Film & TV

Epoch Watchlist: Recommended Viewing for May 15–21

BY Ian Kane TIMEMay 14, 2026 PRINT

This week, we feature a slick covert-heist action flick that erupts into all-out warfare and a warm children’s adventure that includes a menagerie.

New Release

Epoch Times Photo
‘In the Grey’

Sid (Henry Cavill), Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal), and Sophia (Eiza Gonzalez) are sent to recover a stolen billion from a dastardly despot. Their covert heist breaks into open war as the team fights through traps, double-crosses, and mercenaries closing in from every side.

Ritchie knows exactly what movie he’s making here, and that’s why this actioner works. It has the snap, swagger, and smart-mouth rhythm that audiences expect, with a slick covert-job setup that keeps mutating until the whole mission turns into a full-blown mess.

Action | Drama | Thriller
Release Date:
May 15, 2026
Director:
Guy Ritchie
Starring:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill, Eiza Gonzalez
Running Time:
1 hour, 38 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Where to Watch:
Theaters
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Family Pick

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‘Dolittle’

Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.) holes up on his estate talking to animals until a summons from the queen pulls him into a strange voyage toward a cure hidden on a distant island. He then embarks on a trek with a young assistant and a pack of talkative creatures.

It plays like a story told to kids, messy in spots but warm at its core, with Dolittle slowly stepping back toward people after shutting himself off. There’s a simple thread running through it about sticking by your crew and looking out for others when it counts.

Comedy | Family | Fantasy
Release Date:
Jan. 17, 2020
Director:
Stephen Gaghan
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen
Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG
Where to Watch:
YouTube, Amazon, Apple TV
Rated:
3 1/2 stars out of 5

Looks Fade, Character Stays

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‘Beastly’

Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer) gets cursed by a witch and hides away with his ruined face, dragging Lindy Taylor (Vanessa Hudgens) into his world after saving her off the street. With a ticking deadline, he has one shot to turn his life around before the curse locks in.

This modern take on a classic may run on the familiar teen romance track but stays watchable and actually points back to real-life behavior instead of drifting off into pure fantasy. It has a decent message about how people should treat each other.

Drama | Fantasy | Romance
Release Date:
March 4, 2011
Director:
Daniel Barnz
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen
Running time: 1 hour, 26 minutes
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
Where to Watch:
YouTube, Amazon, Apple TV
Rated:
3 stars out of 5

Cold War Chaos Played for Laughs

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‘One, Two, Three’

In this farce that pokes fun at Germans, Americans, and Soviets, C.R. MacNamara (James Cagney) scrambles to undo Scarlett Hazeltine’s (Pamela Tiffin) marriage to East German Otto Piffl (Horst Buchholz) before her father arrives. Then he flips to make Otto presentable when the plan backfires.

Cagney barrels through Berlin trying to fix a marriage scandal while Buchholz stars as a loud communist who must switch allegiances.

Comedy
Release Date:
Dec. 16, 1961
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: James Cagney, Horst Buchholz, Pamela Tiffin
Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Internet Archive
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc.

Ian Kane is a U.S. Army veteran, filmmaker, and author. He is dedicated to the development and production of innovative, thought-provoking, character-driven films and books of the highest quality.
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