Five star - Latest Top Rated Film Reviews from the Guardian

Collective review – shocking exposé of needless deaths in Romania
In Alexander Nanau’s searing documentary a heroic reporter investigates why the majority of victims of a nightclub fire died because of health-care fraud - Peter Bradshaw
Small Axe review – Steve McQueen triumphs with tales of Britain's Caribbean history
The Oscar winner’s five-part anthology begins with Mangrove, a long-overdue dramatisation of a landmark trial, featuring luminous portrayals and nuanced representation - Ellen E Jones
Mank review – David Fincher swooningly revisits myth of Citizen Kane
Gary Oldman plays cynical screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz in a gorgeously shot film that both revels in Hollywood’s golden age and exposes its corruption - Peter Bradshaw
About Endlessness review – mesmerising odyssey to the heart of existence
Swedish auteur Roy Andersson’s latest is another masterpiece of the human condition, ranging from the evils of war to the redemptive power of love - Peter Bradshaw
Relic review – heartbreaking horror about Alzheimer's
A matriarch’s failing mind brings darkness to the family home in Natalie Erika James’s unforgettably chilling debut feature - Mark Kermode
Wolfwalkers review – an exquisite Irish animation masterpiece
This dazzling 17th-century folk tale is a total joy - Wendy Ide
The Ladykillers review – a comic crime caper that still kills
Sixty-five years later the classic from Ealing Studios is still subversive, hilarious and distinctly English - Peter Bradshaw
Collective review – inspiring account of the power of journalism
Reporters probe into a Romanian healthcare system riddled with corruption in this gripping but bleak documentary - Wendy Ide
Asia review – mesmerising mother-daughter drama
Alena Yiv and Unorthodox’s Shira Haas are superb in debut director Ruthy Pribarbr’s bravely unsentimental portrait of parenthood - Wendy Ide
Patrick review – wry, existential nudist comedy
The fact that almost everyone’s in the nude is the least remarkable thing about this deadpan delight from Peaky Blinders director Tim Mielants - Mark Kermode Observer film critic
The Kid Detective review – one of the darkest comedies of the year
Adam Brody excels as a former child-prodigy PI in a sharply funny crime caper with an existential bent - Wendy Ide
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom review – Chadwick Boseman glorious in his final film role
The movie version of August Wilson’s story of the blues, starring Boseman and a tremendous Viola Davis, is a ferocious opera of passion and pain - Peter Bradshaw
Finding Jack Charlton review – touching portrait of a footballing hero
As manager of Ireland’s national team, the former Leeds United star became one of the country’s most extravagantly loved foreigners - Peter Bradshaw
Happiest Season review – queer Christmas comedy is a festive treat
Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis are a couple caught in farcical family circumstances in an entertaining attempt to add queerness to a traditionally straight subgenre - Benjamin Lee
To the Ends of the Earth review – a subtle awakening in Uzbekistan
The presenter of a Japanese TV travel show blossoms off-camera in this sly, perceptive drama - Wendy Ide
Billie review – a truer, historical spin on the great Billie Holiday
Exploitation and harassment, not ‘inner demons’, brought down the singer, argues this documentary that showcases her superb voice - Peter Bradshaw
Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds review – Werner Herzog dodges meteorites
In his latest science doc, the existential film-maker considers the cataclysmic threat from space – as real now as it ever was - Peter Bradshaw
Freaky review – wildly entertaining body swap comedy horror
An ingenious slasher movie spin on Freaky Friday is both fun and funny and features an unlikely, pitch perfect performance from Vince Vaughn - Benjamin Lee
To the Ends of the Earth review – dreamlike vision of clashing cultures
A young reporter on assignment in Uzbekistan undertakes a minor rebellion in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s sweet, sad tale - Peter Bradshaw
Eastern review – Polish 'western' of male humiliation and revenge
