Buffalo Movies: Tons of new movies are opening in local theaters. Film Focus is your guide to what’s showing and where

(Above: You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) (2025). Image via IMDB).

By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK:

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

BAD APPLES (R) Dark comedy starring Saoirse Ronan as a teacher who resorts to extreme measures to deal with a difficult student. With Eddie Waller, Nia Brown, and Jacob Anderson. Directed by Jonatan Etzler Market Arcade

THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (1982, R) Dolly Parton as a madame in a squeaky-clean musical about a Texas brothel. With Burt Reynolds, Charles Durning, Jim Nabor, and Dom DeLuise channeling Ernest Angley. Directed by Colin Higgins (9 to 5). North Park

CHARLIE HARPER (R) Romantic drama charting five years in the lives of a young couple with conflicting personal goals. Starring Emilia Jones and Nick Robinson. Directed by Tom Dean and Mac Eldridge. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

CONCESSIONS (2025) (NR) Michael Madsen’s last film appearance was a cameo in this wistful drama about the last day of an upstate movie theater before it closes forever. Starring Rob Riordan, Jonathan Lorenzo Price, and Lana Rockwell. Directed by Mas Bouzidi. Market Arcade

DOROTHY (NR) Independently produced Tamil drama set in a village where the dominant machismo is upset by the arrival of a woman from the outside. Starring Keerthy Suresh, Sananth and Rishikanth. Directed by Karthik Subbaraj. Regal Elmwood

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, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

HA-CHAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY! (R) Winner of the Directing Award (Dramatic) at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, a story of grief overcome by the love of dancing. Starring Rinko Kikuchi, Alberto Guerra, Alejandro Edda, and Damián Alcázar. Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka. Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit

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 Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

NO LIMBS, NO LIMITS: THE NICKV STORY (NR) Documentary about the life of Nick Vujicic, born without arms or legs, and the parents who determined that he would grow into a normal life. Directed by Matthew Thayer. Regal Quaker

PRADHAMA DHRISHTYA KUTTAKKAR (Prima Facie Guilty) (NR) Malayalam crime drama starring Parvathy Thiruvothu as a widow who joins the police force after her husband was killed in the line of duty, With Mathew Thomas, Unnimaya Prasad and Sidharth Bharathan. Directed by Shahad Nilambur Regal Elmwood

PRIMETIME (R) Robet 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, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

THE PARADISE Telugu drama set in the 1980s as a tribal group struggles for legal recognition and protection under Indian law. Starring Nani, Kayadu Lohar, and Raghav Juyal. Directed by Srikanth Odela. Regal Elmwood

THE STUNT DRIVER (R) Comedians head the cast of this movie based on the life of Canadian stuntman Ken Carter, who in the 1970s attempted to drive a rocket car across the Saint-Laurent river. Starring Jay Baruchel, Ed Helms, Ben Foster, Laurence Leboeuf, and Dan Bakkedahl. Directed by Michael Dowse (Stuber). Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE VVAAN: FORCE OF THE FORREST (NR) Hindi language fantasy about a city man visiting a rural village who ignores warnings not to enter a local forest after dark. Starring Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Anup Soni. Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra. Regal Elmwood

TUTT PAINI ENGLISH NE (NR) Comedy set in a Punjabi village where a new daughter in law hopes to impress a rival family with her command of English, even though she can’t speak it at all. Starring Mandy Takhar, Simi Chahal, and Satvinder Singh. Directed by Varinder Sharma Regal Elmwood

YOU HAD TO BE THERE (NR) Documentary about the 1972 Toronto production of Godspell that launched the careers of Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Eugene Levy, Paul Shaffer and others. Directed by Nick Davis. Dipson Amherst, North Park

NOW PLAYING:

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. Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Transit, 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). AMC Maple Ridge, Regal Quaker, Transit Drive-In Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

THE END OF OAK STREET (PG-13) J.J. Abrams produced this Spielberg-ish fantasy adventure that catapults a suburban street into a land inhabited by dinosaurs. Starring Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, and P.J. Byrne. Directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows). Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sun 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 Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Transit Drive-In Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

