A Minecraft Movie
Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Eugene Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Jack Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative… the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world.
rated pg for violence / action, language, suggestive / rude humor, and some scary images.
“Hess’ oddball sensibilities work with the inherently peculiar world and his cast get us to care about these 5 weirdos. Fans of the game should love this movie, and the rest of us may feel at least a little compelled to pick up a controller and try a little ‘crafting.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“It feels like a small miracle that the resulting film is so funny, lively, and light on its feet.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
“Jared Hess, co-creator of Napoleon Dynamite and a string of other small oddball pictures, brings a fresh perspective to what could have been a lumbering IP-pallooza movie.” – Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly
Snow White
Disney’s Snow White is a live-action musical reimagining of the classic 1937 film. The magical music adventure journeys back to the timeless story with beloved characters Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy.
rated pg for violence, some peril, thematic elements, and brief rude humor.
“Lovely visuals, catchy songs, and the lively pace and timely messaging of Erin Cressida Wilson’s script combine to make for a fun if slight time at the movies.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“That balance of giving the audience the story they know so well but with just the right amount of newness and unpredictability is the true magic of Webb’s Snow White.” – Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly
“After all the clutter and noise, it turns out that Snow White is a perfectly serviceable, gorgeously filmed, toe-tapping musical that pays homage to the animated film while making significant changes, including deviating from the original storyline to make Rachel Zegler’s Snow White more of a People’s Princess and girl-power rebel than someone warbling ‘Some Day My Prince Will Come.’” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
The Monkey
When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree forcing the estranged brothers to confront the cursed toy. Based on the Stephen King short story.
rated r for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout, and some sexual references.
“As you might expect from King, The Monkey is dark, ruthless, and violent. What you might not expect is just how funny it is. Like, it’s genuinely hilarious.” – Thom Ernst, Original Cin
“With its mix of splatter-speckled horror, dark humor, and unexpected emotional depth, The Monkey is an absolute riot that lands high on the rewatchability scale. It may not be as sleek as Longlegs, but Perkins proves once again that he’s one of horror’s most unique and daring voices.” – Mike DeAngelo, The Playlist
“Calibrating a horror-comedy requires intense precision, since the director has to keep the tension alive while also bringing in just the right level of over-the-top gore and mayhem to inspire laughs, not screams. I’d estimate that a good 95% of The Monkey is totally dialed in, especially when it comes to finding a level of gore that plays as hilariously disturbing.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
Novocaine
When the girl of his dreams (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped, everyman Nate (Jack Quaid) turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.
rated r for strong bloody violence, grisly images, and language throughout.
“Between the humor and Quaid’s performance, there’s so much fun to be had here that it’s easy to just sit back and enjoy the ride.” – Rachel LaBonte, Screen Rant
“A raucous, non-stop, full-throttle slapstick comedy that makes an episode of The Three Stooges seem like a production of Swan Lake.” – Thom Ernst, Original Cin
“It’s a gory, bonkers action-comedy premise anchored by a set of strong performances and a surprisingly poignant meet-cute, making for a wildly memorable action outing.” – Jeff Ewing, Collider
A Working Man
Levon Cade (Jason Statham), an ex-black ops agent, leads a peaceful life with his daughter as a construction worker. However, Levon is forced to use his old set of skills to find his boss’s teenage daughter and soon uncovers a criminal conspiracy that has the potential to wreak havoc on Levon’s peaceful life.
rated r for strong violence, language throughout, and drug content.
“Statham’s simmering charisma is on ample display here, and if he never quite convinces as an average Joe, he’s more than convincing as someone a bad guy should never want to see coming.” – Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
“…if The Meg, Wrath of Man or The Beekeeper proved anything, it’s that it doesn’t matter how outlandish or overcooked the movie is. Nothing can slow down Statham.” – Robert Daniels, RogerEbert.com
“With two movies under their belt, Statham and Ayer have proved to be the perfect match for delivering entertaining and simple action flicks to the big screen.” – Nate Richard, Collider
Drop
Violet (Meghann Fahy) is a widowed mother who goes to an upscale restaurant to meet Henry (Brandon Sklenar), her charming and handsome date. However, her pleasant evening soon turns into a living nightmare when she receives phone messages from a mysterious, hooded figure who threatens to kill her young son and sister unless she kills Henry.
rated pg-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language, and sexual references.
