The Best Movies To See in Theaters – New Movies Out Now
With mid-February approaching, love seems to be in the air all over the world. Of course, what more romantic date night is there than spending a Valentine’s Day seeing any one of the new movies arriving in theaters this Friday?
This weekend might not boast a vast number of mainstream titles, but the few movies that are arriving might catch some audience members’ interests. For example, the modern Frankenstein adaptation, Lisa Frankenstein, makes its theatrical debut this weekend, alongside re-released versions of 1984’s Dune and the Pixar family movie, Turning Red.
Along with those titles, you’ll also have time to catch up on some of the best releases from the previous few months, like the comedic spy movie, Argylle, the teen musical, Mean Girls, and Wonka, an imaginative prequel to the Roald Dahl children’s book.
Here are all the movies you can find playing at your local movie theaters starting this weekend.
Updated: February 8.
Popular New Releases
All the movies that have audiences buzzing or that fans have been eagerly awaiting for months.
Lisa Frankenstein
Like most well-known literary classics, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has provided the basis for endless movies, TV shows, comic books, and video games over the years. Even when held up to the vast number of other Frankenstein-related movies that came before it, though, Lisa Frankenstein appears as an entirely new translation of Shelley’s novel.
In the late 1980s, a lonely teenager (Kathryn Newton) helps a resurrected zombie from the Victorian era (Cole Sprouse) search for the missing pieces of his body, unexpectedly developing an attraction to one another over the course of their adventures.
More of a loose reimagining of Frankenstein than a straightforward adaptation, Lisa Frankenstein has drawn mostly mixed reviews from critics. While the performances and romantic chemistry between Newton and Sprouse has been positively commented on, most critics believed the movie veered too heavily towards formulaic romantic comedy tropes.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%
IMDb score: 5.9
Argylle
A loose spin-off of the popular Kingsman series, Argylle offers a humorous spin on the traditional spy story, infusing it with a meta-fictional story that’s equal parts Romancing the Stone as it is James Bond.
As she prepares to finish her latest book, a shy spy novelist (Bryce Dallas Howard) is roped into a legitimate conspiracy theory when a covert agent (Sam Rockwell) reveals her books have been predicting future events.
While its massive cast list is nothing short of impressive, Argylle has been met with mostly mixed to negative reviews from critics. Like the latest installments of the Kingsman series, many critics felt the movie valued action and poor CGI over a strong story or memorable characters, accounting for its lack of critical success.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%
IMDb score: 6.2
Anatomy of a Fall
After making its premiere at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, the French mystery thriller, Anatomy of a Fall, finally makes its way across seas to American theaters. An impeccable whodunit with aspects of a psychological legal thriller, Anatomy of a Fall has been a leading contender at most prestigious awards ceremonies (the Golden Globes, the Oscars, etc.)
After her husband (Samuel Theis) is killed from a seemingly ordinary fall outside their home, the local police attempt to determine whether the man’s wife (Sandra Hüller) was somehow involved in the incident.
Having already taken home the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Anatomy of a Fall seems a legitimate contender for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. On top of the film’s Oscar nominations–including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director–Anatomy of a Fall has earned extraordinarily rave reviews from critics.
Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 7.8
Scrambled
In her directorial debut, actor Leah McKendrick draws on her past experiences with egg-retrieval for her comedy drama, Scrambled. A riotously funny and emotional film, Scrambled’s success no doubt explains McKendrick’s recent appearance on IndieWire’s “28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch in 2023.”
After breaking up with her latest boyfriend, a neurotic young woman (McKendrick) decides to artificially freeze her eggs, ensuring she’ll be able to have babies at some point in the future.
Premiering at the prestigious South by Southwest Festival, Scrambled has earned predominantly positive reviews in the earliest days of its release. Loaded with plenty of sincere emotion and relatable humor, critics have praised McKendrick’s acting, writing, and direction on the film.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
IMDb score: 7.0
Fighter
A strange but entertaining new development in the entertainment industry involves the sudden rise in popularity of aviation-themed movies. Following in the wake of earlier action films like Top Gun: Maverick and Devotion comes the latest entry in this incredibly niche genre with the Hindi-language Fighter.
