Buffalo Movies: Several new films are set to open this weekend in Western New York. Here’s what’s playing and where to see them.

(Above: Ryô Yoshizawa in Kokuho (2025). Via IMDB.)

By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK:

ASSI (NR) Hindi-language courtroom drama centering on a case of sexual assault. Starring Taapsee Pannu, Kani Kusruti, and Revathy. Directed by Anubhav Sinha Regal Elmwood

BAMBUKAT 2 (NR) Sequel to the 2016 Punjabi-language period drama abut a small town inventor. Starring Ammy Virk, Binnu Dhillon, and Simi Chahal. Directed by Pankaj Batra. Regal Elmwood

DO DEEWANE SEHER MEIN (NR) Hindi-language romantic drama about two socially awkward millennials in Mumbai. Starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur. Directed by Ravi Udyawar. Regal Elmwood

EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT (PG-13) Baz Luhrmann, whose 2022 biopic of the king of rock and roll divided audiences, now presents the real think in meticulously restored footage. It will be showing in IMAX for a week before moving to other theaters. Regal Transit

A GIFT FROM HEAVEN (NR) From Vietnam, a comedy-drama about a young boy raised by a single mother who meets the man that may be his father. Starring Trung Dan, Phuong Anh Dao, and Quach Ngoc Ngoan. Directed by Thanh Son Le. Regal Walden Galleria

HEY BHAGAWAN (NR) In this Telugu language comedy, a young man inherits his father’s business only to find out it wasn’t what he was expecting. Starring V.K. Naresh, Vennela Kishore, and Shivani Nagaram. Directed by Gopi Atchara. Regal Elmwood

HOW TO MAKE A KILLING (R) Bad seed Glen Powell sets out to kill all the family members who stand between him and a huge inheritance. Which is the plot of the British classic Kind Hearts and Coronets, except that here the victims are played by different actors, including Margaret Qualley, Bill Camp, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris. Directed by John Patton Ford (Emily the Criminal.) Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

KOKUHO (NR) The highest grossing live action film in the history of Japanese cinema is this epic tale of the relationship over decades of two aspiring kabuki performers. Starring Ryo Yoshizawa, Ryusei Yokohama, and Ken Watanabe. Directed by Sang-il Lee (Rage). North Park

MIDWINTER BREAK (PG-13) Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds star in an adaptation of Bernard MacLaverty’s novel about a long-time couple facing a difficult patch on a trip to Amsterdam. Directed by Polly Findlay. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

OSCAR SHORT NOMINATED FILMS (NR) Three separate programs featuring all of this year’s Oscar nominees in the categories of Best Animated Live Action, Documentary and Animated Short Films. Dipson Amherst

PSYCHO KILLER (R) From the writer of Seven, a horror thriller about a police officer stalking a serial killer known as “The Satanic Slasher.” Starring Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, and Malcolm McDowell. Directed by Gavin Polone. Dipson Capitol, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

REDUX REDUX (R) A woman is able to travel back in time to get revenge on her daughter’s killer, but will the cost be her soul? Starring Michaela McManus, Stella Marcus, and Jeremy Holm. Directed by Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus (The Block Island Sound). Regal Transit

THIS IS NOT A TEST (R) A group of teenagers barricade themselves inside their high school to escape a zombie apocalypse. Starring Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez, and Chloe Avakian. Directed by Adam MacDonald (Pyewacket). Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

NOW PLAYING: 

ANACONDA (PG-13) Paul Rudd and Jack Black as aspiring filmmakers (from Buffalo!) who go to the South American jungle to remake their favorite bad 1990s horror movie. With Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, and Ice Cube. Directed by Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent). Regal Quaker

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (PG-13) Number three of five. With Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. Directed by James Cameron, the pride of Chippawa, Ontario. AMC Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

COLD STORAGE (R) David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Black Bag) wrote this sci-fi thriller-with-laughs about a virus from outer space that threatens to wipe out life on earth. Starring Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville, and Vanessa Redgrave. Directed by Jonny Campbell. Dipson Capitol, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

CRIME 101 (R) Character-driven LA heist movie adapted from a Don Winslow novel. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, and Halle Berry. Directed by Bart Layton (American Animals). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

DRACULA (R) Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) takes a whack at the long-out-of-copyright vampire tale. Starring Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz and Zoë Bleu. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit Center, Regal Walden Galleria

GOAT (PG) Animated comedy with an all-animal cast headed by a goat who wants to be a star in the manic sport of roarball. With the voices of Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nick Kroll, and Patton Oswalt. Directed by Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette. AMC Maple Ridge, Angola, Aurora, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE (R) A man steps into a diner, announces that he is from the future and asks for help in stopping AI in this comic sci-fi. Starring Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, and Juno Temple. Directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean). Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE HOUSEMAID (R) A troubled woman tries to clean up her life by taking a job as a housemaid for a wealthy family. Trouble, of course, ensues. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Elizabeth Perkins. Directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Flix, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

