Movies in North Texas theaters on March 15 and coming soon

NEW THIS WEEK

Opening dates are subject to change.

(D-) THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES In this satirical comedy, a young man (Justice Smith) is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who are dedicated to making white people’s lives easier. Though it’s clear that first-time director Kobi Libii was intending for the joke to be on white people, the Black characters are drawn with so much misery and self-loathing that the humor rarely lands. Also starring David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz, Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer. PG-13 (for some strong language, suggestive material and thematic material). 104 mins. In wide release.

ARTHUR THE KING An adventure athlete (Mark Wahlberg) adopts a stray dog to accompany him on a 435-mile endurance race. Also starring Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel and Ali Suliman. PG-13 (for some strong language). 90 mins. In wide release.

EXHUMA In this horror thriller from South Korea, a renowned shaman (Kim Go-eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy family to investigate a supernatural illness. Not rated. 134 mins. In Korean with subtitles. At AMC Grapevine Mills and Cinemark Legacy in Plano.

(C-) GLITTER AND DOOM A musician (Alan Cammish) and an aspiring circus performer (Alex Diaz) fall in love in this mixed bag of a jukebox musical. The soundtrack from the Indigo Girls hits all the right notes, but the queer love story mostly falls flat, with unwieldy dialogue that sounds like rehearsed playwright-speak instead of natural conversation. Not rated. 116 mins. At Look Dine-In Cinemas Northwest Highway.

(B) KNOX GOES AWAY After being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and facing a fast-moving form of dementia, a contract killer (director Michael Keaton) gets the chance to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged son (James Marsden). It’s a silky and entrancing noir thriller. Also starring Al Pacino and Joanna Kulig. R (for violence and language). 114 mins. In wide release.

(A-) LOVE LIES BLEEDING Gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) falls for bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O’Brian), who is passing through town on her way to chase her dreams in Las Vegas. But their love leads to violence and entanglement with Lou’s criminal family members in this gritty but darkly funny crime noir. Also starring Ed Harris, Dave Franco and Jena Malone. R (for violence and grisly images, sexual content, nudity, language throughout and drug use). 104 mins. In wide release.

THE NEON HIGHWAY A singer-songwriter (Rob Mayes) meets a washed-up country legend (Beau Bridges), and they team up to pitch their music in Nashville. PG-13 (for some language). 113 mins. At Cinépolis Euless.

(B+) ONE LIFE This biographical drama tells the story of Nicholas “Nicky” Winton (played by Johnny Flynn in his younger days and Anthony Hopkins many years later), a London broker who rescued hundreds of children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. Decades later, he’s reintroduced to some of those he helped on the BBC show That’s Life!, taking him from anonymity to a national hero. It’s a stirring if by-the-numbers period piece. PG (for thematic material, smoking and some language). 109 mins. In wide release.

PASTOR’S KID In this faith-based drama, a college student (Courtney Bandeko) seeks to distance herself from a painful past, but an unforeseen circumstance compels her to reconnect with her estranged mother and find forgiveness. R (for drug use throughout and language). 90 mins. At AMC Mesquite.

(A) PROBLEMISTA In this absurdist comedy, an aspiring toy designer (Julio Torres) from El Salvador struggles to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. With time on his work visa running out, he teams up with an art world outcast (Tilda Swinton) who might offer his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dreams. It’s a beautifully moving piece about how we make it through the world with desperation, hope and the hard-earned lessons we find in each other. R (for some language and sexual content). 98 mins. At the Angelika Dallas.

SNACK SHACK In this comedy set in 1991, two best friends (Conor Sherry and Gabriel LaBelle) get a chance to run the snack shack at a local swimming pool. Also starring Mika Abdalla. R (for pervasive language, alcohol and drug use, some sexual material and smoking — all involving teens). 112 mins. In wide release.

THE THROWBACK After a holiday season breakdown, a stressed-out mom (Justina Machado) turns into the party girl of her college days. Also starring Will Sasso, Gregg Sulkin, Michelle Randolph and Bobby Lee. Not rated. 96 mins. At Galaxy Theatres Grandscape in The Colony.

