps your comments will persuade me and others to make an additional trip to the theater.

Big Announcement!!!

Through some unexpected and surprising circumstances, I was able to send some interview questions to Nate Bargatze about his movie, The Breadwinner. He was kind enough to take the time to answer them, and I plan to share the interview with all my subscribers next week to help promote the film’s release. Be sure to check back next week to hear what Nate has to say about his first movie.

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For many, the month of May has become the most insane month of the year because humans don’t know how to rest. As I’ve heard others say, we are “drunk” with work and busyness, so we cram more and more into every nook and cranny of our lives. If we have a spare moment, we feel guilty and have to fill it with another end-of-the-year ceremony, event, party, meeting, or something else that keeps us distracted from the emptiness we all wrestle with.

All that to say, many won’t feel that visiting the movie theater is a priority, but that’s part of why I’d encourage you to go see this. Not only should you go see this movie because of the amazing spectacle that the big screen only magnifies, but this movie would do your exhausted soul some good.

Plus, I believe we need to send a message to Hollywood that we want to see more movies like this. I think they’ve actually begun hearing that message, but it wouldn’t hurt to add to the success of PHM.

If you missed my earlier article praising this movie as one of the best family-friendly films in quite some time, be sure to check that out.

Although that post got close to spoiler territory, I was very careful not to say too much. In this post, I’m going to be totally careless and share explicit details from the movie. If you don’t want the movie spoiled, stop reading now.

You’ve been warned.

What follows are four themes that I really resonated with.

1) Friendship

Friendship is the heart of the movie. Not only because of the narrative itself, but because Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are real-life friends who direct movies together as a duo. I’m not exactly sure how that reality impacts the finished product on-screen, but it seems to.

At a time when loneliness, depression, and isolation are at an all-time high, audiences need to see what genuine friendship looks like. PHM doesn’t give us a shallow version of this, but shows us what friendship truly is at its core: selflessness.

The alien rock-creature named Rocky is unable to inhabit Grace’s (Ryan Gosling) atmosphere. In order for Rocky to enter Grace’s spaceship, they create a sort of bubble for him to roll around in. This allows him to explore the ship, work alongside Grace to fulfill their mission, and develop a friendship between two lonely beings drifting through outer space.

During one particularly tense scene, Grace is seriously injured and unable to operate the spacecraft well enough to ensure a successful mission. As Rocky continually tries to alert Grace—unsuccessfully at first—to the danger they’re in, he realizes there is only one option.

Rocky exits his safe bubble to save Grace and preserve the mission. Throughout the process, Rocky begins to deteriorate and grow weak as he cares for his friend and the countless lives depending on their success. Although it appears Rocky has died through this selfless act, he revives, creating a truly heartwarming reunion—made even better by Gosling’s excellent performance.

Later in the film, Grace is able to return the favor by sacrificing his voyage home in order to save Rocky from dying. It would have already taken Grace more than a year to get back home, but he puts all of that on hold to care for his friend—not knowing if he would ever return to Earth.

This type of sacrificial love between friends serves as the emotional foundation of the story.

And maybe that’s part of why audiences are responding so strongly to this movie. Beneath the spectacle and humor is something many people are starving for: friendship that actually costs something.

2) Rocky

I’m sure I’m failing to account for some other cinematic creatures, but I think Rocky is the best non-human character since Gollum graced the silver screen.

If memory serves me correctly, there was discussion at one point about creating a new Academy Award category to acknowledge the work Andy Serkis did to bring Gollum to life. I’ve never cared less about the Academy Awards than I do now (I used to love them), but I honestly hope they create some sort of category to acknowledge what was accomplished here.

While there are CGI elements to Rocky, I love that they decided to use practical effects as well. It actually took five puppeteers to bring Rocky to life, along with one performer to voice him (James Ortiz).

In my earlier post, I mentioned the risk of this character. So much of this movie hinges on Rocky being believable, lovable, and funny. If the filmmakers fail to pull that off, the movie completely collapses.

Of course, much of this is also due to Gosling’s superb acting, so he deserves enormous credit too. But all of it—the acting, the special effects, the puppeteering, the voice work, the directing—had to work perfectly together to make Rocky believable.

And somehow, they absolutely nailed it.

3) Leadership

Grace and Rocky are so excellent in this movie that the character of Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) could easily be overlooked. But while her performance is subtle and measured, she brings balance to the story and amplifies Grace’s character.

