July 25 – July 31, 2025

By M. Faust

(Above: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” via IMDB).

OPENING THIS WEEK:

BAMBI: THE RECKONING (NR) From the new genre of “Horror movies based on characters you loved as a child that are now out of copyright so some jerk can do whatever they want with them.” Starring Roxanne McKee, Samira Mighty and Nicola Wright. Directed by Dan Allen. Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (PG-13) The beginning of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Which either means something to you or it doesn’t. Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss‑Bachrach and Julia Garner. Directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley (Fri-Sun only), Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive In

HARI HARA VEERA MALLU PART 1: SWORD VS SPIRIT (NR) The adventures of a 17^th century Indian equivalent of Robin Hood. Starring Anupam Kher, Nargis Fakhri, and Bobby Deol. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and A. M. Jyothi Krishna. Regal Elmwood

THE HOME (R) Sentenced to do community service at an old age home, Max (Pete Davidson) discovers spooky stuff. It is apparently not a comedy. With John Glover, Bruce Altman and Ethan Phillips. Directed by James DeMonaco, who wrote and/or directed most of the The Purge movies. Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria

HOUSE ON EDEN (R) Found-footage horror about paranormal investigators at an abandoned house in the woods. Starring Celina Myers, Jason‑Christopher Mayer and Kris Collins, who also directed. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

MAAREESAN (NR) Tamil comedy-drama about a petty thief trying to get information about a hidden fortune from a man with Alzheimer’s disease. Starring Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu, and Kovai Sarala. Directed by Sudheesh Sankar. Regal Elmwood

OH, HI! (R) Modern relationships as seen through the eyes of a young couple off on their first romantic weekend together. Starring Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan and David Cross. Directed by Sophie Brooks. North Park, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SHOSHANA (NR) Historical drama set in Palestine during the final years of the British Mandate, as British officers try to track down Zionist terrorists. Starring Irina Starshenbaum, Harry Melling, Douglas Booth and Ian Hart. Directed by Michael Winterbottom (The Trip). North Park

SORRY, BABY (R) Satirical comedy-drama about a literature professor (Eva Victor, who also wrote and directed) attempting to move on with her life after she is sexually assaulted by a colleague. With Naomi Ackie, Louis Cancelmi and John Carroll Lynch. Regal Quaker

THALAIVAN THALAIVII (NR) Tamil romcom about a couple whose marriage may not survive their joint ownership of a restaurant. Starring Vijay Sethupathi, Yogi Babu, and Nithya Menen. Directed by Pandiraj. Regal Elmwood

NOW PLAYING:

28 YEARS LATER (R) Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland are both back for this sequel to 28 Days Later in which a survivor of the plague journeys from his safe island to the mainland to see what has become of humanity. Starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes. Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

BAD SHABBOS (NR) Bad Santa was over 20 years ago—why did this take so long? Starring Milana Vayntrub, Kyra Sedgwick, Method Man, David Paymer and Josh Mostel. Directed by Daniel Robbins (Citizen Weiner). Dipson Amherst

EDDINGTON (R) Social satire with a small western town as a microcosm of modern America. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. Directed by Ari Aster (Beau is Afraid). AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Amherst, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ELIO (PG) An imaginative kid gets to live out his dreams of space exploration in this new Pixar movie. With the voices of Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly and Brad Garrett. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

F1 THE MOVIE (PG-13) Brad Pitt as a Formula 1 driver. With Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick). AMC Maple Ridge, Aurora, Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Transit Drive In

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (PG) Another live action remake of an animated classic. Starring Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerald Butler and Nick Frost. Directed by Dean DeBlois, who also did the animated version. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (R) Remake of the 1997 horror movie, don’t ask me why. Starring Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley (Fri-Sun only), Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In

JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH (PG-13) Illustrating Joe Bob Briggs’ law of sequels: When you make a sequel, it should be as much as possible the exact same movie as all the others. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend. Directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley (Fri-Sun only), Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive In

LILO & STITCH (PG) Another live-action remake of a Disney animated. Didn’t they learn anything from Snow White? Starring Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On). Regal Quaker, Transit Drive-In

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (PG-13) Sequel. Expect Tom Cruise to show off his peculiar running stance a lot. With Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales and Angela Bassett. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Regal Transit

SMURFS (PG) With the voices of Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, John Goodman, Kurt Russell and Jimmy Kimmel. Directed by Chris Miller (Shrek the Third). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Aurora, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley (Fri-Sun only), Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In

SUPERMAN (PG-13) Director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) takes over the task of trying to turn the original superhero into a studio tentpole. Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Bradley Cooper, Skyler Gisondo, and Wendell Pierce. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Angola (closed Tues-Weds), Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley (Fri-Sun only), Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive In

ETC:

3 (NR)— When a young man is told he will die in three days, he struggles to prioritize his remaining time in this feature directed by Buffalo native Peter Ney, who will be at the screening for a Q&A. Starring Caleb Ruminer, Anna Grace Barlow, Michael Paré and Eric Roberts. Fri 7 pm. North Park

AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)—George Lucas’ heartfelt tribute to his high school days didn’t so much invent 1950s nostalgia as capitalize on it, so he’s not entirely to blame for “Happy Days.” The intervening histories of the film’s once-fresh cast (including Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul LeMat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Suzanne Somers and, if you can spot him, Harrison Ford) makes it look rather different than it did fifty years ago. Fri, Tues 7 pm Screening Room

THE GOONIES (1985, PG) and GREMLINS (1984, PG)—Kids versus monsters in this this week’s retro 80s double feature. Tues at dusk. Transit Drive In

I NEVER FORGET THAT I CAN FEEL (NR)—A young man struggles to provide for himself and his sister after the death of their parents in this short film by Depew’s Brandon Bundschuh. Presented as a benefit for Oishei Children’s Hospital. Sat 11:30 am. North Park 

SUMMER WARS (Japan, 2009)—Restored edition of the classic anime directed by Mamoru Hosoda. The English dubbed version will be shown Sun 11:30 am and Mon 7 pm; the original Japense version with English subtitles will be shown Sun 4:40 pm and Tues 7 pm. North Park

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THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

AMC Maple Ridge, 4276 Maple Road, Amherst www.amctheatres.com

AMC Market Arcade, 639 Main Street, Buffalo www.amctheatres.com

Angola Theatre, 72 N. Main St., Angola, NY

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

Dipson McKinley (Fri-Sun only), 3701 McKinley Parkway, Hamburg 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/

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/

The Screening Room, Boulevard Mall Amherst www.screeningroom.net

Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, 23 S Main Street, Warsaw www.thespotlighttheaters.com/

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