Friday Releases: Trap & Harold and the Purple Crayon

Trap

Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Studio: Warner Bros Pictures

A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event.

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Harold and the Purple Crayon

Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life–and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. When the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of Harold and his friends’ creativity to save both the real world and his own. Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first film adaptation of the beloved children’s classic that has captivated young readers for decades.

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Zachary Levi, Lil Rel Howery, Jemaine Clement, Tanya Reynolds, and Zooey Deschanel
Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy
PG (for mild action and thematic elements)
USA (English)
92 minutes

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The Instigators

Directed by: Doug Liman
Studio: Apple TV+

Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are reluctant partners: a desperate father and an ex-con thrown together to rob a corrupt politician’s ill-gained earnings. But when the heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Completely out of their depth, they convince Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway through the city, where they must put aside their differences and work together to evade capture — or worse.

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Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, and Ron Perlman.
Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
R (for pervasive language and some violence)
USA (English)
101 minutes

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Rebel Moon: Part One
(Director’s Cut)

Directed by: Zack Snyder
Studio: Netflix

Zack Snyder’s sci-fi saga expands with his hardcore director’s cut about a search for warriors to defend a peaceful moon.

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Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Bae Doona, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam, and Anthony Hopkins
Action | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
PG-13 (for sequences of strong violence, sexual assault, bloody images, language, sexual material and partial nudity)
USA (English)
133 minutes

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Saving Bikini Bottom:
The Sandy Cheeks Movie

Directed by: Liza Johnson
Studio: Netflix

The denizens of Bikini Bottom are thrown into jeopardy when their home is suddenly scooped out of the ocean and held hostage at a Texas laboratory. At the heart of this sea-nister plot is business tycoon Sue Nahmee (Wanda Sykes), who wants to transform the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom into Sea Pals — a mass-manufactured product line of cuddly toys. It is up to intrepid squirrel/marine biologist Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence) and happy-go-lucky sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny) to find their way to Galveston to rescue their pals and return Bikini Bottom to its rightful place under the sea.

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Coup!

Directed by: Joseph Schuman & Austin Stark
Studio: Greenwich Entertainment

A mysterious grifter appears on an isolated seaside estate claiming to be a wealthy family’s new chef. When a plague descends on the island, the mischievous cook rouses his fellow staff to rebel and take over the mansion. The servant becomes the master in this devious class-war comedy starring Peter Sarsgaard (The Batman, Dopesick) and Billy Magnussen (Road House, No Time to Die).

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Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen, Sarah Gadon, Skye P. Marshall, Faran Tahir, Kristine Nielsen, and Fisher Stevens
Comedy | Thriller
Not Rated
USA (English)
98 minutes

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Kneecap

Directed by: Rich Peppiatt
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

When fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish language, KNEECAP fast become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue. But the trio must first overcome police, paramilitaries and politicians trying to silence their defiant sound — whilst their anarchic approach to life often makes them their own worst enemies. In this fiercely original sex, drugs and hip-hop biopic KNEECAP play themselves, laying down a global rallying cry for the defense of native cultures.

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Liam Óg “Mo Chara” Ó Hannaid, Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Cairealláin, JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh, and Michael Fassbender
Comedy | Drama | International
Not Rated
Ireland (English & Irish Gaelic)
105 minutes

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Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes

Directed by: Nanette Burstein
Studio: HBO Max

ELIZABETH TAYLOR: THE LOST TAPES offers an unprecedented exploration into the life of Elizabeth Taylor, Hollywood’s quintessential star. With extraordinary access to Taylor’s personal archives and 40 hours of newly unearthed, intimate audio interviews with journalist Richard Meryman, audiences are invited to rediscover, not just a mega star of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but a complex woman who navigated lifelong fame, personal identity, and public scrutiny on a global stage from early childhood. These candid conversations peel back the layers of one of cinema’s most enduring icons, revealing a woman at odds with her public image, yearning for respect and agency. The film follows the life of an actress who defied the era’s expectations by portraying strong-willed women on-screen, offering a nuanced portrait of the intersection of vulnerability and strength.

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Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowall, Debbie Reynolds, George Hamilton, and Richard Burton
Documentary
TV-MA
USA (English)
100 minutes

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Detained

Directed by: Felipe Mucci
Studio: Quiver Distribution

Rebecca, an enigmatic woman, awakens inside a dilapidated police station in the middle of the night with no memory of how she got there. Two combative detectives try to retrace her steps to charge her with a hit and run. Rebecca’s situation looks more dire when she’s dragged into a scuffle leading to the death of another inmate and one of the officers. Rebecca has blood on her hands and no place to turn, forcing her to bribe the remaining officer to cover up her unwitting mistake. However, Rebecca discovers that the bleak police station she’s been trapped in is in fact a ruse designed to rob her blind and dispose of her and everyone that she loves. Now, Rebecca must outwit these dangerous con artists before it’s too late. But unbeknownst to them, there is more to Rebecca than meets the eye.