IRON LUNG (R) Horror film adapted from a video game set after a universal catastrophe, in which a prisoner is tasked to earn his freedom by using a one-man windowless submarine to search for data in an ocean of blood. Starring Mark Fischbach (who also directed), Troy Baker, and Elsie Lovelock. AMC Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT (NR) A recent graduate in mortuary science comes to regret her major while on her first job. Starring Willa Holland, Paul Sparks, and John Adams. Directed by Jeremiah Kipp (Slapface). Regal Quaker

SEND HELP (R) Co-workers (Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien) stranded on a desert island find their balance of power is very different away from civilization in this dark comedy directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SHELTER (R) Jason Statham in his annual action vehicle as a lighthouse keeper who comes to the rescue of a young girl. With Bill Nighy, Harriet Walter, Daniel Mays, and Naomi Ackie. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland 2). Regal Transit

SOLE MIO (PG) Romcom starring Kevin James as a jilted groom picking up the pieces in Rome on what was supposed to be his honeymoon. With Jonathan Roumie, Kim Coates and Alyson Hannigan. Directed by Charles Kinnane and Daniel Kinnane. Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit Center, Regal Walden Galleria

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 3 (R) Final entry in the horror franchise. Yeah, we’ve heard that before. Stars Hannah Galway, Ema Horvath, and Krystal Ellsworth. Directed by Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (R) Capping the trifecta of gothic remakes after the recent updates of Frankenstein and Dracula. Starring Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, and Martin Clunes. Directed by Emerald Fennell (Saltburn). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

ZOOTOPIA 2 (PG) Ten years is a long time in coming for a sequel to a children’s film, but here it is anyway. With the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)—The Coen Brothers’ patently oddball take on the Raymond Chandler genre has aged into a genuine cult classic that rewards multiple viewings. The endlessly quotable dialogue is delivered by a once in a lifetime cast: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, David Huddleston, John Turturro, Sam Elliott, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, David Thewlis, Peter Stormare, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Jon Polito, Flea and Ben Gazzara. Tues 7:30 pm. Screening Room

BURIAL GROUND (Italy, 1981)—The most enjoyably bad entry in the entire field of Italian zombie movies, which is really saying something. Directed by Andrea Bianchi (Strip Nude for Your Killer). Sat 10 pm. Screening Room

THE BURNING MOON (Germany, 1992)—DIY filmmaker Olaf Ittenbach’s exceedingly gory pair of short horror films opens a weekend of cult movies released on DVD in the US by Severin Films. Fri 6 pm. Screening Room

THE LADY VANISHES (1938)—Heiress Margaret Lockwood and musician Michael Redgrave team up to investigate how Dame May Whitty disappeared from a moving train in this comic mystery that was one of Alfred Hitchcock’s last British films before moving to Hollywood. With Paul Lukas and Cecil Parker. Tues 5 pm. Screening Room

THE PEANUT BUTTER SOLUTION (Canada, 1985)—Generations of youngsters reputedly were traumatized by this kiddie movie that features, according to the distributor, “burning winos, sudden baldness, psychotic teachers, suburban abductions, and juvenile sweatshops.” Starring Mathew Mackay, Michael Hogan, and Siluck Saysanasy. Directed by Michael Rubbo. Sat 8 pm. Screening Room

SIEGE (Canada, 1983)—Rarely seen thriller about the residents of an apartment building trying to protect the sole survivor of an attack on a gay bar from a right-wing mob. Directed by Paul Donovan and Maura O’Connell (DEFCON-4) Fri 8 pm. Screening Room

SLIME CITY MASSACRE (2010) and GUNS OF EDEN (2022)—The Screening Room’s days at its Boulevard Mall location come to an end with this double feature by Buffalo’s Greg Lamberson. Shot largely at the East Side’s historic Central Terminal, Massacre is a sequel to Lamberson’s 1988 debut Slime City. Guns of Eden reimagines Rambo as a female cop fighting off a rural militia during a camping trip. Thurs 7 pm. Screening Room

VAMPYROS LESBOS (Germany, 1971)—If you only ever see one Jesus Franco film, this is the one it should be. The fully restored print captures both Franco’s psychedelic leanings and the unbridled sleaze of the title. Starring Soledad Miranda, Dennis Price, and Paul Muller. Fri 10 pm. Screening Room

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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

AMC Market Arcade, 639 Main Street, Buffalo CLOSED PERMNENTLY

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 

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

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

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

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

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

The Screening Room, Boulevard Mall Amherst 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 CLOSED UNTIL SPRING