Verity takes the number-one spot at the box office, but FlickRadio critics Allison Rose and Stephen Leibowitz still can't agree on Colleen Hoover's psychological thriller. Guy T. Wehman joins the discussion as the team examines the latest weekend box office, Tom Cruise's disappointing Digger opening, and three new releases arriving in theaters October 9, 2026. After predicting that Verity would top the box office, Allison discusses its reported $70 million worldwide gross against a $40 million production budget. The adaptation, starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, has attracted audiences familiar with Hoover's bestselling novel. Allison maintains that Hathaway delivers the film's strongest performance but finds the storytelling disjointed, with its three principal actors seemingly working in different movies. Stephen disagrees, praising the direction and unpredictable twists that kept him guessing throughout the thriller. Explore the film in the FlickDirect Movie Database: Verity. The conversation then turns to Digger, Alejandro G. Iñárritu's dark comedy starring Tom Cruise. Despite its high-profile cast and awards-season ambitions, the film is struggling at the box office. Stephen discusses its disappointing theatrical performance while acknowledging that he hasn't seen the movie himself. Allison, who reviewed the film positively, notes that audiences and critics have responded very differently to Cruise's unconventional performance. Explore Digger in the FlickDirect Movie Database. Elsewhere at the box office, Forgotten Island continues to struggle despite its family-friendly appeal, raising questions about how effectively animated movies are marketed. Allison also examines the performance of Practical Magic 2, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Resident Evil, while the conversation returns to Marvel's theatrical rerelease of Avengers: Endgame and its additional footage connected to Avengers: Doomsday. Then it's time for this week's new releases, beginning with Other Mommy, the supernatural horror film starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Rob Savage. Based on Josh Malerman's bestselling novel Incidents Around the House, the film follows a young girl named Bela who encounters a mysterious entity that looks exactly like her mother. Chastain plays both the girl's mother and the sinister presence threatening her family. Stephen is enthusiastic about the film, praising Chastain's dual performance and the terrifying atmosphere. He also singles out young Arabella Olivia Clark, whose performance as Bela particularly impressed him. Stephen says the movie quickly escalates into something far more disturbing than its trailers suggest, making it a strong recommendation for horror fans looking for something frightening this October. Discover Other Mommy in the FlickDirect Movie Database. Allison turns to The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to The Social Network. Rather than revisiting Facebook's founding, the new film explores the controversies surrounding the social media company's growth and the revelations brought forward by whistleblower Frances Haugen. Mikey Madison portrays Haugen, Jeremy Allen White plays journalist Jeff Horwitz, and Jeremy Strong takes over the role of Mark Zuckerberg. The story examines internal Facebook documents, investigative journalism, and questions about the company's influence on society. Allison praises Madison's performance, calling her the strongest part of the movie, but finds Strong's interpretation of Zuckerberg overly rigid and exaggerated. She also considers the film more of a companion piece to The Social Network than a traditional sequel. Stephen agrees that Madison is excellent and believes the film's subject matter will interest audiences concerned about the power of social media companies. The discussion also explores whether audiences are interested in Zuckerberg himself or primarily in the consequences of Facebook's decisions. Read more about The Social Reckoning in the FlickDirect Movie Database. For moviegoers looking for something lighter, Allison recommends California Schemin', the directorial debut of James McAvoy. Inspired by the true story of Scottish rap duo Silibil N' Brains, the comedy-drama follows two aspiring musicians who reinvent themselves as American rappers from California in hopes of overcoming prejudice within the music industry. Their unusual scheme creates opportunities while threatening their friendship and identities. Allison praises McAvoy's direction and the performances of the two young leads, recommending the film as an entertaining alternative to the week's horror and dramatic releases. The episode concludes with Classic Picks of the Week, including an unusually funny disagreement over who gets to choose Mommie Dearest. Stephen selects the 1981 drama Mommie Dearest, starring Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford, after noticing the week's recurring themes involving mothers. Allison initially has the same idea but changes her selection during the segment. Allison considers Robert Redford's 1992 drama A River Runs Through It before settling on the 1983 musical drama Eddie and the Cruisers, starring Michael Paré. Episode Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to FlickRadio 01:57 - Verity Takes #1, and Critics Still Disagree 03:22 - Tom Cruise's Digger Struggles at the Box Office 05:40 - Forgotten Island, Spider-Man, Resident Evil & Endgame 07:33 - Other Mommy Review 08:39 - The Social Reckoning Review 11:19 - California Schemin' 12:06 - Classic Picks: Mommie Dearest, A River Runs Through It & Eddie and the Cruisers 13:54 - CinemaCon Talk & Closing Save on Movies with FlickDirect Movie Deals Looking for a better price on movies and home entertainment? FlickDirect Movie Deals tracks discounts on movies, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, box sets, collector's editions, and more so you can find worthwhile deals without hunting across the web. Browse the latest Movie Deals: FlickDirect Movie Deals Get the Movie Deals app for iPhone: Download Movie Deals on the App Store Hosted by Guy T. Wehman with FlickDirect critics Allison Rose and Stephen Leibowitz. Subscribe to FlickRadio for weekly movie news, reviews, box office analysis, and classic film recommendations.
