12 New Movies Coming Out This Week: ‘Air,’ ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie,’ and More!

It’s a big week at the movies with 12 new releases! Wondering what new movies are coming out this week? We’ve got you covered!

First is a Ben Affleck-directed film, which tells the story of how the Nike and Michael Jordan partnership came to be. Then, we have a return to the Mushroom Kingdom with a couple of brothers. Next, there is an ecological terrorist group trying to blow up an oil pipeline in Texas. Then, a documentary on actress and model Brooke Shields.

Add in a documentary on living with the evil Chucky doll, an Owen Wilson comedy inspired by the legendary PBS painter Bob Ross, and a family film about the mythical Chupacabra. It’s going to be a busy week!

Here’s the full breakdown of everything releasing in theaters and on streaming this week.

New Movies Coming Out This Week: April 3, 2023 – April 9, 2023

Air  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theaters nationwide on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Summary: Air is the story of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), who convinced Nike and its chairman Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) to sign and develop a shoe for a new up-and-coming basketball player, Michael Jordan.

What to Watch For: The film is directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Affleck. The cast includes Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Jay Mohr, Viola Davis, and Marlon Wayans.

Word on the Street: Ben Affleck consulted with Michael Jordan about the film. Jordan’s only request was that Viola Davis play his mother in the movie.

My Take: This is the 20th collaboration between Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. This pairing started when they were extras in the 1989 film Field of Dreams.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie  (2023)

Rating: PG

Release Date: In theaters nationwide on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Summary: The Super Mario Bros. Movie finds Brooklyn plumber named Mario (voiced by Chris Pratt) in the world of the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s here that he must search for his brother Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day). Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) will help Mario in his quest. However, there is an evil force in the world that threatens to take over the entire kingdom, a ruthless, fire-breathing Koopa named Bowser (Jack Black).

What to Watch For: This is the first theatrical Super Mario Bros. film since the ill-fated and panned 1993 film Super Mario Bros. that starred Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo.

Word on the Street: Kristen Bell, Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, Chile Grace Moretz, Amy Adams, and Mandy Moore were all considered for the part of Princess Peach.

My Take: I love that Anya Taylor-Joy has said she played some of the Super Mario games as research for her role as Princess Peach.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline  (2022)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: In How to Blow Up a Pipeline, a group of climate activists gathers to sabotage a Texas oil pipeline that is ruining the environment and making people sick. We see how the group got together. And we learn why each is willing to become what the government sees as a terrorist.

What to Watch For: The film was a huge winner on the film festival circuit, winning at the 2022 Hamburg Film Festival and was a nominee for the Platform Prize at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

Word on the Street: Filmmaker Daniel Goldhaber’s first movie Cam was a big winner at the 2018 Fantasia Film Festival.

My Take: Ariela Barer, who plays the leader of the group, Xochitl, played Carmen on the beloved TV series One Day at a Time.

Praise This  (2023)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: Premiering on Peacock on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: Praise This is about a group of students at a performing arts school find that their love of music brings them together to compete for the chance to perform at a legendary music festival.

What to Watch For: The cast includes Chloe Bailey, Crystal Renee Hayslett, Cocoa Brown, Bailey MB, Tristan Mack Wilds, Anjelika Washington, and Quavo.

Word on the Street: The director of the film, Tina Gordon, is best known for her screenplays of Drumline (2002), ATL (2006), and What Men Want (2019).

My Take: Atlanta-based Will Packer produced the film.

Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields  (2023)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: Premiering on Hulu on Monday, April 3, 2023.

Summary: Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields is a documentary on actor, model, and icon Brooke Shields who, from a very early age, became a sex symbol appearing at age 12 as the child prostitute in the film Pretty Baby (1978). It was not a simple life, living in the spotlight so young, but Shields survived to let the world know the dangers of too much too soon.

What to Watch For: Besides Shields, Laura Linney and Drew Barrymore are interviewed for the film.

Word on the Street: The film is from Lana Wilson, who directed the award-winning Taylor Swift documentary Miss Americana (2020).

My Take: I have always admired how Shields survived Hollywood and the fashion industry to become such an outstanding person.

Living With Chucky  (2022)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: Available on Screambox and all Major Digital Platforms

Summary: Living With Chucky asks the question, how would you have liked to live the life of filmmaker Kyra Elise Gardner, who grew up in a household full of Chucky and Tiffany dolls, the evil killers from the Childs Play film series? Gardner is the daughter of special effects guru Tony Gardner, and her documentary tells not only her story but of others that have grown up in the world of Chucky.

What to Watch For: The film interviews Tony Gardner, actors Marlon Wayans, Abigail Breslin, Jennifer Tilly (voice of Tiffany), and Brad Dourif (voice of Chucky).

Word on the Street: The film also interviews Fiona Dourif, the daughter of Brad Dourif, who now stars in the Child’s Play TV series Chucky.

My Take: I love that the film even has an interview with Indie legend John Waters, who played a character that had his face burned off by acid in the film Seeds of Chucky.

