Lessons about overcoming fear and helping those in need are featured in The Secret Life of Pets 2 (Universal).

Just how good are the hotshots behind Toy Story 4 (Disney)? So good that, by the time the closing credits roll, moviegoers will likely feel more emotional connection to an animated spork than they have to the vast majority of live-action human characters they’ve ever seen on screen.

Filled with a powerful mix of faith, a twist of humour and a ton of heart, the Kendrick Brothers return to cinemas with Overcomer, their newest feature following Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, and the number one US Box office hit War Room.

Though sombre in tone, the Marvel Comics-based sci-fi adventure X-Men: Dark Phoenix (Fox) has a fundamentally moral outlook and features a more relationship-driven story than many similar films.

Perth-based travel food blogger Inexology has provided The Record magazine with a healthier alternative to the common fried spring roll. This recipe makes a hearty snack for the cooler months.

If there were an Academy Award for the most aurally annoying film of the year, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Warner Bros) would certainly be a strong contender.

Rocketman (Paramount) is a fantastical biopic-musical hybrid, retelling the life of cultural icon Sir Elton John.

Though the magical tale of Aladdin is centuries old, it’s probably best known to contemporary audiences through two relatively recent products of pop culture: the 1992 animated film with Robin Williams and the Broadway musical derived from it, which continues a run that began in 2014.

“Life is suffering,” declares a character in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (Lionsgate). While that may or may not hold true as a general principle, for the two hours-plus that this slick but nasty action picture lasts it certainly seems accurate enough.

The Hustle (MGM) suffers from being a mechanical ride, punctuated by occasional attempts at crass humour, through a plot based on outdated notions of cleverness and sophistication.