This week’s new streaming movies aren’t just entertainment; they are also powerful cautionary tales, offering warnings about the dangers of unchecked ambition, pride, and technology. Here are the lessons to be learned from these five films.
M3GAN 2.0 (Peacock) is the most direct cautionary tale. It serves as a stark warning about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. The film explores the hubris of creating something we cannot control, showing how even a technology designed to help can become a weapon, and how a solution can become an even bigger problem.
The Surfer (Hulu, today) is a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of pride and ego. It warns us how a simple refusal to back down can escalate into a nightmarish conflict. The film shows the terrifyingly thin line between standing your ground and losing yourself in a pointless, destructive battle.
Ballerina (Starz, today) serves as a cautionary tale about the cycle of violence. It warns that the pursuit of vengeance, no matter how justified, can consume a person’s soul. The film’s dark and brutal world shows that a life built on revenge is often a lonely and destructive one.
Karate Kid: Legends (Netflix, Saturday), in its own way, is a cautionary tale about the misuse of strength. Through its antagonists, the film will likely warn against the dangers of arrogance and bullying, championing the idea that true strength lies in discipline, honor, and using one’s skills to protect, not to harm.
Even the romance in All of You (Apple TV+, tomorrow) contains a warning. It is a cautionary tale about the potential pain and regret that can come from a failure to communicate. It warns that fear can keep us from our own happiness and that unspoken words can be the heaviest burden.