Main cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee Director: Matt Reeves RT Score: 91% The second installment in the rebooted Apes franchise, Dawn built on Rise’s respectable origin effort by delivering the true dystopian drama fans had been craving. While Rise explained how the apes gained their heightened intelligence and hinted at the deadly pandemic that decimated the human population, Dawn picks up 10 years later, with the remaining humans now struggling for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Meanwhile, the apes have established their own colony in the forests of San Francisco, displaying the early signs of becoming the dominant society on Earth. But when the two tribes must interact for the first time in a decade in order for the humans to repair a dam in ape territory, the uneasy alliance is threatened by purists on both sides. The Apes franchise has always been steeped in allegory, and Dawn deftly discusses themes of racial divides and human need that today seem more relevant than ever. It’s also a technical marvel, with the apes stunningly lifelike, largely thanks to outstanding mo-cap performances from the likes of Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell. And when the tensions finally come to a head, director Matt Reeves delivers a mud n’ blood soaked action climax that puts most other blockbusters to shame. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Watch On Runtime: 75 minutes Main cast: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Elsa Lanchester, Ernest Thesiger, E. E. Clive, Oliver Peters Heggie Director: James Whale RT Score: 98% I know I promised we were leaving horror behind, but this Universal Monsters classic skews much more into the realms of sci-fi than its predecessor as the ethically challenged scientists of the original film endeavor to create a mate for their original monster. Picking up right where the 1931 original left off, Bride of Frankenstein reveals that neither of the supposed deaths that concluded the previous film stuck, with both Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and the Monster (Boris Karloff) revealed to have survived the iconic burning windmill. Despite renouncing his creation, Henry is lured back in by Doctor Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who forces him to assist in his attempts to create a ‘bride’ for the Monster by kidnapping his wife Elizabeth (Valerie Hobson). You may like Source: https://www.techradar.com/streaming/hbo-max/there-are-over-70-new-hbo-max-movies-in-november-2025-here-are-3-sci-fi-hits-with-over-80-percent-on-rotten-tomatoes