Think of it this way: just as Rocky and Grace complement one another, you need Stratt in order for Grace to fully work as a character.

For example, Grace is often humorous. In the scene where Stratt tells Grace he’ll be going to space, his panicked response is hilarious:

“I put the ‘not’ in astronaut! I’ve never done a spacewalk, I can’t even moonwalk! I haven’t done any training, I haven’t done the whole…pool thing!”

Grace is understandably terrified and neurotic at moments, but contrasting that with Stratt’s deadpan personality only accentuates his character further.

This is also why her lip-syncing scene becomes one of the best moments in the film. Stratt is so subdued throughout the story—which makes perfect sense given that the survival of the world rests on her shoulders—that when she finally lets her guard down, the audience instantly understands how meaningful that moment is.

Even with the constant seriousness in her demeanor, there’s still a kindness and likability to her character. Which is what makes her decision to force Grace onto the mission such a shocking twist.

And that twist leads directly into the most powerful theme in the movie.

4) Heroism

I love the way both the book and the movie allow this story to unfold. While I’m only about 100 pages into the novel, the flashbacks are positioned masterfully throughout the narrative. The audience gradually pieces together how Grace ended up on this mission.

At first, it appears Grace was simply the only scientist left available after an explosion killed members of the “varsity” crew. But eventually we learn that Grace wasn’t a willing participant at all.

More than that, Grace wasn’t merely a reluctant hero who needed convincing—he outright refused to sacrifice himself, even after realizing he might be humanity’s only chance.

In other words—and this may sound harsh—there’s a sense in which he isn’t heroic at all. He’s afraid.

And honestly, that’s what makes him feel human.

Going back to Stratt’s leadership, she had already prepared a “Plan B” in case Grace refused the mission. As she got to know him, she realized he might not step up to this challenge—and she was right. So she made the devastating decision to force him onto the mission.

For such an uplifting and hopeful movie, this scene feels surprisingly tragic. Stratt has Grace physically restrained and sedated in order to send him on a mission he never intended to take. In essence, she is forced into the unbearable position of sacrificing one life to save billions.

The scene is powerful, unsettling, and emotionally complicated—not just for Grace, but for Stratt as well.

What makes the storytelling so effective is that the audience learns this truth about Grace at the exact moment he’s beginning to become the hero he never wanted to be. And as Rocky searches for a word to describe Grace’s actions later in the film, Grace finally says the word himself:

“Hero.”

It’s masterful storytelling because it presents heroism in a far more nuanced way. Courage is not the absence of fear. Sometimes courage is simply doing the right thing while terrified.

Final Thought

While I know some grow tired of parallels that are made of Christlike figures in movies, I just can’t help but mention this here. After all, there’s only one story that can be told.

Grace’s fear and reluctance to sacrifice himself for others reminded me, in some ways, of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hours before the crucifixion, Jesus spoke honestly about the sorrow and anguish He was experiencing as He prepared to endure the cross.

Jesus knew he was about to die a horrific death for the sins of his people and begged his Father to take this cup from him. However, more powerful than his fear of what he was about to face, was His desire for His Father’s will—even in the midst of being deeply saddened and afraid.

He wasn’t forced to lay down his life for others—like Grace—he willingly laid it down for those who don’t deserve it.

I think they call that grace.

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Everyone loves Top 10 lists.

I don’t know, maybe you don’t, but I do, so I assume others do as well. I’ve often wondered if the desire for a Top 10 list for every category of life—movies, songs, athletes, books—is written on our hearts because of God giving us 10 commandments. Someone else can write about that, but I’ve wondered if there’s a correlation.

Well, this list isn’t a “Top 10” list.

What follows are not 10 of the best movies ever made. I would argue that some of them on the list are among the best movies ever made—but not all of them.

The point of the Essential List series is not recommending the greatest movies of all time in a given rating category (e.g., G, PG, etc.). The point is to help families with one of the greatest challenges to family movie nights: actually picking a movie. I talked about this in my article, The 4 Primary Challenges to Movie Nights.

One of the challenges to family movie nights is the fact that families literally have thousands of options. In order to narrow the field of options, FMN will release a series of Essential Lists. Instead of asking your kids what they want to watch, suggest one of the films on the list below.

