To celebrate the release of Sgt. Haane in cinemas April 30, you can win a double pass to see the movie.
About Sgt. Haane
The story of Haane Manahi, a 28th Māori Battalion soldier who took a mountain, changed the course of WWII in North Africa – and those who choose to remember.
Starring Alex Tarrant, Vinnie Bennett, Matu Ngaropo
Here's everything that's streaming on Prime Video in May 2026
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Ghost War (May 20)
Finding something good to watch at home or on a trip shouldn’t feel like work. That’s why Amazon has today launched its newest and most portable ever streaming device, the Fire TV Stick HD, that comes with a new Fire TV user interface. Whether looking to upgrade a TV at home or planning for an upcoming trip, this new device is small enough to fit in a bag and ready to deliver a full entertainment experience on any TV its connected to.
The all-new Fire TV Stick HD – part the world’s most popular streaming media player family – is now available for pre-order from $89 to New Zealand customers, with shipping beginning April 29, 2026. The new Fire TV Stick HD is Amazon's slimmest streaming device, both smaller in volume and width than previous models. It’s optimised for Direct Power through a TV’s USB port, so it fits more neatly behind a TV without requiring a separate power adapter.
Fire TV Stick HD also delivers noticeable speed improvements compared to previous HD models, more than 30% faster on average than the last-generation HD stick, which means it turns on and opens apps more quickly. It comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support to help ensure a stronger, more reliable connection for customers.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is also now available in New Zealand, bringing affordable 4K streaming to Kiwi households. It offers everything customers need to enjoy brilliant 4K Ultra HD content with High Dynamic Range 10+ (HDR10+), making any TV smarter with instant access to a wide range of content, personalised recommendations, Alexa and fast performance.
Redesigned experience
The Fire TV Stick HD is an easy way to upgrade any TV with a cleaner, faster, and more intuitive experience. Featuring the latest Fire TV update and a modern design, it helps Kiwis find what they want to watch quickly with well-organised categories for movies and TV shows.
Users can pin more of their favourite apps directly to the home screen for quicker access, while smarter recommendations and streamlined navigation mean less time scrolling and more time enjoying entertainment.
A Fire TV stick built for portability and travel
About 30% narrower than the previous generation HD stick, the new device is designed to not only fit easily into a carry-on bag or pocket but also more easily into an HDMI outlet alongside other plugs and cords on the back of a TV. Its Direct Power feature lets customers power the device using a TV's USB port using the included cable. If a TV doesn’t have a USB port or you forgot the included power cord at home, the device can always be powered with a USB-C cable and a wall adapter.
Adaptive Display – coming soon
In the coming months, Amazon will introduce a new Adaptive Display setting to the Fire TV Stick HD. This accessibility feature will make text, menus, and content easier to see and navigate on screen. When turned on, the feature increases the size of smaller items like text and menus while scaling up larger items like content artwork, creating a more balanced and customisable browsing experience for all customers.
Pricing and availability– from NZ$89
The all-new Fire TV Stick HD is available for pre-order today at $89 and will begin shipping on April 29, 2026. The Fire TV Stick HD is available to pre-order now from Amazon.com.au and will be available in leading New Zealand retailers JB Hi-Fi, Noel Leeming and PB Tech.
99% of Fire TV Stick HD's packaging is made of wood fibre-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Select is available now to order and ship in leading New Zealand for $99 from today.
Cast: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Annabelle Wallis
Director: Timur Bekhmambetov
In a near-future, justice has taken a new form.
Faced with spiralling crime and an increasing need to see punishment doled out, those in charge have brought in an AI judge (Silo's Ferguson) to help.
But when officer Chris Ravens (Pratt) finds himself accused of the murder of his own wife, he's hauled up before her.
Now, with time running out, he must clear his name within 90 minutes - or be executed by the very system he created.
There's s kernel of a good idea here - a real-time story in which a man fights for his life against a system he created and with his own injustices laid bare. Unfortunately, what emerges appears to be a mixture of 24 meets reality show Cops, as a series of previous encounters via various tech from the cloud or video feeds to officers within the field reveals the reality of Pratt's character's sins.
As digital tech unfurls around the largely static Pratt, the acting limitations become clear. Whereas Ferguson is content to use subtle twitches or sly smiles to show how this case is creating a degree of humanity in her, the final act's desire to make her fully human feels like a leap too quick and too far.
And for Pratt himself, being largely confined to a chair doesn't quite help him hit the mark. Usually an a actor who's blessed with physicality for a performance, the gaps here begin to show. Even the presence of True Detective: Night Country's Kali Reis as Raven's partner doesn't elevate proceedings.
Bekhmambetov has previously been involved in the likes of static films such as Searching and Unfriended and there's much the same MO at work here - but the end results actually leave the audience pleading for Mercy, rather than feeling blessed it's only 100 minutes long.
Lady Dimitrescu and Baldur's Gate 3 actress Maggie Robertson is just one of the talents appearing at the Armageddon Expo in Auckland over Anzac weekend. She talked to us about the game she'd love to make, the reaction to THAT character and how gaming changed her life.
Hi Maggie, how are you? Have you ever been to New Zealand before?
I have never been to New Zealand before, but as a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan, it has been a dream destination of mine for years! Needless to say, I am very excited to get a chance to visit and fully plan on being that guy spouting all the useless facts from the movie (did you know that Viggo really broke his toe!??!) and crying over the beautiful world of Tolkien made real in wonders of New Zealand.
