Ralph Potts

Set in the year 2065, The Creator — recipient of Oscar nominations for Sound and Visual Effects — tells of a war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence that ensues after a nuclear device levels Los Angeles, killing millions. Joshua, a former Special Forces operative sent to track down AI’s mysterious leader, is now a shell of his former self after suffering a tragic loss in the line of duty. Years later, the military recruits him to locate the elusive architect of advanced AI and a weapon he created, which has the power to end the war… and humankind.

Prey is the latest installment in the iconic Predator film franchise. Set in the year 1719, it tells the story of a young woman, Naru, a skilled yet untested warrior of the Comanche Nation who has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters to roam the Great Plains. When a mysterious danger arises, she fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly evolved Predators to visit Earth.

Based on the eponymous fashion dolls created by Ruth Handler and introduced to the world in 1959, Barbie is the first live-action film under the enduring brand. The film is co-written and directed by Greta Gerwig and follows idyllic couple Barbie and Ken who are living the dream in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, after an existential crisis, they take a trip to the real world, where they soon discover the joys and perils of being human.

Ranked as the fourth greatest love story of all time by the American Film Institute, Roman Holiday — director William Wyler’s 1953 fairy tale — memorably captures the bustling streets and iconic sites of Rome. The story is set against the backdrop of post-war Europe, expressing the exhilaration of not only embracing long-awaited peace but joyously breaking free as young Princess Ann retreats from her royal obligations and finds adventure. This movie put Audrey Hepburn on the map, and I thoroughly enjoy the story’s unapologetically schmaltzy romance blended with light humor.