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Abbie Cornish, Laz Alonso, Moon Bloodgood, John Patrick Amedori, Justin H. Min, Breeda Wool, and Silas Weir Mitchell
Thriller
Not Rated
USA (English)
97 minutes

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The Firing Squad

Directed by: Timothy A. Chey
Studio: The Epoch Times | Atlas Distribution Company

Inspired by a true story, ‘The Firing Squad’ is a powerful journey of redemption on death row. In the heart of Indonesia, three condemned prisoners facing execution find unexpected solace within prison walls. Grappling with their pasts and imminent demise, they embark on an extraordinary transformation. Embracing Christianity, they discover hope, forgiveness, and the power to change their lives, even in the face of the ultimate punishment.

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James Barrington, Madeline Anderson, Kevin Sorbo, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Eric Roberts
Adventure | Biography | Drama
PG-13 (for thematic elements, drug references and brief violence)
USA (English)
93 minutes

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Sebastian

Directed by: Mikko Mäkelä
Studio: Kino Lorber

Max (Ruaridh Mollica) is a 25-year-old aspiring novelist, living in London and paying his dues working at a literary magazine. Frustrated by his own ambitions and the pressures to succeed, Max begins moonlighting as a sex worker with the pseudonym Sebastian, secretly meeting men via an escorting platform and using his experiences to fuel his stories. What begins as a few furtive meetings soon becomes a hidden nocturnal life, and the debut novel that he has been longing to write finally seems within reach. Finding himself more comfortable as Sebastian than expected, yet determined to keep his exploits a secret, Max increasingly struggles to remain in control of a delicately balanced double-life. As he confronts conflicting feelings of ecstasy, shame, and exhilarating liberation, Max has to reckon with whether Sebastian is merely a writer’s tool to achieve first-hand authenticity — or whether something more is at stake.

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Ruaridh Mollica, Hiftu Quasem, Jonathan Hyde, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Dylan Brady, and Pedro Minas
Drama | International
Not Rated
UK | Finland | Belgium (English & French)
110 minutes

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Doctor Jekyll

Directed by: Joe Stephenson
Studio: Hammer Films

Dr. Nina Jekyll pushed the glass ceiling of the pharmaceutical industry to its limits, rubbing shoulders with the elite, becoming a household name and making herself a fortune. But her success came at a cost, and after scandal forced her out of the spotlight she now lives in seclusion with her demons. In need of an assistant, Jekyll hires ex-con Rob, straight out of rehab and trying to get back on his feet. It soon becomes clear that there are evil forces at play and Rob’s wits are tested in a game of cat and mouse with the Devil in all its forms.

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Eddie Izzard, Scott Chambers, Lindsay Duncan, Robyn Cara, and Jonathan Hyde
Drama | Horror | International | Mystery
Not Rated
UK (English & Nepali)
90 minutes

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Peak Season

Directed by: Steven Kanter & Henry Loevner
Studio: Entertainment Squad

New York yuppies Amy and Max arrive in the wealthy resort town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a summer vacation. Amy wants to enjoy a romantic getaway with her fiancé. But Max neglects Amy to spend the week working, leaving her to wander town alone. Amy finds a friend in Loren, a local wilderness guide who takes her fly fishing. She’s immediately drawn to this magnetic, free-spirited stranger. Both lonely and lost in their own lives, Amy and Loren share an instant connection. When Max is called away on business, Amy and Loren spend the week together exploring the Tetons. As her bond with Loren grows into something more than friendship, Amy questions whether she’ll return to NYC with Max after all.

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Claudia Restrepo, Derrick Joseph DeBlasis, Ben Coleman, Fred Melamed, and Stephanie Courtney
Comedy | Drama | Romance
Not Rated
USA (English)
82 minutes

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Boot Camp

Directed by: Mackenzie Munro
Studio: Blue Fox Entertainment

Whitney begins to fall for her off-limits personal trainer after signing up for an intense summer boot camp to reinvent herself. A deepening connection inspires her to let go of the expectations of others and, instead, find the strength to embrace her true self.

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Rachel Boudwin, Drew Ray Tanner, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rachel Boyd, and Martin Cummins
Comedy | Romance
Not Rated
USA | Canada (English)
94 minutes

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The Duel

Directed by: Justin Matthews & Luke Spencer Roberts
Studio: Iconic Events

Upon discovering that his best friend, Colin (Dylan Sprouse), has been having an affair with his girlfriend, Woody (Callan Mcauliffe) decides that no modern form of revenge could possibly satisfy him. Instead, Woody challenges his closest companion to a classic contest of honor — a gentleman’s duel to the death. When two of their friends join the act, the once inseparable group of men inch closer to the day of destiny and test the bonds of their relationship until the moment of no return.

