As we are heading into the Summer Blockbuster Season, we are also leaving what can only be described as this year's “Monkey Era” with the releases of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” “Monkey Man,” and last week’s “The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
“The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” outperformed the initial box office estimates in its first weekend and was well received by audiences. Going into the film, while this was a lot of fun, if you’re hoping for a continuation of Caesar’s story, you may be disappointed; this is a relaunch of the previous trilogy, generations in the future with new characters and ape clans to get to know. Along the “this was a lot of fun to watch" lines, “Challengers” and “The Fall Guy” are still available in theaters.
Whether the limited amount of films releasing this week is because of how close we are to summer or the possibility studios were unsure if anything should be pitted between last weeks “The Fall Guy” and next week's “Furiosa” is unknown, but it could still be a good weekend to find yourself with a bucket of popcorn in your lap at the theater. Hoping to bring in families is the anticipated release of John Krasinski’s film about imaginary friends, “IF;” which might sound familiar to you since Chris Hrapsky’s imaginary friend, Blue, made an appearance on KARE 11 Saturday a few weeks ago. As well, “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” and the United States release of the Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” are out this week.
“I Saw The TV Glow” (PG-13)
Jane Schoenbrun is following up their 2021 debut film “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” with the eerie psychodrama “I Saw The TV Glow.” The film tells the story of Owen who is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs, when a classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show. Through the show, Owen is introduced to a supernatural world and his perception of reality falters.
Having premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival before heading to the Berlin and SXSW festivals, “I Saw the TV Glow” is one of the buzziest films to get a theatrical release. The limited release earlier this month saw the same positive reception that the film festivals did and is now getting its nationwide expansion.
The film stars Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, and Danielle Deadwyler.
In theaters: May 17, 2024 via A24
Runtime: 1 hour, 40 mins
Showtimes by theater: The Main, Showplace Icon, Alamo Drafthouse, Marcus Oakdale, AMC Rosedale, AMC Southdale, Emagine Willow Creek, Emagine Eagan
“Wildcat” (R)
Written and directed by Ethan Hawke, “Wildcat” is a biographical film about novelist Flannery O’Conner as she struggles to publish her debut novel “Wise Blood.”
O’Conner is said to be one of the most evocative and ambitious writers in America. Best known for her short stories, O’Conner lived in Georgia, grew up Catholic, and was diagnosed with Lupus at age 24, leading to many of her stories to explore mortality, faith and hypocrisy. She died at the age of 39.
“Wildcat” made its way around the festival circuit last fall before being picked up by Oscilloscope in January 2024. The film stars Rafael Casal, Philip Ettinger, Cooper Hoffman, Steve Zahn, and Laura Linney; and sees Hawke not only work with but direct his daughter, Maya Hawke who stars as O’Conner, for the first time.
In theaters: May 17, 2024 via
Runtime: 1 hour, 43 mins
Showtimes by theater: The Main and Marcus Oakdale
“The Blue Angels” (G)
Odds are at some point in your life you’ve either seen or heard the Blue Angels flying over your home or workplace. Now, the legendary Naval squad is hitting the big screen in a never-before-seen documentary experience.
Chronicling a year with the Flight Demonstration Squadron, “The Blue Angels” gives audiences a behind the scenes look at the training, teamwork, and passion that fuels them.
The documentary was filmed for IMAX and was directed by Paul Crowder.
In theaters: May 17, 2024 via Amazon Studios
Runtime: 1 hour, 34 mins
Showtimes by theater: AMC Rosedale and AMC Eden Prairie Mall
If you're in the mood for a cinematic experience of classic and favorite films of the past, "Uncle Buck"(PG) and "My Fair Lady" (G) are making appearances at the Alamo Drafthouse in Woodbury this weekend.
"Uncle Buck" stars the incomparable John Candy as the laid back, commitment-phobe Buck tasked with babysitting his brothers rebellious, but cute children played by a pre-"Home Alone" Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelley, and Gaby Hoffmann. The film plays at the Woodbury cinema at 6:15 pm on Saturday, May 18th.
"My Fair Lady" is set in London in the early 1900s and follows Henry Higgins as he tries to win the bet that he can make Eliza Doolittle presentable to high society. This 1964 adaption of the musical stars Rex Harrison as Higgins and Audrey Hepburn as Doolittle. The film plays at 2:25 pm on Sunday, May 19th.
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