You've had an incredible run of years in the gaming world, how has that felt?
Being a part of the gaming industry changed my life. I am forever grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community of, not just the creators & actors making the games, but also the fans that love and support them. I think the gaming community is a very special place and I’m so honored to be a part of it.
How did you get started in the industry and were there any particular titles that really inspired you?
I kinda fell into the world of gaming by accident when I booked the part of Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village. I didn’t grow up playing video games and had no intention of getting into games because I didn’t really know they existed. But Resident Evil changed my life, set me on a completely different path, and built a career for me overnight. I never expected any of this to happen— I was just happy to be working & paying the bills!
You've obviously become known for Lady Dimitrescu. Could you please just talk us through how you approached that role, and how you felt first seeing the script and the realisation of the character?
I had just come from finishing a grad program in classical acting (think Shakespeare) and doing theatre, so a lot of Lady Dimitrescu felt familiar to me. She lives in similarly heightened spaces and I was drawn to her use of language and the way she’s able to really weaponise language to exert control over everyone around her. So, it was important for her to have that outward elegance, but we also needed to be able to sense the true potential for violence and danger running underneath that polished exterior, and I think it’s those contradictions that make her so dynamic as a character.
She obviously went viral - from erotica to memes, what's your take on the life she achieved and why do you think that it was that it happened - was it ever something you imagined would become a reality?
Lady Dimitrescu is very special to me— I often call her “my first born.” And one of the beauties of creating art is witnessing how audiences change and deepen and continue to breathe life into a character you’ve created. So, to me, Lady D really does feel like this living, breathing thing that’s ever-changing, ever evolving, and ever growing as we, the fan base, continue to grow and deepen our relationship to her. To have a character that has been able to have such a lasting impact on fans and bring new people into the franchise, has been really special.
What's the craziest fan mail you've ever had after one of your characters were released?
Oooh, I don't know, but I will say that I have some insanely creative and talented fans out there and I always love seeing the ways they bring their unique creativity to these IPs.
Have you ever actually found yourself dropping spoilers for the games you've been part of? And what's been the hardest secret to keep for the titles you've been in?
Oof— I sure hope not! That would be my nightmare. Video games are notorious for their NDAs so we have to be pretty tight-lipped about everything that we work on. But it certainly was challenging to still be under NDA for Resident Evil while witnessing Lady Dimitrescu become this viral sensation taking over the internet. That one was definitely hard to keep quiet about, ha!
Obviously, there's been a lot of talk about game artists not quite getting the recognition they should - can you talk to us a little about your feelings on that?
Ultimately, we are actors and voice acting is still Acting. And with that comes craft and training and artistry. But I think we’re seeing a shift in gaming as a whole where, as our games become more story & narrative centered, it relies on better and better performances to tell those stories, so both developers and actors are starting to receive recognition for the real artistry that goes into making a game. It is truly a collaborative process, so it’s great to see everyone’s hard work get recognized.
You've interviewed other gaming actors as well - has there been an interview you've loved doing and is there a talent you'd love to chat to?
I haven’t ever interviewed anyone officially, but David Hayter and I had a fun time interviewing each other for the Future Games Show last year. I always find it fascinating to hear how different people get into video games or even just into acting/voiceover as a whole. There are so many different pathways one can take in this industry and I always find it inspiring to hear from someone who arrived here from a different path than my own.
What games are you playing at the moment and looking forward to?
Sadly, I’m not a gamer myself (I just run into walls, I’ve tried), but I do love watching the cutscenes of games when they come out.
Who do you admire in the gaming industry?
So many people, so many of my amazing co-stars and cast-mates! It feels like everyone who makes games truly loves it. Ahhhh - don’t make me choose!!
Obviously, the God of War TV series is filming at the moment, do you have any part in that at all that you can share?
Ha, no, but excited to watch once it comes out!
What game would you love to have been a part of - and conversely, what would be your ideal game pitch to make?
Ha, well I suppose, being the LOTR dork that I am, anything in relation to that franchise would be a dream for me. And as for a game pitch… I actually do have one that I’d like to make, but I’m not going to share it here!
Do you enjoy the conventions and seeing people embrace the characters you've created - and what's been your most favourite interaction and why?
I really don’t think Lady Dimitrescu would be who she is today if it weren't for the fans, nor any of my other characters. The fans are what make the video game industry so great— there’s so much passion and love for the genre that it inspires me every day. It is my honor to steward these beloved characters like Lady Dimitrescu or Orin the Red from Baldur's Gate 3 and be able to give back to the fans for what they’ve given me.
So bring on the cosplays! And bring me your dogs!
Armageddon Expo runs in Auckland over Anzac weekend from April 25 to April 27. For more info, head to armageddonexpo.com
Here's everything that's streaming on Neon in May 2026.
Stalked (May 4)
Powerful new Sky New Zealand Originals documentary series Stalked will air over three consecutive nights next month on Sky Open, premiering on Monday, 4 May at 8.30pm, with all episodes available on NEON from this date.
Across three gripping episodes, Stalked presents the experiences of women from across Aotearoa whose lives were profoundly affected by stalking, shining an unflinching light on the early warning signs of stalking, the patterns of obsession and escalation, and the systemic failings that have left victims unprotected, often until violence erupts.
