OPENING
Affection (NR) – This science-fiction thriller features Jessica Rothe as a woman whose memory continually resets, creating a rift between her and her family. The cast also includes Joseph Cross and Julianna Layne. (Opens Friday in Dallas)
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft (PG-13) – This film, featuring Billie Eilish and directed by James Cameron, does not fully reinvent the concert documentary genre, but it remains a worthwhile experience. Compiled from her performances in Manchester and Phoenix in 2025, the focus is predominantly on Eilish’s musical acts. While she demonstrates commanding stage presence, a bit of improvement in breath control could enhance her performance. The film could benefit from a more balanced setlist, with fewer softer songs. However, even those unfamiliar with her music may discover songs worth adding to their playlists. Finneas O’Connell also appears. (Opens Friday)
Blue Heron (NR) – This film follows a Hungarian family as they settle into their new home on Vancouver Island, told from the perspective of their youngest daughter, Eylul Guven. The cast includes Amy Zimmer, Iringó Réti, Ádám Tompa, Liam Serg, and Edik Beddoes. (Opens Friday at AMC Parks at Arlington)
Erupcja (NR) – Starring Charli XCX, this drama depicts a British tourist who reconnects with an ex-lover while stranded in Warsaw. The cast features Will Madden, Agata Trzebuchowska, Maja Michnacka, Jan Lubaczewski, and Jeremy O. Harris. (Opens Friday in Dallas)
Godari Gattupaina (NR) – This Telugu-language romance showcases Sumanth Prabhas and Nidhi Pradeep as a couple whose love faces challenges from parental expectations. The film also stars Jagapathi Babu, Laila, Reenu S.K., Sudharshan, and Rajkumar Kasireddy. (Opens Friday)
Meet Me at the Eclipse (NR) – This Vietnamese romance features Doan Thien An as a nun who stumbles upon a collection of unsent love letters in 1995. The cast includes Khuong Le, Hua Vi Van, Nguyen Thao, Huynh Phuong, and Thanh Son. (Opens Friday)
Mortal Kombat II (R) – Based on the popular 1990s video game, this sequel stars Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, a washed-up Hollywood martial artist drawn back into a deadly tournament against demigods. The film opens with impressive fight sequences and a humorous nod to 1990s action films. However, it suffers from a disjointed script and overly prolonged climactic battles. The cast also includes Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Martyn Ford, CJ Bloomfield, Lewis Tan, Max Huang, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada. (Opens Friday)
Neglected (NR) – In this thriller, Josh Duhamel plays a police detective whose son is kidnapped by a serial killer. The film features Elena Sanchez, Jeremy London, Jason London, David Lipper, Linda Summer, Kristin Wollett, Corbin Pitts, and Til Schweiger. (Opens Friday at Movie Tavern Hulen)
Paral ko Aago (NR) – A remake of a 1978 Nepalese film, it stars Prakash Saput and Suhana Thapa as a married couple whose relationship is strained by frequent arguments. Additional cast members include Saugat Malla, Srijana Adhikari, Shankar Acharaya, and Kishor Bhandari. (Opens Friday at Cinemark North East Mall)
The Sheep Detectives (PG) – Based on Leonie Swann’s children’s book, this film features a unique premise but falters in execution. Following the murder of an English shepherd (Hugh Jackman), his flock of sheep embarks on a mission to solve the crime, inspired by detective novels read to them. While Nicholas Braun shines as a dimwitted cop, the film struggles to balance its mystery with the sheep’s adventures. The cast includes Emma Thompson, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Tosin Cole, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Conleth Hill, and Hong Chau, with voices from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, Rhys Darby, and Patrick Stewart. (Opens Friday)
Takeover (R) – This thriller features Quavo as an ex-con drawn back into crime after his release from prison. The film also stars Billy Zane, Danny Boyd Jr., Brielle Rankins, LaMonica Garrett, Martin Sensmeier, and Serayah. (Opens Friday at AMC Grapevine Mills)
NOW PLAYING
Animal Farm (PG) – This animated adaptation of George Orwell’s novel appears hastily assembled. It follows a young pig (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo) who aids fellow farm animals in overthrowing their human masters, only to see a power-hungry pig (voiced by Seth Rogen) assume dictatorial control. The buildup to the coup is lacking, and a subplot involving a Big Agro tycoon (voiced by Glenn Close) feels misplaced. The film’s muddled message about dictatorship does a disservice to Orwell’s original work. Additional voices include Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Kieran Culkin, Laverne Cox, Andy Serkis, Jim Parsons, and Kathleen Turner.
Deep Water (R) – Aaron Eckhart stars in this thriller about an airline pilot whose flight crash-lands in shark-infested waters. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film lacks conviction and fails to engage, with a subplot about the pilot caring for a little girl proving particularly weak. It pales in comparison to more energetic recent films. The cast includes Angus Sampson, Lucy Barrett, Rosie Zhao, Kelly Gale, Ryan Brown, Kate Fitzpatrick, Richard Crouchley, Lakota Johnson, Mark Hadlow, and Ben Kingsley.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13) – This sequel offers enjoyable moments reminiscent of the original but suffers from a significant flaw. Anne Hathaway returns as Andy, now a jobless journalist who takes a position at Runway amid a PR crisis. While the film acknowledges changes in the fashion media landscape over the past two decades, it gets sidetracked by a succession battle following the sudden death of the magazine’s owner. Greater focus on Andy’s attempts to improve Runway’s culture would have been beneficial. The cast also features Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Justin Theroux, Tracie Thoms, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Simone Ashley, Helen J. Shen, Rachel Bloom, B.J. Novak, Lucy Liu, Kenneth Branagh, and Lady Gaga.
The Drama (R) – This film presents a unique take on the typical wedding-gone-wrong narrative. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson portray an engaged couple whose plans unravel during a party game when a shocking revelation occurs. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, this film leans into edgy humor but struggles to address deeper themes surrounding American gun culture. Nevertheless, it offers a flawed yet compelling romance, with Pattinson delivering a standout performance as an anxious groom-to-be. Additional cast members include Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Benton Gates, Sydney Lemmon, Hannah Gross, Anna Baryshnikov, and Damon Gupton.
Exit 8 (PG-13) – This Japanese horror film, based on a video game, features Kazunari Ninomiya as a young man trapped in a subway system. While the signs point to an exit, he finds himself caught in a loop, encountering the same people and places repeatedly. The film delves into psychological themes as the protagonist grapples with impending fatherhood and his past traumas. Director Genki Kawamura successfully varies the subway’s repetitive visuals to keep the narrative engaging. The cast includes Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Nana Komatsu, and Hirota Ōtsuka.
A Great Awakening (PG-13) – This film aspires to be a significant Christian drama but is hindered by pacing issues. It follows Benjamin Franklin (John Paul Sneed) establishing a printing business in colonial America and George Whitefield (Jonathan Blair) pursuing his calling as a preacher in Britain. Their eventual meeting before the American Revolution is compelling, but the slow buildup delays their interaction. The film explores the balance between faith and action but requires tighter editing to enhance its impact. The cast also includes Russell Dean Schultz, Robert Bigley, JT Schaeffer, Josh Bates, Carson Burkett, Stephen Foster Harris, Ryan Jameson Hippe, and Daniel Stargel.
Hokum (R) – This horror film effectively combines scares with a solid narrative
