Spotlight is our entertainment bite-sized snapshot featuring new entertainment releases in SA, exclusive film trailers and much more. New episodes are out every Thursday on Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sowetan Entertainment and on YouTube, plus you can follow Spotlight on Facebook.

This week’s episode of Spotlight is brimming with magic and mystery: from the magic of an English seaside cinema, a cabin-in-the-woods mystery thriller, to Channing Tatum’s special brand of “saucery”.

We also give you a taste of what cinemas have in store this year. Coming out this week is Empire of Light, directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall, 1917), a romantic drama set in England’s turbulent 1980s. Olivia Colman gives another stunning performance as the manager of a seaside cinema, who forms a tender bond with a new, much younger employee. The movie blends themes of racial prejudice and mental illness with the redeeming power of cinema and human connection. Also starring Colin Firth and Michael Ward. 

The king of suspense thrillers, M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Split, Unbreakable), directs the other new release this week, Knock at the Cabin. A family vacationing in the woods is taken hostage by armed strangers and must make an unthinkable choice to “avert the apocalypse”. Starring Dave Bautista, Rupert Grint, Jonathan Groff and Nikki Amuka-Bird. 

Steven Soderbergh brings us another visual feast with Magic Mike’s Last Dance, which will be turning up the heat at cinemas everywhere on February 10. Channing Tatum returns for the third instalment of the hugely popular franchise, in which Selma Hayek plays as a wealthy socialite who gives him an offer he can’t refuse. 

Looking ahead, Spotlight features sneak peeks of movies coming up this year, including Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and Beau is Afraid, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Ryan.  

Don’t miss Spotlight next week for a closer look at Darren Aronofsky’s much-anticipated film, The Whale, for which Brendan Fraser is up for an Oscar.

For full interviews, breaking news, trailers, clips and competition details, visit our Spotlight Facebook page. See you at the movies!

Presenter Collette Prince is styled and dressed by Claris by Gerrit Pienaar. 

Facebook @Claris by Gerrit Pienaar/ Instagram: gerritpienaardesigns.  

Competition giveaway: tickets to Magic Mike’s Last Dance

This week Spotlight is giving away double tickets to Ster-Kinekor’s Girlfriend Getaway advance screenings of Magic Mike’s Last Dance. If you are available and near participating cinemas hosting these fun events on Wednesday, February 8, this competition is for you.

To enter, visit the Spotlight South Africa Facebook page.

Terms and conditions apply.

Winners will be drawn randomly and notified by SMS after the competition has closed.  Entrants’ personal details will not be retained for marketing purposes. Winners have to provide proof of age (ID/driver’s licence) and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. By entering participants agree to have their names published on TimesLIVE, SowetanLIVE and Spotlight South Africa on Facebook. Employees of Arena Holdings and their family members are not eligible to enter.