A bunch of grownup movies and Milwaukee’s first all-documentary film festival light up theaters this week.
Here’s what’s new in Milwaukee-area theaters starting Friday, as well as some of the new movies available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘The Wild Robot’
Short version: A robot stranded on an uninhabited island learns how the other half — the animal half — lives in DreamWorks’ animated tale. The voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill and more.
Where you can see it: ACX Cinema/Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Oriental Theatre; Silverspot Cinema.
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‘My Old Ass’
Short version: While celebrating her 18th birthday, a young woman (Maisy Stella) takes hallucinogenic mushrooms and meets her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza), who tries to help her avoid the mistakes she knows she’s going to make. Megan Park wrote and directed this coming-of-age comedy.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
‘Megalopolis’
Short version: Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious, controversial (on several levels) fable follows an architect (Adam Driver) whose dreams of remaking an American metropolis collide with the corrupt status quo. Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight, Dustin Hoffman and many more co-star.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
‘Lee’
Short version: Kate Winslet plays war correspondent and photographer Lee Miller, whose drive to capture the human cost of war had a cost for her as well. Andy Samberg, Marion Cotillard and Josh O’Connor co-star.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Majestic, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema.
‘Notice to Quit’
Short version: In this comedy, a rental agent (Michael Zegen) tries to find tenants for properties while facing eviction himself — even as his estranged 10-year-old daughter re-enters his life.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Ridge cinemas.
‘Empire Waist’
Short version: Encouraged by her father, her teacher and her best friend, a plus-size high school student pursues her dream of fashion design in this comedy-drama.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Menomonee Falls cinemas.
‘Bagman’
Short version: Years after he escaped the clutches of a mythical creature that steals kids, a father (Sam Claflin) worries the boogeyman is in pursuit of his wife and son.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls, South Shore cinemas.
‘Azrael’
Short version: In this horror movie set in a post-apocalyptic future where no one speaks, a woman has to fight for survival when she’s offered up as a sacrifice to an ancient evil.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Menomonee Falls, Ridge cinemas.
‘Faith of Angels’
Short version: In this faith-fueled drama, a stranger hears a voice telling him to search for a boy lost in an abandoned mine.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls Cinema.
‘Vindicating Trump’
Short version: Right-wing commentator Dinesh D'Souza looks at what he claims is a conspiracy to deny Trump the White House in 2024.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Menomonee Falls, Ridge cinemas.
Dialogues Documentary Festival at Oriental, Downer theaters
Milwaukee Film’s first Dialogues Documentary Festival runs through Sept. 29 at the Oriental and Downer theaters. Highlights include: “War Game,” a real-time exercise on stopping a coup after a contested election (7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Oriental); “An Invitation to Wonder: Waubesa Wetlands,” exploring wetlands in central Wisconsin (8:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Downer); and “The Book of Mary — A Memorable Man,” a portrait of blind Milwaukee savant and musician Leslie Lemke (noon Sept. 29, Oriental). Conversations and Q&A’s will follow many of the screenings. Tickets for movies in the festival are $15. Info: mkefilm.org/ddf.
RELATED:What to watch at Milwaukee Film's first Dialogues Documentary Festival
‘Saving Private Ryan’ at Downer Theatre with Ed Burns
Actor Ed Burns talks about his debut novel, “A Kid From Marlboro Road,” then introduces a screening of “Saving Private Ryan” (Burns co-stars in the 1998 World War II epic) at the Downer Theatre at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 30. The $40 admission includes the movie and a signed copy of Burns’ novel. Info: mkefilm.org/oriental-theatre.
‘Major League’ at Times Cinema
For the final weekend of baseball’s regular season, the Times Cinema is showing “Major League” at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Times Cinema. Tickets are $6. Info: ntg-wi.com.
Free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area
Milwaukee/Lake Park: The Lake Park Friends wraps up its movie series with “Casper” at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the park's Summer Stage, 2975 N. Lake Park Road. Info: Lake Park Friends Facebook page.
Halloween movies at Milky Way Drive-In
The Milky Way Drive-In, next to Franklin Field in Ballpark Commons, fills its screen with horror and other Halloween-centric movies for the next month. Showing this week: Sept. 27, "The Addams Family" at 6:30 p.m., "The Cabin in the Woods" at 9:15 p.m.; Sept. 28, "The Goonies" at 5 p.m., "Scream" at 7:30 p.m., "Oddity" at 10 p.m.; Sept. 29, "The Addams Family" at 5 p.m., "Friday the 13th" at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 3, a double feature of "Insidious" and "Abigail" at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $35 per carload. Info: milkwaydrivein.com.
New movies on demand
“Amber Alert”: A ride-share driver (Tyler James Williams) and his passenger (Hayden Panettiere) realize the car flagged in a new Amber Alert message is right in front of them, and they give pursuit. Available Sept. 27.
“Another Happy Day”: A 35-year-old artist and new mom bonds with her estranged aunt, a reclusive stage actor. Actor and UW-Madison alum Carrie Coon co-stars in and co-produced this comedy. Available Oct. 1.
"Haunted Heart”: A waitress at a restaurant on a remote Greek island falls for the manager, who turns out to be hiding some dark secrets. Matt Dillon, Aida Folch and Juan Pablo Urrego star in this thriller. Available Sept. 27.
“Art Dealers”: Rock band Low Cut Connie is the focus of this concert documentary. Available Oct. 1.
Recent releases newly available on demand: “The 4:30 Movie,” Oct. 1; “The Wasp” (2024), Oct. 1; “City of Dreams” (2024), Oct. 1.
New movies on streaming services
“Will & Harper”: When Will Ferrell's friend Harper — a writer and Ferrell's frequent collaborator since their days at “Saturday Night Live” — comes out as a trans woman, they take a road trip, chronicled in this documentary. On Netflix Sept. 27.
“House of Spoils”: In this thriller, Ariana DeBose plays a chef whose bid to open her first restaurant is challenged by a dubious investor, her own self-doubt and the meddlesome spirit of the estate’s previous owner. On Prime Video Oct. 3.
“Salem’s Lot”: An author who returns to his hometown for inspiration discovers it’s under attack by a vampire in the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic horror story. On Max Oct. 3.
“Apartment 7A”: A young dancer is welcomed into a mysterious New York City apartment building in this prequel to “Rosemary’s Baby.” Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest and Jim Sturgess star. On Paramount+ Sept. 27.
“Rez Ball”: In this sports drama, a Native American high school basketball team regroups after losing their star player during their quest for a state championship. On Netflix Sept. 27.
“She Taught Love”: A former TV star whose career has been reduced to playing gang members falls for a sports agent facing her own mortality in this romance. On Hulu Sept. 27.
“Patrice: The Movie”: This documentary follows a disabled couple in their 50s who want to marry but risk losing their benefits, so they decide to chance it with a commitment ceremony instead. On Hulu Sept. 30.
Recent releases newly available on streaming services: “Wolfs,” Apple TV+ Sept. 27; “What You Wish For,” Hulu Sept. 27; “Babes,” Hulu Sept. 30; “Abracadaver,” Hulu Oct. 2.
