Friday Flicks: ‘The Disaster Artist’, ‘November Criminals’, ‘I, Tonya’
Hollywood weeks rarely stay quiet for long, and the stretch surrounding these four releases carried its share of turbulence. Kevin Spacey’s legal troubles and the reshuffling of House of Cards, Terry Crews’s lawsuit against Adam Venit, and the sudden exit of Bryan Fuller and Michael Green from American Gods all collided with lighter curiosities such as Quentin Tarantino’s rumored Star Trek project. Against that backdrop, theaters offered an eclectic slate that mixed true-story satire, figure-skating scandal, family suspense, and teen crime drama. The movies have since settled into their places on the cultural shelf, some more comfortably than others.
The Disaster Artist (A24 Films)
on wide theatrical release now James Franco is in the director’s chair for a flick that follows the somehow-true story of the making of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, the classic “worst movie ever made”. Be sure to say “Oh hi, Mark” to his best friend Greg Sestero, played by Franco’s real-life brother Dave. The Disaster Artist is a laugh riot following a quirky outsider who, against all odds, just wishes to become one of the great Hollywood artists: an ode to the bravest of storytellers, the outcasts and the Tommy Wiseaus of the world. What a story! Stars Dave Franco (Nerve), Alison Brie (The Little Hours), Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express), Josh Hutcherson (Future Man), Zac Efron (The Lucky One), and James Franco (Spring Breakers) himself.
I, Tonya (Neon)
on limited theatrical release now Directed by Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl), Margot Robbie stars in this biopic following the life of Tonya Harding, a controversial figure skater once involved in attacking a fellow teammate, and a driven, determined force of an athlete. Her life story is filled with rich material that Robbie perfectly explores. I, Tonya is about to make a lot of noise come full-throttle awards season. Sebastian Stan (Logan Lucky), Allison Janney (The Help), Julianne Nicholson (Black Mass), and Bobby Cannavale (The Station Agent) star alongside Robbie.
Hollow in the Land (Vertical Entertainment)
on limited theatrical release now This film from Scooter Corkle follows a woman dealing with a murder, an estranged father, and the challenge of leading a family. We’re keen to check out what this rich family drama has in store ourselves, with Dianna Agron (The Family) a complete whirlwind in the lead role. This is Corkle’s first big feature film, and it’s getting a lot of rave from the press. Jared Abrahamson (Sweet Virginia), and Shawn Ashmore (X-Men: The Last Stand) round out the cast.
November Criminals (Sony Pictures Worldwide)
on limited theatrical release now A classic American crime drama based on Sam Munson’s novel, November Criminals follows a high school senior embroiled in a conspiracy involving one of his friends’ senseless murder. Baby Driver’s Ansel Elgort stars in this flick from Sacha Gervasi, whose last film was Hitchcock. Here’s hoping November Criminals has that same eye for suspense & drama. Chloë Grace Moretz (Let Me In), Catherine Keener (Capote), and Tessa Albertson (Younger) star opposite Elgort.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Time has clarified which titles left lasting marks. I, Tonya collected an Academy Award for Allison Janney’s supporting turn and further nominations for Margot Robbie and editing. The Disaster Artist earned a screenplay nod and kept The Room circulating in conversations about cinematic oddities. The Room itself remains shorthand for the “worst movie ever made,” a label that surfaces in 2024 and 2025 commentary whenever the subject of glorious misfires arises. Hollow in the Land and November Criminals drew less sustained attention, though each still surfaces in niche streaming queues.
Where to Watch Now
Streaming catalogs have absorbed the films at different speeds. The Disaster Artist appears on Netflix in select regions and remains available for digital rental or purchase on major platforms. I, Tonya cycles through subscription services and transaction windows with some regularity. November Criminals and Hollow in the Land show up mainly through on-demand rental libraries, their availability shifting by territory and service agreements. Checking a current aggregator remains the quickest route to locating any of them on a given night.
Cast Career Updates
The principals have kept busy since these releases. Margot Robbie moved into producing and leading roles in high-profile studio pictures while maintaining the mix of dramatic and comedic work that marked her Tonya Harding portrayal. Ansel Elgort continued balancing blockbusters and smaller dramas, and Chloë Grace Moretz sustained a steady slate of independent and franchise projects. Dave Franco and Alison Brie each added directing and producing credits, and Dianna Agron shifted between screen and stage work in the years that followed.
Reception in Retrospect
Review aggregates now provide clearer verdicts. November Criminals landed at zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes from a small sample, with critics citing an inability to fuse its thriller and coming-of-age threads despite evident cast chemistry. I, Tonya and The Disaster Artist fared far better, landing in the high eighties and low nineties on the same scale and translating that approval into awards recognition. Hollow in the Land drew modest but largely favorable notices for its pacing and lead performance, enough to keep it circulating among viewers who favor lean regional thrillers.
These four pictures arrived at a moment when Hollywood itself felt unsettled, and each reflected a different corner of that landscape. The strongest among them have since found second lives on home screens and in awards histories, while the others serve as reminders that even well-intentioned projects can fall short of their ambitions. For anyone revisiting the slate or discovering it for the first time, the films still reward curiosity about how true stories, tabloid scandals, and offbeat dreams translate to the screen.
