2014 winter-spring movie preview: An overview of films opening through late April

The 2014 winter-spring movie preview is a broad overview of films opening through late April. Release dates and other details, as compiled by Oliver Gettell, are subject to change.

FOR THE RECORD:
Movie previews: A listing in the Jan. 12 Sunday Calendar Movie Sneaks section for the film “G.B.F.” had the names of the writer and director reversed. The writer of the teen comedy opening this weekend is George Northy, and the director is Darren Stein. —

Jan. 17

Back in the Day

An aspiring actor best known for his insurance commercials heads home to Indiana for his high school reunion and reconnects with his now-married friends and an old flame. With Michael Rosenbaum, Morena Baccarin and Nick Swardson. Written and directed by Rosenbaum. Screen Media Films

Big Bad Wolves

A string of brutal murders puts three men on a collision course: the father of the latest victim, out for revenge; a vigilante detective operating outside the law; and the main suspect, a religious studies teacher arrested and released because of a police blunder. With Guy Adler, Lior Ashkenazi and Dvir Benedek. Written and directed by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado. In Hebrew with English subtitles. Magnet Releasing

Contempt

A 50th-anniversary restoration of the Godard classic about a disintegrating marriage and a problematic film adaptation of “The Odyssey” in Italy. With Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli and Jack Palance. Written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. In French, English, German and Italian, with English subtitles. Rialto Pictures

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

Devil’s Due

After a mysterious lost night on their honeymoon, a newlywed couple find themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy that begins to betray sinister origins. With Allison Miller and Zach Gilford. Written by Lindsay Devlin. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. 20th Century Fox

Freezer

A New York City mechanic is knocked out during his birthday dinner and wakes up locked inside a walk-in freezer, forcing him to survive a deadly case of mistaken identity involving the Russian mob and a wounded cop. With Dylan McDermott, Yuliya Snigir and Peter Facinelli. Written by Tom Doganoglu and Shane Weisfeld. Directed by Mikael Salomon. Anchor Bay Films

G.B.F.

After coming out of the closet, an unassuming teen suddenly finds himself pursued by three high school clique queens searching for a gay best friend. With Sasha Pieterse, Evanna Lynch and Natasha Lyonne. Written by George Northy. Directed by Darren Stein. Vertical Entertainment

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

A young CIA analyst uncovers an international terrorist plot to collapse the U.S. economy and heads into the field to prevent it from happening. With Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh and Keira Knightley. Written by Adam Cozad and David Koepp. Directed by Branagh. Paramount Pictures

Jamesy Boy

A teenage criminal goes from running with a street gang to maximum-security prison, where he befriends a convicted murderer who helps him turn his life around. With James Woods, Mary-Louise Parker and Ving Rhames. Written by Lane Shadgett and Trevor White. Directed by White. Phase 4 Films / XLrator Media

The Nut Job

In this animated film, a mischievous squirrel sets out to rob the town’s biggest nut shop to feed himself and his pals for the winter. With the voices of Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson and Katherine Heigl. Written by Lorne Cameron and Peter Lepeniotis. Directed by Lepeniotis. In 3-D. Open Road Films

Reasonable Doubt

After fleeing the scene of a fatal accident, an up-and-coming district attorney manipulates the case to acquit the accused criminal who was blamed for the crime — only to realize his actions have freed a vicious killer. With Dominic Cooper, Samuel L. Jackson and Gloria Reuben. Written by Peter A. Dowling. Directed by Peter P. Croudins. Lionsgate

Ride Along

To prove himself worthy, a fast-talking security guard goes for a ride-along with his girlfriend’s brother, a hot-headed Atlanta cop, and gets mixed up in his latest case. With Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo and Bruce McGill. Written by Greg Coolidge, Jason Mantzoukas, Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi. Directed by Tim Story. Universal Pictures

The Rocket

When his family is evicted, a 10-year-old Laotian boy believed to be a bearer of bad luck befriends a spirited orphan and her eccentric uncle while leading everyone in search of a new home. With Sitthiphon Disamoe, Loungnam Kaosainam and Bunsri Yindi. Written and directed by Kim Mordaunt. In Lao with English subtitles. Kino Lorber

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

An introverted optometrist with a suppressed gay past begins to question his marriage when his wife wants to have another baby, while his sister has reservations about her own impending nuptials. With Richie Jen, Mavis Fan and Kimi Hsia. Written and directed by Arvin Chen. In Mandarin with English subtitles. Film Movement

