Buffalo Movies: Film Focus is your guide to films currently showing in theaters across WNY

(Above: Tom Cruise in Digger (2026). Image via IMDB.com).

By M Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK:

ACHARYA (NR) A former soldier faces unexpected obstacles when he agrees to escort a woman from Mumbai to Nepal. Starring Nikhil Upreti and Pramod Agrahari. Directed by Nikhil Upreti. Regal Quaker

APRIL X (NR) Bucharest provides the urban setting for this sci-fi thriller about an adult brother and sister trying to keep each other safe in a bleak future. Starring Connor Storrie and Lilly Krug. Directed by Michel K. Parandi (Midnight Wolf). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

BATHTHA (Saw) (NR) Tamil action drama about a gangster held captive in a school bathroom by an eight-year-old boy. Starring Vijay Sethupathi and Lijomol Jose. Directed by Balaji Tharaneetharan. Regal Elmwood

BEWARE BOIÚNA (R) A humanitarian mission in the Amazon rainforest comes up against a giant mythical snake. Starring Kiana Madeira, Jessica Rothe, and Logan Marshall-Green. Directed by Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn). Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

DIGGER (R) The weirdly ageless Tom Cruise gets into old age drag to portray a rich industrialist trying to prevent a world-shattering disaster that he caused. With Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jesse Plemons. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

DON’T TROUBLE THE TROUBLE (NR) Indian fantasy comedy about a street magician who gets in over his head when he tries to trick a real genie. In Telugu and Malayalam. Starring Fahadh Faasil, Ssara Palekar and Saurabh Sachdeva Directed by Shashank Yeleti. Regal Elmwood

DONNIE DARKO (2001, R) Offbeat psychological thriller about a disturbed teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) haunted by a human-sized rabbit that challenges him to do bad things. An impossible-to-describe combination of satire, soap opera and horror that has gained a cult following since it was ignored by its distributor on its initial release. With Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Patrick Swayze and Drew Barrymore. Directed by Richard Kelly. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

DRISHYAM – THE CONCLUSION (NR) Hindi language sequel that apparently has a story unrelated to parts 1 and 2. And that’s all the info I have. Starring Ajay Devgn, Jaideep Ahlawat, Tabu, and Shriya Saran, Directed by Abhishek Pathak. Regal Elmwood

THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE (NR) The creator of the HBO series “How To with John Wilson” makes his film debut with this documentary that uses an absurd format (a history of concrete done in the style of a Hallmark TV movie) to examine modern urban life. North Park

THE INCOMER (R) British comedy about adult siblings, the only inhabitants of the Scottish island where they were raised, who resist the efforts of a government agent to move them to the mainland. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin, Grant O’Rourke, and John Hannah. Directed by Louis Paxton. North Park, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

THE INFLUENCER PROJECT (R) Found-footage horror starring Chiara King as an internet influencer who finds her job puts her a danger when she tries to hide from a murderous stalker. Directed by Mike Nybroe. Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

MOONLIGHT (R) Remastered for a 10^th anniversary re-release, this Oscar winner for Best Picture looks at three periods in the life of a young Miami gay man. Starring Mahershala Ali, Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe, and Naomie Harris. Directed by Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk). Regal Elmwood

PREM KEETANU (NR) Hindi college coming of age comedy-drama. Starring Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Syed, and Aparshakti Khurana, Directed by Apoorv Singh Karki. Regal Elmwood

ROLLING LOUD: THE MOVIE (R) Comedy starring Owen Wilson as a father who tries to bond with his son by sneaking him into a Miami hip-hop festival. With Matt Rife, Christine Ko, Christian Convery, Henry Winkler, and Jolene Blalock. Directed by Jeremy Garelick (The Wedding Ringer). Dipson Capitol, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SIGMA (NR) As far as I can tell, an Indian adventure in the Indiana Jones mold. In Tamil. Starring Sundeep Kishan, Faria Abdullah and Raju Sundaram. Directed by Jason Sanjay. Regal Elmwood

THELLA KAAGITHAM (NR) Telugu drama about a teenaged couple discovering some of the harder aspects of first love. Starring Ajay, Saranya, and Rajkumar Kasireddy. Directed by Ramesh Bandreddy. Regal Elmwood

VERITY (R) Best known for comedies like Wet Hot American Summer, director Michael Showalter moves into psychological horror for this story of a writer hired to ghost write the uncompleted novel of a famous author. Starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett. AMC Maple Ridge, Aurora, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

NOW PLAYING:

AVENGERS ENDGAME: ENCORE (NR) Re-release of the 2019 MCU movie with two minutes of new footage. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

BUDDY (R) Horror comedy in which a group of 1950s kids are trapped inside a world run by a malevolent version of their favorite TV show host. Starring Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, and the voices of Keegan-Michael Key, Patton Oswalt, and Michael Shannon. Directed by Casper Kelly. Regal Walden Galleria 

COYOTE VS. ACME (PG) Rescued from the limbo of being abandoned by its studio for a tax write-off, a live action/animation combination in which Wile E. Coyote sues the company that sold him endless gadgets that did not help him catch the Road Runner. Starring Will Forte, Lana Condor, John Cena, Tone Bell, and Luis Guzmán. Directed by Dave Green (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows). Market Arcade, Regal Quaker

