By John Corrado

New releases for the week of April 4th, 2025.

Theatrical Releases:

A Minecraft Movie (Wide Release): The biggest of this week’s new releases is this adaptation of the immensely popular online game. The cast includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa and Jennifer Coolidge. It’s directed by Jared Hess, of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre fame. I admittedly haven’t seen it yet, nor played the game, but I do know that it’s a hugely popular IP. I suspect kids and Minecraft fans will probably go crazy for this.

The Ballad of Wallis Island (Limited Release): This charming dramedy follows a musician (Tom Basden) who is brought to the remote Wallis Island to play a private concert for a rich fan (Tim Key), and is reunited with his former bandmate (Carey Mulligan). It’s a delightful, heartwarming film, carried strong performances from Basden, Mulligan, and a scene-stealing Key. (Full Review)

The Luckiest Man in America (Limited Release): Paul Walter Hauser stars as an eccentric game show contestant in the 1980s enjoying a curious winning streak during a live taping in this based-on-a-true-story film. The movie builds suspense as it shifts between the set and the control room, and serves as a great showcase for character actor Hauser. (Full Review)

The Friend (Limited Release): Naomi Watts stars as a New York writer who inherits a Great Dane named Apollo from her older friend (Bill Murray) after he dies in this drama from co-directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee. I personally had some issues with this one when I saw it at TIFF, but reviews have otherwise been genuinely pretty good. (Full Review)

More Releases: A Nice Indian Boy (Limited Release), The Spoils (Limited Release), Queen of the Ring (Limited Release), Freaky Tales (Limited), Screamboat (Limited), The Martial Artist (Limited), The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2 (Limited), Grand Tour (TIFF Lightbox)

Streaming Releases:

PULSE (Netflix), Dying for Sex (Disney+), The Apprentice (Crave), Flow (Crave)