A Look at the 11 New Movies Coming Out This Week: ‘Drive-Away Dolls,’ ‘Mea Culpa,’ and More!

Nine new movies are coming out this week! And we have the full breakdown for you, including trailers.

First up, there’s a film by Ethan Coen about two women who mistakenly rent a car meant for some rather dumb criminals in Drive-Away Dolls. Next, there’s a new Tyler Perry-directed thriller called Mea Culpa, which stars Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes.

We also have the latest animated Demon Slayer film from Japan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training. And a horror film called Stopmotion, which tells the story of an animated evil force that comes to life.

All that and more this week at a screen near you! Below, check out the full list of new movies coming out this week in theaters and streaming!

New Movies Coming Out This Week: February 19, 2024, – February 25, 2024

Drive-Away Dolls   (2024)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Friday, February 23, 2024

Summary: In Drive-Away Dolls, Jamie (Margaret Qualley) regrets her breakup with her girlfriend and needs to get away to forget her troubles. Her best friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan) just wants to get away. The two embark on a road trip to Tallahassee in search of a fresh start. They rent a car intended for a group of inept criminals, and now the chase is on, but the girls don’t know that.

What to Watch For: This is the first film directed by Ethan Coen without the involvement of his brother Joel. The two brothers have been responsible for 15 Oscar nominations and four wins (No Country For Old Men (2008), Fargo (1997)).

Word on the Street: Geraldine Viswanathan is best known for her roles on the TV series Miracle Workers.

My Take: Ethan and his wife, Tricia Cooke, wrote the screenplay.

Mea Culpa  (2024)

Rating: R

Release Date: Premieres on Netflix on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: Mea Culpa is about Mea Harper (Kelly Rowland), a highly respected criminal defense attorney on the fast track to being named partner in her firm. She takes the high-profile case of an artist, Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes), who has been accused of murder. While Mea tries to build a case to defend Zyair, she becomes involved with him just as evidence is discovered that points to him being guilty of murder.

What to Watch For: The film is written and directed by Tyler Perry.

Word on the Street: This is the fifth major project from Perry for Netflix, which includes last year’s A Jazzman’s Blues.

My Take: Kelly Rowland was a member of Destiny’s Child alongside Beyoncé and has branched out into acting, having last appeared as Edie on the TV series Grown-ish.

Ordinary Angels   (2024)

Rating: PG

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: In Ordinary Angels Sharon (Hilary Swank) is a hairdresser known for getting involved in people’s lives. She finds out about a critically ill young girl whose widowed father, Ed (Alan Ritchson), is in over his head trying to get her treatment. Sharon does what she does best and single-handedly rallies an entire community to help pay for an operation. It will take a miracle, but that’s what Sharon does.

What to Watch For: The film is co-written by Meg Tilly, who, as an actress, is known for her roles in The Big Chill (1983) and Agnes of God (1985).

Word on the Street: The movie is based on a true story.

My Take: One of my favorite actors, Amy Acker (Angel, Alias, Person of Interest), plays a supporting role in the film.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training   (2024)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: Demon Slayer: To the Hashira Training takes place with Tanjiro, in his quest to become a demon slayer, undergoing training with the Stone Hashria, Himejima, who will push Tanjirio to the breaking point. Meanwhile, Muzan continues to search for Tanjiro’s sister, Nezuko.

What to Watch For: The film opened at number one at the box office in Japan.

Word on the Street: The film’s director, Haruo Sotozaki, won the 2021 Achievement Award from the Tokyo Anime Awards.

My Take: The Demon Slayer series has been one of the most popular anime projects in recent years.

lo Capitano   (2023)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: lo Capitano is about two young boys, Seydou and Moussa, who leave Dakar in Senegal to go on an epic journey to the greener pastures of Europe. Little do the young men know the hardships and danger they will encounter along the way.

What to Watch For: The film is nominated for the Best International Feature Film Award at the 2024 Academy Awards.

Word on the Street: The film won four awards at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, including Best Director for Matteo Garrone.

My Take: Garrone directed the award-winning 2008 film Gomorrah.

