James Cameron doubles down with Avatar: Fire and Ash, delivering jaw-dropping visuals, new Na’vi factions, and a full-on 3D assault on the senses.

On Thumb War, JD and Rachel debate whether Fire and Ash is the strongest Avatar yet, or proof that the franchise might finally be testing its limits. From villainous tribes and uneasy alliances to spiritual world-building and technological obsession, we break down what works, what doesn’t, and why you absolutely need to see this one in theaters.

Spoilers ahead. Eyeballs may need a recovery day.

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The Housemaid (2025) Is Trashy, Twisty, and Kind of a Blast

This week on Thumb War, JD and Rachel review The Housemaid (2025), the glossy erotic thriller starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. Directed by Paul Feig and based on the novel by Frieda McFadden, it’s packed with twists, bad decisions, and big “turn your brain off” energy.

Is it smart? Not really. Is it entertaining? Absolutely.

We spoil everything, debate the logic (or lack thereof), compare it to classic 90s thrillers, and agree on one thing: this movie knows exactly what it is.

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Josh Safdie turns ping pong into pure anxiety cinema with Marty Supreme (2025) — a fictionalized sports biopic packed with unlikable characters, outrageous casting, and relentless momentum.

On this episode of Thumb War, Jason and Rachel unpack why Marty Supreme works so well: from Kevin O’Leary’s scene-stealing villain turn to Timothée Chalamet’s desperate, pride-driven performance, the film’s Oscar-worthy casting, needle drops, and one hell of a final match.

If you like Safdie chaos, uncomfortable sports movies, or films where everyone is kind of terrible, this one’s for you.

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The Upside Down closes for good — and it gets weird on the way out.

On this episode of Thumb War, Jason and Rachel review Stranger Things Episodes 5–8, aka the series finale. We dig into what works, what absolutely doesn’t, and why a finale that’s often frustrating still manages to land emotionally.

From baffling monster choices and zero-stakes action to genuinely touching character farewells, this is a deep dive into an ending that’s messy, modern, nostalgic, and oddly effective.

Spoilers throughout.

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This week on Thumb War, we take on Christy (2025), the true-story boxing biopic chronicling the rise — and near-destruction — of trailblazing fighter Christy Martin.

Sydney Sweeney delivers a ferocious performance in a film that doesn’t flinch from the realities of domestic abuse, control, and isolation, while still honouring Christy’s resilience and legacy.

A tough watch. A necessary one.

Big thumbs up.

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Today we finally get around to tackling Bugonia (2025), Yorgos Lanthimos’ strange, funny, disturbing sci-fi thriller about conspiracy thinking, corporate power, and what happens when the paranoia might actually be right.

Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons deliver two of the best performances of the year in a movie that demands to be seen before it’s discussed.

Go in blind. Then come back and argue with us.

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We’re revisiting Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) — the Star Wars movie everyone shrugged at… and maybe shouldn’t have.

JD, Rachel and Jeshua break down why Ron Howard’s takeover actually works, why Alden Ehrenreich nails a younger Han Solo, and why Donald Glover’s Lando deserves his own cinematic future. From pure fan service to sharp dialogue and surprisingly great casting, Solo feels better now than it did on release.

Was this movie a victim of Star Wars fatigue? Or did audiences just miss the point?

Spoiler alert: we’re firmly on Team Solo.

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We start with a sad goodbye to Cosmo — a very good, very food-motivated boy — and somehow end up talking about frat houses at sunrise, parental panic spirals, and why Quentin Tarantino absolutely deserves to catch a few strays.

Along the way:

• Saying goodbye to a beloved dog (and why doing it at home mattered)
• Why tracking apps are a gateway to full-blown anxiety
• Actors we know are “good” but still don’t like
• Dubai chocolate discourse (yes, again)

This is the kind of episode that only works off-feed — looser, longer, more honest, and way more chaotic.

If you’ve ever wondered what Thumb War sounds like before we tighten things up for public consumption… this is it.

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