(This article first appeared in the May print edition of the Hendersonian.)
April showers are looking to bring May flowers to the box office this month. 2026 continues to move in the right direction, as the official kickoff to the summer blockbuster season begins, with domestic grosses still well above 25% compared to 2025. While the total yearly take most likely won’t crack $10 billion (as it had every year from 2009 to 2019), all indications show it will be the highest total since the pandemic hit in 2020. As expected, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was the top release this April, with A24’s The Drama hovering around $50 million. With a slew of new releases hitting the screens, here are a few to keep an eye out for this month. As always, be sure to check out the up-to-the-minute listings at your favorite Showplace Cinemas or AMC Theater location!
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1) – In this long-awaited legacy sequel, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) reunites with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) to take down her former assistant and new rival, Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt). Add a dash of Stanley Tucci, and an insane amount of celebrity cameos, and all signs point to another hit for the returning creative team of writer Aline Brosh McKenna and director David Frankel’s dramedy.
The Sheep Detective (May 8) – In this live-action/CG comedy/mystery, a group of sheep investigates the murder of their beloved shepherd. Hugh Jackman stars, with another stacked cast of voice actors, including Bryan Cranston, Brett Goldstein, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Regina Hall, and Sir Patrick Stewart. Kyle Balda (Minions, Despicable Me 3) directs.
Mortal Kombat II (May 8) – Continuing after the 2021 series reboot, the fan favorite winners are joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) and must team up to defeat Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) and save the Earthrealm from his dark rule. Series director Simon McQuoid returns to the helm, with veteran action/sci-fi writer Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight, Fantastic Four) penning the script.
Obsession (May 15) – Be careful what you wish for, especially when you’re a hopeless romantic (Michael Johnston) who breaks a curse to win the heart of his long-time crush (Inde Navarrette), who has a dark, sinister private life. Curry Barker (who just landed the directing duties for yet another Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot) writes, directs, and edits this horror/thriller.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22) – Plot details are under wraps at the moment, but rest assured, The Mandalorian and Grogu are sure to get into some amazing adventures (and this time, in IMAX)! Pedro Pascal reprises his iconic role, with sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver joining the cast. Series writer/director John Favreau takes us into this new Star Wars chapter on the big screen.
I Love Boosters (May 22) – In this follow-up to writer/director Boots Riley’s acclaimed feature Sorry to Bother You, a group of shoplifters (which includes Keke Palmer, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and Eliza Gonzalez) set their sights on a cutthroat fashion maven (Demi Moore). The dramedy premiered to a standing ovation at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival, so the hype is real!
Backrooms (May 29) – Based on the viral internet series, a strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom, leading Dr. Mary Kline (Oscar nominee Renate Reinsve) into a nightmarish labyrinth. Chiwetel Ejiofor co-stars, with series creator Kane Parsons directing this A24 release. The success of this film may set the tone for future viral internet sensations to find a way into theaters.
Pressure (May 29) – Writer/director Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai) adapts David Haig’s dramatic stage play about the 72 hours leading up to D-Day and the decisions that would change history. Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott star, with Kerry Condon (F1: The Movie), Chris Messina (Argo) and Damian Lewis (Homeland, Band of Brothers) co-starring.The Breadwinner (May 29) – In what could be the beginning of the Nate Bargatze era of family comedies, he stars, cowrites, and co-produces this tale about a breadwinner father who goes full Mr. Mom when his supermom wife (Mandy Moore) lands a Shark Tank deal. Joining Bargatze in the hijinks are Will Forte, Colin Jost, Zach Cherry and Kumail Nanjiani. Eric Appel (Die Hart, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) directs.
Henderson resident Dr. McManus Woodend is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at the University of Southern Indiana and has worked in film, television and commercials for more than 20 years. To see some of his work, visit www.mcmanuswoodend.com.
