Epoch Watchlist: Recommended Viewing for June 12–18

This week, we feature an animated take on a popular children’s book series about a determined mouse sleuth and a fictionalized biopic of one of Broadway’s biggest names.

New Release

‘Disclosure Day’

Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor) hacks the wrong server and finds proof of non-human intelligence, making himself a whistleblower and target. He turns for help to Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), a weathercaster who channeled an extraterrestrial message on live TV.

The film treats the alien cover-up with full sincerity, and I did enjoy the paranoid old-school mystery vibes. It was also interesting how public truth becomes a disaster siren, though the movie feels a lot stronger as a strange-event machine than as a character drama.

Drama | Mystery | Thriller Release Date: June 12, 2026 Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth Running Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes MPAA Rating: PG-13 Where to Watch: Theaters Rated: 3 stars out of 5

Family Pick

‘The Great Mouse Detective’

When crime lord Ratigan (Vincent Price) has toymaker Flaversham (Alan Young) kidnapped, eccentric sleuth Basil (Barrie Ingham) refuses to let the trail go cold. He and bumbling Dr. Dawson (Val Bettin) have little time to unravel a conspiracy before Ratigan springs a lethal trap.

The animators translate Price’s theatrical bite well, so Professor Ratigan’s villainous mugging becomes half the fun. A few set pieces, especially the clock tower climax, make use of early digital animation without losing the hand-drawn charm.

Adventure | Family | Mystery Release Date: July 2, 1986 Director: Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, Dave Michener Starring: Vincent Price, Barrie Ingham, Val Bettin Running time: 1 hour, 14 minutes MPAA Rating: G Where to Watch: YouTube, Amazon, Apple TV Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

A Chef Learns to Let Life In

‘No Reservations’

Kate Armstrong (Catherine Zeta-Jones) runs her kitchen like a war room until her young, grieving niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) suddenly becomes her responsibility. Nick Palmer (Aaron Eckhart), the new sous-chef, brings romance, rivalry, and a mess Kate can’t quite plate her way out of.

Breslin gives Zoe the ache the movie needs, while Zeta-Jones makes Kate’s icy chef routine interesting to watch. The romance runs a little light, but the food, opera, and found-family ending keep it sweet.

Comedy | Drama | Romance Release Date: July 27, 2007 Director: Scott Hicks Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Where to Watch: Amazon, Plex, Tubi TV Rated: 3 stars out of 5

A Composer Bio With Big Songs

‘Till the Clouds Roll By’

After his Broadway musical “Show Boat” crowns his career, Jerome Kern (Robert Walker) recalls the friendships, near-misses, and stage battles behind his rise to fame.

The Kern biography portion gets pretty thin, but the MGM parade of Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, and Dinah Shore makes the whole thing play like a deluxe jukebox in Technicolor.

Biography | Musical Release Date: Jan. 3, 1947 Director: Richard Whorf Starring: Robert Walker, Van Heflin, Lucille Bremer Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes Not Rated Where to Watch: Tubi TV, Apple TV, Amazon Rated: 4 stars out of 5

What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to [email protected].