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Jan. 24

Enemies Closer

Two mortal enemies — a former Navy SEAL turned forest ranger and a man with a vendetta against him — join forces when they run afoul of a drug cartel on the U.S.-Canada border. With Tom Everett Scott, Orlando Jones and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Written by Eric Bromberg and James Bromberg. Directed by Peter Hyams. Lionsgate

Gimme Shelter

Forced to flee her abusive mother and turned away by her Wall Street father, a pregnant teenager meets a compassionate stranger who helps her find salvation in a suburban shelter for homeless teens. With Vanessa Hudgens, James Earl Jones and Rosario Dawson. Written and directed by Ronald Krauss. Roadside Attractions

Gloria

In Chile, a vivacious 58-year-old divorcee looking for love finds a potential new mate but grapples with emotional baggage and family ties. With Paulina Garcia, Sergio Hernandez and Marcial Tagle. Written by Sebastian Lelio and Gonzalo Maza. Directed by Lelio. In Spanish with English subtitles. Roadside Attractions

I, Frankenstein

Two centuries after his creation by Dr. Frankenstein, the creature Adam finds himself in the middle of a supernatural war over the fate of humanity. WIth Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski and Miranda Otto. Written and directed by Stuart Beattie. Lionsgate

If You Build It

A documentary following two designer-activists as they work with local high school students to help transform their poor North Carolina community and their lives. Directed by Patrick Creadon. Long Shot Factory

Knights of Badassdom

Three friends who participate in live-action role playing take to the woods, accidentally summon a demon and must deal with the consequences. With Peter Dinklage, Ryan Kwanten and Steve Zahn. Written by Kevin Dreyfuss and Matt Wall. Directed by Joe Lynch. eOne

Like Father, Like Son

A workaholic Tokyo architect and his family have their lives turned upside down upon learning that their 6-year-old son was switched at birth. With Fukuyama Masaharu, Ono Machiko and Maki Yoko. Written and directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu. In Japanese with English subtitles. Sundance Selects

Jan. 31

At Middleton

Two strangers — an uptight surgeon and a free-spirited children’s retailer — connect on their children’s campus tour at an idyllic college and decide to play hooky. With Andy Garcia, Vera Farmiga and Taissa Farmiga. Written by Adam Rodgers and Glenn German. Directed by Rodgers. Anchor Bay Films

Best Night Ever

Four women — a bride-to-be, her sister, a fun-loving friend and a quirky new pal — set off to Las Vegas for a bachelorette party and get more than they bargained for. With Desiree Hall, Samantha Colburn and Eddie Ritchard. Written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Magnet Releasing

Brightest Star

Heartbroken after being dumped by his girlfriend, a recent college graduate sets out to reinvent himself and win her back, only to cross paths with a songstress who likes him as he is. With Chris Lowell, Rose McIver and Jessica Szohr. Written by Matthew Mullen and Maggie Kiley. Directed by Kiley. Gravitas Ventures

California Scheming

Three Malibu teens get mixed up with the new girl in town, who introduces them to drugs and misdemeanors and may have more in store for them. With Gia Mantegna, Devon Werkheiser and Spencer Daniels. Written and directed by Marco Weber. Rapid Eye Film

Oscar Nominated Shorts

Three programs showcasing the Academy Award-nominated shorts in the categories of live action, animation and documentary. Multiple actors, writers and directors. Shorts HD

Run and Jump

When her husband suffers a stroke that alters his personality, a spirited wife and mother tries to hold her family together while hosting a strait-laced American doctor who intends to study her spouse’s condition. With Maxine Peake, Edward MacLiam and Will Forte. Written by Ailbhe Keogan. Directed by Steph Green. Sundance Selects

Somewhere Slow

After witnessing a fatal convenience store robbery, a woman makes a split-second decision to walk out on her unfulfilled life, and along the way she encounters a teenage drifter on his own journey of self-discovery. With Jessalyn Gilsig, Graham Patrick Martin and Robert Forster. Written and directed by Jeremy O’Keefe. Screen Media

That Awkward Moment

Three best friends find themselves questioning where their recent relationships are headed. With Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan and Imogen Poots. Written and directed by Tom Gormican. Focus Features

The Wait

An enigmatic phone call from a psychic catapults the lives of two sisters grieving over their mother’s death into chaos. With Jena Malone, Chloe Sevigny and Luke Grimes. Written and directed by M. Blash. Monterey Media

