Archives for 2026

Minions & Monsters follows the Minions in 1920s Hollywood as they search for frightening creatures for their monster movie, partner with a green creature, and must save the planet after unleashing monsters.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ryker N. comments, “I am BANAAANAS about Minions & Monsters! This film is a laugh-a-minute; making it feel like the movie is over in a flash. Even though this is the seventh Minions movie, it still feels fresh and funny.” Julie O. adds, “I enjoy Minions & Monsters because it has an entertaining comedic style and a fun story line. I love the use of humor and references to old Hollywood movies and actors.” Leo G. wraps it up with, “I liked watching this movie with its funny moments that had me laughing the whole time. For example, the Minions lose their initial Big Boss when he steps on a Minion-made LEGO brick, triggering a destructive chain reaction that results in his entire house breaking down and the Big Boss falling off a cliff.” See their full reviews below.

Minions & Monsters
By Ryker N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10

I am BANAAANAS about Minions & Monsters! This film is a laugh-a-minute; making it feel like the movie is over in a flash. Even though this is the seventh Minions movie, it still feels fresh and funny.

Minions & Monsters is the backstory of the Minions (Pierre Coffin) before Despicable Me (2010). It follows the Minions through all of their previous leaders and then into Hollywood in the 1920s as they make a monster movie. Of course, things don’t go as planned and they end up having to save the planet after creating monsters from an old spellbook. The plot fluctuates between two storylines involving the Minion protagonists, James, Henry and Ed, as they create the monsters for their movie vs. the rest of the Minion gang who eventually hook up with their new leader Dort (Jesse Eisenberg), an alien robot, and Debbie (Zoey Deutch), a women’s activist, to create a small love story with a twist that brings it all together in the end.

The comedy in Minions & Monsters is exactly what you’d expect from a Minion’s movie. The Minions’ random made-up language mixed with real words from different languages is still one of the funniest parts.  Something that really stands out is how much the animation keeps getting better with each Minions movie. The characters look smoother; the colors brighter; and the action scenes are immersive. I especially like the scenes with the biggest monster, Irene, because the special effects make her incredibly life-like and unforgettable. I also like how the Minions’ outfits match the time period. From the 1920s’ sweaters to the classic overalls, it’s a small detail but it makes the movie feel even more creative. My most favorite part is how the directors (Pierre Coffin, Patrick Delage) and writers (Pierre Coffin, Bryan Lynch) incorporate small surprise details at the beginning of the movie and throughout the credits. Be sure to stay until the very end to avoid missing out on these comical surprises!

This film’s message is about loyalty. The Minions may be goofy and accident-prone but they never give up on each other. No matter how impossible things seem, they stick together, proving that real friendship means standing by the people you care about – even when everything goes completely bananas. 

Minions & Monsters gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. The film releases to theaters on July 1, 2026.

Minions & Monsters

By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I enjoy Minions & Monsters because it has an entertaining comedic style and a fun story line. I love the use of humor and references to old Hollywood movies and actors.

Minions & Monsters is the third Minion’s spin off, and the storyline holds its own and can be enjoyed without seeing the other films. In this animated, fictional, autobiography of the Minions, one Minion, James (Pierre Coffin) has chronicled the journey of the Minions on their search to find the perfect villain to serve. James has always been a dreamer and is continuously wanting to create art. Ultimately landing in Los Angeles in the 1920s, James becomes enthralled with Hollywood and his life ambition is to create the perfect movie.

The voice talents bring each character to life and enhance the quality of the story telling. For example, Trey Parker voices Goomi and his voice creates the perfect unsuspecting monster, who you want to trust, but at the same time has a hint of devious energy. I like how in-depth the animation goes with its attention to detail and bold colors.  Each part of the Minions’ journey is brought to life with beautiful scenes that James creates with details of adventure, humor, and friendship. My favorite part is when the Minions get to 1920s Hollywood – the historical references to the time period and the references to early Hollywood and films are fun to watch. There are references to several classic films such as The Trip to the Moon and Citizen Kane that help bring the story to life. I love that the film includes lots of content and humor for older audiences to enjoy.

I give Minions & Monsters4 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. Minions & Monsters releases in theaters July 1, 2026.

Minions & Monsters

By Leo G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

I like Minions & Monsters because it has funny moments and good animation.

The movie Minions & Monsters is the third prequel to the Minions series of movies which are a spin-off of the Despicable Me movies. Minions & Monsters takes place in 1920s Hollywood and follows a new group of Minions:  James, Henry, and Ed (all voiced by Pierre Coffin) who are trying to make a movie about monsters while the rest of their Minion clan searches for their next “Big Boss” to serve.

I liked watching this movie with its funny moments that had me laughing the whole time. For example, the Minions lose their initial Big Boss when he steps on a Minion-made LEGO brick, triggering a destructive chain reaction that results in his entire house breaking down and the Big Boss falling off a cliff.  Another example is when James, Henry and Ed summon a monster from a magical book hoping it will be the star of their monster movie.  The picture of the monster in the book shows a huge scary monster, but when the monster arrives, it is just a small little thing. While James, Henry, and Ed are busy conjuring and then battling monsters, the rest of their Minion clan find their next Big Boss, a robot alien named Dort (Jesse Eisenburg) who is determined to destroy Earth.  In a funny twist, Dort surprises the Minions by putting off Earth domination so that he can go on dates with a human girl instead.  Best of all, this movie has some really good animation that is very nice to look at and kept me invested. 

The film’s message is that you do not have to be the same as everyone else to be successful.