On a Wing and a Prayer  (2023)

Rating: PG

Release Date: Premiering on Amazon Prime on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: In On a Wing and a Prayer, Doug White (Dennis Quaid) and his family are flying back home on a small airplane when the pilot dies during the flight. Now Doug must fly and land the plane, with only the help of a fellow pilot on the radio (Jesse Metcalfe).

What to Watch For: The film is based on a true story.

Word on the Street: Sean McNamara, known for his films Soul Surfer (2011) and The Miracle Season (2018), directed the film.

My Take: I have been a fan of Heather Graham, who plays Doug’s wife in the film since she was Annie Blackburn on the original TV series Twin Peaks.

Chupa   (2023)

Rating: PG

Release Date: Premiering on Netflix on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: Chupa is about thirteen-year-old Alex (Evan Whitten), who is visiting his grandfather (Demián Bichir) and his cousins in Mexico. There Alex learns of the legendary mythical creature named El Chupacabra. Alex soon discovers that the legend is true as he finds a young chupacabra cub living under his grandfather’s shed. Alex finds out that the family has a secret history with the chupacabras, and some people are hunting the misunderstood creature in an effort to harness the power of the chupacabra.

What to Watch For: The film is directed by Jonás Cuarón, who co-wrote the award-winning Gravity (2013) with his father, Alfonso Cuarón.

Word on the Street: Evan Whitten played young Elliot on the TV series Mr. Robot.

My Take: Christian Slater, who plays bad guy Richard Quinn, was in one of my favorite TV series of the past ten years, Mr. Robot.

Paint  (2023)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: Paint is about Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson), Vermont’s number-one public television painter who is adored by his fans. He has it all with a signature perm, a custom van, and a rocking studio. Oh, and he also has a TV show where everyone watches his every stroke. Then a new painter comes to town, a woman named Ambrosia (Ciara Renée), and it all comes crashing down.

What to Watch For: The outstanding supporting cast includes Stephen Root, Michaela Watkins, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Lusia Strus, Denny Dillon, and Lucy Freyer.

Word on the Street: The legendary PBS painter Bob Ross inspired Owen Wilson’s character, Carl Nargle.

My Take: I love Stephen Root, who was station owner Jimmy James in the TV series Newsradio, and Milton, the stapler lover in Office Space (1999).

Showing Up  (2022)

Rating: R

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: In Showing Up, Lizzy (Michelle Williams) is a ceramics sculptor living in Portland, Oregon. Her parents are both artists (Maryann Plunkett and Judd Hirsch) and are separated. Lizzy has a show coming up, and it doesn’t help that her landlord (Hong Chau) also has two shows coming up but seems to handle everything without a care. Life often gets in the way of art, and Lizzy isn’t handling it very well.

What to Watch For: The film has three Oscar nominees from this year’s Academy Awards: Michelle Williams and Judd Hirsch for The Fabelmans and Hon Chau for The Whale.

Word on the Street: The film made its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

My Take: This is the fourth time that Michelle Williams and director Kelly Reichardt have worked together, following Wendy and Lucy (2008), Meek’s Cutoff (2010), and Certain Women (2016).

Ride On  (2023)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: Ride On is about stuntman Lao Luo (Jackie Chan), who was once one of the best, but he is seen in the industry as over-the-hill. He gets a new protégé, a horse named Red Hare, but it takes time to train, and Luo owes a lot to debt collectors. When things seem bleak, and Red Hare may be auctioned off to cover Luo’s debts, the two become an overnight media sensation.

What to Watch For: The film is written and directed by Larry Yang, whose 2015 film, the drama Mountain Cry was the closing film of the Busan Film Festival. Furthermore, his comedy Adoring (2019) was a massive hit in China, making over 100 million.

Word on the Street: The film is opening up on Jackie Chan’s 69th birthday.

My Take: I love that this is a tribute to the films that made Jackie Chan a star in China, including Drunken Master and the Police Story films.

One Day as a Lion  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In select theaters on Tuesday April 4, 2023 and On Demand on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Summary: One Day as a Lion is about Jackie Powers (Scott Caan), a nice guy but a terrible hitman. When Jackie is sent to take out a local rancher (J. K. Simmons), he misses the target, only pissing off the rancher. He kills the cook by accident and takes a bored waitress, Lola (Marianne Rendón), as a hostage. Things then get complicated.

What to Watch For: Scott Caan, son of legendary actor James Caan, wrote the film. Scott Caan is best known for his long-time role as Danny Williams on the TV series Hawaii Five-O.

Word on the Street: Besides J. K. Simmons and Caan, the cast includes Virginia Madsen, Frank Grillo, Billy Blair, Taryn Manning, and George Carroll.

My Take: I am a huge fan of Virginia Madsen, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Sideways (2004). Additionally, she was in one of my favorite films of the 80s, Electric Dreams (1984).

Which New Movies Coming Out This Week Are You Excited To Watch?

Let us know below what new movies you plan to see this week!