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

Feb. 7

7 Boxes

In Paraguay, a 17-year-old wheelbarrow courier who dreams of fame takes on a delivery job promising a quick $100 only to get mixed up with thieves, rival gangs and the police. With Celso Franco, Victor Sosa and Lali Gonzalez. Written by Juan Carlos Maneglia. Directed by Maneglia and Tana Schembori. In Spanish with English subtitles. Breaking Glass Pictures

After the Dark

Faced with an impending nuclear apocalypse, 20 college students must determine which 10 of them will take shelter underground to repopulate the human race, and their decision process quickly turns deadly. With James D’Arcy, Bonnie Wright and Sophie Lowe. Written and directed by John Huddles. Phase 4 Films

Cavemen

Fed up with one-night stands and empty relationships, a Los Angeles playboy tries to find real love for the first time, with help from his 9-year-old nephew and his best friend. With Skylar Astin, Camilla Belle and Alexis Knapp. Written and directed by Herschel Faber. Well Go USA

In Bloom

Two 14-year-old girls come of age in Tbilisi, the capital of the newly independent Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. With Lika Babluani and Mariam Bokeria. Written by Nana Ekvtimishvili. Directed by Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross. In Georgian with English subtitles. Big World Pictures

The Last of the Unjust

A documentary about Benjamin Murmelstein, the last president of the Jewish Council in the Theresienstadt ghetto in what is now the Czech Republic, featuring interviews filmed in 1975 and 2012. Directed by Claude Lanzmann. In French and German, with English subtitles. Cohen Media Group

The Lego Movie

In this animated film, an ordinary Lego figure is mistaken for the person meant to save the world and drafted into a quest to stop an evil tyrant. With the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks and Will Arnett. Written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. In 3-D. Warner Bros. Pictures

The Monuments Men

A fact-based drama about an unlikely World War II platoon tasked by FDR with going to Germany to save rare antiques, art and architecture from theft and destruction by the Nazis. With George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray and John Goodman. Written by Clooney and Grant Heslov. Directed by Clooney. Columbia Pictures

Nurse 3D

A nurse by day who prowls nightclubs after hours takes an unhealthy interest in a new co-worker. With Paz de la Huerta, Katrina Bowden and Corbin Bleu. Written by Doug Aarniokoski and David Loughery. Directed by Aarniokoski. In 3-D. Lionsgate

The Outsider

A British mercenary is called from Afghanistan to Los Angeles to identify his deceased daughter, but when he sees the body isn’t hers, he goes on a mission to find her. With Jason Patric, James Caan and Craig Fairbrass. Written and directed by Brian A. Miller. RLJ Entertainment

The Pretty One

When her stylish, outgoing twin sister is killed in a car accident, a shy young woman decides to step into her sibling’s life rather than continue her own. With Jake Johnson, Ron Livingston and Zoe Kazan. Written and directed by Jenée LaMarque. Dada Films / Required Viewing

Welcome to the Jungle

Office workers are stranded on a desert island when a corporate retreat led by an unhinged former Marine goes horribly wrong. With Jean-Claude Van Damme, Adam Brody and Kristen Schaal. Written by Jeff Kauffmann. Directed by Rob Meltzer. Cinedigm

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Feb. 12

RoboCop

In 2028, a controversial corporation specializing in military drones turns a critically injured Detroit cop into a part-man, part-robot police officer. With Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Abbie Cornish. Written by Joshua Zetumer, Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. Directed by Jose Padilha. Columbia Pictures

Feb. 14

About Last Night

Two couples navigate the ups and downs of modern love and romance in this remake of the 1986 film of the same name. With Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant. Written by Leslye Headland. Directed by Steve Pink. Screen Gems

Date and Switch

Two high school seniors and longtime friends make a pact to help each other lose their virginity before senior prom, but their agreement takes an unexpected turn when one of them announces he’s gay. With Nicholas Braun, Hunter Cope and Dakota Johnson. Written by Alan Yang. Directed by Chris Nelson. Lionsgate

Endless Love

A privileged young woman and a charismatic young man spark an intense but star-crossed love affair in this remake of the 1981 movie of the same name. With Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde and Robert Patrick. Written by Shana Feste and Joshua Safran. Directed by Feste. Universal Pictures

Girl on a Bicycle

An Italian tour bus driver in Paris who has just mustered the courage to propose to his flight attendant girlfriend suddenly becomes infatuated with a young woman he spies riding a bicycle. With Nora Tschirner, Vincenzo Amato and Paddy Considine. Written and directed by Jeremy Leven. Monterey Media

