Rnz: At The Movies

Atlas is a new scifi thriller on Netflix, starring Jennifer Lopez as a genius scientist on the hunt for her family robot, whose gone rogue and plans to destroy the Earth. Believe it or not, it went straight to Number One on the streaming service.

The Garfield movie sees the big screen return of the sarcastic, overweight marmalade tabby. Now voiced by Chris Pratt (The Lego Movie) with Samuel L. Jackson as his long-lost father and Snoop Dogg as a cat.

Simon Morris wonders why prequels are so much rarer than sequels - and reviews three films, all in their way, backstories of later events.

Copa 71 is a documentary of the first, unofficial Women's Football World Cup in Mexico City 1971. Football organisers FIFA did all they could to close it down, and later hush it up. Produced by Venus and Serena Williams.

Furiosa follows the 15 year backstory of the co-star of Mad Max Fury Road. Anya Taylor-Joy plays the girl kidnapped from her idyllic home, and out for vengeance. Once again directed by George Miller, and co-starring Chris Hemsworth as Doctor Dementus.

Freud's Last Session is a play about a fictitious meeting between the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, and the Christian writer, and later creator of the Narnia books, C S Lewis. Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey) and Liv Lisa Fies (Berlin Babylon).

Simon Morris looks at a lucky dip of movies - a family fantasy, an extended home movie travelogue and an optimistic first part of a new horror franchise.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is the first part of an extended remake of a 2008 Liv Tyler horror film, directed by the notorious Renny Harlin.

The Way, My Way is the film of director Bill Bennett's book about how he walked the 800-kilometre pilgrims' walk - the Camino de Santiago.

IF is about a girl who discovers a world of Imaginary Friends of children who've outgrown them. Can she find them new homes, and can they get her through some personal traumas? Starring Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming and a host of celebrity voice talent as the Ifs. Directed by John Krasinski (A quiet place).

Simon Morris sympathises with based-on-real-life movies where the real life doesn't quite fit the music. And he welcomes back a franchise with a lot of New Zealand digital effects.

Joika is a Polish New Zealand co-production about the only American to join the famed Bolshoi Ballet. Starring Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds) and Talia Ryder (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), and written and directed by James Napier Robertson (Dark Horse).

Jackie Stewart tells the story of one of the most popular drivers on the Formula 1 scene. Sir Jackie tells his story from his childhood in Scotland to his superstar status that continues to this day. Directed by Patrick Mark (Fabergé: A life of its own)

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sees the return of the popular series, many years after the last episode. Starring Owen Teague (It) and Freya Allen (Baghead) but the real stars are the amazing effects from Weta Digital.

Simon Morris regrets the dearth of the sophisticated blend of romance and comedy - and looks at three films all based, more or less, on love.

The Idea of You imagines what would happen if a 40-year-old gallery owner (Anne Hathaway) fell in love with a 24-year-old singer in a boy band.

The Moon Is Upside Down is a New Zealand film following three stories of love gone wrong - a mail-order bride, a long-distance Skype affair and a woman wrestling with death.

This new biopic of British singer Amy Winehouse is everything you were expecting and less, says Simon Morris.

Simon Morris wonders if the star system is over, and audiences are now only interested in the movie itself, not who's in it.

Before Dawn is an ambitious, low-budget World War I film made in Western Australia.