John Lui

Senior Film Correspondent

John has worked in writing and editing since the 1990s. Now The Straits Times’ film correspondent, he writes reviews and feature articles about films and television.

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Latest articles

For movies, nostalgia is the new normal

As Hollywood pivots to nostalgia and franchises, 2026 brings massive sequels and epic returns.

My Perfect Weekend with film festival manager and producer Jeremy Chua

joperfect01 - Jeremy Chua at the Bourse de Commerce, a contemporary art museum in
Paris, housing the Pinault Collection of art.

Source: PHOTO: COURTESY OF JEREMY CHUA

Jackie Chan opts for heart-tugging theatrics in dementia drama Unexpected Family

jomovie31a - From left: Peng Yuchang, Jackie Chan and Pan Binlong in Unexpected Family

SOURCE: SHAW ORGANISATION

Back To The Past offers nostalgia overload and some silly fun

Louis Koo (centre) in Back To The Past.

New film venue SFS Somerset to launch on Jan 1 at Cineleisure with The Old Man And His Car

Richard Low (left) and Lim Kay Tong in The Old Man And His Car.

The Housemaid features wealth porn in a slow-burn thriller

From left: Sydney Sweeney as Millie and Amanda Seyfried as Nina in
The Housemaid.

Podcast: Must-have accessory for all famous women

Monica Lewinsky (left) hosts the podcast Reclaiming, about taking back one’s name after it has been dragged through mud, while Meghan Markle hosts business and self-help show Confessions Of A Female Founder.

The paintbrush, elixir pot and sword: How Asia’s risk-taking animation beat the West

Clockwise from top left: Chinese epic fantasy Ne Zha 2, its bold 3D visuals helped made it the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Chinese animated comedy Nobody, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.

The sharpest Knives Out yet skewers weaponised religion with empathy and wit

From left: Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A
Knives Out Mystery.

The Foetal Consequences Award goes to the Squid Game baby

joaward20 - The baby from Squid Game Season 3
Source/copyright: Netflix

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.