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Sydney Sweeney unveiled the Catholic horror nightmareImmaculatewith the help of a spookynun choir.
Moved by audiences real-time reactions to their movies,Dev Pateland Anne Hathaway both wiped away tears.
I will never forget this screening.
Thats the SXSW way.
If youre seeking the most enthusiastic festival hordes on the planet, theres no better launchpad.
But the showcase wasnt limited to studio movies with baked-in release plans.
Many smaller titles hoping to land distribution shined, too.
Here are 12 films of varying stature that deserve to be hits this year.
This years best gut-buster wasBabes,Pamela Adlons first live-action project sinceBetter Things.
In a sort of reverseObvious Child, she opts to keep the baby, much to her besties bewilderment.
The answer is sweet and hilarious.
Neon will releaseBabeson May 17.
The Black Sea
The Wolfpackdirector Crystal Moselle paired up with art curator Derrick B. Whats a broke American who lost his passport and doesnt speak a lick of Bulgarian to do?
The Black Seais seeking distribution.
Barbie Ferreira gives a winsome performance as Lily, a seemingly happy-go-lucky people pleaser likely to text no prob!
even if she really wants to say LOSE MY NUMBER YOU JERK.
Soon enough, he becomes a surrogate father figure.
Bob Trevino Likes Itis seeking distribution.
The plot is right there in the title.
This is A24s priciest release to date, and it shows: Blowing up the Lincoln Memorial isnt cheap.
A24 will releaseCivil Waron April 12.
Universal Picture will releaseThe Fall Guyon May 3.
Its HathawaysNotting Hill, herHow Stella Got Her Groove Back.
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this.
Michael Showalter directedThe Idea of You, with Jennifer Westfeldt adapting Robinne Lees debut novel.
Prime Video will releaseThe Idea of Youon May 2.
Monkey Man
Heres awhole new Dev Patel.
This is Dev Patel the director, Dev Patel the action hero, and Dev Patel the shirt-shredding heartthrob.
He sawJohn Wickand said, Just you wait.
Even when the backstory gets cluttered, the fireworks never let up.
At one point, Patel drives a knife down a dudes throat using his mouth.
Its the sort of towering thrill ride that makes many of todays action movies look lazy.
Universal Pictures will releaseMonkey Manon April 5.
HBO will airMoviePass, MovieCrashlater this year.
Omni Loop
Lets manifest a major Mary-Louise Parker moment, shall we?
Britto givesOmni Loopa melancholic charm that aligns perfectly with Parkers signature world-weariness.
Omni Loopis seeking distribution.
Secret Mall Apartmentis seeking distribution.
Whatever It Takes
Hows this for corporate intrigue?
But thats only the start of the story.
What happened inside eBay to inspire such persecution is equally astonishing.
Whatever It Takesis seeking distribution.
The World According to Allee Willis
This affectionate documentary is a blast for a few reasons.
Willis died in 2019, but director Alexis Spraic resurrects her spirit for an infectious tribute.
The World According to Allee Willisis seeking distribution.
The prizewinning documentaryGrand Theft Hamletfinds two out-of-work actors staging a Shakespeare production inside the video gameGrand Theft Auto.
AndImmaculate(out March 22) has a jaw-droppingly thrilling finale that makes up for the movies undercooked plot.
