Movie theaters are slowly reopening, but most of the new releases are headed to streaming services rather than the big screen. Whether you’re staying at home to limit potential risks, or just saving a few bucks by watching from the couch, we’ve organized a huge list with many of the newly added films and some upcoming titles.
February 19
Monster Hunter
Action, Adventure, Fantasy|Streaming: February 16, supposedly|Theaters: December 18|IMDb
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Ron Perlman, Tony Jaa
Synopsis: When Lt. Artemis and her loyal soldiers are transported to a new world, they engage in a desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers. Feature film based on the video game by Capcom.
Adventure, Comedy, Family|Streaming: February 19|IMDb
Starring: Matilda Lawler, John Kassir, Alyson Hannigan
Synopsis: A delightful comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award-winning book about 10-year-old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life–and her outlook–forever.
Comedy, Crime, Thriller|Streaming: February 19|IMDb
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Eiza González
Synopsis: A court-appointed legal guardian defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. But her latest mark comes with some unexpected baggage.
Starring: Andrew Creer, Samantha Robinson, Jonathan Bennett
Synopsis: After learning their company has been illicitly spying, collecting and selling data on them, three unlikely friends band together to fight back against a lecherous boss and the company’s maniacal, Tarzan-obsessed CEO.
Comedy, Fantasy, Romance|Streaming: February 19|IMDb
Starring: Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench
Synopsis: A spiritualist medium holds a seance for a writer suffering from writers block but accidentally summons the spirit of his deceased first wife which leads to an increasingly complex love triangle with his current wife of five years.
Comedy, Drama, Romance|Streaming: February 12|IMDb
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Synopsis: Senior year of high school takes center stage as Lara Jean returns from a family trip to Korea and considers her college plans — with and without Peter.
Starring: Jack Kilmer, Michael K. Williams, Jessica Rothe, Alice Englert, Peter Greene, Owen Campbell, Sam Quartin, Thomas Dekker, Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo
Synopsis: Utah and Opal are junkies living on the streets of rural Ohio until a seemingly chance encounter with the enigmatic Wood (Michael Kenneth Williams) brings them to Los Angeles for treatment. While Utah finds sobriety with the help of the treatment center shrink (Academy Award®-Winner Melissa Leo), he soon learns that rehab is not about helping people—it’s merely a cover scheme for a multibillion dollar fraud operation, enlisting addicts to recruit other addicts. Seduced by the money, but troubled by the hypocrisy, Utah must decide between what will make him rich, and what will save Opal.
Cody’s Review: Body Brokers is a guided tour to the addiction recovery industry as seen through the eyes of ‘Utah’, a fictional junkie that breaks away from the lifestyle only to become responsible for keeping others trapped in a cycle of drug use. Like many people, I first heard of this real life scam through an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which focused primarily on recovery centers designed around bilking insurance companies. In this movie, the focus shifts to a new kind of dealer that gets rich on funneling people in and out of those centers. It’s not a complicated system, but seeing it come to life in Body Brokers is illuminating. The director, a former addict himself, is aiming to reveal the manipulative and callous practices that hide behind the veil of helping people. The goal is certainly commendable and welcome; but as a movie, it’s a little tame. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not a bad movie, and I would say it’s even one of the better example of a movie in the ‘information as a film concept’ category; but the director pulled punches where there were opportunities to give viewers a substantial emotional moment. Aside from a few graphic scenes of drug use, the movie feels more like a long episode of Shameless (the US version). Characters walk a fairly predictable path, and the events are mostly telegraphed well in advance. The pacing is fairly slow, but that’s common for this type of story. Jack Kilmer takes the starring role and delivers a good performance, but he’s overshadowed by co-star Michael Kenneth Williams, who delivers a massive performance, and fairly short appearances by Frank Grillo and Peter Greene. Verdict: If you’re looking for a fun and enjoyable movie, or even to turn off your brain for a couple hours, this isn’t the movie for you. However, if you’re curious about what’s happening, or concerned about the issue of rehab centers and drug addiction, Body Brokers delivers a realistic perspective that remains down to earth and honest.
Drama, Road Trip|Streaming: February 19|Theaters: February 19|IMDb
Starring: Frances McDormand, Chloé Zhao, Dan Janvey, David Strathairn, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Linda May, Charlene Swankie
Synopsis: A road movie following Fern (McDormand), a woman in her sixties, who after losing everything in the Great Recession embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.
Starring: William Gregory Lee, Tara Ochs, Brenda Bynum
Synopsis: When a worldly photojournalist returns to the Deep South to try to stop his daughter’s wedding and save her future, he discovers that it is he who has been stuck in the past.