UPROAR In this comedy-drama set in 1981, a 17-year-old New Zealand student (Julian Dennison) decides to take a stand as the arrival of the South African rugby team sets off nationwide protests against apartheid and racism. Also starring Rhys Darby and Minnie Driver. PG-13 (for thematic material involving racism, strong language, some violence and a crude gesture). 110 mins. At AMC Grapevine Mills, AMC Mesquite and AMC Stonebriar in Frisco.

COMING NEXT WEEK

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE In this supernatural comedy, the Spengler family returns to New York City to team up with the original Ghostbusters. When an ancient artifact threatens to unleash a new ice age, they must spring into action. Starring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Kumail Nanjiani and Patton Oswalt.

IMMACULATE Sydney Sweeney stars in this horror film about a devoutly religious woman who is offered a new role at an Italian convent that harbors dark secrets.

SHAYDA A young Iranian mother (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) and her 6-year-old daughter seek refuge in an Australian women’s shelter. But when the woman’s estranged husband re-enters their lives, their path to freedom is put in jeopardy.

SLEEPING DOGS Grappling with memory loss, a former homicide detective (Russell Crowe) is forced to revisit a decade-old case he can’t remember.

THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER In this animated drama, a New York journalist sets out to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of Francisco Tenório Júnior, a young Brazilian samba-jazz pianist who disappeared in Buenos Aires in 1976.

WILLIAM SHATNER: YOU CAN CALL ME BILL This documentary examines the life and career of Star Trek actor William Shatner.

CURRENT RELEASES

ACCIDENTAL TEXAN A young actor (Rudy Pankow) finds himself stranded in Texas, where he’s taken under the wing of a struggling oil driller (Thomas Haden Church). Also starring Carrie-Anne Moss. PG-13 (for strong language and brief violence). 104 mins.

(B+) AMERICAN FICTION Fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on clichés and offensive tropes, a novelist (Jeffrey Wright) uses a pen name to release an outlandish book of his own in this immensely watchable satire. Smart and funny, the film relies on its sharp script and charismatic actors to carry the audience through. Wright is particularly delightful at the center of it all. R (for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence). 117 mins.

(B-) ARGYLLE In this garishly over-the-top action-comedy thriller from director Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman franchise), introverted author Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) learns that the plots of her spy novels mirror the actions of a real-life spy organization. When an undercover spy (Sam Rockwell) shows up to save her from being kidnapped or killed, Elly and her cat are plunged into a world of international intrigue. Vaughn delights in letting audiences think they know where things are going only to blindside them with a fresh twist every few minutes. Also starring Henry Cavill, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson. PG-13 (for strong violence and action and some strong language). 139 mins.

(B-) THE BEEKEEPER Jason Statham stars in this action thriller about a former operative of a clandestine organization who sets out to exact revenge over a friend’s death. It’s a bloody, profoundly silly and self-aware John Wick knockoff, but without the poetry and soulfulness of those films. Still, as dumb action movies go, it’s wildly entertaining. Also starring Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad and Jeremy Irons. R (for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use). 105 mins.

(C) BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE Kingsley Ben-Adir stars in this biographical drama about the reggae music icon. Ben-Adir lacks the physical dynamism and charismatic velocity of Marley, and the film too often feels like it’s going through the motions rather than striving for transcendence. PG-13 (for marijuana use and smoking throughout, some violence and brief strong language). 107 mins.

(B) CABRINI After witnessing disease and poverty in the slums of 1889 New York, Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini (Cristiana Dell’Anna) sets out to persuade the city’s hostile mayor to provide housing and health care for orphaned children. The film feels overlong and suffers from repetition and an over-reliance on melodramatic plot devices. But it nonetheless delivers a compelling portrait of a little-known heroine. PG-13 (for thematic material, some violence, language and smoking). 145 mins.

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA — TO THE HASHIRA TRAINING In the latest installment of the popular Japanese anime series, Tanjiro trains to take on a demon, and the Hashira prepare for a final battle. R (for violence and bloody images). 104 mins.

(A) DUNE: PART TWO Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) takes up with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen in this spectacular feat of sci-fi filmmaking that marries immersive world-building with engrossing storytelling. Austin Butler is captivating and unsettling as Paul’s dark counterpart, the murderous Feyd-Rautha, delivering a nearly reptilian performance. Also starring Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista and Christopher Walken. PG-13 (for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language). 166 mins.