Banding together into an experimental new military unit known as the Air Dragons, a group of Indian Air Force pilots bond over their intense, often perilous missions.
The first in a planned franchise, Fighter has met with a mostly mixed response from early critics, many of whom commended the film for its leading cast members and their respective performances. However, those same critics felt the movie lacked a strong story to gauge viewers’ interests.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%
IMDb score: 7.3
Wonka
As one of the most beloved characters ever created by Roald Dahl, anticipation for Wonka was high from the get-go. Fortunately, the producers of the film managed to stick the landing, providing a fascinating backstory for Dahl’s enigmatic chocolatier.
Carrying out his lifelong ambition of becoming a candy maker, the young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) attempts to open his very own chocolate shop, only to meet with merciless competition from rival chocolatiers in his neighborhood.
Drawing a mostly positive reception in early screenings, Wonka has been deemed a suitably flavorful addition to Dahl’s list of adaptations, with many praising the film for its originality, creativity, and numerous musical numbers.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
IMDb score: 7.5
Other Movies of Note
Notable films that will likely continue playing for only a few more weeks.
Poor Things
Like most notable directors, Yorgos Lanthimos always receives respectable fanfare whenever he releases a new film, thanks in large part to the filmmaker’s skillful penchant for crafting hilarious absurdist films. Following in the footsteps of The Lobster and The Favourite, Lanthimos once again serves up a fascinating surrealist epic with his most recent film, Poor Things.
Having been resurrected by a kindly doctor (Willem Dafoe), a naïve young woman (Emma Stone) runs away with an immoral lawyer (Mark Ruffalo), experiencing the wonders of the world through a wholly new perspective.
Having won the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival upon its premiere earlier this year, Poor Things has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. In addition to Stone’s powerhouse performance, critics celebrated the film for its luminous set design and quirky script.
Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
IMDb score: 8.5
Miller’s Girl
If there’s one actor destined for greatness in the immediate near-future, it’s Jenna Ortega. Having made a name for herself with such projects as the rebooted Scream series and Netflix’s Wednesday, Ortega has managed to become a star to watch out for in the next few years, as evidenced by her performance in the thrilling drama, Miller’s Girl.
When an innocent short story assignment spirals out of control, an ambitious 18-year-old student (Ortega) and her English teacher (Martin Freeman) are implicated in a tense standoff over their alleged relationship.
While both Ortega and Freeman’s performances have earned avid acclaim, the bulk of Miller’s Girl has earned consistently negative reviews. The main point of hostility towards the film has to do with its predictable storyline, with several critics contending that Miller’s Girl was all style and little substance.
Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 25%
IMDb score: 5.6
The Boys in the Boat
Along with his career as a bankable mainstream actor, George Clooney has also earned a reputation as a proficient filmmaker, his past directorial credits including such films as Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, The Monuments Men, and the recent film, The Boys in the Boat.
Participating in the 1936 Olympic Games, the University of Washington’s men’s eight crew travel to Berlin, overcoming harrowing personal setbacks in their quest to become the best athletes in their sport.
Like most of Clooney’s other directed films, The Boys in the Boat has met with a divided response from critics. While most have complimented Clooney for his accurate depiction of the real-life story surrounding the 1936 Olympic Games, those same viewers believed The Boys in the Boat fell into the same formulaic mold as most other biographical sports dramas.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 58%
IMDb score: 7.2
Anyone But You
A romantic comedy showcasing two young stars of tomorrow, Anyone But You casts Euphoria alum Sydney Sweeney opposite burgeoning leading man Glen Powell. A contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, it’s a humorous film that coasts on the abilities of its lead cast members.
Attending her sister’s wedding in Australia, a young woman (Sweeney) reluctantly poses as the girlfriend of a former lover she personally despises (Powell). Over time, however, the two set aside their mutual animosity, reigniting the dormant feelings they previously held for each other.
Thus far, Anyone But You has met with mixed to positive reviews, with ample praise dished out to Sweeney and Powell’s performances and chemistry. On the flip side, the film has been criticized for its predictable plot line and more mean-spirited humor.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%
IMDb score: N/A
I.S.S.