Starring: Rome Brooks, Matt Bush, Tyler Steelman, Renji Philip
Synopsis: Mary has spent her entire life caring for her widowed father after he suffered a stroke when she was a little girl. One day Mary meets Cole, a young man passing through her small town on a cross-country road trip, who falls for Mary and asks her to join him on his journey. Now Mary must choose between her deep-felt responsibility to her father or a chance at love.
Starring: Jason Clarke, Nick Robinson, Katie Aselton, Jimmi Simpson, Daniel David Stewart, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Lexi Rabe, Will Ropp, with Paul Walter Hauser, and Alexandra Shipp
Synopsis: Inspired by larger-than-life actual events, this riveting crime thriller follows the rise and fall of Silk Road, the infamous darknet site that sent a seismic shock through the World Wide Web. Young, idealistic, and driven to succeed, Ross Ulbricht (Nick Robinson) creates the internet’s first unregulated marketplace: Silk Road. But when it becomes a multimillion-dollar pipeline for illicit drugs, Ross is set on a collision course with Rick Bowden (Jason Clarke), a disreputable and dangerously unpredictable DEA agent, who will use any means necessary to take him down.
Starring: Elizabeth Cotter, Emily Gateley, Ryan Postell
Synopsis: With a history of men dominating her fate, a broken woman returns to her hometown to bury her mother only to find a violent organ smuggling ring already has the body and wants no witnesses, but by trying to extinguish her they spark an inferno.
Starring: Jovan Adepo, Grace Van Patten, Lukas Haas
Synopsis: Fifteen years after the murder of his older sister, taciturn Daniel finds himself falling for Cassie, a vivacious high school senior in this southern gothic-inspired Romeo & Juliet story set in the American heartland.
Starring: Julia Garner, Jake Weary, Anna Friel, Nick Roux, Douglas M. Griffin
Synopsis: When small town drifter Sammy Barlach drives into town on the search for his next cold beer and the bunch that’ll have him, he gets a lot more than he bargained for.
Horror|Streaming: February 16|Note: (Previously an AMC+ and Shudder exclusive)|IMDb
Starring: Jesse Williams, Jordana Brewster, Niamh Wilson, Jay Baruchel
Synopsis: Comic book creator Todd Walkley, his wife, assistant and best friend, are heading to NYC Comic Con when bad things start to happen—people start getting killed. It soon becomes clear that a crazed fan is using his “SLASHERMAN” comic as inspiration for the killings. And as the bodies pile up, and Todd’s friends become victims themselves, he is forced to face the killer and put an end to his notorious comic once and for all.
Cody’s Review: In the late 2000s, slasher flicks found an interesting way to deliver blood and gore while maintaining a strangely sanitary feeling. Random Acts of Violence is reminiscent to that style, but its execution lowers it to a fairly generic grindhouse B movie. The story follows a small group of four friends, who also work together, but not quite… as they take a working road trip, which is also supposed to be a romantic getaway for two, but isn’t… through the middle of nowhere so they can interview, be interviewed, and visit locations related to an old serial killer. I already don’t buy it. Setting aside the forced premise, I was also left wanting for a better script. The dialog is passable, but the throughline is scattered and numerous scenes feel like they weren’t planned. Plus, the pacing is a mess. Several meaningless flashback scenes are interspersed throughout the movie with an event that doesn’t make sense until the end, and other scenes attempt to build suspense, but they all left me feeling bored and took me out of the movie. When the real kill scenes begin, it feels shallow and rushed in a way that doesn’t seem intentional. Production quality is fine, and the casting of Jesse Williams and Jordana Brewster are slightly above the grade this movie deserves, but they didn’t have to put too much effort into their roles, either. Verdict: Random Acts of Violence is a serviceable slasher flick if you just need something new, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re here for Jesse Williams or Jordana Brewster.
Horror, Mystery, Thriller|Streaming: February 16|IMDb
Starring: Alex Essoe, Brendan Sexton III, Terry Serpico, Culien Moss
Synopsis: A disoriented and frightened man wakes up in a hospital room to discover he’s the recipient of a full face transplant. He soon finds himself stalked by a mysterious hooded figure while trying to uncover the truth behind his new appearance.
Starring: Todd Haberkorn, Don Shanks, Paris Warner
Synopsis: A paranormal investigation YouTube channel is getting ready to shut down if they don’t have a video that goes viral in time. In this last ditch attempt, a long-time mystery is solved.
The film tells the story of quick-witted teen Mark, contentedly living the same day in an endless loop whose world is turned upside-down when he meets mysterious Margaret also stuck in the time loop. Mark and Margaret form a magnetic partnership, setting out to find all the tiny things that make that one day perfect. What follows is a love story with a fantastical twist, as the two struggle to figure out how — and whether — to escape their never-ending day.
Starring: Mila Kunis, Juliette Lewis, Allison Janney, Awkwafina, Wanda Sykes, Ellen Barkin, Matthew Modine, Jimmi Simpson, Keong Sim
An overlooked pencil-pusher catches her husband in bed with another woman, the shock of which causes him to die of a heart attack. So she buries his body and takes advantage of the growing celebrity status that comes from having a missing husband. But she quickly finds herself in over her head, dodging cops and criminals, all while trying to keep the truth from her sister, a local news anchor who’s desperate for a story.
Beautiful, ruthlessly ambitious, intelligent, and successful businesswoman Catherine Black lives a life of luxury in an architectural dream house in Malibu with exclusive designer fashions, fast cars, and exquisite jewelry. She has no need for a man except to satisfy her natural serial killer instinct, literally. When Tyler, a petty thief, responds to her online roommate ad, he thinks he’s struck gold. But he has no idea that after a night of partying and passion, he is really just on her menu to be her next victim… until real romance gets in the way.
Starring: Gillian Wallace Horvat, Keith Poulson, Chase Williamson
A struggling filmmaker senses her peers are losing faith in her ability to succeed, so she decides to prove herself by finishing her last abandoned film… and committing the perfect murder.
Starring: Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Maddie Ziegler
Zu is newly sober when she receives news that she is to become the sole guardian of her half-sister named Music, a young girl on the autism spectrum. The film explores two of Sia’s favorite themes: finding your voice and creating family.
Starring: Peter Vack, Julia Fox, Buddy Duress, Keith Poulson
Jack is an internet gambler living in NYC who becomes fixated on Scarlet – a cam girl from San Francisco. His obsession reaches a boiling point when fantasy materializes in reality and Jack sees Scarlet on a rainy Chinatown street.
Biography, Drama, History|Streaming: February 12|Theaters: February 12|IMDb
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
FBI informant William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton. A career thief, O’Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell. Hampton’s political prowess grows just as he’s falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson. Meanwhile, a battle wages for O’Neal’s soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover commands?
A troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife’s refusal to let their son live as his authentic self.
Starring: Anjini Taneja Azhar, Quinn Liebling, Alex Jarmon
Harper enters high school and sparks a relationship with her brother’s best friend, Tilly. While Harper deals with social blowback, the older Tilly is congratulated, setting up a very modern love story in the age of Time’s Up and Me Too.
Drama, Horror, Thriller|Streaming: February 12|IMDb
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Madison Iseman, Harry Connick Jr.
A teenage girl living with schizophrenia begins to suspect her neighbor has kidnapped a child. Her parents try desperately to help her live a normal life, without exposing their own tragic secrets, and the only person who believes her is Caleb – a boy she isn’t even sure exists.
Starring: Nanna Blondell, Anastasios Soulis, Thomas Hanzon
When Nadja becomes pregnant, they make an attempt to rekindle their relationship by traveling to the north of Sweden for a hiking trip but soon thier romantic trip turns into a nightmare.
When his car breaks down, a quiet loner agrees to clean an abandoned family fun center in exchange for repairs. He soon finds himself waging war against possessed animatronic mascots while trapped inside Willy’s Wonderland.
A mind-bending love story following Greg who, after recently being divorced and then fired, meets the mysterious Isabel, a woman living on the streets and convinced that the polluted, broken world around them is a computer simulation.
Starring: Thomas Sadoski, Jake Robinson, Austin Pendleton, Gina Gershon, Jessica Walter, M. Emmet Walsh, Jessica Keenan Wynn, Josh Pais
Based on a true story, ‘the Narrator’ (Thomas Sadoski) is befriended by his young new neighbor (Jake Robinson), after he joins the local newspaper team. Obsessed with the idea that ‘the Kid’ may be a sociopath, ‘the Narrator’ goes to extreme lengths to uncover the truth about him. After unsettling rendezvous, the truth he finds is anything but what he expected.
Starring: Nick Thune, Cleopatra Coleman, Iliza Shlesinger, MJ Kokolis, Trezzo Mahoro, David Koechner
Sara, a novelist struggling with writer’s block, needs inspiration — and finds it when she serendipitously meets Godfrey, a down-on-his-luck oddball who constantly changes personas and alter egos in order to cope with his past and avoid reality. Just as Godfrey begins to open up to Sara, he discovers that she’s been using him as inspiration for her next novel, and he vanishes from her life. Did Sara just lose the man of her dreams, or will she be able to find him and make things right?
Cody’s Review: The Right One fails to deliver an enjoyable or insightful experience, but rather spends time trying to be two different movies without sufficiently committing to either type. The first 45 minutes gives us a traditional RomCom with all of the staples like a quirky girl that can’t find love and the unexpected guy that breaks through her barriers. We follow Sara (Cleopatra Coleman), a mediocre romance novelist with writer’s block. She’s the stereotype girl that keeps her friends at a distance and plays it off at quirkiness. Frankly, she’s alright, but never really becomes likeable enough throughout the movie. There is also Godfrey (Nick Thune), an eccentric that runs around the city with different personas so he can always be the center of attention. It’s fun and interesting for a while, and would almost seem like a fairly original character… except that he’s instantly recognizable as Willoughby, a single-episode role Thune held 8 years ago in the (underrated) show Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23. Much like SNL spin-off characters, this one shouldn’t have had a dedicated movie — things take a dramatic turn as he is revealed to have fairly serious emotional scars. This is where The Right One fails to stick the landing, as that RomCom momentum slows to a halt, it never successfully deals with the emotional trauma or how to handle it. All of this is merely glossed over in the way RomComs usually do. Verdict: People looking for an enjoyable RomCom experience are going to be disappointed when things get too serious and kill off all the fun, and those looking for a deeper drama will find that this is barely a surface-level exploration into depression. I’m not sure anybody will get what they want from watching this movie.
As a filmmaker and his girlfriend return home from his movie premiere, smoldering tensions and painful revelations push them toward a romantic reckoning.
Starring: Lance Henriksen, Viggo Mortensen, Laura Linney
John Peterson lives with his partner Eric and their adopted daughter in Southern California. When he is visited by his aging father Willis from Los Angeles who is searching for a place to retire, their two very different worlds collide.
Starring: Barbara Sukowa, Martine Chevallier, Léa Drucker
Pensioners Nina and Madeleine have hidden their deep and passionate love for many decades. From everybody’s point of view, including Madeleine’s family, they are simply two neighbors living on the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, sharing the tender delights of everyday life together. Until the day their relationship is turned upside down by an unexpected event leading Madeleine’s daughter to slowly unveil the truth about them.
Drama, Romance|Streaming: February 2, 2021|Theaters: October 16|IMDb
Starring: Radha Mitchell, Jacob Elordi, Adan Canto
For two couples the future unfolds in different decades and different places, but a hidden connection will bring them together in a way no one could have predicted.
As a memory loss virus runs rampant, one couple fights to hold their relationship together before the disease can erase all memory of their love in this sweeping sci-fi romance.
Starring: Lucas Till, Lucy Hale, Julia Ormond, Sienna Guillory
A grandson of a Klansman comes of age in the deep south and joins the Civil Rights Movement. From executive producer Spike Lee and based on Bob Zellner’s autobiography, ‘The Wrong Side of Murder Creek’
Starring: Reesha L. Archibald, Michael Beach, Mel Chude
After his cousin, Lanie (Simone Missick), commits suicide, journalist Stewart (Dorian Missick) begins to unravel a web of shaming, lies, and secrets. He discovers the involvement of the police, his cousin’s ex and the man she had an affair with – her church pastor, Kenneth (Michael Beach). Driven by his own emotional turmoil, he turns the tables on them all to avenge his cousin’s demise.
Starring: Matt Levett, Toby Leonard Moore, Anna Baryshnikov, Lev Gorn, Rade Servedzija, Elena Satine
Mike Markovich, a young stockbroker at a Mob-controlled Wall Street firm, is betrayed and imprisoned for six years. When he is released, his deadly quest for vengeance begins.
Starring: Charlotte Kirk, Joe Anderson, Steven Waddington, Sean Pertwee
Set against the backdrop of the Great Plague and subsequent witch-hunts against women, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk) must grapple with the tragic untimely death of her husband Joseph (Joe Anderson) in a society completely consumed by fear and death. Because she rejects her landlord Squire Pendleton’s (Steven Waddington) advances, she is falsely accused of being a witch and thrown in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Grace must endure physical persecution at the hands of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee) and face her own inner demons as the Devil himself starts to work his way into her mind.
Adventure, Horror, Mystery|Streaming: February 5|IMDb
Starring: Michael Barnett, Brian E. Stead, Jacquelynn Ware
A group of urbex enthusiasts travel to the backwoods of Appalachia to capture footage of abandoned houses, when they unwittingly become the subjects of a much darker video – made by a different kind of ‘enthusiast’.
Action, Drama, Fantasy, Chinese|Streaming: February 5|IMDb
Starring: Mark Chao, Deng Lun, Wang Ziwen
Every few hundred years a powerful immortal demon awakens. The four Yin-Yang Masters come together to summon the guardians of the realm and push back the demon. When one of the Masters is murdered, the other three must find out who is responsible for his death and replace the Master in order to keep the realm safe. The Princess of the kingdom has her own plans for the demon and its power to grant eternal life. She and the head of the royal guard conspire behind the Yin-Yang Masters’ backs to claim this power for their own purposes.
Starring: Sheila Kelley, Jenyne Butterfly, Elizabeth Mihelich
Academy Award Nominated director Michèle Ohayon’s Verite film follows women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds who heal trauma and body image shame through sensual dance and daring pole dance artistry.
Starring: Christopher Bailey, Justine Bateman, Shannon Dee
Fake Famous explores the meaning of fame and influence in the digital age through an innovative social experiment. Following three Los Angeles-based people with relatively small followings, the film explores the attempts made to turn them into famous influencers by purchasing fake followers and bots to “engage” with their social media accounts.
Starring: Joshua Cooke, Paul Gude, Alex Levine, Brother Læo Mystwood, Jesse Orion, Nick Bostrom, Erik Davis
A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX, from acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher (ROOM 237, THE NIGHTMARE), is a multimedia documentary that looks at the world through the eyes of people who suspect it isn’t real. Part sci-fi mind-scrambler, part true-crime horror story, Ascher’s exploration of simulation theory is an eye-popping journey that leaves no stone unturned.
Crime, Drama, Thriller|Streaming: January 28 or 29|IMDb
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Lee Hancock, Rami Malek, Tom Hughes, Jared Leto, Jason James Richter, Chris Bauer, Sofia Vassilieva
Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon (Washington) is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a killer who is terrorizing the city. Leading the hunt, L.A. Sheriff Department Sergeant Jim Baxter (Malek), impressed with Deke’s cop instincts, unofficially engages his help. But as they track the killer, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, June Squibb, Fisher Stevens, Charles B. Wessler, Alisha Wainwright, Ryder Allen, Cheryl Guerriero
After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie’s past threatens to ruin his new life and family.
Action, Adventure, Comedy|Streaming: January 29 (Netflix)|IMDb
Starring: Christina Strain, Kelly Hu, Jude Weng, Produced by Ian Bryce, Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson, Owen Vaccaro
A summer in rural O‘ahu takes an exciting turn for two Brooklyn-raised siblings when a journal pointing to long-lost treasure sets them on an epic adventure with new friends, and leads them to reconnect with their Hawaiian heritage.
Biography, Drama, History|Streaming: January 29 (Netflix)|IMDb
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James
As WWII looms, a wealthy widow hires an amateur archaeologist to excavate the burial mounds on her estate. When they make a historic discovery, the echoes of Britain’s past resonate in the face of its uncertain future.
Starring: Alice Isaaz, Kevin Janssens, Déborah François, Bruno Todeschini, Constance Dollé, Armelle Abidou, Maryne Bertieaux, Kate Moran
The American Civil War breaks out… A family of French colonists, settled in Missouri, decides to go back to France. Edmond, Madeleine, and their three daughters have to cross the whole country to reach New-York. They are led by the mysterious and dangerous mercenary, Victor.
Starring: Nomi Ruiz, Nick Sasso, John Ventimiglia, Veronica Falcón, Udo Kier, Zoë Bell, D.B. Sweeney
Haymaker follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Ruiz) from a nefarious thug, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector, and confidant. The relationship leads Sasso’s character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship, but his life. Haymaker tells a story about human dignity and love.
Cody’s Review: Movies are a medium for storytelling, and good writers and directors aim to tell the audience what the characters are thinking and feeling through the use of leading situations. Unfortunately, this lesson seemed to have been missed by Nick Sasso, the writer, director, editor, and leading actor for Haymaker. The story is delivered almost like a series of live moments as seen by a fly on the wall, giving no throughline or insights into the character’s actions. The whole experience was like sitting through an uneventful baseball game — I kept waiting for things to happen, but it was just 75 minutes with no appreciable payoff. I even stopped at around 40 minutes to double check what type of movie this was supposed to be; I was confused at the total lack of action, minimal motivation, and no clear story. Nomi Ruiz appears to play a character (Nomi) modeled after her real life self, while Nick Sasso’s character (Nicky) is a former muay thai fighter that she ostensibly hires to play her bodyguard, but it really looks as if she only wants to tease and mistreat him like a whipped boyfriend. The ensuing relationship ends abruptly and Nicky resumes his former life as a prize fighter, though I still have no idea why. I can’t shake the feeling that this was a personal project for Nick and Nomi, aimed at highlighting her brand and giving him a platform to practice working in new roles on a larger project, but it doesn’t feel like this was polished for mainstream audiences. The acting is generally stiff and unmotivated, the brief fight scenes don’t deliver any meaningful action, and there’s not much to take away from most encounters. Even the camera and lighting are an awkward mix of genres, sometimes reminiscent of mock reality shows, and other times looking more like commercials from the 80s and 90s with beauty lighting and glamor shots. However, I will give credit to the soundtrack, which was well-selected and ideal for bringing personality to scenes that would have otherwise been pretty dry. Verdict: Fans of Nomi Ruiz will enjoy Haymaker purely because it highlights her personality and brand. Unfortunately, I can’t think of anybody else that’s going to get much out of a viewing.
Starring: Naomi Watts, Andrew Lincoln, Rachel House
When an unlikely ally enters the Bloom family’s world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin, the bird’s arrival makes a profound difference in the struggling family’s life.
Starring: Shahab Hosseini, Michael Graham, Niousha Jafarian, George Maguire, Elester Latham
The Night is a psychological thriller that follows an Iranian couple, Babak and Neda, and their one-year-old daughter, Shabnam. Returning home from a friend’s gathering, Babak drives drunkenly, too stubborn to let Neda drive with a suspended license. When Babak’s driving threatens the safety of the family, Neda insists they stay the night at a hotel. Once they check-in, Babak and Neda find themselves imprisoned, forced to face the secrets they’ve kept from each other. And though the clock moves forward, ‘the night’ never ends
Starring: Emily Barclay, Madeleine Sami, Curtis Vowell, Sophie Henderson, Matthew Lewis, Rachel House, Rose Matafeo, Nic Sampson
When Zoe (Rose Matafeo) and Tim (Matthew Lewis) find out they are having a baby, they resolve to not let parenthood change them. Tim runs towards being a dad, while Zoe runs away from being a mum. Terrified that her life won’t be her own anymore, Zoe is still determined to tick off a list of their wildest dreams before the baby arrives. Zoe’s increasing denial about her impending birth pushes her, and her relationship, to the limit.
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jason Segel, Brad Ingelsby, Marielle Scott, Ahna O’Reilly, Isabella Kai Rice, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Casey Affleck
Tells the inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family—journalist Matt (Casey Affleck), his vibrant wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson) and their two young daughters—and how their lives are upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt’s responsibilities as caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel) offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.
Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav) narrates his epic and darkly humorous rise from poor villager to successful entrepreneur in modern India. Cunning and ambitious, our young hero jockeys his way into becoming a driver for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), who have just returned from America. Society has trained Balram to be one thing — a servant — so he makes himself indispensable to his rich masters. But after a night of betrayal, he realizes the corrupt lengths they will go to trap him and save themselves. On the verge of losing everything, Balram rebels against a rigged and unequal system to rise up and become a new kind of master.
Starring: Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Adam Brooks, Alexis Hancey, Matthew Ninaber
Siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy.
Cody’s Review: Welcome to the next great throwback movie for nerds. I’m not talking about any nerds, I’m talking about the truest nerds that get amped up on Jolt Cola, original copies of Galaga, and consecutive 12-hour sessions of D&D… 2nd edition or earlier, pleb! PG: Psycho Goreman is fun and funny, cholk-full of camp, and everything that could be called ‘bad’ is what makes it better. Why? Because it’s completely self-aware and subtly makes fun of itself at every turn. This is a perfect modern recreation of an 80s B-grade movie, like a portal back in time to the days before we nitpicked image quality and special effects. Little details like de-sync’d and mismatched audio for the demons and occasionally unstretched anamorphic shots make this seem like amatuer work at first glance, but it artfully calls back to the silliness of old B movies. And best of all, the dialog is snarky and quick-witted with modern sensibilities. Is PG: Psycho Goreman for everybody? Hell no, this is a loveletter to films of the 80s and 90s, it will fall flat for people that don’t see beyond the latest comedy or Michael Bay’s next explosion. Verdict: If you would put Ghostbusters or Gremlins anywhere near your top 10, PG: Psycho Goreman should be the next movie you watch; otherwise, it’s not for you.