Minions & Monsters gets 4 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults.  It releases in theaters on July 1, 2026. 

When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice. Supergirl is a 2026 American superhero film based on the DC Comics superheroine Kara Zor-El / Supergirl. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, it is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU). Milly Alcock stars in the title role, alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, David Corenswet, and Jason Momoa. In the film, Kara Zor-El travels across the galaxy on a murderous quest for revenge. The film is produced by Peter Safran and James Gunn of DC Studios.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Sydney S. comments, “Supergirl brings a classic hero storyline with tons of action and fighting scenes. While it has some exciting moments and performances, the storyline is predictable and overused, and therefore lacks the surprise element.” See her full review below.

Supergirl

By Sydney S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Supergirl brings a classic hero storyline with tons of action and fighting scenes. While it has some exciting moments and performances, the storyline is predictable and overused, and therefore lacks the surprise element.

The storyline follows Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), known as Supergirl, who is Superman’s cousin. She is trying to figure out her life before coming across an unlikely person who needs her help to fight a battle against Krem (Matthias Schoenaerts). The constant fighting creates both allies and enemies. 

The main characters are Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), Superman (David Corenswet), Krem, and Lobo (Jason Momoa). Milly Alcock wonderfully represents Kara’s determination and emotional side, especially in scenes where she struggles to balance her Kryptonian past with her life on Earth. It addresses people finding themselves throughout life. This is something a lot of people struggle with and I like that Kara’s journey can help viewers not feel so alone. Kara isn’t a glamorous superhero. She’s different from others in that she isn’t really well put together, which I think makes her character interesting. On the other hand, the other characters don’t feel well developed and their roles don’t enhance the backstory very much. They aren’t really connected and lack interaction. The costumes, however, are extremely well-made – the aliens look very realistic, as close to what I imagine aliens actually look like! It definitely has an outer space mood. The visual effects are impressive, and the battle scenes are filled with fantastic sound effects. However, at times, the CGI is not very convincing, especially when Supergirl is flying. Also, the soundtrack is disappointing, especially when sad pop songs play during a huge battle scene – it’s a complete mismatch. For the most part, the plot feels very expected and I could guess exactly what would happen next. It’s similar to every superhero movie without extra things to spice it up. My favorite part is when Kara embraces her powers during a huge battle scene. The camera rotates in a circle while everything is in slow motion. It’s definitely an impactful scene.

The film’s message is about choosing the right thing to do, even when it may be difficult. Ruthye wants to avenge her family’s death and kill Krem, but Supergirl assures her that it won’t make her life any better. Revenge isn’t always the answer, but the right decisions do matter. Be forewarned that there is some intense action and fighting, but nothing too extreme for most older kids.

I give Supergirl 3.5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Supergirl releases in theaters June 26, 2026. 

Thirteen-year-old Willis Gibson’s life changes overnight when he becomes the first to beat Tetris. It explores grief, community, and the rise of an unexpected internet icon.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ashton P. comments, “Blue Scuti: Tetris Crasher is one of the best movies I’ve ever watched. It wouldn’t be possible without the story of Willis Gibson or the game Tetris itself. This documentary explores themes of grief, community and the wild world of competitive Tetris as it follows the unexpected Internet legend.” See his full review below.

Blue Scuti: Tetris Crasher 

By Ashton P, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

Blue Scuti: Tetris Crasher is one of the best movies I’ve ever watched. It wouldn’t be possible without the story of Willis Gibson or the game Tetris itself.

The storyline is about “child verses computer,” a tale as old as 1984. The film follows 13-year-old Willis Gibson, known as Blue Scuti who becomes the first person in history to beat Tetris, the game created by Alexey Pajitnov that sold thirty-five million copies! It took someone 40 years to beat it and changed Willis Gibson’s life overnight. This documentary explores themes of grief, community and the wild world of competitive Tetris as it follows the unexpected Internet legend.

As a young child, Willis Gibson loved to memorize presidents, was amazed by trains, infatuated with space, and intrigued by puzzles. But all of those interests did not compare to Willis’s love for Tetris. In 2023 Willis won the Classic Tetris World Championship (CTWC) Kansas City Regional. Then in 2024 Willis won the CTWC Desert Regional to punch his ticket to Pasadena. And then, right then, Willis’s father lost his battle with heart disease just weeks before the historic December run. That didn’t stop Blue Scut; a few days after his father’s death Willis beat Tetris. The only way to “beat” Tetris is if the game crashes at a certain point and Willis was the first to ever do it! He cleared a single line on Level 157, causing the game’s 34-year-old code to malfunction and freeze entirely. Multiple news stations, including Fox, CNN, CBS, and NBC interviewed Willis and brought him fame overnight. After going to Modretro Tetris Championship, Willis was invited to the CTWC Paris Regional. In the finale, Willis lost to DanV in heartbreaking fashion, but he was invited to Pasadena, California for CTWC in 2024. In the qualifying round, Willis secured the one seed and beat Rhubarb in round 32. In Day 2, Willis beat his best friend, CoalBucket, in the first match of the day. In the quarter finals, he beat Tristop in game one but lost three consecutive games afterwards. In the end, Willis came so close to winning CTWC and beating Tetris in the same year.

The film’s message is to always persevere through tough times and never give up on your dreams. No matter what your situation is, it will always work out in the end.

I give Blue Scuti: Tetris Crasher 5 out 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18 plus adults. It is available on Amazon Prime through Wonder Project so go check it out now!

Trailer: