What's New in Theaters this April?
April is set to be a super-sized month for movie theaters nationwide, bookended by the two biggest comic book universes -- DC and Marvel. Whether Shazam! is your magic word or you can't wait for Avengers: Endgame, there's plenty of variety in the days between.
Week One: April 1st through 7th
Shazam! on April 5th
The latest movie in the DC Comics Extended Universe stars Zachary Levi as alter ego to young Billy Batson, a boy who transforms into a caped muscle man in a superhero twist on the Big formula.
Not to be confused with Marvel'sCaptain Marvel, which is in theaters simultaneously, the character of Shazam was originally named Captain Marvel before DC Comics changed his name in 1972 to avoid trademark issues and confusion.
Pet Sematary on April 5th
The Stephen King tale comes back to life starring Jason Clarke. Jon Lithgow fills the Herman Munster-sized shoes inhabited by Fred Gwynne in the 1989 incarnation.
Sometimes dead is better, but hopefully not for this highly anticipated reboot.
The Best of Enemies on April 5th
Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell star as a civil rights activist and Ku Klux Klan leader who face off and come together over the issue of school integration in 1971 Durham, North Carolina.
It is a true story adapted from the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson.
Week Two: April 8th through 14th
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote on April 10th, One Night Only Event
Terry Gilliam has made several attempts to make this film, loosely based on the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. There's even an acclaimed documentary, Lost in La Mancha, that started as a behind-the-scenes making-of movie, but was ultimately released on its own when the Johnny Depp-starring version of his movie fell apart.
Although this completed version, starring Adam Driver, premiered as the closing film to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, legal issues have restricted its worldwide release. As such, this one-night-only Fathom Event might be your only chance to see Gilliam's eternally-tortured vision on a big screen in the U.S. as was always intended. You can find a screening here.
Hellboy on April 12th
Was it really that long ago that Hellboy made his big screen debut? Ron Perlman brought the character to life in 2004, following up with a sequel in 2008, but has passed his giant fist to Stranger Things star David Harbour for a full reboot of Mike Mignola's graphic novel-based franchise.
Harbour'sHellboy is joined by Ian McShane and Milla Jovovich in a battle between humanity and the supernatural.
Missing Link on April 12th
From the stop-motion animation masters of Laika, responsible for Coraline, ParaNorman, and Kubo and the Two Strings, this offbeat, family film features an all-star cast of voice talents in a globe trotting adventure.
Hugh Jackman is an intrepid explorer, Zach Galifianakis is the bigfoot Mr. Link, and they are joined by Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, and Emma Thompson.
Little on April 12th
A bossy business woman finds herself in the form of her much-younger self in this body-swapping comedy starring Issa Rae, Regina Hall, and Marsai Martin. Rae plays the assistant who goes from abused to authority as the only person who can help her immature boss to grow up.
Mary Magdalene on April 12th
Rooney Mara plays the famous figure from the Bible alongside Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Peter. It tells the story of Jesus and his resurrection from the perspective of Mary as she joins his followers and sparks friction with his male disciples.
Stockholm on April 12th
Also called The Captor, this film tells the true life story of the 1973 bank heist from which 'Stockholm syndrome' was named and gained notoriety. It stars Mark Strong, Noomi Rapace, and Ethan Hawke.
Week Three: April 15th through 21st
Breakthrough on April 17th
A Christian drama based on the novel The Impossible, in which a young boy makes a miraculous recovery after falling through an ice-covered lake. It stars Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Marcel Ruiz, Topher Grace, and Mike Colter.
Penguins on April 17th
Following in the tradition of Bears and Chimpanzee, Disneynature's latest film follows Steve, a penguin finding friends, family, and danger while narrated by Ed Helms.
The Curse of La Llorona on April 19th
Inspired by Latin American folklore, this horror movie follows Linda Cardellini as a social worker, who, with her children, is submerged in a supernatural struggle against the "weeping woman" La Llorona.
Teen Spirit on April 19th
The Cinderella-story is remixed with a pop music soundtrack as a small town teenager pursues her dream of escape and stardom by way of a singing competition. Elle Fanning stars.
Week Four: April 22nd through 28th
Red Joan on April 26th
Judi Dench plays Joan Stanley in a film inspired by the real-life story of the KGB's longest-serving spy in Britain, Melita Norwood. Sophie Cookson of the Kingsman franchise plays young Joan.
Avengers: Endgame on April 26th
Earth's mightiest heroes were not enough to keep Thanos from destroying half of all life in the universe in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War. With many of their allies erased, the Avengers regroup to find a solution to set-right their greatest defeat.
Featuring many stars of the previous film, the team is comprised of long-time Avengers, remnants of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, and many faces familiar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Stay tuned to Advocate Channel and advocatechannel.com for interviews with some of these movies' biggest stars, and inside access to their red carpet premieres.