Starring: Patrick Sabongui, Veronica Cartwright, Mike Mosallam, Haaz Sleiman, Michael Cassidy, Amin El Gamal, Christopher J. Hanke, Rula Gardenier
Mo, a practicing Muslim living in West Hollywood, is learning to navigate life post heartbreak. Enter Kal, an All-American guy who surprises Mo by offering to break fast with him during the holy month of Ramadan. As they learn more about each other, they fall in love over what they have in common and what they don’t.
Action, Adventure, Thriller, Drama, Western|Streaming: January 22|IMDb
Starring: Frank Grillo, Conor Allyn, George Lopez, Jake Allyn, Andie MacDowell, David Barraza, Jorge A. Jimenez, Esmeralda Pimentel
Late one night, Bill Greer and his son Jackson patrol their ranch when Jackson accidentally kills an immigrant Mexican boy. When Bill tries to take the blame for his son, Jackson flees south on horseback, becoming a gringo ‘illegal alien’ in Mexico. Chased by Texas Rangers and Mexican federales, Jackson journeys across Mexico to seek forgiveness from the dead boy’s father only to fall in love with the land he was taught to hate.
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Katrina Bowden, Sean Patrick Flanery
Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow) and Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints) headline this powerful martial arts action film about the love for family and the drive for greatness. After a blood-soaked jujitsu match in Dubai, fighting legend Mickey Kelley (Flanery) falls to superstar Blaine. But years later, an online video proves that Blaine cheated, and the world demands a rematch. Can the aging underdog get back into shape in time to vanquish his foe, get revenge, and claim his prize?
Action, Camp(?)|Streaming: January 19|Theaters: January 8|IMDb
Starring: Jason Sedillo, Caitlin Rose Williams, Akasha Villalobos
From director and writer Mark Cantu (Night Zero), the action-packed film follows superheroes as they struggle to come out of retirement and once again fight evil in their city. Attached you’ll find additional info on the film. Assets and a review screener can also be accessed below!
Max and Drew run a popular webcast that streams “live exorcisms” watched by millions across the globe. In reality, the exorcisms are just elaborately staged hoaxes performed by paid actors. But their fortunes take a turn when one of the actors becomes possessed by an actual demon and takes the crew hostage. In front of a rapidly growing audience, the demon subjects the crew to a series of violent challenges, threatening to expose the dark secrets they’ve been hiding from each other unless they come clean and reveal they’re impostors before the show is over.
On the run for murder, Avery Quinn bursts into Alpha Omega Pi house looking for help. Desperate to prove her innocence and her sanity, she holds a handful of people hostage and forces them into the reality of her ongoing nightmare. As a last resort, she summons the legendary Sandman and from that point on, all of the unfortunate souls inside have two choices: Face their worst nightmares…or…face the Sandman.
Emily escapes from an abusive relationship by moving back to her hometown only to discover she has a long-lost twin, but her newfound sister might be a murderer.
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Derek Wayne Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Zane, Frank Stallone, Joe Mantegna, Billy Dee Williams
Frank Stallone has remained one of the most versatile talents in Hollywood for over four decades. His music career has earned him three Platinum Albums, ten Gold Albums, five Gold Singles and seen him top the charts worldwide. His movie soundtracks have audiences across the globe gripped to some of the most iconic movies; including The Expendables 2, Rocky I, II and III, Rambo II, Paradise Alley, Over the Top and the Saturday Night Fever sequel Staying Alive, which earned him Golden Globe and Grammy Nominations. All the while Frank’s on-screen career has seen him act in over 60 films and TV shows, including Tombstone and the cult hit Barfly. So why does Frank remain one of the least known famous faces in Hollywood? Find out as we go behind the scenes of Hollywood’s elite, in this fascinating documentary, told by Frank himself and those that know him be.
Here are some of the movies that are scheduled to come out soon. Links are added when possible, but many services won’t have pages for these services until they go live. Release dates may change without notice, so not all of these dates will turn out to be accurate.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (formerly Connected)
Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph
Synopsis: Katie Mitchell is accepted into the film school of her dreams. Her whole family drives Katie to school together when their plans are interrupted by a tech uprising. The Mitchells will have to work together to save the world.
