13 Movies to Watch in April

      While our extensive summer movie preview will be available by the end of the month, let's first take a thorough look at the films releasing in April that you should keep an eye on. This month features festival favorites dating back to early last year finally making their way to theaters, as well as at least one major studio film that piques our interest. Check out the highlights below.

      13. Magic Farm (Amalia Ulman; April 25)

      Though it doesn’t fully realize the potential of her debut feature El Planeta, Amalia Ulman’s Magic Farm presents a quirky journey that satirizes Vice News-style journalism. Kent M. Wilhelm noted in his Sundance review, “I appreciated the premise of mocking opportunistic content creators masquerading as journalists, but integrating that into the ensemble's storylines poses a challenge for a second feature. The storyline gets muddled; when there’s too much happening, nothing manages to stand out. Despite this, there’s enjoyment to be found in Magic Farm; notably, Ulman’s unique voice and perspective linger with you after the film ends. It’s refreshing to see a young director experimenting and exploring new narrative and stylistic avenues.”

      12. Sacramento (Michael Angarano; April 11)

      With an endearing charm as a performer that complements his laid-back directorial style, Michael Angarano’s second feature Sacramento is a lighthearted, free-spirited road trip dramedy that hinges on its lead performances by Michael Cera and Angarano as increasingly strained best friends. Even though the film delves into themes of fatherhood, mental health, and the self-deceits we cling to, Angarano and co-writer Chris Smith don’t uncover anything particularly groundbreaking within these familiar themes. However, the film offers enough clever comedic timing and dramatic insight to make it a journey worth embarking on. – Jordan R.

      11. On Swift Horses (Daniel Minahan; April 25)

      With a noteworthy cast of emerging talent, On Swift Horses (featuring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle) debuted at TIFF last fall and is coming to theaters this month. Christopher Schobert commented in his review, “It’s fitting that this ensemble film is a soapy slice of 1950s melodrama centered on same-sex desire at a time of great danger. Adapted by Bryce Klass from Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel, Minahan—best known for directing series like Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace and Game of Thrones—brings this story to life with flair and attention to detail. At times, the tangled plotlines feel better suited for a series than a feature.”

      10. The Teacher (Farah Nabulsi; April 11)

      Following the significant Oscar win of No Other Land, more films highlighting the struggles of the Palestinian people are gaining wider distribution in the United States. Oscar-nominated director Farah Nabulsi’s drama The Teacher, featuring Saleh Bakri and Imogen Poots, will also be released this month. Jared Mobarak noted in his TIFF review, “Writer-director Farah Nabulsi effectively illustrated the stark futility of life under occupation in her Oscar-nominated short The Present a couple of years ago. By taking the seemingly ordinary act of shopping for an anniversary gift and showing how tragically difficult it can become when armed individuals intervene, she captured the exhaustion and unavoidable anger that Palestinians experience daily. It’s no surprise, then, that her feature debut The Teacher mirrors this, expanding upon the length of the film with a more substantial narrative.”

      9. Sinners (Ryan Coogler; April 18)

      After nearly a decade entrenched in the Marvel universe, Ryan Coogler is finally venturing out. The director has partnered once again with Michael B. Jordan (twice) for the upcoming period horror-thriller Sinners, which also features Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, and Delroy Lindo. The latest trailer reveals a vampire twist set in the 1930s Jim Crow South, and we hope Coogler delivers some heart-pounding thrills before the summer movie season fully kicks off. – Jordan R.

      8. The Wedding Banquet (Andrew Ahn; April 18)

      Although remakes often come with challenges, one upcoming crowd-pleaser appears to have succeeded. Andrew Ahn’s latest film, The Wedding Banquet—a remake of the Ang Lee classic—brings together Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, Kelly Marie Tran, Joan Chen, Han Gi-chan, and Youn Yuh-jung, with a screenplay co-written with James Schamus, who co-wrote and produced the original 1993 romantic comedy. After its premiere at Sundance, this film will have a wider release this month.

      7. The