New movies this week: Watch 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods,' stream Hulu's 'Boston Strangler'
Quicker than you can yell, "Shazam!" Zachary Levi's riding that superhero lightning again.
This weekend, Levi reprises his buff man-child do-gooder in a DC superhero sequel to 2019's "Shazam!" Willem Dafoe's also back on the big screen as a trapped art thief in a psychological drama; Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon pair up as two crusading 1960s reporters investigating the infamous Boston Strangler in a Hulu true-crime thriller; and Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are BFFs in the mood for revenge in a dark comedy.
Here's a guide to new movies that will satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their streaming and on-demand debuts:
If you prefer kid-friendly superheroes: 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods'
The DC movie universe is preparing for a reset, but don't skip another fun-filled tale in a more lighthearted corner of its comic book world. Billy Batson has the power to transform from teenage boy (Asher Angel) to swole hero (Levi), which he shares with his foster brothers and sisters. But a trio of goddesses (Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler) shows up wanting to take those abilities and enslave mankind.
Where to watch: In theaters
If you're obsessed with Willem Dafoe: 'Inside'
Always a great choice as a screen weirdo, Dafoe gets the opportunity to explore all sorts of eccentricity in what's essentially a one-man show. He plays a thief tasked with stealing artwork worth missions from a high-tech penthouse when the alarm system goes askew and he becomes trapped. Days and weeks go by as the guy's diet, bathroom habits and overall existence devolve, and Dafoe's aces at inhabiting this sort of mad descent.
Where to watch: In theaters
If you like true-crime stories: 'Boston Strangler'
Based on the infamous serial-killer case, the 1960s-set film stars Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon as reporters with the Record-American newspaper who connect the dots between a series of disturbing murders involving women while navigating the era's sexism. There's a moody David Fincher vibe to this quietly intense true-crime thriller, which sets aside the more shocking murder stuff for a tighter focus on good journalism.
Where to watch: Hulu
If you dig the dynamic duo of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin: 'Moving On'
Did you think "80 for Brady" was the only time you'd see those legends together in cinemas this year? Good news then, because the "Grace and Frankie" co-stars are playing best friends again in a very tonally different comedy. Claire (Fonda) and Evelyn (Tomlin) attend the funeral of their college roommate and they hatch a plan to kill her husband (Malcolm McDowell) for a past transgression while Claire rekindles an old love with her ex (Richard Roundtree)
Where to watch: In theaters
'80 for Brady' review: Believe it or not, this all-star football comedy charms your cleats off
If you miss the days of 'Twister': 'Supercell'
The weather effects are iffy but the Spielbergian style is real in this coming-of-age disaster film. Daniel Diemer plays a Florida teen who shares his late father's scientific and tornado-chasing interests and absconds to Texas to study the heart of a dangerous wind storm with his dad's partner (Skeet Ulrich). In addition to a fun "Twister" Easter egg, the film features Anne Heche in one of her final roles as the kid's mom.
Where to watch: In theaters and on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon
If you need a heartwarming animated flick: 'The Magician's Elephant'
Searching for his long-lost sister, Peter (voiced by Noah Jupe) meets a fortune teller who gives him a cryptic lead: follow the magician's elephant. When a giant, painted elephant shows up in a mediocre magic man's (Benedict Wong) show, Peter thinks he might finally be on the right track. That is, until he's forced to pass three "impossible" tasks from a mercurial king (Aasif Mandvi) in this solid animated adventure.
Where to watch: Netflix
If you love eerie family histories: 'Leave'
As a baby, Hunter (Alicia von Rittberg) was abandoned in a New England cemetery wrapped in a blanket covered with satanic symbols. But that's not even the creepiest part in this slow burn horror film. Instead of heading to college, Hunter jets to Norway to find her biological parents and begins seeing a haunting figure warning her to leave the closer she comes to her extended family and its dark secrets.
Where to watch: Shudder
Also on streaming
The wild and crazy "Cocaine Bear," directed by Elizabeth Banks and featuring Ray Liotta in one of his final roles, is now available to buy/rent on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon and Google Play.
Brandon Cronenberg's sci-fi horror film "Infinity Pool," starring Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth as tourists at an all-inclusive resort who harbor some freaky secrets, is available to buy/rent on Apple TV and other on-demand platforms.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New movies to see this week: 'Shazam!' sequel, 'Boston Strangler'
