This April, the cinematic calendar is bursting with stories that challenge, comfort, thrill, and move us. Whether you’re craving soul-searching art-house fare or pulse-pounding blockbusters, here are 11 films you absolutely don’t want to miss this month:
The Shrouds
David Cronenberg returns with a chilling, elegant exploration of death and mourning. In this movie, Vincent Cassel plays Karsh, a grieving widower who invents a morbidly fascinating technology: cameras buried with corpses, allowing loved ones to watch the decaying process. But when several graves are vandalized, Karsh and his brother-in-law (Guy Pearce) are thrown into a disturbing mystery. Inspired by Cronenberg’s own loss, the film avoids gore for an eerie, soulful meditation on sorrow and remembrance. Oops!
Release: April 18 (US)
On Swift Horses
With Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, and Jacob Elordi leading the cast, On Swift Horses is a 1950s-set tale of self-discovery. Muriel (Edgar-Jones) finds herself emotionally adrift in a new marriage until her brother-in-law’s flamboyant presence—and secrets—ignite new questions about her identity. Expect slow-burning romance, gambling, and a vivid look at lives quietly unraveling behind closed doors.
Release: April 25 (US/Canada), April 30 (France)
The Legend of Ochi
If you’ve missed the magic of handcrafted fantasy, The Legend of Ochi will enchant you. Willem Dafoe plays a grizzled hunter on a remote island plagued by mystical creatures. But the heart of the story lies with a teenage girl and her unlikely bond with a baby monster. With no CGI, just charming puppetry and practical effects, this is a heartfelt throwback to classics.
Release: April 25 (US, UK, Canada, Ireland)
Sinners
Michael B. Jordan pulls double duty as twin brothers in Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s genre-bending foray into supernatural horror. Set in 1930s Louisiana, the film explores the power of music to bridge life and death, while vampires lurk in the shadows of a blues-steeped town.
Release: April 18 (Worldwide)
Drop
In Drop, a sleek and nerve-wracking thriller from Christopher Landon, a single mom’s dinner date turns into a nightmare. Violet (Meghann Fahy) is forced into a deadly dilemma: poison her companion or risk her son’s life. Set in one location, the film ramps up the tension with each course. Smart, spare, and emotionally driven, this is date-night suspense at its sharpest.
Release: April 11 (International)
Warfare
You’ve never experienced war quite like this. Co-directed by Civil War’s Alex Garland and real-life veteran Ray Mendoza, Warfare is a 90-minute recreation of an actual combat encounter Mendoza lived through. It’s raw, relentless, and brutally immersive. This movie is an unflinching reminder of war’s chaos and cost.
Release: April 11 (US/Canada), April 16–18 (Global)
One to One: John & Yoko
For Beatles lovers and history buffs alike, One to One offers a riveting documentary window into John Lennon’s post-Fab Four life. Focusing on his Greenwich Village years with Yoko Ono, the film captures their activism, artistry, and ambition through rare footage and candid interviews. Director Kevin Macdonald crafts a portrait of two souls trying to change the world—with music and unrelenting passion.
Release: April 11 (US, UK, Ireland)
G20
Viola Davis kicks ass and takes no hostages in G20, a bold action thriller where the U.S. President fights terrorists at a global summit. Set in South Africa, this adrenaline-pumped flick gives us a cocktail-dress-wearing, gun-wielding leader ready to protect the free world. Think Air Force One meets Olympus Has Fallen—only this time, the commander-in-chief is a woman you don’t want to mess with.
Release: April 10 (Prime Video)
A Minecraft Movie
Yes, it’s based on the beloved video game. Yes, it’s got Jack Black. But A Minecraft Movie also throws in Jason Momoa and the eccentric comedy vision of Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite). Blending live-action performances with blocky CGI worlds, this is a wild, colorful romp that dares to not take itself too seriously. Perfect for families… or nostalgic adults.
Release: April 4 (International)
Sacramento
Michael Cera and Michael Angarano star in Sacramento, a touching indie comedy about two old friends on a California road trip filled with grief, anxiety, and unexpected growth. The dynamic is familiar—one neurotic, one chaotic—but the emotion feels raw and real. With cameos from Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine, it’s a gentle but powerful reminder that healing sometimes begins on the open road.
Release: April 11 (US)
The Wedding Banquet
Ang Lee’s 1993 rom-com gets a modern reboot in Andrew Ahn’s The Wedding Banquet. This time, the story unfolds in Seattle with a South Korean grandmother and a cast that includes Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran. The themes remain timeless: love, identity, family—and the lies we tell to hold it all together. Ahn’s version updates the original’s charm for today’s world with emotional intelligence and cultural nuance.
Release: April 18 (US/Canada)
The cinemas are overflowing with stories worth your time and imagination. So, grab your popcorn, silence your phone, and let these films pull you into new worlds—one frame at a time.
Which one’s calling your name first?