THE ODYSSEY (R) Christopher Nolan’s epic 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, Regal Walden Galleria 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, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE (PG) For the kids. With the voices of Mckenna Grace, Fortune Feimster, Terry Crews, Jameela Jamil, Snoop Dogg, and Jennifer Hudson. Directed by Cal Brunker. Aurora , Joylan

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 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 Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

RUNNER (PG-13) Alan Ritchson as a former soldier battling a drug cartel to deliver a medical package needed to save the life of a young girl. With Owen Wilson and Leila George. Directed by Scott Waugh (Expend4bles). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit 

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM (PG) Third theatrical feature from the “Wallace & Gromit” spin-off series. With the voices of Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, and Kate Harbour. Directed by Steve Cox and Matthew Walker. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

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). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dunkirk Multiplex, Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive-In Theatre (Fri-Sun only)

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (R) Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow) wrote and directed this queer tribute to/update of slasher movies that opened the Cannes Film Festival. Starring Hannah Einbinder, Gillian Anderson, Jack Haven, and Patrick Fischler. Market Arcade

TONY (R) Biopic based on the formative year when Anthony Bourdain got his first restaurant job. Starring stars Dominic Sessa Emilia Jones, Dagmara Domińczyk, and Antonio Banderas. Directed by Matt Johnson (Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie). Aurora

THE WEIGHT (R) Depression era drama starring Ethan Hawke as a prisoner desperate to be reunited with his daughter. With Russell Crowe, Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, and Avi Nash. Directed by Padraic McKinley. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC.

AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973, PG) – George Lucas’ heartfelt tribute to his high school days didn’t so much invent fifties nostalgia as capitalize 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. Sun only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1978, PG) The outer space action movie that inspired the subsequent TV series. Starring Richard Hatch, Lorne Greene, Dirk Benedict, Ray Milland, and Rick Springfield. Directed by Richard A. Colla. Sat 11:30 am, Sun 11:30am, 9:45 pm. North Park

BULLITT (1968) Steve McQueen as a hardbitten cop in a movie best remembered for its spectacular car chase on the hilly streets of San Francisco. With Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Vaughn and Norman Fell. Directed by Peter Yates (Breaking Away). Sat 12:30 pm, Mon 8 pm. Market Arcade

ENTER THE DRAGON (1973)—The last film completed by Bruce Lee before his untimely death. Co-starring John Saxon, Ahna Capri, Angela Mao, Jim Kelly, and Bolo Yeung; look closely and you may be able to spot Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao in bit parts. The credited director is Robert Clouse, though Lee was in charge of most of the production. (R) Fri 10 pm, Sun 2 pm, Weds 8 pm. Market Arcade

THE GETAWAY (1972, 1972) Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw as outlaws on the run after a successful job in Sam Peckinpah’s adaptation of a Jim Thompson pulp novel. With Ben Johnson, Sally Struthers, Bo Hopkins, and Slim Pickens. Weds only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981, NR)—Ever wonder why Mel Gibson gets cut so much slack despite being such a neanderthal? Here’s the answer. Any list of the greatest cult films of all time that doesn’t include this apocalyptic classic was compiled by someone you shouldn’t trust. And it also belongs on any top 100 list of Films You Haven’t Really Seen Until You’ve Seen Them in a Theater. Directed by George Miller. (1982) Tues only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)—Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller starring Cary Grant as an innocent man on the run from he’s not sure who. Eva Marie Sainte is on hand to help, with James Mason and Martin Landau hovering about. Mount Rushmore, orgasmic fireworks, crop duster. Fri only – see individual theaters for show times. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

TREMORS (1990, PG-13) Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward as lummoxes trapped in a desert town by giant underground worms in this endlessly rewatchable monster comedy. With Finn Cater, Michael Gross, and Reba McIntire. Directed by Ron Underwood (City S lickers). Mon 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