When series presenter, mental health advocate and content creator, Jazz Thornton (The Girl on The Bridge) receives obsessive messages from a stranger overseas, she initially dismisses them as harmless until the man travels to New Zealand and appears outside her home. As she frantically calls police, she discovers a chilling reality: in New Zealand, stalking is not a criminal offence. In Wellington, Zeni recounts how a brief teenage encounter escalated into over a decade of harassment and threats, while on Great Barrier Island, Tessa reflects on a relationship that descended into extreme coercive control and kidnapping.
As these women take their experiences into the public sphere – from social media to Parliament – Stalked tracks how growing awareness translated into public and political momentum, contributing to the upcoming reform of the nation’s Crimes Act, which will see stalking introduced as a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment this May.
Reform may be here, but for Jazz, Zeni and Tessa, the price should never have been this high.
Stalked is a WORKPARTY production made with the support of NZ On Air, directed by Justin Hawkes (Dark Tourist, Patrick Gower: On…), and Executive Produced by Hayley Cunningham (The Jaquie Brown Diaries, Dancing with the Stars NZ), Charlotte Hobson (Live and Let Dai, The Traitors NZ), Ian Hart (Dark Tourist, Taranaki Head), and Jazz Thornton.
Stalked will air on Sky Open across three nights: 4th, 5th and 6th May, with all three episodes available to stream on NEON and Sky Go from 4 May.
Dutton Ranch (May 15 from 9pm)
Yellowstone spinoff Dutton Ranch follows Rip Wheeler and Beth Dutton as they gamble everything on a new life in South Texas – but the promise of building a future far from the ghosts of Yellowstone quickly collides with brutal new realities and a rival ranch that will stop at nothing to protect its empire.
Stars: Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, Jai Courtney, Annette Benning, Ed Harris
The Audacity (May 13)
In the bubble of Silicon Valley, a self-appointed ‘inventor of the future’, tech CEO Duncan Park (Billy Magnussen) and his self-serving ‘performance psychologist’ are engulfed in a scandal sparked by the exploitation of personal data.
Stars: Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg, Lucy Punch, Zach Galifianakis, Randall Park
Mint (May 17)
At the heart of darkly comic, unconventional drama Mint, is Shannon, the daughter in a dominant crime family, who is desperately searching for romance in the shadow of her father, Dylan. Experience the obsession of first love as she falls hard for Arran, a member of a rival crime family who has newly arrived in town. Their love story presents an undeniable connection that changes both their lives for good, but not everyone sees it the same way.
Stars: Emma Laird (The Brutalist, Mayor of Kingstown) and newcomer Ben Coyle-Larner (musician Loyle Carner).
UNFORGOTTEN S6
AVAILABLE MONDAYS FROM MAY 4, 9.35PM
Returning for its sixth season, Unforgotten once again examines the lives of a disparate group of people linked to a cold case. We follow DCI Jess James, DI Sunny Khan, and their team as they uncover the truth behind a dismembered body found in Whitney Marsh.
Stars: Sinéad Keenan, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Nicola Walker
RICK AND MORTY S9
AVAILABLE FROM MAY 25
The animated maniacal sci-fi comedy returns, following Rich Sanchez, a sociopathic genius scientist who lives with his daughter’s family. Rick constantly drags his timid grandson, Morty, out on insanely dangerous intergalactic escapades.
Stars: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden
MAY - NEON TV CONTENT BY DATE
01 The Last Man on Earth S1-4 01 You’re the Worst S1-5 01 Atlanta S1-4
01 Wilfred S1-4
01 High Fidelity S1
01 Emerald S1
01 Skins S1-7
01 Dawson’s Creek S1-6 01 Sleepy Hollow S1-4 02 Cheers S7-11
04 Stalked S1
04 Days of our Lives S62 04 Unforgotten S6
05 The Americans S1-6 05 Homeland S1-8
05 Snowfall S1-6
05 The Old Man S1
05 Ray Donovan S1-7 07 Murdoch Mysteries S19 07 The Young Pope S1 07 The New Pope S1 07 A Very English Scandal S1 07 The Tudors S1-4
07 Poldark S1-5
07 Harlots S1-3
08 The Terror: Devil in Silver S1
09 South Park S6,18
09 K-Everything: How South Korea Became The Ultimate Influence S1
12 Pagan Peak S1-3
12 Gomorrah S1-5
12 Wisting S1-4
12 Babylon Berlin S1-4
12 The Bridge S1-4
12 Crimson Rivers S1-4
13 The Audacity S1
13 U.S Against the World: Four Years with the Men’s National Soccer Team S1
15 Dutton Ranch S1
15 Hunt For The Missing: Chicago S1 17 Mint S1
19 S.W.A.T S1-8
25 Rick and Morty S9
28 Community S1-6
28 The King of Queens S1-9
28 Workaholics S1-7
28 Glee S1-6
29 Homicide: Life on the Streets S1-6
Movies
The Running Man (May 19)
In a near-future society, a desperate man enters a deadly TV show where contestants must survive for 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public. Directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver)
Stars: Glen Powell, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo
AIR (2023)
AVAILABLE FROM MAY 1
Sonny Vaccaro sees an opportunity to elevate Nike's business by designing a signature shoe for a rookie basketball player named Michael Jordan. The story of a career-defining gamble that revolutionised the world of sports and contemporary culture.
Stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans
WEAPONS (2025)
AVAILABLE FROM MAY 5
A community is left reeling after all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night, at exactly the same time.
