Sick of superheroes?
There’s a lot more in theaters than Infinity War.
By now, you may or may not know who lives or dies in Avengers: Infinity
War. After shocking fans and shattering box-office records, Marvel’s superhero juggernaut is again expected to pack theaters this weekend. But for those of you who have no interest in Infinity Stones, actors named Chris or Black Widow’s godawful wigs, there are plenty of other movies to see.
If you roll your eyes at Instagram moms: ‘Tully’
As screenwriter Diablo Cody tells it, having a baby isn’t a race to see which “mom looks best in her bikini two hours after giving birth.” In a meticulously curated social-media world, this darkly funny drama aims to dispel the myth of the perfect parent, following an exhausted mother (Charlize Theron) who gets a helping hand when a Mary Poppins-esque night nanny (Mackenzie Davis) descends on her household.
In theaters Friday.
If you still don’t know who Eugenio Derbez is: ‘Overboard’
Despite being one of the biggest stars in his native Mexico, Derbez isn’t yet a household name here. That could change with Overboard, a gender-swapped remake of the 1987 romantic comedy, in which he plays a wealthy playboy stricken with amnesia who’s tricked by a single, working-class mom (Anna Faris) into thinking they’re married.
In theaters Friday.
If you don’t like movie theater snacks: ‘A Quiet Place’
Apparently, many audience members are too freaked out to eat popcorn during John Krasinski’s mostly silent horror hit, in which he stars with reallife wife Emily Blunt as parents trying to protect their kids from sound-sensitive monsters. Come for the jump scares, stay for the lifelong fear of rusty nails.
Now playing.
If you appreciate great acting: ‘Disobedience’
You don’t have to wait until Oscars season to see some knockout performances. Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams are captivating in this understated lesbian romance, playing repressed lovers in a strict Orthodox Jewish community who reconnect years later. Bonus points for its tasteful yet intensely erotic sex scene.
Now playing in New York and Los Angeles; opens in nine cities Friday, including Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington; goes nationwide May 18.
If you need a pick-me-up: ‘I Feel Pretty’
Most of the conversation around this Amy Schumer vehicle has focused on the online backlash to its first trailer, in which an average woman knocks her head during a SoulCycle class and believes she’s a supermodel. But USA TODAY’s Erin Jensen had a much more upbeat reaction after seeing the film, leaving feeling “confident and capable.”
Now playing.
If you’re looking for something to MoviePass: ‘Rampage’
There are better movies than this rock ’em, sock ’em video-game adaptation. But if you’re keen to watch Dwayne Johnson fight alongside a giant albino gorilla, then it’s probably worth a cheap ticket with your MoviePass subscription.
Now playing.
If you think high-school comedies need an upgrade: ‘Blockers’
We’d never have believed you if you told us that the most subversive teen movie in years is one in which John Cena chugs a beer with his rear end. But this hilarious raunch fest — about parents trying to stop their daughters from losing their virginity on prom night — is refreshing in its message of female empowerment and inclusion of gay characters.
Now playing.
If you want to see Joaquin Phoenix kill people with a hammer:
‘You Were Never Really Here’
The latest from Lynne Ramsay is not for the faint of heart, following a suicidal military veteran who specializes in saving young girls from sex trafficking. But if you can stomach the dark subject and grisly violence, it features a haunting performance from Phoenix, who won best actor at Cannes Film Festival.
Now playing.
If you’re on a nostalgia high: ‘Super Troopers 2’
You can’t flip the channel without finding yet another of your favorite TV shows has been rebooted. Same goes for theaters, where this crowdfunded sequel to the 2001 cult comedy has finally been released, reuniting its original stars to play hapless Vermont state troopers.
Now playing.
If pooches and politics are your jam: ‘Isle of Dogs’
Wes Anderson has never had this much bite. The filmmaker brings his quirky, stylish sensibilities to this stopmotion, socially aware comedy about kids who lead a revolt when dogs are banned from their near-dystopian Japanese city. Anderson stalwarts Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Jeff Goldblum all return to voice mangy mutts. Now playing.
If horse movies make you ugly-cry: ‘The Rider’ and ‘Lean on Pete’
That’s right, equine lovers: There’s not one, but two critically acclaimed dramas in theaters right now that center on boys and their horses, and will make you reach for the Kleenex. But that’s roughly where the similarities end, as Pete is adapted from Willy Vlautin’s 2010 best-selling novel, and stars Steve Buscemi and Chloë Sevigny, while Rider is a festival favorite featuring real people playing versions of themselves.
Now playing in select cities, expanding nationwide through May and June.