The Stolen Valley   (2023)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: The Stolen Valley is the story of Lupe (Briza Covarrubias), who is on a quest to find the money to save her dying mother. She sets out to find her father, someone she has never met. Along the way, she takes up with Maddy (Allee Sutton Hethcoat), a cowgirl whom trouble seems to find. The two will have to outrun some bad guys and confront a father whose past is full of evil and corruption.

What to Watch For: The film has been a big hit on the film festival circuit, winning five awards at the 2023 Utah Film Festival.

Word on the Street: This is the feature film debut of filmmaker Jesse Edwards, who has won awards for his commercial work for brands such as Disney, National Geographic, and BMW.

My Take: I loved the trailer for this film and can’t wait to see it.

Isle of Hope   (2023)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: Isle of Hope is about Victoria (Mary Stuart Masterson), a university professor who doesn’t get along with her self-absorbed mother, Carmen (Diane Ladd), an actress who has continually crushed Victoria’s dreams. However, when Carmen suffers a stroke and wakes up thinking she is living fifteen years in the past, it just might give Victoria to correct some mistakes from the past.

What to Watch For: The film was shot on location in Savannah, Georgia.

Word on the Street: Andrew McCarthy plays Andrew, Victoria’s ex-husband.

My Take: Mary Stuart Masterson was Aunt Jane in last year’s horror hit Five Nights at Freddy’s.

About Dry Grasses   (2023)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: In About Dry Grasses, Samet (Deniz Celiloglu) is an art teacher who has been teaching in a remote village in Anatolia for the past four years. He is almost finished with this mandatory service and dreams of a better life somewhere far away. His world crumbles after an incident, and all hope seems lost until he meets a fellow teacher named Nuray (Merve Dizdar).

What to Watch For: Merve Dizdar won Best Actress at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for her role in the film.

Word on the Street: The film is from filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan, known for his award-winning films Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) and The Wild Pear Tree (2018).

My Take: I loved Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, so I can’t wait to see this film.

Stopmotion   (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: Stopmotion is the story of Ella (Aisling Franciosi), a stop-motion animator working under the demanding, legendary animator Suzanne (Stella Gonet), who happens to be her mother. When her mother dies, Ella hopes to finally make the films she has always dreamed of. Unfortunately, those dreams may become nightmares when a character she is filming suddenly comes to life.

What to Watch For: Director Robert Morgan won the Best Director award at the 2023 Fantastic Fest.

Word on the Street: Award-winning Special Effects artist Dan Martin did the work on the stop-motion animation and the creature design.

My Take: I love stop-motion animation and horror movies, so this is a ‘must-see’ film for me.

Drugstore June   (2024)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: Drugstore June takes place after the small town pharmacy that June works in is robbed. When it looks like all is lost, June (Esther Povitsky) takes matters into her own hands to solve the crime. Don’t worry that June still lives at home, is trying to get over her last boyfriend, and is barely employed; June is on the case.

What to Watch For: The cast includes Beverly D’Angelo, James Remar, Haley Joel Osment, Jackie Sandler, Miranda Cosgrove, Danny Griffin, Bobby Lee, and Matt Walsh.

Word on the Street: Lead actress Esther Povitsky co-wrote the script with director Nicholaus Goossen.

My Take: Esther Povitsky played Maya on one of my favorite TV shows, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Red Right Hand   (2024)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, February 23, 2024.

Summary: In Red Right Hand, Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to put his past behind him and live an honest and quiet life. However, things haven’t worked out, and now he owes the local mob boss, Big Cat (Andie MacDowell), money that will require him to return to work for her. Cash, though, is capable of anything to protect his family and the town that he loves.

What to Watch For: The film is directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms, whose award-winning films include Lost on Purpose (2012) and Waffle Street (2015).

Word on the Street: Orlando Bloom is coming off a hit last year playing Danny Moore in the film Gran Turismo.

My Take: Andie MacDowell has come a long way from her first film, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan (1984), when Glenn Close dubbed her lines.

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

Below, let us know what new movies you plan to see this week!