Stars: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan
REGRETTING YOU (2025)
AVAILABLE FROM MAY 10
A mother and daughter must grapple with what’s left after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal – forcing them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover themselves.
Stars: Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames
THE LONG WALK (2025)
AVAILABLE FROM MAY 30
In a dystopian United States under military rule, a group of teen boys compete in an annual contest known as The Long Walk, where they must maintain a certain walking speed or get shot. Based on the iconic novel by Stephen King
Stars: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot
Movies in May
01 Air
01 The Boys In The Boat 01 Cloud Atlas
01 Dave
01 Game Night
01 The Prestige
01 Weapons
08 The Bounty Hunter 10 Regretting You 12 Stomp The Yard 12 The Immortal 19 The Running Man 23 Almost Famous 26 A Few Good Men 30 The Long Walk
Cast: Indy the dog, Shane Jensen
Director: Ben Leonberg
Pushing a concept as far as it can go works wonders for indie horror Good Boy.
But if you're averse to open-ended films that are reliant on your own interpretation, perhaps this won't be the film for you.
Told from a dog's-eye level (not a point of view or perspective), it follows a dog who accompanies his owner to a cabin in the woods after his owner's unspecified medical issues and an apparent rift in his owner's relationship.
However, once the pair arrives at the cabin, the pup begins to see and hear things, and fears his owner's life is in danger from something other than illness.
Good Boy is an incredible piece of film-making thanks to its lead performance of Indy. For a creature that can have no direct understanding that it's in a movie, the work done by the dog is just second to none, and utterly intuitive.
At its heart, the film appears to be an exploration of the impact of illness, dressed up in a supernatural elements story. As his owner is consumed by sickness, the house becomes more active and the supernatural jolts more pronounced. And while some will complain there are only so many times you can show a dog upset by a bump in the night, with a lean 72 minute run time, director Leonberg more than delivers.
Wtih themes of loyalty and friendship, and some genuinely terrifying moments thanks to a carefully constructed delve into fear (at one point, the dog wets itself), Good Boy has an interesting trajectory at heart - what if the person you care most about can't be saved?
It's perhaps pertinent that by setting the film at a dog level and also by hearing things that humans can't, the film gets more out of the haunted house premise than a simple fright-night flick may have done. Plus, making the hero a dog immediately brings audiences on side and emotionally invested.
However, director Ben Leonberg isn't interested in throwing that care and commitment away with just easy and cheap thrills. There's a real heart here that's given beating life by Indy's performance and a human story that cries out for exploration.
If you buy into the premise and the exploration of an animal's loyalty, plus the very real fear of losing that, Good Boy is an utterly compelling and original film that demands to be seen. It's a singular experience given life by its main actor - a very, very good boy.
Good Boy is now streaming on ShudderCast: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, with Veronica Falcón.
Director: Lee Cronin
The latest iteration of the horror franchise takes on new meaning with the director of Evil Dead Rise at the helm.
The young daughter Katie of a journalist disappears into the Egyptian desert without a trace. Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.
There's a vicious nastiness in Lee Cronin's vision for the return of The Mummy and its something that's as insidious as it is upsetting.
But Cronin deploys a devilishly slow build-up to events that uses a plethora of nightmarish imagery, tropes and ancient mythology to create an atmosphere of extreme unease throughout.
From child-catcher grooming to Exorcist moments and Evil Dead homages, the film revels in its horror edges and its desire to take things seriously and studiously pays off in swathes.
Creaking, cracking sounds, a teeth-chattering husk of a seemingly locked-in child - this is a movie that employs a soundscape that's at another level in setting you om edge.
Yet once again Cronin uses the fracture between sisters (as he did in Evil Dead Rise) to make for truly upsetting moments and tensions throughout.
With dry, arid vistas and an oppressive palette mixing with extreme close-ups, there's no way to escape the claustrophobia of what's on screen. And thankfully, the film stays away from the camera excesses of the Brendan Fraser boys' own style romps that spawned a swathe of nostalgia.
It's not all perfect - a wake teeters very closely on going OTT rather than using chills and Jack Reynor's performance as the dad who was the last to see his daughter isn't quite as compelling as it could be.
But for the large part, the 'We need to talk about Katie' mentality works terrifically well and the idea of how a family curse manifests is fascinating and horrifying to behold.
Dark, disgusting and devilish, Lee Cronin's The Mummy is an absolute frightfest that will haunt your early morning hours long after you've seen it - whether you want it to or not.
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser, Benjamin Bratt, Sacha Baron Cohen
Director: Peter Farrelly
A film from one half of the duo behind There's Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber about a condom being launched in the upcoming World Cup doesn't really endow its audience with much hope.
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However, in this borderline unfunny piece that salvages only a few laughs from unexpected moments, hope is abandoned within the opening sequence, which sees Paul Walter Hauser's marketing executive Elijah try to pitch a new condom for the upcoming FIFA festivities by unveiling the fact that it covers both the penis as well as the testicles.
As the room watches on as Elijah stumbles and fumbles his pitch to his own company, one of the assembled employees bemoans, "What is happening here?", a sentiment which soon becomes the key mantra for a film that sees a naked Benjamin Bratt swing on a rope while aroused and sees one man being forced to suck out a vampire fish which has gone up another's penis.
Depending on how you read the above sentences will very much lead you to your own conclusions about whether this is a movie for you. For those looking for humour, it is not; for those seeking broad debased laughs that are as scattered as they are scatological, they will be rewarded.
