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X-Men: Days of Future Past, directed by Bryan Singer and Matthew Vaughn (PG-13, 131 minutes)

A spectacular, clever and often funny sequel to 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and 2011’s X-Men: First Class (among others), this latest mutant- loaded addition to the Marvel Comics big-screen superhero genre focuses on Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) journeying back in time to 1973 to stop the mutant war before it starts and thus save the future of mankind. It works because, along with a terrific (and reasonably sized) cast, dazzling special effects (lots of iconic 1970s imagery) and edge-of-the-seat excitement, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sequel opportunities

abound.

With James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Ian McKellen, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, Ellen Page, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Peter Dinklage.

Snakehead Swamp ( not rated, 86 minutes) Genetically modified snakehead fish are unleashed in a remote Louisiana bayou and ruin what should have been a fun outing for boaters and bikini-wearers; a followup to Syfy’s campy Snakehead Terror, which originally aired June 28. With Ayla Kell, Dave Davis, Terri Garber, Antonio Fargas; directed by Don E. Fauntleroy.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG, 92 minutes) The smartest beagle in the world and his mischievous boy, Sherman, employ a time machine to take on exciting adventures, until Sherman’s misuse of it to impress antagonistic classmate Penny rips a hole in the universe and upsets the outcomes of important events in world history. Based on Jay Ward’s clever segments in the animated Bullwinkle TV show (1959-1964). With the voices of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Allison Janney, Ariel Winter; directed by Rob Minkoff.

Million Dollar Arm (PG, 124 minutes) Predictable, sappy yet effective, Million Dollar Arm concerns former big- time sports agent J. B. Bernstein (Jon Hamm), who revives his deteriorating ca- reer by employing a unique recruitment strategy to get talented Asian cricket players to take on the very different game that is Major League Baseball. With Bill Paxton, Aasif Mandvi, Suraj Sharma; directed by Craig Gillespie.

Aftermath ( not rated, 107 minutes) An intelligent, compelling and controversial dramatic exploration of long-suppressed guilt in which estranged Frank and Jozek Kalina, sons of a poor farmer in a small village in central Poland, struggle to rebuild their relationship amid the discovery of a dark secret that forces them to confront the history of their family and their hometown. According to the website Rotten Tomatoes, Polish nationals have labeled the film anti-Polish propaganda and a distortion of a sensitive piece of Polish history, which caused the film to be banned in some Polish cinemas. Directed by Wladyslaw Pasikowski. Subtitled.

Beneath the Harvest Sky (unrated, 116 minutes) This detailed, unhurried drama introduces Casper (Emory Cohen) and Dominic (Callan McAuliffe), friends since they were kids, who, after high school, are desperate to escape the poverty and listlessness of their quiet potato-farming community on the Maine- Canada border for the big-city excitement of Boston. But Casper’s involvement in drug smuggling with his criminal father ( Aiden Gillen) seems likely to derail their well-laid plans. Directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly.

Nothing Bad Can Happen ( not rated, 116 minutes) A well-acted but hard-to-watch drama in which young Christian fundamentalist Tore (Julius Feldmeier) wanders off from a religious punk-rock commune into the web of sadistic nonbeliever Benno (Sascha Alexander Gersak), who, when he’s not victimizing his family, uses increasingly horrific means to challenge Tore’s seemingly resolute faith. Directed by Katrin Gebbe. In German with subtitles.