The prospect of venturing through the dark recesses of space is already terrifying enough–but what if you threw in a full-scale factional fight between two opposing forces, each trying to seize control of an orbiting space station?
When a war seemingly breaks out on Earth’s surface, the American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station vie for control of the facility, despite their mutual affection for one another.
Though a bit conventional in its high-concept premise, I.S.S. has nevertheless met with a favorable response from critics, many of whom complimented the movie for its action and thriller components, as well as the performances of its main cast.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%
IMDb score: 5.2
Mean Girls
In 2004, SNL alumnus Tina Fey took the world by storm with her riotous teen comedy, Mean Girls. Two decades later, the iconic film series returns with an ambitious remake, combining the underlying story of Fey’s original film with its subsequent Broadway adaptation.
Moving to the suburbs of Chicago, a young transfer student (Angourie Rice) tries her best to fit into her new high school setting, leading her into an eventful relationship with the school’s most popular students.
While not as singularly great as the initial Mean Girls, critics have complimented 2024’s Mean Girls for its close adherence to its source material. In addition, those same critics also praised the movie for its astounding musical dance numbers, all of which are taken faithfully from the original Broadway production.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.5
The Book of Clarence
Taking a page from the larger-than-life playbook of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, The Book of Clarence offers a clever satirization of Biblical legend, using an intelligent script and talented cast to carry out its main message.
In 33 A.D., a young man named Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) uses lies and deceit to build a new life for himself, posing as the next Messiah in the wake of Jesus Christ’s (Nicholas Pinnock) arrival.
Earning mostly positive reviews, critics have been quick to underline The Book of Clarence’s stellar performances and entertaining script as the movie’s strongest characteristics. Though its religious undertones may not always be as poignant or thought-provoking as it could be, The Book of Clarence has enough originality to sustain a majority of viewers.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%
IMDb score: 6.0
Night Swim
Next to A24 or Neon, Blumhouse Production currently ranks as one of the main film studios cranking out palpable horror films on a regular basis. Following in the footsteps of their recent releases in M3GAN and Five Nights At Freddy’s comes the company’s latest effort, the mysterious supernatural horror movie, Night Swim.
Moving into a new home in the suburbs, an ordinary family begins to suspect that their seemingly average backyard swimming pool is haunted by a paranormal entity.
Like most of Blumhouse’s recent outpouring of films, Night Swim has earned mostly mixed reviews from critics. Though many were quick to praise the movie’s originality, many also felt the film spent far too much time on exposition and not enough on building towards actual scares.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: 5.5
The Beekeeper
Like most action stars, Jason Statham tends to appear in either very good movies–or incredibly bad ones. Fresh off the disappointing sequel that was The Expendables 4, Statham returns in the far better action movie, The Beekeeper.
When his elderly best friend (Phylicia Rashad) takes her own life as a result of a phishing scheme, a retired secret agent now working as a beekeeper (Statham) sets out to destroy the company that ruined her life.
While a bit overly reliant on earlier action movies (such as John Wick), critics have singled out The Beekeeper as one of Statham’s best outings in some time. With sharp action and an A-list cast, it's a film that continues to demonstrate why Statham has maintained his favored status among diehard action fans.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%
IMDb score: 6.8
Ferrari
The latest film from respected Hollywood auteur Michael Mann (Heat, The Insider, and Public Enemies), Ferrari also features yet another immaculate performance from Adam Driver, this time in the role of the legendary racing enthusiast, Enzo Ferrari.
In 1957, innovative racing icon Enzo Ferrari (Driver) agrees to participate in the year’s upcoming Mille Miglia automobile competition, even as his personal and professional lives threaten to collapse around him.
Named one of the best films of the year by the National Board of Review, Ferrari has earned mostly positive reviews from critics, with standout praise directed towards both Driver and Penélope Cruz’s inspired performances.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
IMDb score: N/A
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
The latest installment in the DCEU, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom also bids a soft farewell to the pre-established continuity of the DC universe as fans know it. With James Gunn planning to reboot the series with his upcoming films, Aqua and the Lost Kingdom marks the end of an era for DC, with Jason Momoa in his final outing as the famous nautical hero.