A blood feud takes on a tragic dimension in this thriller of ritualised killing and vendettas between two families in the suburbs - Ellen E Jones
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project review – the ultimate news junkie
Matt Wolf’s profile of the woman who recorded more than 70,000 video tapes’ worth of TV footage is never less than reverential - Simran Hans
Spider-Man: Miles Morales review – substitute hero spins his own New York moment
This Spiderverse-inspired take on Spider-Man has a new hero and an appealing message reflecting America’s vibrant diversity - Keith Stuart
Let Him Go review – Costner and Lane take on Manville in fun, fiery thriller
A polite adaptation of a bestselling novel transforms into a gory B-movie with a devilishly good performance from Lesley Manville as a Ma Barker-style villain - Benjamin Lee
Lucky Grandma review – gambling granny goes on fun knockabout caper
Former Bond girl Tsai Chin confounds expectations brilliantly as an older woman who gets mixed up with the Chinese mafia - Ellen E Jones
Brazen Hussies review – reclaiming the history of Australia's women's liberation movement
Traversing the rise of second-wave feminism, Catherine Dwyer’s documentary is an important contribution to an overlooked past - Kath Kenny
Luxor review - beautifully sparse character study amid Egypt's ancient glory
Andrea Riseborough stars as a war-zone medic going through a low-key mid-life crisis as she tries to recover by visiting the famous archaeological site - Leslie Felperin
Looted review - car-stealing thriller paints picture of post-industrial decay
An impressive film about a pair of car thieves in the north of England combines social commentary, poignant drama and lyrical cinematography - Ellen E Jones
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project review – the woman who kept the TV on for 30 years
With visionary zeal, the historian/TV producer collected 70,000 hours of television news, creating a unique archive of US life - Peter Bradshaw
Love Child review – refugee documentary finds love and warmth amid the misery
Filmed over six years in Turkey, this is a wonderful account of an Iranian family in exile desperately seeking asylum - Cath Clarke
Queen of Hearts review – addictive study of infidelity in picture-perfect life
Trine Dyrholm is outstanding as a liberal-minded lawyer who has a predatory affair with her stepson in May el-Toukhy’s excellent Danish drama - Peter Bradshaw
The Painter and the Thief review – portrait of a crime
An artist reaches out to a man who stole two of her paintings with unexpected results in this staggering Sundance favourite - Wendy Ide
Mogul Mowgli review – fierce, unrelenting film-making
Riz Ahmed sizzles as a rapper struck down by illness in this confrontational story of family and identity - Wendy Ide
The Mandalorian season two review – gun-slinging action with TV's coolest dad
The Star Wars spin-off from Disney+ is back with its signature mix of violent toughness and attentive parenting – but can Mando keep Baby Yoda safely in his armoured pushchair? - Jack Seale
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb review – hidden depths in ancient Egypt
This fascinating documentary about extraordinary finds makes a clear statement about the reclamation of Egypt’s heritage - Andrew Pulver
The Painter and the Thief review – astonishing portrait of two lost souls
A painter gets to know the criminal who stole her works in an intimate and electrically charged study of artist and muse - Cath Clarke
African Apocalypse review – startling journey into Niger's heart of darkness
British-Nigerian poet Femi Nylander uncovers the atrocities of a rogue French officer whose impact is still being felt today - Phil Hoad
Rams review – Sam Neill and Michael Caton's unpretentious sheep farmers will move ewe
Don’t judge this warm, funny, tender and down-to-earth rural drama about odd-couple brothers by its garish marketing materials - Luke Buckmaster
Song Without a Name review – heart-rending story of Peruvian baby trafficking
An indigenous woman has her newborn child stolen by a fake maternity clinic in this desperately sad account of real-life events in the 1980s - Peter Bradshaw
People You May Know review – data mining meets Christian fundamentalism
An eye-opening documentary explains the methods rightwing organisations are using to influence US churchgoers - Leslie Felperin
