My Favorite New Movies of the Pandemic

 By: Weston Swift 

    This year has been strange in every aspect you can think of, but one thing that has been especially whacky is the movie industry. I mean movie theatre chains are hanging on by a thread, due to the fact of the pandemic shutting them down, which has moved basically every block-buster to a new date way into the future. Luckily with streaming we can still get new movies and shows, though with still only a limited release of low budget movies and some hidden gems. Below I have listed some of my favorite movies that have been released during the pandemic. 

Extraction (2020, Netflix) 

    Chris Hemsworth doing Chris Hemsworth things. This action-packed movie is an amazing directorial debut for long time stuntman Sam Hargrave. It gives you everything you could want, good-looking people, great fight scenes and a story that you have keeps entertained until the end. I can't wait for the sequel especially since we know the Russo-Brothers are in the middle of writing it as we speak. The rumor is another avenger could be doing the cast, we will have to wait and see. 

Palm Springs (2020, Hulu) 

    Andy Samberg has had a quiet career after his stint with SNL, he had a fun Judd Apatow related movie with Popstar and after that he's been really just doing his show Brooklyn 99 (also on Hulu). But, during quarantine this little gem kind of surprised everyone. It's a groundhog day like time travel movie, but it's also a fun rom-com. This has Samberg doing his best bits and it's just a very likable movie. 

Tenet (2020, VOD) 

    Christopher Nolan and his great obsession with time, no one really knows why he's obsessed with movies about time but we usually get a pretty good movie out of it. Though this is basically a James Bond movie with the most confusing plot of all time. I have watched it three times, and I can honestly say I have zero idea how the whole thing works. But I just sit back and try to feel it, not understand it. If you haven't seen it, you should this was the only blockbuster to really hit theaters during this entire pandemic. 

The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020, VOD)

    This movie was released in theaters and didn't do a lot of promotion, it's about a hotel that two young people in New York start for anyone to hang up any memorabilia from past relationships. It was a fun and short rom-com that takes your mind of all the bad for a little over an hour. If you have a date night coming up, and are trying to do it quarantine style consider this for a quick watch. 

The Old Guard (2020, Netflix)

    Charlize Theron proves yet again that she is the whole package, this movie kind of like Extraction where it is awesome actions scenes every minute of the movie. An added bonus is Charlize Theron is the star and you can't complain about that. It's an awesome movie and we can only pray for a sequel ! 

Greyhound (2020, Apple TV) 

    A Tom Hanks war movie how can you not enjoy that. It's not the best thing he's ever done, but you do get to spend time with Tom Hanks as the commander of a submarine, so that's always fun. You can tell it's not the largest budget, but still you get some great acting and thrilling scenes. 

Palmer (2021, Apple TV)

    Acting Justin Timberlake is back, for a while throughout the 2000's hollywood was trying to make JT a movie star, but now as he enters his 40's we get a great comeback to acting for him. He gets to keep doing his man of the woods bit while showing a great performance, and showing that being different is okay. You can't watch this movie and say you didn't enjoy it. 

Shithouse (2020, VOD) 

Cooper Raiff creates a great indie dark-comedy that brings you back to a better decade of comedies. He is a young director who I am anticipating the next thing he does. If you want to watch a fun college experience, while seeing real acting give this a shot. 

Onward/Soul Pixar (Disney +)

     I know this is cheating, but who doesn't love a great pixar movie, and we've gotten two of them during this whole thing. They should both be up for some Oscars nominations and rightfully so. Both have great deeper meanings, and you feel every emotion while watching them. I personally give Onward a slight bump, but both are fantastic.