The Returned

In a post-zombie world where the infected can be treated with regular injections but are stigmatized by “anti-Return” groups, a young couple with a long-held secret fight to survive. With Kris Holden-Reid, Emily Hampshire and Shawn Doyle. Written by Hatem Khraiche. Directed by Manuel Carballo. Level Film

Vampire Academy

In this adaptation of the Richelle Mead novel, two girls on the run are caught and returned to their secret boarding school for vampires and vampire-human hybrids, where they fear their lives may be in jeopardy. With Zoey Deutch, Lucy Fry and Danila Kozlovsky. Written by Daniel Waters. Directed by Mark Waters. The Weinstein Co.

Winter’s Tale

A tale spanning a century in a mythical New York City, about a thief who falls for a dying woman and tangles with a ruthless gangster, based on the novel by Mark Helprin. With Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Jennifer Connelly and William Hurt. Written and directed by Akiva Goldsman. Warner Bros. Pictures

Feb. 21

3 Days to Kill

A spy determined to give up his dangerous life and reconnect with his estranged family must complete one last mission — hunting down a ruthless terrorist — while also looking after his teen daughter for the first time in years. With Kevin Costner, Hailee Steinfeld and Amber Heard. Written by Luc Besson and Adi Hasak. Directed by McG. Relativity Media

Bethlehem

An Israeli Secret Service officer forms a personal bond with his teenage Palestinian informant, the younger brother of a wanted militia leader. With Shadi Mar’I, Tsahi Halevy and Hitham Omari. Written by Yuval Adler and Ali Waked. Directed by Adler. In Hebrew and Arabic, with English subtitles. Adopt Films

Child’s Pose

A well-to-do Bucharest architect will stop at nothing to keep her thirtysomething deadbeat son out of jail after a deadly car crash. With Luminita Gheorghiu, Bogdan Dumitrache and Florin Zamfirescu. Written by Calin Peter Netzer and Razvan Radulescu. Directed by Netzer. In Romanian with English subtitles. Zeitgeist Films

In Secret

In 1860s Paris, a repressed young woman trapped in a loveless marriage embarks on an illicit affair with her husband’s childhood friend. With Elizabeth Olsen, Oscar Isaac and Tom Felton. Written and directed by Charlie Stratton. Roadside Attractions

Omar

A young Palestinian man becomes a freedom fighter and must face painful choices about life, love and resistance. With Adam Bakri, Eyad Hourani and Samer Bisharat. Written and directed by Hany Abu-Assad. In Arabic and Hebrew, with English subtitles. Adopt Films

Pompeii

In AD 79, a slave-turned-unstoppable-gladiator races against time to save his true love from a corrupt Roman senator and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. With Kit Harington, Emily Browning and Carrie-Anne Moss. Written by Janet Scott Batchler, Lee Batchler and Michael Robert Johnson. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. TriStar Pictures

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

Feb. 28

The Bag Man

Hired by a crime boss to carry out a simple but unusual task, a hard-luck tough guy crosses paths with a host of shady characters and a beautiful woman whose fate becomes entangled with his own. With John Cusack, Robert De Niro and Rebecca Da Costa. Written by David Grovic and Paul Conway. Directed by Grovic. Cinedigm

Hairbrained

After being rejected from Harvard, a 14-year-old genius lands at an Ivy League wannabe and forms an unlikely friendship with a 41-year-old gambler who has enrolled as a freshman. With Brendan Fraser and Alex Wolff. Written by Sarah Bird, Adam Wierzbianski and Billy Kent. Directed by Kent. Vertical Entertainment

The Lunchbox

In Mumbai, a middle-class housewife tries to add spice to her marriage by preparing an extra-special lunchbox for her neglectful husband, but a delivery mixup puts it in the hands of a lonely accountant and leads to an unexpected correspondence. With Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Written and directed by Ritesh Batra. In Hindi and English, with English subtitles. Sony Pictures Classics

Non-Stop

During a flight from New York City to London, a U.S. air marshal receives a series of cryptic text messages demanding a $150-million ransom or a passenger on the flight will be killed every 20 minutes. With Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore. Written by John W. Richardson, Chris Roach and Ryan Engle. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Universal Pictures

Odd Thomas

A small-town fry cook who can see ghosts and bad omens teams with his girlfriend and the local sheriff to save his town from destruction in this film based on the Dean Koontz book. With Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe and Addison Timlin. Written and directed by Stephen Sommers. RLJ Entertainment