If you’re close to my age, you rarely ever got a choice or say in the movie you watched as a child. Your parents walked in the door with 2–3 VHS tapes. Those were not your options. They were what you were going to watch. This is part of the reasoning behind the Essentials List.

This list narrows your choices from hundreds to 10! And while you might not like some of the movies on this list, these are films that are pretty well received by the vast majority of audiences, so it increases the chances of your family enjoying them.

Not only that, but I would say almost all of the movies on this list are important for families to watch. Some of these are so groundbreaking that they have shaped the way we watch movies today. They may have paved the way for some of the more modern movies you and your family love.

I’ve tried to include a mixture of genres in the list below: drama, sci-fi, action, musical, thriller/horror, and more. I’ve also tried to pick some older movies as well as some newer ones.

Consider not watching a new movie—or the same movie for the hundredth time—until you’ve checked off every movie on this list.

If your family hasn’t seen a movie on this list, be sure to make one of them your first choice for your next movie night. If you’ve seen all the movies on this list, consider rewatching one of them or stay tuned for more Essential Lists. Either way, this list is designed to free you from the arguments, hassle, and challenge in order to make your family movie night easier, more stress-free, and enjoyable.

One final suggestion. As mentioned above, these movies are pretty universally liked by audiences. Even if your family doesn’t care for a movie on this list, parents can and should train their children to appreciate certain aspects of cinema. Let the movies on this list stretch your family a little in order to enjoy a broader array of film genres.

Who knows—one of these might end up being a family favorite for years to come.

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In the last few months, close to two hundred subscribers from Brazil have joined the Family Movie Night community. It’s been really fun and exciting to see.

First off, I would just like to say, “Thank you and welcome!” It means a lot to know that you either read these or put them through Google Translate and read them in Portuguese. Either way, I hope they’re fostering some great conversation in your lovely area of the globe.

Second, I also want to apologize to my Brazilian friends for this “summer” movie guide. I promise that I’m not trying to mock you with the warmer temperatures we’re about to get in the Northern Hemisphere. I also want you to know that I am aware this is your winter, so just pretend this is a “Winter 2026 Movie Guide.”

I hope you feel seen.

In this article, I’m simply listing most of the major movies that will be released this summer. I’ve gone through the super-laborious task of adding hyperlinks to each of these, so you can read a bit more about them.

That said, I’ve highlighted the movies that should be suitable for families by adding a sentence or two explaining why each might resonate with your family. I plan to release my most anticipated movies for the summer in a future article, so stay tuned for a little more commentary on those films.

Logistically, summers are insane, so I’ve created a couple of tools that might help you with your summer movies.

Many of you already have your summers planned out, but how many of you actually make plans to go to the movies? I’ve done the leg-work for you in your summer movie planning. I’ve created a simple calendar for paid subscribers that takes all of this and puts it directly into your phone. If you don’t want to add these to your calendar, I’ve also created a printable PDF you can keep on your refrigerator.

In the calendar link, each movie shows up on its release date with quick notes—so instead of guessing or searching, you can decide in seconds what might work best for your family.

Instead of trying to remember what’s coming out—or scrolling endlessly on a Friday night—this puts everything in your calendar with simple notes to help you decide what’s actually worth watching.

At the bottom of this newsletter, you’ll see the link to download.

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NOTE: Some of these films have not yet been rated, so be sure to check those before viewing.

May

May 1st:

Animal Farm [PG] - This is an animated film, and it’s released by Angel Studios. While it may address some more mature themes than the average animated flick, it should be a draw for families. Stacked cast as well.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 [PG-13] - As mentioned before, some families have older children, which is why I’m including this movie. The first installment is somewhat of a classic, so I assume this one will be a hit.

Deep Water [R]

May 8th:

The Sheep Detectives [PG] - I honestly don’t know what to think about this movie. It seems like a strange concept, but it has some great talent attached to it. At the end of the day, it has talking animals, and people are suckers for that sort of thing.

Mortal Kombat II [R]

May 15th:

Obsession [R]

In the Grey [NR]

May 22nd:

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu [NR] - Most anything with “Star Wars” will get people in seats, even though the franchise has fallen on hard times as of late. While I don’t think it will have the success it could have, many families will flock to this. If nothing else, Grogu will move tickets.

I Love Boosters [R]

May 29th:

The Breadwinner [PG] - This movie is a family-friendly dream! I mean, it’s written by and stars Nate Bargatze. I plan to take my family and hope it’s a huge hit.