After his arch-nemesis Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) secures the all-powerful Black Trident, Aquaman (Jason Momoa) reluctantly enlists the help of his disgraced brother (Patrick Wilson) for help.
As joyous as it is to see Momoa return as the famous DC hero, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has grossed mostly negative reviews, with critics calling it a bland and disappointing sendoff to the original version of the DCEU.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
IMDb score: 6.0
Migration
While Illumination has yet to achieve the same grand-standing reputation as their competitors at Disney or DreamWorks, the studio has done a fantastic job releasing their own unique family-friendly movies, as seen from their latest release, Migration.
Hoping to expand her family’s horizons, a female mallard (Elizabeth Banks) convinces her neurotic husband (Kumail Nanjiani) and their children to migrate from New England to Jamaica, passing through New York City along their route.
Earning mixed to positive reviews from critics, Migration has been applauded for its humor and overarching theme of broadening one’s perspective–a thematic issue most younger audiences will likely find endearing.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
IMDb score: 7.1
The Zone of Interest
One of the most sobering films of the past year, The Zone of Interest has already been acclaimed as one of the best movies of 2023. A harrowing historical drama based on one of the most infamous members of the Nazi Regime, it’s been acclaimed for its writing, direction, performances, and timely themes.
Near the beginning of World War II, German officer Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel) accepts a position as commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, with both he and his wife trying to build the perfect life for themselves in spite of their horrific war crimes.
Delving deeply into Höss and his wife’s complacency in Nazi war crimes, The Zone of Interest also probes deeply into the disconnect between one’s inhuman actions and their own idyllic desires for the future (a beautiful home, a healthy garden, a stable family life, etc.). Having been named one of the best international films of the year by the National Board of Review, it’s also been submitted for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
IMDb score: 8.0
The Boy and the Heron
It’s been 10 years since Hayao Miyazaki last directed a movie, the filmmaker having won widespread renown for his 2013 anime biopic, The Wind Rises. A decade later, the founding father of Studio Ghibli returns with his most recent masterpiece, the brilliant The Boy and the Heron.
As World War II wages around him, a young boy whose mother recently passed away follows a mysterious gray heron into a magical world populated by fantastical creatures and benevolent spirits.
Like every Miyazaki film before it, The Boy and the Heron has earned incredibly warm reviews from critics, nearly all of whom have praised the film for its poignant themes, vivid animation, and wondrous depiction of grief, trauma, and healing.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
IMDb score: 7.6
The Holdovers
Throughout his career, director Alexander Payne has consistently churned out some of the best movies of the century so far, including dark comedies like Nebraska, Sideways, About Schmidt, and The Descendants. With The Holdovers, Payne returns to the layered films of his early career, balancing laugh-out-loud humor with some poignant studies of hopelessly flawed characters.
At the prestigious Barton Academy in the early 1970s, an authoritative history teacher (Paul Giamatti) is tasked with chaperoning four students unable to return home for the holiday.
With critics hailing the movie as a return to form for Payne, The Holdovers has been met with universal acclaim from viewers. Along with the praise heaped upon the principal cast (Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph), reviewers have also commended The Holdovers for its blend of comedy and drama–a standout feature found in most of Payne’s earliest films.
Where to watch: In theaters/On VOD & Peacock
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
IMDb score: 8.3
Comedy
For movie fans who love to laugh.
American Fiction
If The Zone of Interest is an attack on the dehumanizing effects of fascism, American Fiction can be seen as an attack on the gradual dumbing-down of today’s mass culture (albeit drawing on a more humorous and satirical tone than The Zone of Interest).
Frustrated by his lack of popularity among mainstream readers, an intelligent novelist (Jeffrey Wright) writes the worst book he can think of as a joke, only for the novel to become a massive best-seller.
Earning rave reviews from critics, American Fiction has been universally well-received for its humor and satirical subject matter. With particular praise heaped on Wright for his career-defining performance here, American Fiction has already garnered numerous accolades, in addition to its several nominations at the 81st Golden Globe Awards ceremony.