When Brad (Wahlberg) and Elijah (Hauser) score an own goal with their condom pitch, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory during a meeting with Brazilian authorities, they're fired. But having been granted a couple of VIP passes to the World Cup Final, they decide to go anyway.
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However, during a last-minute pitch invasion by a drunken Elijah (Hauser's character is unsurprisingly uptight), the entire nation of Brazil turns on them after losing the game to bordering neighbours Argentina. Forced on the run, the "Os Stuipdos", as they're dubbed by media, try to flee the country with their lives.
Farrelly's sense of direction lurches from one absurd moment to the next, with nary a pause in the script for any serious laughs or character development. Having cut his teeth on broader fare, he's reticent to divert from the usual MO - but even this time, the gross-out laughs feel forced, fraught and fairly unfunny.
While the banter between the bickering Brad and Elijah is brought to life well by Wahlberg and Hauser, the lurching script does too little with their obvious comedic potential and even throws in another Sacha Baron Cohen character that's forgettable. (One of the finer moments of the film sees the pair doing a karaoke version of Gotje and Kimbra's infamous song.)
Ultimately, this is one film that actually leaves you feeling exactly as its title intended - it's a Balls Up from beginning to end.
Balls Up is streaming now on Prime Video.
Cast:
Kevin James, Nicole Grimaudo, Alyson Hannigan, Kim Coates, Jonathan Roumie,
Julee Cerda, Julie Ann Emery, Alessandro Carbonara
Director:
Chuck Kinnane, Dan Kinnane
If
you’re expecting a goofy Kevin James to bust out the larrikin behaviour in Solo
Mio, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
In it, he plays sad-sack elementary school teacher Matt Taylor, who believes he’s found the one in Heather. After a pitch-perfect proposal in among the kids, he and his fiancée head to Italy for their wedding. But to Matt’s horror, he’s left at the altar, smiling and hopeful as his other half makes a run for it.
Deciding
to carry on with the honeymoon in the mistaken belief that she’ll return to
him, Matt becomes part of a travel group of other couples, all of which appear
to be having their own issues. From a bickering duo who’s on their third
go-around after divorcing each other twice to another who are both picking at
each other, Matt finds he’s not sure he fits in.
But
after a meet-cute with Gia at a local café, the pair strikes up an easy
friendship that follows the usual pattern of opposites attract. Will Matt mend his
broken heart and take up a new life?
Solo
Mio isn’t interested in presenting a film that deals with the emotional depth
and fallout of break-ups, unexpected or otherwise. It’s a strait-laced,
faith-based film that’s aiming for the feelgood factor and is more likely to
land with people untroubled by complications in life or in cinema.
That
said, with some beautiful scenery around Italy and a depth from Kevin James
that’s truly delightful and different, the film manages to balance some of the
more uneven edges of what plays out – including the male duo that befriend and
ill-advise him on his life journey.
Disappointingly,
Alyson Hannigan is massively underused in a film that’s more around the hijinks
of Matt and his buffoonish honeymooner buddies. Thankfully, the directors never
resort to sending James to the kind of depths he’s explored before in the likes
of Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
Solo Mio is a thoroughly pleasant film, the kind that grandparents would be happy to sit through – however, its lack of bite and emotional depth at times proves to be a major missed opportunity to provide a film with definite conflict and a hint more of investment.
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Theo James
Director: David Mackenzie
The discovery of a World War II bomb at a building site in downtown London is the ticking fuse that lights a fire under Hell Or High Water director Mackenzie's latest - but thanks to choppy editing, most of the suspense is sucked from the premise.
As the police seal off and evacuate the area (led by Mbatha-Raw's deadpan Chief Superintendent), a military bomb defusal squad, led by Taylor-Johnson's clearly-got-something-to-prove Will Tranter steps in. But as soon as the area is cleared, a heist of a nearby bank begins...
Meshing the kind of cliffhanger twists you'd get in a pulpy Netflix "watch another right now" thriller with the kind of absurdism viewed in the likes of Trigger Point, Fuze deploys its propulsive touch to maximum effect - even if the final third of the film tries to pack more twists than you'd ever think plausible.
Some, however, work, but the ledger's very strongly stacked in favour of the deliberately deployed for the sake of the story.
But perhaps that's part of the proposed thrill of this - Mackenzie's movie doesn't stand still long enough to allow you to consider its contrivances. And certainly, the cross-cut editing, jumping from one scene to the next, allows you little time to deeply engage with the characters.
From scenes in a command centre which follow Exposition 101 to doubts at the bomb site via shady goings-on and thieves falling apart, Fuze ticks all of the genre tropes while using them to stack a story in a different way.
Yet, it's debatably a failure - albeit one that zips its way through perfunctory set-up and execution.
With cursory dialogue serving up pernicious pieces of back-story, the narrative falls into a trap of overloading the bases before showing all of its cards in one final go. It's a move that sadly doesn't work for bomb-thriller heist Fuze, proving this is more damp squib than highly explosive.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has unveiled the incredible 115” Micro RGB TV, marking its New Zealand debut of the Micro RGB display and a bold new design direction for ultra-premium displays.
New Zealand’s first display to feature Micro RGB, a micro-scale RGB LED backlight behind a large 115-inch screen. This breakthrough display establishes a new benchmark for colour accuracy, contrast and immersive viewing.