Pressure [PG-13]

June

June 5th:

Masters of the Universe[PG-13] - Yes, I grew up loving He-Man, but that was a long time ago. I’m sure I’ll go see this to chase some nostalgia, but expectations aren’t high. Older families might check this out.

June 12th:

Disclosure Day [PG-13] (June 12th) - Aliens and Steven Spielberg. Need I say more?

Scary Movie [R]

June 19th:

Toy Story 5 [PG] - If it weren’t for The Breadwinner, I would say this is the family movie event of the summer. Even still…this is the family movie event of the summer.

The Death of Robin Hood [R]

June 26th:

Supergirl [PG-13] - This is a comic book movie with a female lead. It’s already starting to get some negative buzz, but I think many older families will check this out.

Jackass 5 [R]

July

July 1st:

Minions & Monsters [PG] - Full disclosure, I’m not a huge fan of the Despicable Me franchise, but this will obviously be a hit with many families.

Young Washington [NR] - While I don’t think this will be a major hit, Angel Studios has truly upped their production game. This looks like it could be a solid biopic for July 4th weekend.

July 10th:

Moana [PG] - Even though Disney continues to struggle with live-action remakes, I believe many families will be in theaters for this one. I really liked the original, and it seemed like many other families did as well.

July 17th:

The Odyssey [NR]

July 31st:

Spider-Man: Brand New Day [PG-13] - Marvel has continued to see its box office numbers decline, but I think Spider-Man’s appeal will ensure this is a hit. And don’t forget that Zendaya is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood.

August

August 14th:

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie [G] - It has been quite some time since I’ve had children who are into Paw Patrol, but I know this will be a hit with younger kids. Parents, you may also be able to sneak in a nap while the kids are occupied.

The End of Oak Street [NR] - I don’t know much about this movie, but it seems to be something families with older teens would be interested in. Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor also make for solid leads in this mystery/thriller.

August 28th:

Coyote vs. Acme [PG] - I’m curious what a new generation will think of the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote characters from The Looney Tunes. It does seem like an interesting premise, and the fact that Will Forte stars in the movie makes me interested to check it out. Could be a fun one for adults and children.

If this sounds helpful, you can download the full Summer Movie Schedule for your calendar app or the printable calendar PDF below. It’s designed to save you time and make movie nights easier all summer long.

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Growing up, I was a terrible student who never read a book. I hated reading, so I never did—until college.

As someone with ADD, reading was very hard for me, and it’s still a challenge at times. I do it almost daily and get lost in the world of words quite often, but it still requires a lot of work for me.

Aspiring to write was never a category that lived anywhere inside of me. So it came as a shock to me that a handful of people encouraged me to start writing sometime in my early 30s.

Feeling ashamed that a non-reader would even consider writing, I sat at my desk, gave an embarrassed look over my shoulder—ensuring that no one saw this former non-reader attempting to write—and began typing.

What would a non-writer who dabbled in reading write about? The earliest passion he could recall: movies.

The Book That Never Was

If memory serves me correctly, the first time I sat down to write about movies, I wrote 12 pages with minimal effort. Time faded, words came easily—thoughts and ideas I never knew I had came to the surface. Thankfully, I don’t have a record of those writings, but it was still magical.

Day after day, I would sit down and write a little more. Words became sentences, sentences became paragraphs, and paragraphs became pages. Before I knew it, I had enough pages for the Word document to be referred to as a “manuscript.” In other words, I had written a book.

What business does someone like me have writing a book? I can barely read.

The shame and embarrassment I had from thinking that I should never write anything were no match for some trusted friends. That’s what friends are—people who make you feel safe and willing to share your passions, even if it feels a little embarrassing.

These friends read my work and encouraged me to send it to one of my seminary professors. That professor also read my work and sent it on to a publisher. A publisher! I couldn’t believe this was happening.

It moved fairly quickly, and before I knew it, I had a contract for a book. After that came a release date, and eventually a cover was created. It was beyond strange to see my name on the cover of a book. I exchanged emails with the publisher and even met a few of them in person at one of The Gospel Coalition conferences. It was crazy. I couldn’t believe I was actually going to be publishing a book…until I wasn’t.

After months of making plans and announcing to friends and family, the publisher backed out. To this day, I never really got much of an explanation.