Horror, Thriller|Streaming: February 23|Theaters: January 26 (one night only)|IMDb
Starring: Charlotte Vega, Adain Bradley, Bill Sage, Emma Dumont, Dylan McTee, Daisy Head, Tim DeZarn, Matthew Modine
Synopsis: Backwoods terror and never-jangling suspense meet when Jen (Charlotte Vega) and a group of friends set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Despite warnings to stick to the trail, the hikers stray off course—and cross into land inhabited by The Foundation, a hidden community of mountain dwellers who use deadly means to protect their way of life. Suddenly under siege, Jen and her friends seem headed to the point of no return— unless Jen’s father (Golden Globe® nominee Matthew Modine) can reach them in time.
Starring: Rufus Sewell, Olivia Colman, Imogen Poots, Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Gatiss, Olivia Williams
Synopsis: Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can’t make daily visits anymore and Anthony’s grip on reality is unravelling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? THE FATHER warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant – a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives.
Synopsis: A Korean-American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they find the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
Starring: María Mercedes Coroy, Sabrina De La Hoz, Margarita Kenéfic
Synopsis: Indignant retired general Enrique finally faces trial for the genocidal massacre of thousands of Mayans decades ago. As a horde of angry protestors threatens to invade their opulent home, the women of the house – his haute wife, conflicted daughter, and precocious granddaughter – weigh their responsibility to shield the erratic, senile Enrique against the devastating truths behind being publicly revealed and the increasing sense that a wrathful supernatural force is targeting them for his crimes. Meanwhile, much of the family’s domestic staff flees, leaving only loyal housekeeper Valeriana until a mysterious young indigenous maid arrives.
Starring: Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Christopher Abbott
Synopsis: Somewhere along the mid-19th century American East Coast frontier, two neighboring couples battle hardship and isolation, witnessed by a splendid yet testing landscape, challenging them both physically and psychologically.
Starring: Niki Koss, Zachary Gordon, Travis Burns, Blaine Kern III, Olivia Sui, Emrhys Cooper, Elizabeth Posey, Nazanin Mandi, Adrienne Wilkinson, Lou Ferrigno Jr
Synopsis: Dylan, known to his fans as DJ Dreamcatcher, is on the brink of global stardom. Everything changes the night of Cataclysm, an underground music festival, where two estranged sisters and their friends meet Dylan. After a drug fueled gruesome event, things begin to spiral into a 48-hour whirlwind of violence and mayhem.
If you’re up for hitting the theaters, here’s a list of releases that just made it to the big screen. Only titles from the last two weeks will be listed here.
Starring: Robin Wright, Demián Bichir, Sarah Dawn Pledge
Synopsis: Edee, in the aftermath of an unfathomable event, finds herself unable to stay connected to the world she once knew and in the face of that uncertainty, retreats to the magnificent, but unforgiving, wilds of the Rockies. After a local hunter brings her back from the brink of death, she must find a way to live again.
Synopsis: Kongwen Lu is the author of a fantasy novel series following a heroic teenager, also named Kongwen, on a quest to end the tyrannical rule of Lord Redmane, under the guidance of a Black Armor. But through a strange twist of fate, the fantasy world of the novel begins to impact life in the real world, leading Guan Ning to accept a mission from Tu Ling to kill the author.
Comedy, Drama|Theaters: February 12 (Limited: NY and LA)|IMDb
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, Tracy Letts
Synopsis: A socialite is decamping from Manhattan to Paris to live out her days after her dead husband’s fortune runs out. She cashes out whatever is left and goes with her son and her cat, who happens to be the embodiment of her long-dead partner.
Crime, Thriller|Streaming: March 9|Theaters: February 12|IMDb
Starring: Thomas Nicholas, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sean Astin, Penelope Ann Miller, Mickey Rourke
Synopsis: Thomas Nicholas (“Red Band Society”) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) star in this gritty, intense urban thriller about one man’s quest for revenge. Struggling to make ends meet, rideshare driver Ethan (Nicholas) learns his sister Mia is deep in debt to a sleazy drug dealer. When Mia goes missing, Ethan discovers that crime boss Kaden (Rourke) is behind the act, and to get close to him Ethan takes a job as Kaden’s driver. One by one Ethan hunts down members of Kaden’s crew to wreak bloody vengeance as he prepares to confront Kaden himself. The stellar cast also includes Lou Diamond Phillips, Sean Astin, and Penelope Ann Miller.
Synopsis: Test Pattern follows an interracial couple whose relationship is put to the test after a Black woman is sexually assaulted and her white boyfriend drives her from hospital to hospital in search of a rape kit.
Synopsis: This is the inspiring true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. Alone and afraid, Slahi (Tahar Rahim) finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) who battle the U.S. government in a fight for justice that tests their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), uncovers shocking truths and ultimately proves that the human spirit cannot be locked up.
