This month, we have an all-star lineup of film contenders competing for our attention.
April’s film releases include a Zendaya-headling tennis flick, a vampire horror movie with one of the best final girls in the industry, and oh so many promising (and heartbreaking) rom-coms. Whether you’re into yelling at the TV during sporting matches or marathoning Scream, this month’s roster has something for everyone.
In order of premiere date, here are 5 upcoming movies releasing in theater and on streaming that we are looking forward to watching:
1. Música — Streaming on Prime Video, April 4
From the mind of Rudy Mancuso comes a unique musical set in New Jersey about a street performer plagued by synesthesia.
As the everyday noises around him turn into musical notes, he struggles to control the constant rhymes he hears in his head. When he meets Camila Mendes’ character, the music of his life takes a romantic, magical turn.
Film Synopsis: Rudy Mancuso, a charismatic but directionless young street performer from Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, has a unique view of the world. Thanks to a rare condition called synesthesia, he experiences everyday noises – from car horns to water droplets to doors slamming — as a series of complex rhythms. He struggles to keep the music in his head at bay, but it’s not so easily accomplished.
Cast: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, Maria Mancuso, J.B. Smoove
Trailer:
2. Monkey Man — In Theaters, April 5
Move over, John Wick, there’s a new action hero in town, and he’s played by Dev Patel.
Jordan Peele’s Monkey Man follows a man beaten to a pumble every night at an underground fight club for cash. Patel’s Kid soon sees an opportunity to retaliate against the men of the city who took everything from him with nothing more than his scarred fists.
It’s a good old-fashioned tale of revenge and senseless violence, with an actor whose versatile career gives him a unique set of skills to get the job done right.
Film Synopsis: A young man ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he’s beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, he discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.
Cast: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, Makarand Deshpande
Trailer:
3. The Greatest Hits — Streaming on Hulu, April 12
This rom-com is for the insufferable vinyl collectors and people who take their romance with a side of Remember Me-level heartbreak.
Harriet lives in mourning following the passing of her long-time boyfriend. However, she finds solace in music when she discovers certain songs can physically transport her back to a moment when the love of her life is still alive.
Things get complicated when dreamboat Justin H. Min enters the picture, forcing Harriet to choose between her time-traveling crusade and future happiness.
Film Synopsis: Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time — literally. While she relives the past through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time-traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders — even if she could change the past, should she?
Cast: Lucy Boynton, Justin H. Min, Austin Crute, David Corenswet
Trailer:
4. Abigail — In Theaters, April 19
Copyright: © 2024 Universal Studios)
Ballerina vampires, heists, boobytrapped Mansions — what more could you want in a horror flick? How about a star-studded cast of criminals being picked off one by one by a child terror?
Leading the ensemble is one of the industry’s most compelling final girls, Melissa Barrera, who is sure to slay every ounce of screen time just as she did in the Scream franchise. She’s backed by spitfire Kathryn Newton and scene-stealer Giancarlo Esposito. This accidental vampire abduction will also feature a performance from the late Angus Cloud.
Film Synopsis: Children can be such monsters. After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.
Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Alisha Weir, Kathryn Newton, William Catlett, Kevin Durand, Angus Cloud and Giancarlo Esposito.
Trailer:
5. Challengers — In Theaters, April 26
The only challenge when it comes to Challengers is finding a reason not to see this film.
Not only does this romantic sports drama look erotically enthralling and incredibly messy, but it also has powerhouse actress Zendaya as our lead tennis champ. Tashi’s unapologetic approach to the game leads this throuple down a dangerous path to victory. Who, if anyone, will come out of this battle on top?
Film Synopsis: From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.
Cast: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist
Trailer:
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What movies will you be watching this April? Share your picks in the comments below! And catch up with our March movie picks right here.
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Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a writer from Canada. She credits her passion for TV and film to superheroes, workplace comedies, cheesy holiday movies, and coming-of-age stories.