It was devastating, to say the least. I was shocked and confused that all the energy and excitement from publishing a book were quickly removed. The hurt was very real. It stung for quite some time.

I was initially embarrassed to tell people I wrote a book because of the justified imposter syndrome I felt. But then I became embarrassed to let everyone know that I wasn’t writing a book whenever they asked me what the status was. I felt humiliated.

But there was a part of me that always thought it wouldn’t happen. A part of me that wasn’t surprised. After all, I had no business writing a book anyway.

Now that I’m almost two decades removed from this event, I can actually say that I’m grateful. I know I wasn’t ready to write that book. Although it really hurt at the time, I don’t look back on that disappointment with the sadness I once felt. There’s zero bitterness toward the publisher. I wonder if this newsletter would exist if that book had been published. God only knows.

A New Passion

Even though the book on movies never came to be, my passion for writing about them didn’t fade. That said, I’ve had some new passions—five of them, to be exact—that have become a part of my life and shaped the way I think about movies. They’ve shaped my passion for them.

Now that I’m older and my children are older too, my passion to be a father who imparts a love for movies is something I’m challenged and inspired by.

In a strange way, being a father has reignited this passion to write about movies. There are so many insightful authors who write about film in a way that goes beyond my gifting. I’m unable to see movies the way they do and write with less eloquence than they do, but I’m grateful for their wise and creative eye.

And yet, as I continued to read websites, newsletters, and blogs about film reviews, it seemed something was missing in the realm of movie writing.

On one end of the spectrum, there are the artistic, creative, and insightful offerings by skilled film critics. On the other end of the spectrum, there are movie reviews that seem to take films at face value, solely concerned with the “bad stuff.”

Was there something in the middle? Something that spent time thinking about the ways technology is completely changing this experience? Something that tried to help tackle the challenges families face as they try to watch movies together? Something that helped give a framework for the entire movie-viewing experience? In my assessment, these issues, among others, weren’t being addressed on a consistent basis.

Will the Passion Continue?

One thing that scared me about starting this newsletter was stopping. Would I run out of ideas or content? Do I really have enough thoughts to share on a weekly basis? What if I run out of spare time (I do have a full-time job) or have writer’s block? These are real fears that plague me from time to time.

I hope this newsletter has been valuable to you. I hope I’m able to continue to grow in my thinking in this area and serve you by doing so. Your comments are so valuable to my growth. As I’ve said from the beginning, I want this to be a community endeavor.

As I’ve hinted at various times in the previous weeks (even months), I’m wanting to create some new resources and offerings for those families who want to go a bit deeper in their family movie nights. I want to create some practical tools, specific recommendations, and discussion guides for those in this community who would be interested in something like that.

I’ve decided that I’ll release an exclusive post each month for those who want to help this newsletter grow in its offerings. While I want to offer something more than movie reviews, I’ve noticed that subscribers of FMN really like reviews. At times, I’ll give reviews of specific movies, but I also want to continue to reflect on technological challenges, cultural shifts, and worldview assessments in the world of cinema.

This is some of the exclusive content I hope to offer:

• The Essentials – An ongoing list of essential movies designed to eliminate endless scrolling and help you quickly choose something your family will actually enjoy.

• The Monthly Reel – A collection of movie trivia, information, streaming options, trailers, movie prompts/thoughts, and upcoming attractions.

• The Director’s Cut – A guide and viewing tool for a specific movie that will help increase the intentionality and fun of your movie nights.

• The Backlot – Full access to the growing backlog of articles on Family Movie Night, so you can revisit ideas, recommendations, and reflections anytime.

• The Previews – Behind-the-scenes updates and early access to new tools and ideas, along with opportunities to help shape what gets created next.

I’ve been wanting to create some exclusive content for this newsletter for some time, and figured—after two years of writing this—now is the time to give it a try. If this helps make even one movie night easier, more peaceful, or more meaningful for your family, it’s worth it.

If you’d like to support this and go a bit deeper, you can become a paid subscriber for about $1.50 a week. If that’s not something you’re interested in, no worries! Like I said, there will continue to be free content posted a few times a month.

Whether you’re a paid or free subscriber, I’m just encouraged you’re here. I’m interested to see how the Family Movie Night experience continues to shift in the months and years ahead. And as long as I’m able, I hope to provide an avenue that helps families think about these things.

Thanks again for taking the time to read these each week!

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