“Drop succeeds by blending classic thriller elements with modern tech paranoia, anchored by strong performances and sharp direction. It’s a tense, engaging ride that keeps viewers guessing until the very end.” – Rick Hong, Film Threat
“It’s a lean, crowd-pleasing ride worth taking. Buckle up for one bad yet wildly entertaining, nail-biter of a date.” – Ryan Scott, /Film
“It’s a junk-food thriller fried to near-perfection, balancing the tensions of kidnapping, conspiracy and murder with those of a nerve-wracking first date. It’s crisp and delicious.” – Siddhant Adlakha, Variety
The Friend
Writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend’s problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life.
rated r for language including a sexual reference.
“It’s the sort of witty, wise, and warm character study we seem to be running out of these days. And that’s just when it comes to its standout dog star, the Great Dane (emphasis on great) Bing.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire
“This is a love story, after all, and one with a keen grasp of the mournful, curious glances between its two leads — of how much goes untranslated between them, and how much is conveyed.” – Sheri Linden, New York Times
“It feels odd to be evaluating a dog’s performance, but Bing (the canine actor playing Apollo) definitely broke the heart of this cat person multiple times during the film. It’s a pleasure watching him and Watts connect, and to watch a film about so little and yet so very much.” – Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times
The Wedding Banquet
Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela in exchange for her partner Lee’s expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min’s grandmother surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet.
rated r for language and some sexual material / nudity.
“The Wedding Banquet is the kind of film that reminds you why we fall in love with movies in the first place—because they surprise us, move us, and make us laugh at how messy and magnificent life can be.” – Alan Ng, Film Threat
“Despite a plot twist you’ll see coming all the way from Vancouver, The Wedding Banquet is a worthy successor to Ang Lee’s classic, and a chance for a group of actors to shine together and separately. There’s plenty of silliness, but also time to be moved by quiet moments.” – Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times
“The Wedding Banquet is a classic rom-com with modern touches that rarely ring false or feel heavyhanded. The entire ensemble is top-notch, allowing beloved actors like Gladstone and Yang to do something slightly different from their usual fare.” – Taylor Gates, Collider
In the Lost Lands
A queen, desperate to fulfill her love, makes a daring play: she sends the powerful and feared sorceress Gray Alys (Mila Jovovich) to the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands in search of a magical power, where the sorceress and her guide, the drifter Boyce (Dave Bautista), must outwit and outfight man and demon. Based on George R.R. Martin’s short story.
rated r for violence.
“The film provides Paul W.S. Anderson with a sturdy canvas for his unique brand of gaudy, campy cool.” – Steven Scaife, Slant
“This is high-octane fun that you would do well to check out in theaters.” – Michael Talbot-Haynes, Film Threat
“The joy is all in its inspired, sensuous imagery, fantastical and dreamlike. The action scene as poetry, endless poetry in and for a hopeless world.” – Neil Bahadur, The Film Stage
Sneaks
When a designer sneaker unwittingly finds himself lost in New York City, he must dig deep into his sole in order to rescue his sister and return to his rightful owner.
rated pg for some action, scary images, and rude humor.
“Sneaks is an exciting, funny, heartwarming, joyful, and endearingly wise adventure, set in a dazzlingly vibrant New York City, with lively music by composer Terrace Martin and songs from producer Mustard.” – Nell Minow, RogerEbert.com
“Mackie, Fishburne, Lawrence, Bailey and David all pour a ton of heart into their vocal dynamics, allowing nuanced vulnerability and a bubbly buoyancy to shine through, keeping us tethered to the emotional pull of the picture.” – Courtney Howard, Variety
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Charles (Tim Key), an eccentric lottery winner, lives alone on a remote island and dreams of getting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer (Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) back together. His fantasy turns into reality when the bandmates and former lovers accept his invitation to play a private show at his home on Wallis Island. Old tensions resurface as Charles tries desperately to salvage his dream gig.
rated pg-13 for some language and smoking.
“Directed by James Griffiths, this is the sort of hilarious heart-warmer that only comes around once or twice a year to offer a blessed break from darkness, snobbery and streaming schlock. It’s so easy to love, even if love doesn’t come easy for its characters.” – Johnny Oleksinski, New York Post
“Alive with plenty of droll British humor and with a music-filled, picturesque finale that is sincerely earned, The Ballad of Wallis Island is the best kind of crowd-pleaser: disarming, joyful and full of compassion for its oddball characters. This Sundance charmer doesn’t hit a false note.” – Tomris Laffly, Variety
“Directed by James Griffiths, Wallis Island is warm, endearing and very funny, a quintessential indie smile-maker about nice, humble people adorably stumbling their way toward a little happiness.” – Kyle Smith, Wall Street Journal
Borderline
A violent sociopath Paul (Ray Nicholson), escapes from a mental hospital and embarks on a dangerous rampage. His target: Sofia (Samara Weaving), a world-famous pop star. An obsessive fan, he takes Sofia hostage in her own home, delusionally believing they’re getting married. Paul is desperate to prove his dedication but Sofia’s just trying to survive the night. As Paul grows more unhinged, his fantasy becomes more dangerous. With help from her loyal bodyguard (Eric Dane), Sofia must fight not only for her life, but for her sanity, and escape the sinister grip of her stalker and his growing group of accomplices.
rated r for violence and language.
