Peele teases more 'Nope'

And Tom Hanks' latest dad move

What to know

• Spider-Man: No Way Home might return to the top of the box office this weekend… If you peak at the ‘What’s new’ section below, you’ll see there isn’t much new this weekend. Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is going to be the only new release in theaters — but it’s also going day-and-date on Peacock. Is that Spider-Man’s music?! Sony is rereleasing the box office smash this weekend, right in time for theaters to offer $3 tickets on Saturday. So while totals will be lower, because of the cheaper entry price, it’s very possible that Peter Parker(s) returns to the top of the charts. 🕷

• Tom Hanks launching trivia app on Apple Arcade… Did you know Tom Hanks released a typewriter app in 2014? Did you know Tom Hanks loves trivia? Does anyone have more dad energy than Tom Hanks? Hanx 101 Trivia will be exclusive to Apple’s subscription game service, and won’t include ads or upsells. Eat your heart out, Ellen’s Heads Up. 📱

• Jordan Peele “not over” telling stories from Nope universe… While he didn’t commit to a sequel exactly, it sounds like Peele has more to explore when it comes to Nope. He did some solid world building there, so sky’s the limit. 🛸

• Ben Kingsley can’t quit the MCU… The Oscar winner will reprise his comic relief character Trevor Slattery in Marvel’s upcoming Wonder Man show. How big is that paycheck? It must really make you wonder, man. 🎬

• House of the Dragon ratings increase 2% in week 2… Oh wow! HBO has a hit on a hit here. Looking ahead, is Emmy success in the show’s future? I think Matt Smith has a real shot at a nomination. 🐲

• The Oscars reportedly asked Chris Rock to host this year, he said no… I mean that could have been great, but I can’t blame him for not wanting to return to the scene of the crime. 🏆

• Shia LaBeouf admits to making up his father’s abusive actions in Honey Boy… I feel like Shia LaBeouf can’t be trusted. 🤔

• Netflix’s Inventing Anna lawsuit explained… The swinders have become the swindled, or maybe the swindled became the swindlers? This is why we need an explainer. 🍿

• Daniel Stern joins For All Mankind season 4… Nothing was made worse by having Daniel Stern in it. 🚀

• The Goldbergs finally killing off Jeff Garlin’s character… RIP CGI abomination. 🪦

• Sundance Film Festival returning in person… Get your ski jackets ready. 🏔

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What’s new

• The Patient — Aug 30 | Hulu drama series | 🍅 82%

• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — Sept 2 | Amazon fantasy series | 🍅

• Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. — Sept 2 | Comedy film in theaters & Peacock | 🍅 84%

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What to watch

It seems, within reason, Adam Sandler can make whatever he wants. Netflix has given him that power in recent years — but even before that, he was rounding up his friends for film shoots at tropical locations. Not all of his creative choices work (looking at you, Hubie Halloween), but the more the Sandman follows his passions, the more interesting material we get from him. One of those passions is basketball, another appears to be dramatic acting. Enter Hustle.

Released on Netflix in June, Hustle is a straightforward sports drama about an NBA scout (Sandler) who risks his career on a street baller from Spain (Juancho Hernangómez). The beats are familiar, yet comforting, as we watch two underdogs overcome the obstacles on their way to greatness. Always a surprisingly deft dramatic actor, Sandler excels in this weathered role. He brings shades of Uncut Gems’ Howard Ratner, albeit turned down for mass audience appeal. Hernangómez, an actual NBA player, also shows off some impressive acting chops and brings believability through his experienced physicality.

And that’s where things get really interesting. Despite Hustle being a completely fictional story, director Jeremiah Zagar infuses the film with an uncanny realism by casting and incorporating a number of real pro players and coaches — sometimes playing fictional characters, other times playing themselves. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, for example, plays fictional antagonist Kermit Wilts, and is outstanding. The blurred lines of who’s real and who isn’t give Hustle a welcome and necessary immediacy.

Inspirational sports movies like this hardly exist anymore, but Hustle earns its spot next to some of the genre’s best. Even though Sandler can do whatever he wants, we should hope that he follows his nose to more thoughtful, dramatic, yet still widely appealing movies like this.

For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!