The Best New Movies Coming to Theaters (April 2022)

From Robert Eggers' newest film 'The Northman' to the next Sony Pictures Spiderman spinoff 'Morbius,' these are the best new movies in theaters for April 2022.

Jared Leto in the titular role in Sony and Marvel's 'Morbius'
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Jared Leto in the titular role in Sony and Marvel's 'Morbius'

April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring a box office that’s fully warmed up and ready to deliver the cinematic goods. April will see the release of some of 2022’s most unique movies that are sure to have everyone talking and asking “have you seen it yet?”. Aren’t you curious what everyone’s going to be talking and tweeting about this month?

While April is normally prime blockbuster sequel season, this year sees the release of several films that are likely to be box office draws that definitely don’t resemble your usual blockbusters. Sure, we have the return of that famous speedy blue video game character, but we also have a meta movie about one of our most memeable actors and an intense Viking epic. That’s some of the most dramatic genre diversity we’ve had in theaters in a while.

Movie theaters are really supposed to offer movies for everyone (not just superhero fans), and this month is the first time in a while that it seems like they’re living up to that promise. There’s going to be at least one movie on this list you’ll be looking forward to. We guarantee it. Here are the most anticipated movies coming to theaters in April.

Morbius (April 1)

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Director: Daniel Espinosa

Starring: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Tyrese Gibson, Michael Keaton


Sony Pictures’ latest live action spin-off of the Spider-Man universe following 2018’s Venom and 2021’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage sees one of Spider-Man’s most unique villains getting his own origin story. Morbius follows Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) as he attempts to cure himself of a rare blood disease, only to give himself a type of superhuman vampirism. Morbius is one of the creepiest characters in Spider-Man history and Morbius appears to be doing the character justice with a haunting trailer that promises more of a horror film edge to this superhero movie. Beyond Jared Leto’s solid casting as Morbius, the promising supporting cast also includes Matt Smith, Tyrese Gibson, and… Michael Keaton reprising his role from 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming as Vulture (yeah, we don’t know why either, but we’re excited to find out!). 2021’s Venom: Let There Be Carnage showed a willingness to go completely balls to the wall with the more strange elements of Spider-Man history and it sure looks like Morbius will be just as weird if not weirder. Yet another Spider-Man related movie that fans are going to go nuts over, Morbius looks like a blast.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (April 8)

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Director: Jeff Fowler

Starring: Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Jim Carrey

2019’s long awaited live action video game adaptation Sonic the Hedgehog was a box office smash, pleasing longtime fans of the video game character and renewing interest in the titular hedgehog among both young and old audiences. Three years later we have the inevitable sequel. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 follows the continuing adventures of Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and his friend Tom (James Marsden) as they team up with new friend Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) to defeat the villainous Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who has teamed up with the mysterious echidna Knuckles (Idris Elba) to enact an even more dastardly world-endangering plan than last time. The first movie had no right to be as entertaining as it was, and that’s due to Ben Schwartz’s energetic performance as Sonic, James Marsden’s charm, and Jim Carrey’s erratic performance which brings to mind his iconic roles in films like The Mask and Liar Liar. Thankfully the sequel seems to double down on these elements, as well as having even more creative action scenes that see Sonic’s own speed and powers contrasted with those of Tails and Knuckles, two favorites from the video game series that will see their live action screen debut. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 looks to be a worthy successor to 2019’s enjoyable Sonic the Hedgehog.

Ambulance (April 8)

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Director: Michael Bay

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen III, Eiza Gonzalez, Jackson White

Michael Bay has finally unleashed his follow-up to his over the top Netflix action film Underground 9 with… you guessed it, yet another over the top action film, this time for Universal. Say what you will about the man, he knows his lane and makes what he knows best. Based on the Danish film of the same name, action thriller Ambulance centers on brothers Will (Yahya Abdul-Mateen III) and Danny (Jake Gyllenhaal) as they attempt to cover Will’s wife’s medical bills by pulling off the biggest bank heist in LA’s history and end up hijacking an ambulance and holding two first responders hostage. Ambulance sees Bay taking on the most humanistic story he’s made in a while (not a single Transformer to be found), but it still looks as crazy as any of his other films, with plenty of gunfights, car crashes, and people looking bruised and dramatic. If there’s one thing that will get Americans in theaters again, it’s Michael Bay. Ambulance looks to be the box office smash of early spring.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (April 22)

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Director: Tom Gormican

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz

For decades Nicolas Cage has been one of the most interesting actors in Hollywood, giving 100 percent in every role he takes, resulting in work that ranges from Oscar-worthy to enjoyably strange to laughably over the top. No matter the material he’s given, you can’t deny that he’s a consistent joy to watch. 2022 sees him tackling the most unusual role of his career: himself. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent sees Cage playing a fictionalized version of himself as he accepts a million dollars to attend the birthday of a billionaire superfan (Pedro Pascal). After he befriends him, he’s suddenly recruited by the CIA for a dangerous mission that just so happens to mirror the types of movies that have made Nic Cage famous. The action comedy is one of the most meta movies in years, and early reactions to the film signal that the movie is both funny and a well done Nicolas Cage movie, which is all anyone can ask for. Throw in comedic heavy hitters in supporting roles like Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz, and you have one of the most creative and exciting movies in years coming to theaters this April in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

The Northman (April 22)

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Director: Robert Eggers

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy


Director Robert Eggers slowly built up critical and commercial cred with his A24 releases The Witch and The Lighthouse, earning him a reputation as “that one director who’s really into period specific horror.” His newest film, The Northman, sees him getting his biggest wide release yet, with an all-star cast and Focus Features releasing the film. Based on the legend of Amleth, the historical epic film follows Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), a Viking warrior prince, as he goes on a perilous journey for revenge as he attempts to avenge his dead father (Ethan Hawke), save his kidnapped mother (Nicole Kidman), and kill the villainous man behind it all (Claes Bang). It was clear Eggers had an eye for visuals from his earlier films, but with his biggest budget yet he’s created some of the best visuals of his career, with impressive snowy landscapes, surreal images of Vikings flying into the sky, and a fight that seemingly takes place on an actively erupting volcano. The all-star cast is impressive as well, with the always great Alexander Skarsgård in the lead, and a supporting cast that includes Ethan Hawke, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe, and Björk. The Northman looks to be one of the most unique and intense movies of this year, and yet another great work from director Robert Eggers.

We're All Going To The World's Fair (April 22)

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Director: Jane Schoenbrun

Starring: Anna Cobb, Michael J. Rogers

Film fans are all too aware of distribution companies A24 and Neon. Both companies have consistently released critically acclaimed films from up and coming auteurs and both have even nabbed Best Picture wins (A24 with Moonlight in 2016 and Neon with Parasite in 2019). The next company on every cinephile’s lips may soon be Utopia, which distributed recent arthouse favorites Shiva Baby and The Scary of Sixty-First, and will release the much anticipated amongst cinephiles We’re All Going To The World’s Fair this month. The hybrid coming of age horror film centers on teenager Casey (Anna Cobb) as she scrolls the internet and takes the World’s Fair Challenge, an online role playing horror game, which causes her to lose her grasp on reality. A critical hit at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, with critics celebrating its experimental nature and creative take on the coming of age genre. The film also features music from celebrated indie musician Alex G, scoring his first movie. We’re All Going To The World’s Fair looks to be the low-key indie hit of the year, and signals another interesting film in distributor Utopia’s filmography.

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