April movie guide: Super Mario Bros., Renfield, Evil Dead Rise, and more

Other films to catch this month include Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in Air, Owen Wilson in Paint, an Ana de Armas thriller, and two—yes, two—Judy Blume projects

By Mark Keizer, Robert DeSalvo | April 3, 2023 | 3:00pm

Film Features Renfield

April movie guide: Super Mario Bros., Renfield, Evil Dead Rise, and more

Clockwise from left: Big George Foreman (Sony Pictures), Air (Amazon Studios), Evil Dead Rise (Warner Bros.), The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal Pictures), Renfield (Universal Pictures) Graphic: Libby McGuire

The best thing about April for many film lovers is that it means they’re one month closer to May, when the summer movie season kicks into gear with Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast X and The Little Mermaid. But don’t count April out! It’s a month filled with solid moviegoing options of the comedy, drama, and horror varieties.

We’ve got Chris Pratt starring in the fully CGI and rather psychedelic looking Super Mario Bros. Movie, Nicolas Cage at his Nic Cage-iest as Dracula in Renfield, Jake Gyllenhaal as a soldier in harm’s way in Afghanistan in Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, and Joaquin Phoenix on a desperate search for his mother in Beau Is Afraid. If those aren’t enough reasons to get you to the multiplex, then read on for even more worthwhile films coming in April.

Air (in theaters, April 5)

AIR | Official Trailer

Who knew that when the Air Jordan sneaker debuted to the public in 1985, it would become a game changing phenomenon, invent sneaker culture, and launch a gazillion dollar industry that combines sports, fashion, and celebrity? Actually, one person knew, Sonny Vaccaro, and he’s played by Matt Damon in . Vaccaro signed a young star named Michael Jordan to his first sneaker deal, which led to the creation of the money printing Air Jordan brand. Air also promises to be an underdog story, as Vaccaro must convince Nike co-founder Phil Knight (played by Ben Affleck) to sign a promising player and name a shoe after him. Air is Ben Affleck’s first directing effort since 2016’s Live By Night, his only disappointment in an otherwise solid directing career. The stacked cast—including Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Marlon Wayans, and Chris Tucker—and the fascinating possibilities of this behind-the-sneaker story make Air a probable slam dunk. [Mark Keizer]

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