Film & TV

July 21, 2026

‘Backrooms’ Should Be a Labyrinth with No End

By Sophia Benito

Kane Parsons' feature debut captures the eerie atmosphere that made the Backrooms a phenomenon, but its attempts to explain the mystery weaken the concept.

July 14, 2026

“Supergirl” brings super-powered heroines back to the big screen

By Carly Rattner

Milly Alcock gave a performance of a positive, chaotic role model to inspire future generations of strong women despite the film's box office performance.

June 5, 2026

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is nostalgic but shallow

By Sophia Benito

Two decades after the events of the original film, 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' tries hard not to be a repeat of the original, but can’t stand on its own merit.

June 5, 2026

Fighting for forgiveness: Omni-Man’s character growth in “Invincible” season four

By Carly Rattner

Invincible season four shifts away from shock value and instead focuses on the emotional repercussions of actions.

May 9, 2026

Carsey-Wolf Center screens UCSB professor Wendy Eley Jackson’s ‘The Other Roe’

By Tanner Perez

UC Santa Barbara’s Carsey-Wolf Center hosted a screening of the documentary “The Other Roe,” directed by UC Santa Barbara’s very own Wendy Eley Jackson on April 9. The film was followed by a compelling discussion...

May 9, 2026

‘The Drama’ was so close to being truly great

By Isabella Seechan

The A24 film has sparked divisive discourse among movie watchers. While some found the film an offensive failure, others found it a thought-provoking masterpiece. Two things can be true at once.

March 30, 2026

“Wuthering Heights” Replaces Feeling with Lust

By Sophia Benito

There’s no burning and longing; it’s all physical lust. It lacks the emotional weight that an adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” should possess.

March 13, 2026

The results are in: Artsweek’s official 2026 Academy Award predictions

By Artsweek Staff

As the ultra-competitive 2026 Academy Awards approach, here are Artsweek’s official predictions for who will take home the golden statuettes in the major categories.

March 5, 2026

Banff Mountain Film Festival Sells Out Santa Barbara for Night One

By Bridget Keon

The only film festival that has ever had showings in outer space, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, came to Santa Barbara this week.

February 25, 2026

SBIFF 2026: Closing night premiere of ‘Laundry’ — a devastating depiction of apartheid South Africa

By Levi Kauffman

The 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival concluded with the U.S. premiere of "Laundry" on Feb. 14.

February 25, 2026

SBIFF 2026: ‘Lovely Day’ is a chaotic drama full of hope

By Roxanna Reid

Philippe Falardeau’s French-Canadian feature film documents the unraveling of a happily-ever-after that can’t be over quickly enough.

February 12, 2026

SBIFF 2026: ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ is a love letter to film and the fight for freedom

By Wynne Bendell

The documentary tells the story of Chris Hesse and his decades-long pursuit of restoring the film he shot during his time as the personal cinematographer for Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, as he led his countr...

February 9, 2026

SBIFF 2026: Ethan Hawke reflects on 40-year career, meets Jeff Bridges at American Riviera Award

By Lauren Chiou

Actor, filmmaker and writer Ethan Hawke was honored with the American Riviera Award for his extensive, genre-spanning career.

February 9, 2026

SBIFF 2026: Comedian before all else, Adam Sandler honored with Maltin Modern Master Award

By Stella Mullin

Comedian before anything else, actor Adam Sandler was awarded with the Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

January 15, 2026

‘Marty Supreme’ is a supreme experience

By Tanner Perez

Starring Timothée Chalamet, 'Marty Supreme' is a thrilling and nerve-wracking film that is full of chaos, making it a top contender this awards season.

January 13, 2026

“Wicked: For Good” splendidly captures the magic of the original musical “Wicked”

By Ceora Tan

“Wicked: For Good” has captured the hearts of musical and mainstream audiences alike; it is an excellent depiction of grief, politics, love and goodness.