April’s not foolin’ anyone with its hefty line-up of films coming soon to a cinema near you.
Peruse these handpicked highlights, put that watchlist button to work, and receive a no-nonsense DM reminder when the film’s about to release.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 9 April
Watchlist Added
Aussie comedy legend Rebel Wilson cracks her knuckles on the filmmaking front with this directorial debut, a teenage musical centred on an outcast who sees her rural school’s Debutante Ball as a hail Mary opportunity to reinvent herself. Aided by her social disrupter of a cousin, they attempt to find her a date, though what she probably needs is some self-acceptance. Early highlight includes a song-n-dance number featuring students belting out the chorus: “Fuck my life.”
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 30 April
Watchlist Added
A lot’s changed in the past two decades. Fashion’s gotten faster, print magazine’s declined, and phones have almost no buttons. Meryl Streep’s Miranda, though? Still a Prada-wrapped she-devil. And Tucci’s still Gucci. But even they have to weather the realities of a changed fashion landscape, currently dominated by Miranda’s former employee-turned-rival Emily (Emily Blunt). It makes for a sequel setup that’s perhaps more fascinating than many will expect, especially with the return of Anne Hathaway’s Andy who, you have to imagine, will be far less tolerant of Miranda’s bullshit this time around.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 2 April
Watchlist Added
Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play a longtime couple looking forward to their wedding day. Sounds sweet. Seems nice. But this ain’t no date movie. This is an A24 production from the director of Dream Scenario and Sick of Myself. When Zendaya’s Emma drops a surprise confession, it lights a wick that threatens to blow up their whole Happily Ever After. Anyone who’s seen either of the aforementioned films will have some clue as to how bonkers this will get.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 23 April
Watchlist Added
Don’t let the image of this jolly chap fool you – this is very much a horror movie. Based on the cult hit videogame, the film stays true to the premise: a man (not pictured) finds himself mysteriously stuck in a forever-looping subway hallway and must spot strange anomalies to get out. It’s a rare game-to-movie adaptation that allows audiences to play along, trying to spot subtle differences alongside the protagonist. A good primer to the upcoming Backrooms film.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 30 April
Watchlist Added
Early word’s been glowing for this little-known horror. Adam Scott plays a writer visiting Ireland to scatter his parents’ ashes. To make a grim situation worse, the place he’s staying in is said to be haunted by a witch. Is it psychological? Is it supernatural? Whatever lies in wait for Scott’s scribe, Slashfilm assures this is one “very satisfying, very fun, and very well executed scary movie.”
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 16 April
Watchlist Added
In case you don’t know, Lee Cronin is the director of 2023’s wonderfully messed up Evil Dead Rise. He wasn’t very nice to the child characters in that film and it looks like he’s carried that same couldn’t-give-a-shit attitude for his take on the classic Universal monster, which centres on the disappearance of a journalist’s daughter. We’d tell you more but the plot is kept… under wraps.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 22 April
Watchlist Added
First-time screen actor Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into the shoes of his uncle, Michael, for director Antoine Fuqua’s blockbuster-sized biopic. Charting the popstar’s rise to stardom, don’t expect the film to dive deep into MJ’s more controversial “Wacko Jacko” years. You can, however, expect to see cinematic set-pieces recreating the King of Pop’s concert performances as well as an electrifying (and terrifying) Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 2 April
Watchlist Added
Making a birthday cake for your president sounds like a wholesome task. Unless your president’s Saddam Hussein. And you’re just an innocent nine-year-old girl picked by mandatory selection. Then it becomes an intense scramble to achieve this thing you never wanted to do to the best of your abilities in order to avoid imprisonment or death. A big hit with the critics, writer-director Hasan Hadi went on to win the Golden Camera and the Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award at Cannes.
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 1 April
Watchlist Added
Of course we were going to get another Mario movie. Illumination’s 2023 family flick head-bashed the box office to make approximately a gazillion dollars worldwide. But rather than vaguely adapting the next relevant game in the series (Super Mario World was my bet), the studio’s made the more intriguing move to take elements from classic 2007 Wii title Super Mario Galaxy. Let’s a-go!
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 9 April
Watchlist Added
Getting early buzz overseas, this A24 one-location horror will almost certainly be the best horror you’ll hear this month. The film centres on a podcaster, her natural scepticism of paranormal activity playing contrast to her True Believer co-host. Her beliefs may change when the pair listen in on a set of mysterious recordings. That’s all we’ll say. Go into this blind (or deaf, as it were).
In cinemas
Coming to cinemas 9 April
Watchlist Added
Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey is a fish out of water (again) in this breezy romance as a chef who crashes at an Italian villa – only to pose as the owner’s fiancé when locals confront her. While in this lavish but unfamiliar country, she connects with a British lawyer (played by Black Bag hunk Regé-Jean Page) who opens the possibility of true love. How could this possibly go wrong? Oh yeah, the whole lying-about-getting-married thing…