Micro RGB Technology uses sub-100 μm red, green and blue LEDs that each emit light independently. This advanced display architecture enables incredibly precise light control and improved colour accuracy. Enhanced picture-processing technologies, including 4K AI Upscaling Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro,3 further refine brightness, smooth out motion and add clarity in real time.
“Micro RGB represents the pinnacle of TV display innovation, its cutting-edge technology, exceptional colour accuracy and truly immersive viewing experience is unrivalled,” said Tura Gim, Head of Consumer Electronics at Samsung New Zealand. “This new flagship model sets a new benchmark for premium display design, and we’re excited to bring this next-generation display technology to Kiwis.”
Ultimate Viewing Experience to Match Its Scale
The 115-inch Micro RGB model features Samsung’s most advanced Micro RGB innovations to date.
Powered by Micro RGB AI Engine Pro, Micro RGB Colour Booster Pro and Micro RGB HDR Pro, it leverages AI to enhance dull tones and refine contrast, delivering vivid colour and subtle detail across bright and dark scenes alike for realism and picture fidelity.
The display elevates picture performance with Micro RGB Precision Colour 100, delivering 100% of the BT.2020 wide colour gamut. Certified by the Verband der Elektrotechnik (VDE) for precise Micro RGB colour reproduction, it produces finely controlled hues that appear true to life on screen.
Glare Free That Redefines Daytime viewing
The 115-inch model also includes Samsung’s proprietary Glare Free technology, which minimises reflections, even in bright lighting conditions for a more comfortable and focused viewing experience. This impressive Glare-Free performance with a specially engineered low-reflection layer that disperses external light and reduces internal light-scattering without distorting picture quality. A new physical solution for reflecting external light sources, which is backed by AI gamma adjustment to add another layer of refinement.
Football gets even more exciting
As sport is intrinsic to the Kiwi psyche, Samsung also offers intuitive modes to personalise theviewing experience. For football fans, AI Football Mode Pro delivers a more exciting gameday experience through AI-driven picture and sound tuning to stadium-level quality. AI Sound Controller Pro lets you raise or lower the volume of the crowd, commentary, or background music, providing a personalised listening experience for TV shows and movies.
More details regarding the rest of the 2026 line-up will be announced in May 2026.
Here's everything that's streaming on DocPlay in May 2026.
We’re warming up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Kenny Dalglish, the new documentary from Oscar®-winner Asif Kapadia, streams exclusively on DocPlay from May 14.
The Scottish soccer icon, who played for Liverpool and Scotland, comes to life in a vivid portrait of his sporting and personal successes. Releasing forty years after the world-changing disaster, Chernobyl: Utopia in Flames is a gripping portrait of the 1986 nuclear explosion and its aftermath.
Released by Neon in the US, Men of War offers a shockingly prescient account of how, in 2020, a ragtag group of American-led insurrectionists attempted to infiltrate Venezuela and overthrow the regime of Nicolas Maduro. Or spice up your life with three-part BBC series Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed the World.
4 May
Chernobyl: Utopia in Flames (Exclusive)
A new four-part German production about the 1986 nuclear disaster: the true story of Chernobyl is even more complex, more human, and more shocking than we could ever have imagined.
14 May
Kenny Dalglish (Exclusive)
The new documentary from Oscar®-winning director Asif Kapadia (Senna), Kenny Dalglish offers an in-depth portrait of the Scottish soccer icon.
18 May
Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed the World
The must-see story of how five ordinary women became the Spice Girls. A three-episode series from the BBC.
18 May
Freddie: The Final Act
The story of the extraordinary final chapter of Freddie Mercury’s life and how, after his death, Queen staged one of the biggest concerts in history.
21 May
Antidote (Exclusive)
What is the cost of speaking truth to power? In Putin’s Russia, it could mean your life. An immersive and chilling documentary, Antidote follows in real time a whistleblower from inside Russia's poison program, a prominent political activist, and a Russian journalist forced to go into hiding.
21 May
Men of War (Exclusive)
In May 2020, a ragtag group of American-led insurrectionists attempted to infiltrate Venezuela and overthrow the regime of Nicolas Maduro.
25 May
This Is A Bomb (Exclusive)
In 1980, an ingenious boobie-trapped ticking time bomb - filled with 1,000 pounds of dynamite - was wheeled in the front doors of Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Casino in Lake Tahoe. Along with the bomb was a note demanding $3 million within 24 hours. While the bomb squad attempts to disarm the explosive, the FBI races the clock to deliver the ransom and simultaneously catch the extortionists. Nothing goes as planned, and each step uncovers darker secrets and suspicions of a deeper motive.
Ahead of her trip to the Auckland Autumn Armageddon Expo, costume designer Laura Jean Shannon spoke about her work on The Boys, cosplay and also the one person she'd have killed to have met.
To get more on the upcoming Auckland Armageddon Expo, head to armageddonexpo.com.
Hi Laura, how are you?
I am great but please call me Laura Jean or LJ!
Have you ever been to New Zealand before?
I have not but I have always wanted to visit! I wish I could be there longer as the list of things I would like to see is endless, but I am thrilled for the opportunity to experience a small slice of your beautiful country. Someday I will return to tour the countryside but for now Hobbiton and Armageddon will be the highlights as I get to immerse into the Auckland vibe ...
How did you get started in costume designing and creation?
