Buffalo Movies: New films are set to open this weekend. Here’s what they are and where to see them.

(Above: Wagner Moura and Marcelo Valle in The Secret Agent (2025) via IMDB).

By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK: 

THE BRIDE (R) Maggie Gyllenhaal wrote and directed this loose adaptation of The Bride of Frankenstein, updated to 1930s Chicago. Starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

DOLLY (R) Horror movie in which a young woman is captured by a monster who wants to raise her as its child. Starring Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott, and Ethan Suplee. Directed by Rod Blackhurst. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

HOPPERS (PG) This year’s Pixar entry borrows heavily from Avatar for an ecologically conscious story about a girl trying to save an animal habitat from being razed for a new highway. With the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Jon Hamm, and Meryl Streep. Directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears). AMC Maple Ridge, Aurora, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ISHQAN DE LEKHE (NR) No plot synopsis is available for this Indian film, apparently a romantic drama to judge by the trailer. Starring Raghavv Bbhanot, Arshdeep Kaur Bhatti, and Gurnam Bhullar. Directed by Manvir Brar. Regal Elmwood

MENSION HOUSE MALL ESH (NR) Telugu-language rural comedy. Starring Srinath Maganti, Gayathri Ramana, and Sai Kamakshi Bhaskarla. Directed by Bala Satish. Regal Elmwood

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN (R) In this spin-off from the British series about a criminal gang of working-class youths after the first World War, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returns as England fights World War II. Co-starring Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, Barry Keoghan, and Stephen Graham. Directed by Tom Harper. North Park

PROTECTOR (R) Action adventure with Milla Jovovich as a retired war hero who has to call on her training to rescue her kidnapped daughter. With D.B. Sweeney, Matthew Modine, and Don Harvey. Directed by Adrian Grunberg (Rambo: Last Blood). Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SAMPRADAYINI SUPPINI SUDDAPOOSANI (NR) Crime comedy following a dull village secretary whose life changes when he investigates a mysterious incident. Starring Sivaji, Laya, Master Rohan and Prince Cecil. Directed by Sudheer Sreeram. Regal Elmwood

THE SECRET AGENT (R) During the Brazilian military dictatorship of the 1970s, a man on the run from a death squad seeks shelter in his hometown in this drama that has been nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Starring Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, and Udo Kier. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho (Aquarius). Dipson Amherst

TRAIN DREAMS (2025—Area theatrical premiere (for one day only) of the Oscar-nominated drama following 80 years in the life of a laboring man in the American northwest. Starring Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Nathaniel Arcand, Clifton Collins Jr., John Diehl, Paul Schneider, Kerry Condon, and William H. Macy. Directed by Clint Bentley. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (all theaters Thursday only)

NOW PLAYING: 

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. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

BUGONIA (R) The new film from Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things) is a comedy about a Big Pharma executive (Emma Stone) kidnapped by a conspiracist (Jesse Plemons) who believes her to be an evil alien. With Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (all theaters Weds only)

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). 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 Transit

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 thing in meticulously restored concert footage. Angola, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, 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, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

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). Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Transit

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). Regal Quaker

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.) Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker

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. Dunkirk Multiplex

MARTY SUPREME (R) Timothée Chalamet as a character loosely based on 1950’s ping pong hustler Marty Reisman. With Odessa A’zion, Larry ‘Ratso’ Sloman, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Directed by Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems). Read M. Faust’s review here. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

PILLION (NR) Alexander Skarsgard as a sexual dominant who changes the life of a fledgling submissive. With Harry Melling, Douglas Hodge, and Lesley Sharp. Directed by Harry Lighton. Regal Elmwood, Regal Walden Galleria

SCREAM 7 (R) Kevin Williamson returns as writer and debuts as director for the latest in this endless horror series. Starring Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Courteney Cox, and Joel McHale. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

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

SENTIMENTAL VALUE (R) After the death of their mother, two women struggle to reconnect with their estranged father in this drama that was awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year. Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning. Directed by Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (all theaters Monday only)

SINNERS (R) From director Ryan Coogler (Creed), a genre-mixing big budget movie starring Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers in the Jim Crow south who return to their Mississippi Delta hometown to open a juke joint. With Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, and Delroy Lindo. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SOLO 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, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit 

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 Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

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, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC.

AURORA: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EARTH? (NR) Concert film featuring Norwegian alt-pop artist Aurora. Sun 3 pm. Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

BILLY IDOL SHOULD BE DEAD (NR) Presumably this documentary will explain why he’s not. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund (Metallica Saved My Life). Sun 7 pm. Dipson Amherst

NEW YORK INTL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL’S KIDS FLICKS: NATIVE STORIES (NR) The Buffalo International Film Festival presents this program of shorts by contemporary Indigenous filmmakers from across North and South America. Free and open to the public: tickets can be reserved here. Sat 11:30 am. North Park 

SHE LATE! (NR) Presented in memory of Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto, the former of whom co-stars in this locally made film about a drag trio undergoing a chaotic night. With Max Darling, and Vidalia May. Directed by Pierce McCleary. Fri 9:30 pm. North Park

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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 

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