The Undoing review – Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman start to unravel
A moneyed couple, a seductive stranger, a murder ... HBO’s latest series has all the usual thriller hallmarks, but its stellar performances make it truly gripping - Ellen E Jones
His House review – palpable terror
A refugee couple are terrorised in a spooky council house in this arresting debut - Simran Hans
Summer of 85 review – François Ozon's bittersweet teen romance
Two boys in a French seaside resort fall fatally in love in a nostalgic coming-of-age tale - Mark Kermode Observer film critic
The Climb review – a shrewd portrayal of male friendship
This smart indie drama captures the ebb and flow of a flagging relationship - Simran Hans
Ronnie's review – puts you right there, in a Soho jazz institution
This documentary about the beloved London music venue brings us sterling performers, atmospheric footage, and a sad heart - Imogen Tilden
Asia review – delicate tale of a mother and daughter in crisis
A winner at the Tribeca film festival, this intelligent and intimate drama traces how a teenager’s relationship with her mother intensifies after she falls ill - Peter Bradshaw
Save Yourselves! review – end-of-days comedy balances satire, sincerity and silliness
A not-survival-savvy millennial couple head for the country to unplug from modernity while the world goes to pot in this winning tale - Leslie Felperin
Hoard: Rediscovered review – treasure tales from Sara Pascoe, Isy Suttie and more
Staffordshire’s Anglo-Saxon booty inspires a host of short plays by writers including April De Angelis and Darren Sharp - Arifa Akbar
Patrick review – shocking grief and startling nudity
After the death of his father, a troubled handyman sets out to find who stole his prized hammer in this quirky black comedy set in a Belgian nudist camp - Peter Bradshaw
Cemetery review – elephant heads for the graveyard in hardcore art piece
Carlos Casas’s film – half documentary, half experimental essay – is a near-wordless evocation of a ‘celebrity’ Sri Lankan elephant’s confrontation with death - Cath Clarke
Nova Lituania review – we've got to get out of here
A Lithuanian geographer plans to escape the second world war by creating an alternative colony overseas - Wendy Ide
The Life Ahead review – Sophia Loren's commanding comeback
The star’s expressive performance as a former sex worker caring for an orphaned child is the main draw in this sometimes formulaic tale directed by her son - Mark Kermode
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey review – stridently festive toyshop musical
A toy inventor rekindles his lost passion in this exhausting Netflix musical - Wendy Ide
Lennox: The Untold Story review – a ringside seat for the rise of a champ
Dr Dre narrates as friends and nemeses appear before camera to shed light on the life of boxing’s most anodyne superstar - Andrew Pulver
Chhalaang review – PE teachers do battle in a romcom Rocky
A goofy underdog shapes up for a marriage-ready makeover in Hansal Mehta’s finely balanced romp - Mike McCahill
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey review – a sugar rush of steampunk joy
Netflix’s festive fantasy about a kid and her inventor granddad is pure infectious energy – and with exquisite detail - Cath Clarke
Ur Favourite Scary Movie review – welcome to your worst nightmare
Louise Orwin whispers monstrous imaginings into your ear in an aural interrogation of the horror genre that touches on pandemic fears - Arifa Akbar
The Life Ahead review – Sophia Loren serves up some grandmother courage
The imperious star is as magnetic as ever as a Holocaust survivor and creche worker who takes in a troubled Senegalese boy - Peter Bradshaw
Blood Harvest review – sects and gore aplenty in pagan folk horror
A daughter trapped in a gruesome cult seeks revenge on her townspeople in this lurid Canadian thriller - Leslie Felperin
Nova Lituania review – droll study of a Baltic state's identity crisis
This rewarding period drama, set during the interwar years, suggests the creation of an alternative Lithuania to counter invasion - Leslie Felperin
Rogue review – it's Megan Fox v stalking lion in an energetic action thriller