IMAGINARY In this horror flick from Blumhouse, a woman (DeWanda Wise) moves back into her childhood home and finds that Chauncey, the stuffed bear she left behind, is angry over being abandoned. PG-13 (for some violent content, drug material and language). 104 mins.

(B+) THE IRON CLAW This gritty sports drama tells the real-life story of the Von Erich brothers, who started their pro wrestling careers in North Texas and made a name for themselves in the early 1980s. Writer-director Sean Durkin crafts a heartfelt story about a family struggling to uphold its legacy amid unspeakable tragedies, and the wrestling scenes and re-creation of Dallas’ Sportatorium venue are well-done. Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons and Holt McCallany. R (for language, suicide, some sexuality and drug use). 132 mins.

(B) KUNG FU PANDA 4 In this predictable but pleasant animated comedy sequel, Po (voiced by Jack Black) becomes the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace and must train a new Dragon Warrior. The humor in this edition doesn’t seem as broad as usual, with the mostly low-key laughs coming from amusing visual gags. Also featuring the voices of Viola Davis, Awkwafina, Dustin Hoffman and Bryan Cranston. PG (for martial arts action/mild violence, scary images and some mild rude humor). 94 mins.

(D) MADAME WEB In the latest underwhelming Marvel superhero tale, Dakota Johnson stars as a Manhattan paramedic who develops the power to see the future. It’s an airless and stilted endeavor driven by a mechanical screenplay, with a lack of imagination that would be astounding if it wasn’t so expected. Also starring Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor and Isabela Merced. PG-13 (for violence/action and language). 116 mins.

(B-) MIGRATION In this animated adventure comedy, ducklings try to persuade their overprotective father to take them to Jamaica on the vacation of a lifetime. Migration is vividly animated, with warm cartoon tones that would do Daffy proud. But it never quite spreads its wings. Stories of overly cautious moms or dads turned adventurers are not exactly fresh material, even if it is atypical that a helicopter parent can actually fly. Featuring the voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Carol Kane, Caspar Jennings, Tresi Gazal and Danny DeVito. PG (for action/peril and mild rude humor). 92 mins.

NIGHT SHIFT In this horror thriller, a young woman (Phoebe Tonkin) working her first night shift at a remote hotel begins to suspect that the property is haunted. Not rated. 82 mins.

NIGHT SWIM In this horror thriller, a family moves into a new home whose swimming pool holds a dark secret. Starring Wyatt Russell, Kerry Condon, Amélie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren. PG-13 (for terror, some violent content and language). 98 mins.

(B-) OPPENHEIMER Cillian Murphy leads a stacked cast — including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Casey Affleck, Gary Oldman and Kenneth Branagh — in this study of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist behind the atomic bomb. Director Christopher Nolan dominates viewers with a visual and sonic riptide, bringing a jagged, dissonant sensibility to a film that focuses less on facts and more on feeling as it thrusts the audience into the advent and fallout of the nuclear arms race. R (for some sexuality, nudity and language). 180 mins.

(B) ORDINARY ANGELS A Kentucky hairdresser (Hilary Swank) rallies the community to help a widowed father (Alan Ritchson) save the life of his critically ill young daughter in this faith-based film that’s inspired by a true story. What lifts the picture beyond average inspirational fluff is the way director Jon Gunn and company control the slow release of its sweetness so as not to overpower. Even cynics will be won over by the human kindness on display. Also starring Skywalker Hughes, Nancy Travis and Amy Acker. PG (for thematic content, brief bloody images and smoking). 116 mins.

(A) POOR THINGS After being brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe), a young woman (Emma Stone) runs off with a debauched lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) in an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation. Stone delivers an astonishing performance and is perhaps the only actress who could convincingly convey such simultaneous expressions of sincerity, absurdity, intelligence, libidinousness and humor in director Yorgos Lanthimos’ strange masterpiece. R (for strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore and language). 141 mins.

(B) WONKA Timothée Chalamet stars in this origin story of Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolatier at the center of Roald Dahl’s iconic children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s a fun, old-fashioned film that sands off all the rough and dark edges of Wonka’s character in what may be the squarest large-scale Hollywood musical in decades. Also starring Hugh Grant, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson and Olivia Colman. PG (for some violence, mild language and thematic elements). 116 mins.

Compiled from staff and wire reports