FORGOTTEN ISLAND (PG) From DreamWorks Animation, a fantasy based on Philippine mythology about two friends trapped on an island that will slowly consumer their memories. With the voices of H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate. Directed by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

HEART OF THE BEAST (PG-13) Brad Pitt as a retired Army Special Forces veteran who must travel across 58 miles of Alaskan wilderness to safety with his dog after a plane crash. With J. K. Simmons. Directed by David Ayer (End of Watch). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER (PG-13) Horror sequel, number six if you’re counting. Starring Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Lin Shaye. Directed by Jacob Chase (Bad Boy). Regal Quaker, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

THE ODYSSEY (R) Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the Greek epic detailing the return voyage of King Odysseus after the Trojan War. Starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit

PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 (PG-13) Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing return in this sequel to the 1998 film. Directed by Susanne Bier (In a Better World). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

PRIMETIME (R) Robert Pattison as Chris Hansen, host of the 2000s reality crime show “To Catch a Predator”. With Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, and Bokeem Woodbine. Directed by Lance Oppenheim. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

RESIDENT EVIL (R) Second reboot of the perennial zombie video game. Starring Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. Directed by Zach Cregger (Weapons). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (PG-13) Tom Holland’s fourth appearance as the perennial Marvel comics superhero. With Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, and Marisa Tomei. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings). Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sat only)

ETC.

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (1992, R) Despite the title, this is Francis Ford Coppola’s baby all the way. Starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, and Tom Waits. Sat only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE CONJURING (2013, R) Haunted house horror. Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston. Directed by James Wan (Insidious). Sun only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

CRIMSON PEAK (2015, R) The first third of Guillermo del Toro’s movie is set in Buffalo at the turn of the 19th century, when it was the model of up-and-coming America. He didn’t actually shoot here, making do with some digitally-incorporated photos of local landmarks, but it’s still nice to see the Queen City reflected in its first glory days. Aside from that, this is less of a horror movie than a Victorian melodrama with some CGI ghosts and an absurdly violent finale. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam and Jessica Chastain. Weds only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE HAUNTING (1999, PG-13) Adaptation of the Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Kill House.” (The 1963 film was much better.) Starring Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Lili Taylor, Marian Seldes, Bruce Dern, Todd Field, and Virginia Madsen. Directed by Jan de Bont (Speed). Tues only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

POLTERGEIST (1982, PG) JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson call on the magic munchkin to help get their kid out of the TV set in Tobe Hooper’s (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) attempt at a mainstream horror movie. Mon only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE SHINING (1980, R) Family man Jack Nicholson goes nuts while working as a winter watchman in a remote hotel. A lot of people consider this the best film adaptation of any Steven King story, though King himself is not among them. Possibly best understood as director Stanley Kubrick’s chance to play with a then-new toy, the Steadicam, or as his homage to Last Year at Marienbad. With Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. Fri only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951) Raymond Chandler wrote the screenplay from Patricia Highsmith’s novel for this classic Alfred Hitchcock thriller about two men who pass the time on a train formulating a perfect murder plan. But when they get off, one of them takes it seriously. Starring Farley Granger, Robert Walker, Ruth Roman, and Leo G. Carroll. Sat 1:30 pm, Mon 7 pm. Market Arcade

TALES FROM THE HOOD (1995) Anthology of horror stories built around some of the real-life horrors faced by residents of inner cities. Starring Clarence Williams III, Anthony Griffith, Wings Hauser, David Alan Grier, Corbin Bernsen, and Rosalind Cash. Directed by Rusty Cundieff Thurs only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

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THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

AMC Maple Ridge, 4276 Maple Road, Amherst https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/buffalo/amc-maple-ridge-8

Angola Theatre, 72 N. Main St., Angola, NY https://angolatheatre.com/

Aurora Theater, 673 Main Street, East Aurora https://theauroratheatre.com/

Dipson Amherst, 3500 Main Street, Buffalo. www.dipsontheatres.com

Dipson Capitol Theater, 720 Builders Way, Niagara Falls www.dipsontheatres.com

Dipson Flix, 4901 Transit Road, Depew www.dipsontheatres.com

Dunkirk Multiplex, 10520 Bennett Road, Dunkirk https://www.dunkirkmultiplex.com/

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center Cinema, 431 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo https://www.hallwalls.org/

Hamburg Palace, 31 Buffalo Street, Hamburg www.hamburgpalace.com

Joylan, 11 W. Main Street, Springville https://joylantheater.com/

North Park, 1428 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo https://northparktheatre.org/

Market Arcade, 639 Main St., Buffalo https://www.btmcinemas.com/our-locations/g0fz6-scene-one-market-arcade-cinemas/

Regal Elmwood, 2001 Elmwood Avenue., Buffalo https://www.regmovies.com/

Regal Quaker Crossing, 3450 Amelia Drive, Orchard Park https://www.regmovies.com/

Regal Transit, 6707 Transit Road. Williamsville https://www.regmovies.com/

Regal Walden Galleria, Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga https://www.regmovies.com/

Riviera Theater, 67 Webster Street, North Tonawanda https://rivieratheatre.org/

The Screening Room, www.screeningroom.net 

Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, 23 S Main Street, Warsaw https://www.spotlighttheater.com/movie-theater/warsaw

Squeaky Wheel, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street, Suite 310, Buffalo https://squeaky.org/

Transit Drive-In Theatre, 6655 S. Transit Road, Lockport https://www.transitdrivein.com