Fox leads a mercenary crew against a group of Islamist wildlife poachers in a South African grassland setting that’s more than just an attractive backdrop - Ellen E Jones
Luxor review – Andrea Riseborough digs deep in PTSD drama on the Nile
Riseborough plays a medic traumatised by her Syrian war work in this meandering romance - Simran Hans
About Endlessness review – curious scenes from a singular Swede
Roy Andersson’s latest film offers more deadpan glimpses into his surreal and sometimes horrific imagination - Mark Kermode Observer film critic
Words on Bathroom Walls review – prettified portrait of mental illness
This YA drama about a teenager with schizophrenia is well-intentioned and well-acted but relies too heavily on the cliches of high-school life - Cath Clarke
Fantastic Fungi review – how mushrooms could save the world
With it spectacular footage of growth and decay and impassioned speeches about the magic of mushrooms, this documentary is a treat for the eye and ear - Andrew Pulver
A Christmas Gift from Bob review – family-friendly festive sequel
This themed continuation of A Street Cat Named Bob is undeniably good-hearted but there’s more menace in Paddington 2 - Cath Clarke
Nuclear review – escape to the post-apocalyptic country
A mother and daughter fleeing domestic violence find refuge in a sinister landscape dominated by a disused power station - Peter Bradshaw
Wolfwalkers review – wolves take on Cromwell in bold Irish history tale
Seventeenth-century Kilkenny is the setting for this beautifully made animation about history, heritage and family - Andrew Pulver
Scenes of a Sexual Nature review – hit-and-miss Hampstead romcom
Ewan McGregor, Tom Hardy and Sophie Okonedo are among the big names doing small roles in this mostly pleasant portmanteau film from 2006 - Leslie Felperin
The Three Kings review – Scotland's managerial titans in the spotlight
Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Jock Stein, sporting titans who grew up a few miles apart, are lovingly rendered in a smart doc - Andrew Pulver
Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away review – diverting glimpse of Thin Lizzy's poet star
The 70s singer who served up stadium power chords as much as gentle, reflective songs is remembered in this sad, sweet trip down memory lane - Peter Bradshaw
The Burnt Orange Heresy review – Mick Jagger adds dash of malice to arty thriller
The rock star plays a wealthy art dealer mysteriously sheltering a renowned artist – Donald Sutherland – in this eventful melodrama - Peter Bradshaw
Shirley review – Elisabeth Moss gets under a horror writer's skin
Moss bristles with malevolence as a fictionalised version of Shirley Jackson but the film’s early menace fizzles out - Peter Bradshaw
The Young Observant review – teenage kicks at prestigious Italian waiter school
This docu-fictional hybrid follows a blank-faced and talentless waiter in the ways of swanky silver service - Peter Bradshaw
Target Number One review – gritty thriller about Canadian junkie caught in Thai sting
Antoine Olivier Pilon and Josh Hartnett are on good form as a heroin addict caught in police trap and the journalist who reports on the case - Leslie Felperin
The Craft: Legacy review – woke witchcraft sequel is smart but messy
A long-awaited follow-up to the much-loved 1996 teen horror offers some interesting ideas but, with a brisk runtime, feels overstuffed - Benjamin Lee
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful review – not-so fawning fashion doc
Director Gero von Boehm’s fascinating film includes the famed fashion photographer’s muses but also asks questions about his misogynist images - Cath Clarke
Summer of 85 review – gay photolove drama with a dark edge
François Ozon’s period piece about two teenage boys falling in love after a boating incident steers away from profundity - Peter Bradshaw
Pixie review – Olivia Cooke radiates in Ireland-set drug-heist comedy
Cooke shines as the title character, a wannabe art student who plans to rob drug-dealing priest Alec Baldwin of a valuable haul of illegal ecstasy - Cath Clarke
Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins review – memorial to a liberal legend
The Texan journalist was a hero of the American media, with her withering attacks on political hypocrisy and scabrous wit - Leslie Felperin
A Call to Spy review – meticulous depiction of female war-time agents