I guess it all started when I was a kid really, enamored by sci fi and fantasy films that I would pour over the designs of. I loved getting to escape into other worlds. I studied sculpture and graphic design in college but had a lifelong collection of clothing from around the world and always put things together in unique ways but ultimately, I found my inspiration in NYC in the 90’s post college when I moved there and started working as a Production Assistant in the Costume Department on Feature Films which lead to my designing indies like Requiem For a Dream.
You seem to have an incredible team around you in Team LJ Supersuits - how did all that start?
I am truly blessed with the best of the best. I always say, “I am only as good as the company I keep” and I truly mean that and take it to heart. I do my best to cultivate not only amazing artisans and makers but also amazing people who all share the passion I do for what we create together. It is a collaborative art form so I am so lucky I get to choose to collaborate with wonderful people.
Team LJ Supersuits specifically started with "Black Lightning". The Showrunner and studio were looking for a cinematic visual for the Supersuits but needed them to be able to be practically worn for a TV shooting schedule and budget.
We started small, Sarah, our concept artist and me in a literal closet at WB! We've since grown exponentially as the needs and the projects expanded and we morph and grow or contract as the projects ebb and flow.
A basic build team on one show is around 30 people, but sometimes our team is 45 strong, sometimes 80, sometimes over 100 if you take into consideration all set teams on our combined shows. However, the core is about 16.
We obviously can't not ask about your work on The Boys - as there are some New Zealanders involved in Karl Urban and Antony Starr. Would you mind giving us a bit of an insight into how you created outfits for them and what their initial reactions to them were?
Ant is my Kiwi brother! Homelander was one of the very first characters I created with our Showrunner, Eric Kripke, for a pilot presentation to get our first season green-lit. The moment I met Ant I knew we had a force that would elevate not only the character but the show as a whole. Antony’s ability to morph into his character and express such a wealth of emotions with the smallest expressions is a true gift. He has incredible instincts that Eric Kripke trusts and they have a wonderful working relationship where the development of Homelander is a true group effort. Also, he is just a delight as a human being and I adore him as a friend.
Karl I met the day he came to meet with the fellas, Kripke, Seth and Evan, on the Sony lot… I knew as I stood on the stoop of the Point Grey offices chatting with him that he was the one.. he has grit and gravitas, what was needed for the role. I was not responsible for his costumes as I am an Associate Producer on The Boys and design the Supersuits but helped find awesome fellow Costume Designers to design the show at large. Carrie Grace created the iconic Butcher look in the pilot that has since lived on and been enhanced by Joyce Schure season 1, Rebecca Gregg Season 2 and Michael Ground seasons 3-5.
The Homelander outfit is so iconic and such a subtle twist on the Superman suit, did you ever think it would go on to be so embraced in its genre?
Thanks! The edict going into The Boys was to create a totally legitimate superhero universe of our own that could play with the big two, Marvel and DC, both whom I have designed for on some iconic shows and films. It was my job to make costumes that would be steeped in lore and nod to other iconic tropes from existing universes but that were grounded in our own universe that focused on science and nothing mystical. I loved that challenge and took it very seriously.
I did think that Homelander would become iconic. I worked hard to get him to have all the things needed to become so from my end and the beauty of our show is that the writing sets the tone for excellence and then actors like Ant breathe the life needed into the supersuits to create something unique and special.
How do you feel now the series is ending - did you manage to sneak away any of the outfits from the show and do you have a favourite?
I feel honored and humbled and it is a bittersweet end. Bitter because it is the end of an era, sweet because what a brilliant era it has been! Wish I could sneak away some of the supersuits but alas, they are not mine to sneak, but I will always have them in my heart. I always say asking me which suit is my fave is like asking which of my children I love most, luckily I only have one child = but I love each of my superheroes with all my heart for their backstory and journey.
Cosplay is such a big thing on the convention circuit, what does it feel like to see people wearing the outfits you've designed? And conversely, what's been the best fan interaction you've had?
We LOVE the fans!!! We always talk in fittings about how exciting it will be to see cosplayers interpret our designs. It is a huge heartfelt moment when I see something that came from my brain brought to life by someone that was inspired by the work my team and I did together…
I am at SDCC annually so there are lots of amazing stories I have of interacting with fans that continues to inspire me as a Designer and as a human being who believes in the greater conciseness, a hopeful future and the importance of camaraderie and acceptance. I have always believed that the genres of superheroes, sci fi and fantasy allow for us to expand our minds and belong to something greater. A shared experience by dreamers who fit best where they can be their true selves.
I think cosplayers appreciate the opportunity to explore possibilities and being able to be a part of that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
Are there any outfits you would have liked to have designed, and if so, which ones and why?
There is always something I would love to design but also- I do not really have design envy because I love seeing what other designers come up with and as artists we all inform each other in a lot of ways..
I have been so lucky to have the opportunity to design some cool shit (that's the technical term!) so, this question is a hard one to really have a response to as I love whatever I am doing when I am doing it so....The universe sends me where I am meant to be to design the things that then become my children and labors of love, so I am content! I look forward to seeing what unknown may be around the corner.
You've had a wonderful and varied career across films and tV, from the likes of Elf to Murderbot, is there any costume you've been part of that still sticks with you - and if so, why? And how do you begin with the initial concept of a design?
