Indie Film Release Guide: April 7th [An ONTD Original]

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This weekend belongs to Mario and Luigi, as Universal releases The Super Mario Bros. Movie the first animated film based on the classic Nintendo characters to a box office absolutely starved for children’s fare. No other major studios have stepped up to compete, though Amazon’s MGM is releasing Air for some counterprogramming. There are several promising indies coming out this weekend, so read on for more info on those, and don't forget about last week's delightful Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: March 31st, March 24th, and Mario 17th.

Showing Up

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Stars: Michelle Williams, Hong Chau, André 3000, Lauren Lakis
Writer: Jonathan Raymond, Kelly Reichardt
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A sculptor preparing to open a new show must balance her creative life with the daily dramas of family and friends.
What you should know: This is the fourth collaboration between Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams.
Where to watch: In theaters



Air

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Stars: Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, Chris Messina
Writer: Alex Convery
Director: Ben Affleck
Genre: Drama
Plot: Follows the history of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball, Michael Jordan.
What you should know: Michael Jordan’s number one request was that Viola Davis play his mother.
Where to watch: In theaters

How to Blow Up a Pipeline

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Stars: Ariela Barer, Kristine Froseth, Lukas Gage, Forrest Goodluck
Writer: Ariela Barer, Jordan Sjol, Daniel Goldhaber
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Plot: A crew of environmental activists plot a daring plan to disrupt an oil pipeline.
What you should know: Nominated at several film festivals.
Where to watch: In theaters

Paint

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Stars: Owen Wilson, Michaela Watkins, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ciara Renée
Writer/Director: Brit McAdams
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Carl Nargle, Vermont's #1 public TV painter, is convinced he has it all: a signature perm, custom van, and fans hanging on his every stroke… until a younger, better artist steals everything (and everyone) Carl loves.
What you should know: The film's up and comer is played by Ciara Renée, who is an accomplished theater actor.
Where to watch: In theaters

Joyland

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Stars: Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani
Writer: Saim Sadiq, Maggie Briggs
Director: Saim Sadiq
Genre: Drama
Plot: The youngest son in a traditional Pakistani family takes a job as a backup dancer in a Bollywood-style burlesque and quickly becomes infatuated with the strong-willed trans woman who runs the show.
What you should know: Winner of the Un Certain Regard Queer Palm at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters

Chupa

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Stars: Evan Whitten, Demián Bichir, Nickolas Verdugo, Christian Slater
Writer: Joe Barnathan, Sean Kennedy Moore, Marcus Rinehart
Director: Jonás Cuarón
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Plot: While visiting his family in Mexico, teenage Alex gains an unlikely companion when he discovers a young chupacabra hiding in his grandpa’s shed. In order to save the mythical creature, Alex and his cousins must embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
What you should know: Filmed in New Mexico.
Where to watch: Netflix

Praise This

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Stars: Chloe Bailey, Tristan Mack Wilds, Cocoa Brown, Crystal Renee Hayslett
Writer: Brandon Broussard, Tina Gordon, Hudson Obayuwana, Jana Savage
Director: Tina Gordon
Genre: Musical, Romance
Plot: Aspiring musical superstar Sam is not happy when her family moves from Los Angeles to Atlanta. But when Sam is forced to join her cousin’s struggling, underdog praise team in the lead-up to a national championship competition, she sees an opportunity to finally make her dreams come true.
What you should know: Director Tina Gordon wrote the screenplay for Drumline.
Where to watch: Peacock

One True Loves

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Stars: Phillipa Soo, Luke Bracey, Simu Liu, Michaela Conlin
Writer: Taylor Jenkins Reid, Alex J. Reid
Director: Andy Fickman
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: A woman is unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiance who has finally brought her back to life.
What you should know: Based on the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD on April 14th

Fist of the Condor

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Stars: Marko Zaror, Gina Aguad, Eyal Meyer, Man Soo Yoon
Writer/Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza
Genre: Action
Plot: A group of martial artists from around the world search for a book that contains the ancient secrets of how to overcome the limits of the human body.
What you should know: This is writer and director Ernesto Díaz Espinoza’s first film in eight years.
Where to watch: In theaters

Ride On

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Stars: Jackie Chan, Liu Haocun, Kevin Guo, Wu Jing
Writer/Director: Larry Yang
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Plot: A washed-up stuntman and his stunt horse become an overnight social media sensation when their real-life fight with debt collectors goes viral.
What you should know: It’s in Mandarin.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

The Super Mario Bros Movie (Trailer) from Universal

New to Streaming

Music Box: Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed (Trailer) on HBO
Hunger (Trailer) on Netflix
Of An Age (Trailer) on Peacock
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (Trailer) on Hulu

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?