Exploring the cultural sexism meted out to women during the second world war, this drama based on real people avoids cliche - Andrew Pulver
Honest Thief review - Liam Neeson does Taken once more with feeling
Over a decade on from launching his action-movie persona, Neeson once again finds himself on the rampage, this time to save a nice little love story - Ellen E Jones
Never Too Late review – Jack Thompson and Jacki Weaver star in escape-from-the-nursing-home romp
The shenanigans of sweet and grumpy old men certainly plays to the back rows – but it’s impossible not to be charmed - Luke Buckmaster
You Cannot Kill David Arquette review – as unbelievable as a wrestling bout
This odd, documentary-style version of how the US actor became a wrestler is strained at the seams - Peter Bradshaw
Skyfire review – fiery volcanic action thriller fails to generate much heat
Chinese-produced disaster movie proceeds on strictly generic lines, as a volcano theme park is imperilled by an actual eruption - Cath Clarke
Concrete Plans review – resentful brickies build up the tension
In this claustrophobic if unconvincing thriller, an arrogant landowner incurs the wrath of the builders renovating his ancestral home - Peter Bradshaw
Ext.Night review – After Hours-ish, Cairo-set yarn hampered by misogyny
An intriguing comedy drama about a film-maker who falls foul of a taxi driver and a sex worker is atmospheric but muddled - Leslie Felperin
Finding Steve McQueen review – heist comedy can't locate its charisma
The story of a real-life bank robbery by a lookalike of the Bullitt star gets a pretty shallow and unmemorable treatment - Cath Clarke
Hillbilly Elegy review – Glenn Close's grouchy gran saves the day
A troubled teenager ends up at Yale Law School thanks to his eccentric grandmother in this adaptation of JD Vance’s bestselling memoir - Peter Bradshaw
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula – zombie romp cannibalises the classics
Sequel to the South Korean gem shuns the social commentary of its predecessor in favour of tired cliches and tedious CGI - Phil Hoad
A Place Among the Dead review - Drusilla from Buffy turns the camera on herself
Juliet Landau writes, directs and appears in this complex hybrid of fiction and documentary that seeks to investigate our fascination with vampires - Leslie Felperin
Dead review – stoner serial-killer comedy runs out of puff
A ghost cop pursues the man who murdered him in a well-meaning spoof that trips itself up in the final act - Cath Clarke
South of the River review – irritating account of a mockney rocker with cancer
Set in Brixton, this tale of a wannabe Kurt Cobain who skips his chemotherapy is deeply uninteresting and unconvincing - Cath Clarke
Spell review – hokey hoodoo horror missing a bit of magic
A man is kept captive by a sinister elderly couple in a slick piece of schlock that recalls far better and scarier movies - Benjamin Lee
As an Act of Protest review – tough-to-watch encounter with racism re-emerges
This film from 2001 contains topical ideas but its strange repetitiveness and jarring style make it a niche piece of work - Ellen E Jones
Honest Thief review – low-stakes thriller
Liam Neeson is well within his comfort zone battling corrupt cops - Simran Hans
Cordelia review – atmospheric but uneven thriller
Clunky dialogue punctures the tension in Adrian Shergold’s film - Simran Hans
The Secret Garden review – classic kids' tale gets lost in the undergrowth
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s story of an adventurous young girl is overwhelmed by the abundant shrubbery of a garden the size of the Amazon rainforest - Peter Bradshaw
Two By Two: Overboard! review – second helping of eye-frazzling Noah's ark yarn
More animated antics with the nestrians and grymps, as two of the ark’s denizens discover a desert island paradise where they aren’t made welcome - Leslie Felperin
Death of Me review – Thai-holiday thriller can't supply the scares
A couple wake up in their Airbnb with worrying thoughts about what happened the night before in a frustrating tale - Peter Bradshaw
Philophobia review – pretentious and prurient coming-of-age story
This modern, Cotswolds-set teen movie has failed to learn the lessons of the past in its outdated attitudes to women, with little real insight on show - Ellen E Jones