Where to watch: In limited theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
IMDb score: 7.8
Romance
For those looking for stories of love and heartbreak.
It Ends With Us
Based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling romance novel, It Ends With Us offers up a poignant and meditative study of relationships and budding romances, focusing itself on more difficult questions around toxic relationships and abusive partners.
While grieving the death of her abusive father, a young woman (Blake Lively) pursues a romance with a seemingly perfect doctor (Justin Baldoni) in Boston. As they carry on seeing each other, however, the woman begins noticing some disturbing behavior from her new partner.
In spite of its source material’s positive reception, It Ends With Us has earned predominantly mixed reviews thus far. Above all else, critics seemed to find fault with the movie’s melodramatic tone, with many feeling it failed to elicit the same powerful atmosphere as Hoover’s original novel.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: N/A
IMDb score: N/A
Sports
For fans of every sport, from baseball to chess.
The Iron Claw
Leave it to A24 to make a biographical sports drama every bit as memorable as their mainstream horror and comedy films. A mesmerizing study of the lives and tragically short-lived careers of the Von Erich wrestling family, The Iron Claw is the best wrestling-centric movie since 2008’s The Wrestler.
In the 1980s pro wrestling industry, retired wrestler Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) trains his sons (Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson) to follow in his footsteps, even as the family contend with personal tragedy in their careers.
A movie as oriented around wrestling as it is about the profound drama that made up the Von Erichs’ lives, The Iron Claw also underscores the tumultuous nature of living up to your family’s high standards and following your individual dreams. Having been named one of the year’s best films by the National Board of Review, the movie has won large-scale praise from almost every critic who has seen it.
Where to watch: Exclusively in theaters
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
IMDb score: N/A
Popular Re-Releases
Iconic movies that are headed for the big screen for a limited time.
Dune (1984)
Sadly, audiences still have a few more weeks before the release of the highly-anticipated, Dune: Part Two (set to hit theaters on March 1 in the U.S.). Interestingly, though, the original 1984 version of Dune will see its limited re-release to theaters to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
In a distant future, a young man from a royal family (Kyle MacLachlan) fights to defend the hostile desert planet of Arrakis from the corrupt warlords seeking to control it.
Yes, 1984’s Dune is a far cry from the sophisticated sci-fi splendor of Denis Villeneuve’s recent Dune movies. Yet, as with most David Lynch films, the movie has accrued a strong cult following of fans in the decades since its release.
Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On Max and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 44%
IMDb score: 6.3
Turning Red
Two years after its initial release to Disney+, Pixar’s imaginative 2022 animated film Turning Red finally makes its long-belated theatrical debut. A characteristically unique movie for Pixar, it’s a wonderful allegory on the growing pains that come with reaching adolescence.
In early 2000s Toronto, a 13-year-old girl (Rosalie Chang) discovers she has the uncanny ability to transform herself into a giant red panda whenever she feels any strong emotion.
As with almost every Pixar movie, Turning Red earned incredibly positive reviews when it made its streaming debut in 2022. In particular, critics applauded the film for its thoughtful and engaging discussion of physical maturation and the awkward stages of puberty–topics the film brings up in fresh and relatable ways.
Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On Disney+ and VOD
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
IMDb score: 7.0
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Returning to theaters for a very limited time this weekend is the 2023 superhero film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A worthwhile addition to Sony’s animated Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse might just be that rare sequel that surpasses the quality of the original.
As he tries to find a balance between his time as Spider-Man and his personal life, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is pulled into an interdimensional battle between the Spider-Society and an aspiring supervillain known as the Dot (Jason Schwartzman).
Like the initial Into the Spider-Verse, Across the Spider-Verse was released to universally positive reviews from critics upon its theatrical debut last summer. Fortunately, anyone who somehow missed their chance at seeing this animation extravaganza will have another opportunity this weekend.
Where to watch: In theaters for limited time/On VOD and Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
IMDb score: 8.6
Those are the movies out now.
Grab your tickets ahead of time and skip the lines at the theater.