“The cast of characters ping-ponging around Sofia’s mansion and the surrounding neighborhood feel fresh and funny, the movie consistently delivers both thrills and laughs, and there is an absolutely delectable piano scene that I won’t soon forget.” – Brennan Klein, Screen Rant
“You genuinely don’t know what’s going to happen from second to second, and that anything-goes spirit yields big laughs.” – Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
“Warden’s film is rather bold in its construction, subverting the expectation of how you would expect this sort of story to be framed, and stylishly infused with both musical gusto and a good number of gags that find their mark.” – Jim Vorel, Paste
Broke
True Brandywine (Wyatt Russell), a struggling rodeo rider, gets trapped in a blizzard and must confront his life choices while battling the elements for survival.
rated r for language and substance abuse.
“Eubank’s direction has a tenderness for its characters and for the little worlds they build around themselves, bursting full of hopes and dreams that we really want to see them achieve.” – Luna Guthrie, Collider
“Both Russell and Quaid are very much at ease around the trappings of the ranch where their characters live, their background behaviours adding to the overall sense of authenticity.” – Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film
“In every way Mr. Russell’s movie, and he handles it all with ease. It’s a pleasure to see someone understand their character down into their bones.” – Sarah Manvel, Critic’s Notebook
Ghostlight
When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.
rated r for language.
“Ghostlight is one of the best movies of the year, and if that’s a meaningful enough statement for you, then feel free to stop reading now.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
“This is a beautifully life-affirming fable about the power of art to heal, but really, it’s the people making the art that do the work. Ghostlight is a stunning and incredibly moving tribute to that process.” – Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times
“O’Sullivan and Thompson gently fold their story together, finding humor and heart at every turn… leading to the kind of ending that somehow inspired the film’s very first audience at Sundance to laugh and cry.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire
Cleaner
Set in present-day London, a group of radical activists take over an energy company’s annual gala, seizing 300 hostages in order to expose the corruption of the hosts. Their just cause is hijacked by an extremist within their ranks, who is ready to murder everyone in the building to send his anarchic message to the world. It falls to an ex-soldier turned window cleaner, played by Ridley, suspended 50 stories up on the outside of the building, to save those trapped inside, including her younger brother.
rated r for violence, language throughout, and brief drug use.
“There are enough engaging set-ups and pay-offs packed into the screenplay that the film’s modest budget hardly matters; it’s mostly a cat-and-mouse game that leads to a satisfyingly punchy final act.” – Calum Baker, Radio Times
“Cleaner is uniquely entertaining as it unravels from a high-stakes crime heist to a full-blown action thriller set in modern-day London.” – Megan Loucks, InSession Film
“Ridley might not bring much dimensionality to Joey as a character, but she does bring a ton of physicality: She looks like she’s having the time of her life getting down and dirty for the film’s myriad beatdowns.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
Egghead & Twinkie
After coming out of the closet, 17-year-old Twinkie convinces her BFF Egghead to join her on a road trip to meet her online crush. As they travel across the country, Egghead wrestles with his longtime crush on Twinkie, who obviously doesn’t feel the same. Egghead & Twinkie is a heartwarmingly sincere directorial debut about the ups and downs of best friendship.
not rated. contains language.
“It’s exuberant and sweet and bursting with the endearingly clumsy earnestness of its main characters.” – Josh Bell, Crooked Marquee
“Fans of Heartstopper will have a lot of fun with the new lesbian comedy Egghead & Twinkie. It’s a quirky and relatable roadtrip romp full of adorable animation flourishes that book end all of Twinkie and Egghead’s adventures.” – Kristen Maldonado, Pop Culture Planet
“Egghead & Twinkie is a wholesomely sweet and heartfelt story that will endear itself to many with its carefully calibrated blend of real emotion and laugh-out-loud moments. As the current crop of queer youth grow into themselves and discover this over the years it is very likely that it will grow into a cherished favorite for them, much as films like But I’m a Cheerleader, Love, Simon, and Edge of Seventeen did for previous generations. It’s a powerful thing to be watching a movie and finally feel seen.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
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