Films at SXSW were great this year.
Eiza González, James Marsden, and Vince Vaughn in MIKE & NICK & NICK & ALICE. Photo courtesy of the SXSW FILM & TV Festival.
The second Hulu streaming film screened at SXSW on Mar. 14, 2026, behind Pizza Movie, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice follows two best friends who navigate the criminal underground as they find their loyalties tested when a time machine is built. The movie stars Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Jimmy Tatro, Eiza Gonzalez, and Keith David. It was also directed by BenDavid Grabinski and produced by Andrew Lazar. This film is wildly entertaining, funny, and full of gratuitous slow motion. While all the actors play their parts amazingly, Jimmy Tatro as Jimmy Boy plays his role to a hilarious degree, bringing in the fun factor that he previously had from the first season of the Netflix true crime parody, American Vandal. However, besides the action, the plot was very convoluted, but it also works as a funny action romp that brings a nostalgic vibe for 2010’s action comedies.
3 out of 5. The film is now streaming on Hulu. Put Jimmy Tatro in more things.
Zazie Beetz in THEY WILL KILL YOU. Photo courtesy of SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Premiered on Mar. 17, 2026, at SXSW and Mar. 27, 2026, in theaters, They Will Kill You is a gory, fun, and Tarantino-esque romp reminiscent of Kill Bill: Volume 1. Starring Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette. It was also directed and co-written by Kiril Sokolov. This movie is another in-your-face, quick cut, and bloody action extravaganza that feels one part Ready or Not, and one part Dredd. Taking a very video gamey style, Asia (Beetz), a housekeeper in a fancy NYC hotel, must fight against a satanic cult in order to escape the building. Each level has more foes, buckets of blood, and crazy, zany fights. Although this film, due to its plot, has to be compared to the previously mentioned Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, while that film is very much more subtext heavy with its themes of autonomy and gothic flair, this film is more of a grindhouse thriller that has lots of slow motion and is very revenge heavy with a rogues gallery. It feels like a blaxploitation film without all the problematic aspects, but all the juicy violence.
4 out of 5. The film is currently in theaters. Zazie, you deserve to be a massive action star.
Samara Weaving and Jason Segel in OVER YOUR DEAD BODY. Photo courtesy of SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Premiered at SXSW on Mar. 14, 2026, and releasing in theaters on Apr. 24, 2026, Over Your Dead Body, directed by Jorma Taccone is a remake of the Norwegian action-horror-comedy The Trip, as well as written by sketch comedy duo BriTANicK, who also premiered the film Pizza Movie. The plot is simple: a couple goes to a remote cabin in the woods, with both planning to kill each other, but nothing is as it seems. The film stars Samara Weaving and Jason Segel. This film is a homecoming for director Jorma Taccone, as his directorial debut, MacGruber, also premiered at SXSW. Weaving plays her role well as the snarky Lisa, coming off her recent film Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. This film also has her still being action-heavy. Segel plays the two-faced Dan, who presents himself as pleasant, but really hates his wife. The resentment oozes out of the screen as the tension bounces off of each other with how vicious they are before the film takes a sharp left turn.
4 out of 5. The film will be released in theaters on Apr. 24, 2026. Jorma’s style of comedy is heightened to a killer degree.
Ben Wang in BRIAN. Photo courtesy of the SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Brian
Premiered at SXSW on Mar 14, 2026. The film stars Ben Wang, William H Macy, Edi Patterson, Randall Park, Natalie Morales, Joshua Colley, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Thomas Barbusca, and Jacob Moskovitz. Directed by Will Ropp and written by Mike Scollins. The film is about a smart and funny young man whose mental health issues keep him closed in, causing awkward experiences amongst his peers. He is very different from his “cooler” older brother, but Brian (Wang) has a renewed determination to seek acceptance after a failed drama club audition as he runs for class president to win the affection of his teacher, who is advising the elections. While he has zero qualities for the job, he is headstrong and, with the help of his therapist (Macy) and the new kid in school, Justin (Colley), he runs for the biggest seat in the school to gain self-acceptance. I enjoyed this film because it isn’t an average high school film as it looks on the surface. Wang plays Brian to a perfect degree, as you can see his cringy charm that you can’t look away from, even though it is so hard to watch. He exudes loneliness and pity, but also remains strong and optimistic despite the punches thrown at him and to himself. The actor further showcases his versatility as he balances the tones of comedy and drama, as demonstrated in his previous role in The Long Walk. Brian is a unique take on the coming-of-age high school film with its raw and raunchy presentation and exploration of mental health that will speak to many in and out of the classroom. Scollins’ smart writing and Ropp’s distinct direction border on being surreal and isolating with its immersive display of the weight of Brian’s meltdowns. The film’s cinematography begins as cold and oppressive, but soon turns warm as Brian’s journey unfolds. It is sure to be a new classic and memorable with its tone and message.
5 out of 5. Ben Wang, you are a star.
O’Shea Jackson Jr., Dave Franco, and Mason Thames in THE SHITHEADS. Photo courtesy of SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Premiered at SXSW on Mar 15, after its initial screening at Sundance. Starring Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Peter Dinklage, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Killer Mike. Directed and written by Macon Blair. The film follows two friends who must transport a troubled teen to rehab for a shady transport service. While I believe the film was going to be a laugh-out-loud comedy, it was very underwhelming with its elaborate premise. Jackson’s and Franco’s talents were underutilized. Mason Thames plays the spoiled, bratty, and borderline psychotic Sheridan to a frightening level as his antics are the catalyst for the film and consistently remain a constant menace to Franco and Jackson Jr. Peter Dinklage as Koko brought perfect energy as his brief presence carried the film. Shipka as Irina, a stripper with a heart of gold, added a layer of humanity to the absurdity of the trio.
2 out of 5. After its run at SXSW, the film was retitled by the Independent Film Company from The Shitheads as Idiots. At least it used to be bold in its title…
Adam Scott and Danielle Deadwyler in THE SAVIORS. Photo courtesy of SXSW Film & TV Festival.
Premiered at SXSW on Mar. 13, 2026. The film stars Adam Scott, Danielle Deadwyler, Ron Perlman, Colleen Camp, Kate Berlant, and Greg Kinnear. It was also directed and written by Kevin Hamedani. The Saviors follows a couple, Sean (Scott) and Kim (Deadwyler) Harrison, as they rent out their back home to a Muslim brother and sister. The movie has an eerie Twilight Zone-style vibe. Hamedani has created a clever thriller with an unsettling atmosphere, with most of the tense scenes being too close for comfort at the couple’s home. The film is a culture clash film at first, that pontificates on the dangers of misconceptions in a unique way that is very timely, which soon takes on a genre shift that took me on a trip as to how it unfolded. Deadwyler and Scott’s chemistry felt natural with their stark personalities and offbeat romance, thrilling to watch as a couple on their last legs, whose dire circumstances are brought together by this conspiracy and shared ignorance that unbeknownst to them holds a greater threat than they could imagine. The Saviors is a cautionary tale of the perpetual cycle of fear and violence that happens when we have a fear of the other.
Gabrielle LaBelle and Finn Wolfhard in CRASH LAND. Courtest of the SXSW Film & TV Festival.
4 out of 5. This film is intense, haunting, and will make an impression that will stay with you.
Reporting by Calvin Zimmerman.
