Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like The Gorge:
Nope
Nope delivers on its promise of spectacle. Its set-up helps deliver one of the most rewarding third acts of the year, and one I’ll surely return to in years to come. Those don’t come around very often, only a handful of films lend themselves to repeat viewings, and Nope is certainly one of them. A dazzling and hypnotic viewing, and one that doesn’t leave your mind once you leave your theater. The best films make you think, and Jordan Peele‘s Nope gives you plenty to sink your teeth into.
Twisters
Twisters is a remarkable victory for theaters, summer blockbusters, and movie stars. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell are certified mainstays in the industry after their recent successes, and Lee Isaac Chung remains one of the latest risers in a young camp of talented filmmakers.
Venom: The Last Dance
It’s unfortunate to say, but Venom: The Last Dance, the concluding chapter of Sony’s Venom trilogy, feels like a misstep. Stripped of much of the charm and irreverence that made its predecessors enjoyable, this installment doubles down on dense exposition and formulaic storytelling, leaving little of the fun that defined the series’ earlier outings.
Meg 2: The Trench
With a floundering script and painstakingly uninventive cast, Ben Wheatley falls victim to this behemoth shark franchise. Meg 2: The Trench capitalizes on very few aspects that made the first movie an occasionally enjoyable romp.
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is a mixed bag of ideas and execution, but the overall experience of seeing the movie is worth considering because of the sheer star power at play – notably Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. The film is humming best as it moves along, thanks to lengthened action sequences where director David Leitch squeezes every ounce of juice from the movie.
Fight or Flight
Fight or Flight feels like it’s trying to play in the big leagues of modern action but without the distinctive characters, choreography, or creative spark to back it up. It’s neither grounded enough to be gritty nor wild enough to be fun. While Josh Hartnett remains an intriguing actor in the right roles, this isn’t one of them. It’s a forgettable detour in a genre full of better, more fully realized flights.
G20
G20 is not just a misfire, it’s a symptom of a larger streaming trend: high-concept projects stretched thin by weak scripts, formulaic direction, and over-reliance on big names to carry the weight. Viola Davis has led action movies far superior to G20.
Back in Action
Back in Action is another addition to the increasingly crowded realm of streaming-exclusive action-comedies, but unfortunately, it does little to distinguish itself from its predecessors like Ghosted, Lift, The Gray Man, and Wolfs. Falling squarely into the Netflix tradition of star-studded, formulaic blockbusters, this film feels more like an obligation to content quotas than a labor of creative passion. Despite the charm of its leads, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, the movie struggles under the weight of a generic plot, uninspired action sequences, and a script that rarely rises above mediocrity.
Borderlands
Maybe this was a doomed project from the start. Video game adaptations are notoriously difficult to pull off, and the idea of a Borderlands movie led by Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart always felt like an odd fit. Their acting styles, combined with Eli Roth’s directorial approach, were never going to align into something cohesive. The result is exactly what I feared—a loud, obnoxious, and utterly forgettable misfire that does little justice to its source material.
Lift
Lift is another example of the Netflix’s inability to create lasting movies. Once the credits hit, Lift leaves your conscious. There are a few action sequences, and lively performances, that help it move towards a soft landing.