They are all a part of my DNA and I carry each one with me…
Recently I was interviewed for a book on Elf and put together a bunch of visuals to share of my process.. it was such a great walk down memory lane to pour through all of my process materials… luckily I am a pack rat and had a ton of analog files of things so much now is digital, it was nice to have all my handwritten notes and things on the sketches and Swatches. Murderbot was also one that will always hold a special place in my heart. It was awesome to have a shop that built things in-house and achieve such a unique tone with the sec-units…
Though each final product is unique and the build parameters differ for the needs. The initial concept of all designs starts with these basic steps:
1- meet with the Showrunner (TV) or Director (Film) and get their insights into the project and characters
2- start getting a broad spectrum of visuals together for research based upon the flow of ideas I get
3-create mood boards of the research visuals that resonate as a collage of ideas to inspire initial jumping off point for designs
4-begin exploring basic silhouettes, shapes and ideas in thumbnails
5-get feedback from Showrunner or director
6- play with colors and textures in thumbnail stage still, dialing in several possible contender ideas
7-figure out direction from thumbnails with feedback from the showrunner/director to create a rendering
8-start the build with the approved rendering of design
How was working with Rhys Darby on Jumanji?
Rhys is the best! Have you read his children’s books? They are awesome ! We had to recreate the original costume I designed for “Welcome to the Jungle” for this third installment.
We had a challenging shoot for many reasons, our industry has tightened the belt, so even big budget blockbusters these days are feeling rather compressed and more difficult to navigate, thanks to truncated shooting schedules, coupled with location travel and some crazy weather, made for some intense days that made us feel like WE were IN Jumanji!
I would often invoke Nigel Billingsley’s famous line in those moments and say to the team “WELCOME TO JUMANJI!”
The Boys is obviously finishing, but you're back with the prequel series Vought Rising, what sneaks can you give us about the costumes for that please?
Well I am not allowed to give sneaks!!! BUT you can see our first looks of the main 4 that were released in the trades last August! You can see them on my instagram @LJSupersuits
Love getting to tuck into an origin story!
We hear you're a bit of a self-confessed geek too, who would be your ideal person to hang out with at a convention and why?
True story…I have had the pleasure of hanging with some icons at cons.. one of my first cons I had just designed Scott Pilgrim vs the World and was asked to judge the Masquerade at SDCC (which I do yearly with my son- highlight of our year!) my fellow judge was Bob Blackman who designed Star Trek next Gen and MANY others.. yes, I am a Trekkie… it was such a delight to hear him talk about how some of the fans had better time and resources than us CDs get so some of the craftsmanship can be glorious!
But I guess I would have killed to meet Leonard Nimoy because Spock! Need I say more?
Catch LJ Shannon at Armageddon Expo from April 25-27!
Ring is introducing its first-ever battery-powered 2K and 4K doorbells, delivering sharper video and more flexible installation across its doorbell lineup. Starting at $149 AUD and available for pre-order today, the new doorbells bring even clearer video to homes. Each device also includes a free trial of Ring Protect Pro, which unlocks premium intelligence features such as Video Descriptions.
“This launch marks an important step forward for Ring across Australia, reflecting our continued focus on innovation and customer choice. With a more versatile lineup spanning 4K video, battery, wired and solar-powered options, we’re enabling customers to tailor their setup to suit their home and lifestyle. It underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable technology that enhances how people stay connected to their homes,” says Mark Fletcher, APAC Managing Director for Ring.
Premium 4K Video Clarity
Battery Video Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen) is Ring's most advanced battery-powered doorbell to date. It features Retinal 4K video and delivers up to 10x Enhanced Zoom, capturing front-door activity, packages, and other details with greater clarity day or night.
A redesigned internal architecture powers Ring’s fastest-charging battery to date, helping the device stay up and running while supporting high-resolution video and advanced features. The result is front-door security that installs virtually anywhere without rewiring.
Ring is also introducing Wired Video Doorbell Elite (2nd Gen), which features Retinal 4K and 10X Enhanced Zoom, true colour video in low light, smarter motion alerts, and remote access control – all with native Power over Ethernet for reliable, always-on connectivity.
Three New 2K Doorbells
Alongside the 4K doorbells, Ring is introducing three new Retinal 2K doorbells at different price points and installation types:
Solar Accessories for Continuous Power and Flexible Installation
Ring is also introducing new solar accessories designed to extend battery life and provide more flexible installation options for battery-powered doorbells. Available at launch, these accessories support Battery Video Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen), Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen), and Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen).
Ring Doorbell Solar Charger integrates directly into the mounting design, allowing customers to mount their doorbell on top of the charger. With just 3–4 hours of direct sunlight per day, Solar Charger helps keep doorbells charged with minimal maintenance.
Ring Doorbell Solar Panel extends the life of the Doorbell battery by delivering continuous power, reducing the need for manual recharging. Designed with higher power output to support more advanced doorbells, Solar Panel helps minimise interruptions to home monitoring. Its flexible installation options – including roof mounting and adjustable angles – enable optimal solar exposure and efficient charging performance.
Get even more from your Doorbell with a Ring Protect
With a Ring Protect plan, you get access to video recording and enhanced features for your doorbell, offering greater control and visibility over what’s happening at home.
With a Ring Protect plan, customers can:
By pairing high-resolution video with these added capabilities, a Ring subscription helps turn everyday footage into more useful information so customers can stay informed without scrolling through clips.
Pricing and Availability
The new doorbells and solar products are available for pre-order starting today:
Win a double pass to see Sgt. Haane in cinemas To celebrate the release of Sgt. Haane in cinemas April 30, you can win a double pass to see ...
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