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Dylan Sprouse, Callan McAuliffe, Patrick Warburton, Denny Love, and Hart Denton
Comedy | Drama
R (for language throughout, sexual references, drug use and brief violence)
USA (English)
100 minutes

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Chuck Chuck Baby

Directed by: Janis Pugh
Studio: Dark Star Pictures

Present day, industrial North Wales. Helen, late 30’s, spends her nights packing chickens and her days caring for dying mother-figure Gwen. Helen’s mundane world takes a surprising turn with Joanne’s return; they were the objects of the other’s secret teenage passions. Encouraged by Helen, Joanne starts a playful wooing game. As they fall in love, Helen’s zest for life returns but Joanne feels the walls close in as she faces something darker from her past. Helen’s world shatters when Gwen dies and Joanne’s painful memories make her flee. Both women reflect on their unfulfilled chance before finding the courage to let go of the past and allow their love to win.

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Louise Brealey, Annabel Scholey, Emily Aston, Edyta Budnik, Sorcha Cusack, and Emily Fairn
Drama | International
Not Rated
UK (English)
101 minutes

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Four Souls Of Coyote

Directed by: Áron Gauder
Studio: Juno Films

Set in the present day, Native American teenagers confront the crew of an oil pipeline project, just down the hill from the land of their ancestors. The grandfather evokes the ancient tale of their Creation myth, reminding all of us that the challenges facing humanity are universal, and that we need to find our place in the great circle of creatures.

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Karin Anglin, Clé Bennett, John Eric Bentley, Diontae Black, and Róbert Bolla
Animation | Action | Adventure | Drama | International
TV-14
Hungary (English & Hungarian)
103 minutes

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War Game

Directed by: Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss
Studio: Submarine Deluxe

Mary is 11 years old and has an insuppressible passion for cooking: she dreams of becoming a great chef. Her grandmother, Emer, with whom she has a very special relationship, encourages her to make this dream come true. But every path has its pesky obstacles, and facing them turns into quite an adventure. Mary thus begins a journey across the barriers of time, in which four generations of women come together and get to know each other truly and deeply. A delicate coming-of-age story, sprinkled with irony.

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Steve Bullock, Wesley Clark, Heidi Heitkamp, Linda Singh, and Alexander Vindman
Thriller
Not Rated
USA | Canada (English)
94 minutes

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Dark Feathers: Dance Of the Geisha

Directed by: Crystal J. Huang & Nicholas Ryan
Studio: Hannover House

The Geisha ladies of Japanese culture have long been revered for their beauty and entertaining skills of singing, dancing and conversation. Some are known to possess special love-making abilities that can drive men crazy. Kate (Crystal J. Huang) leads a mysterious life in San Francisco as a photographer and ballroom dancer. But when all her dance partners turn up dead, detective Remy (Gilles Marini) begins to investigate. As he gets closer to the truth, he too succumbs to passion for Kate, which strains his marriage with Amelia (Karina Smirnoff) and leads to his own death. With the body count growing, police pressure to catch Kate builds, revealing her participation in a secret underworld of honor and culture.

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Gilles Marini, Crystal J. Huang, Karina Smirnoff, Michael Madsen, and Phoebe Ho
Drama | Mystery | Thriller
PG-13 (for violence, suicide, sexual material and some strong language)
USA (English)
93 minutes

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AMFAD: All My Friends Are Dead

Directed by: Marcus Dunstan
Studio: Cineverse

A group of college friends rent an Airbnb for the biggest music festival of the year. A weekend of partying quickly takes a turn, as the group is murdered one by one, according to their sin.

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Jade Pettyjohn, JoJo Siwa, Jennifer Ens, Justin Derickson, and Ali Fumiko Whitney
Horror | Thriller
Not Rated
USA (English)
91 minutes

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Army of Shadows
(1969 Re-Release)

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville
Studio: Universal Pictures

This adaptation of the book by Joseph Kessel paints an understated, unglamorous portrait of the French Resistance during World World II. Betrayed by an informant, Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura) finds himself trapped in a torturous Nazi prison camp. Though Gerbier escapes to rejoin the Resistance in occupied Marseilles, France, and exacts his revenge on the informant, he must continue a quiet, seemingly endless battle against the Nazis in an atmosphere of tension, paranoia and distrust.

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Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and Simone Signoret
Drama | International | War
Not Rated
France | Italy (French, German, & English)
145 minutes

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