Repentance

Years after a drunken car crash that almost took his life, a man who has reinvented himself as a therapist and spiritual advisor draws the attention of a troubled man fixated on the death of his mother. With Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie and Mike Epps. Written by Shintaro Shimosawa. Directed by Philippe Caland. Codeblack Films

Son of God

A film portraying the life of Jesus, from birth through his preaching, crucifixion and resurrection. With Diogo Morgado, Greg Hicks and Adrian Schiller. Written by Nic Young. Directed by Christopher Spencer. 20th Century Fox

Stalingrad

During World War II, a band of determined Russian soldiers fight to hold a strategic building in their devastated city against the German army and in the process become deeply connected to two women living there. With Thomas Kretschmann, Pyotr Fyodorov and Sergey Bondarchuk. Written by Ilya Tilkin and Sergey Snezhkin. Directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk. In Russian and German, with English subtitles. In Imax and 3-D. Sony Pictures Worldwide

Welcome to Yesterday

Teens discover plans for a time machine and build the device, but their actions endanger the present and future. With Sofia Black-D’Elia, Jonny Weston and Allen Evangelista. Written by Jason Pagan and Andrew Stark. Directed by Dean Israelite. Paramount Pictures

March 7

300: Rise of an Empire

The Athenian general Themistocles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge against the invading Persian king Xerxes and his navy. With Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green and Lena Headey. Written by Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad. Directed by Noam Murro. In 3-D and Imax. Warner Bros. Pictures

A Farewell to Fools

When a German soldier is found dead near a village in World War II-era Romania, the local madman is pressured by town leaders to take responsibility and save everyone else’s skin. With Gerard Depardieu and Harvey Keitel. Written by Anusavan Salamanian. Directed by Bogdan Dreyer. Monterey Media

The Grand Budapest Hotel

At a European hotel between the wars, a concierge and a lobby boy get mixed up in the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune. With Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton and Saoirse Ronan. Written and directed by Wes Anderson. Fox Searchlight Pictures

Grand Piano

Years after a catastrophic performance, a gifted pianist reemerges for a long-awaited public concert, only to discover a death threat scrawled on the score. With John Cusack and Elijah Wood. Written by Damien Chazelle. Directed by Eugenio Mira. Magnolia Films

Journey to the West

A young demon hunter who prefers a nonviolent approach embarks on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. With Shu Qi, Wen Zhang and Huang Bo. Written and directed by Stephen Chow. In Mandarin with English subtitles. Magnet Releasing

Kids for Cash

A documentary about the scandal surrounding a Pennsylvania judge who sentenced thousands of youths to draconian prison terms while receiving kickbacks from a juvenile detention center. Directed by Robert May. SenArt Films

Mr. Peabody and Sherman

In this animated film, a genius dog and his mischievous boy set out to undo the damage caused when the boy took their time machine for a joy ride to impress a girl. With the voices of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter and Allison Janney. Written by Craig Wright. Directed by Rob Minkoff. In 3-D. 20th Century Fox

On My Way

Jilted by her lover and left to deal with her family’s struggling restaurant, a sixtysomething former beauty queen steps out to buy cigarettes and winds up on a road trip. With Catherine Denueve, Nemo Schiffman and Gerard Garouste. Written by Emmanuelle Bercot and Jerome Tonnerre. Directed by Bercot. In French with English subtitles. Cohen Media Group

Special ID

An undercover cop deep inside China’s most ruthless crime syndicate finds that his days are numbered when the boss starts hunting down traitors. With Donnie Yen and Collin Chou. Written by Kam-Yuen Szeto. Directed by Clarence Fok Yiu-Leung. In Mandarin with English subtitles. Well Go USA

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

March 14

The Art of the Steal

A third-rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief agrees to pull off one more heist with his untrustworthy brother. With Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel. Written and directed by Jonathan Sobol. Radius-TWC

Enemy

A glum history professor spots his exact double in a movie and decides to track him down, causing their lives to become irrevocably intertwined. With Jake Gyllenhaal, Melanie Laurent and Isabella Rosellini. Written by Javier Gullon. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. A24

Ernest & Celestine

In this animated film an idealistic young mouse and a reclusive bear strike up an unlikely friendship. With the voices of Forest Whitaker, Mackenzie Foy and Lauren Bacall. Written by Daniel Pennac. Directed by Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar and Benjamin Renner. GKids

Grace of Monaco

A biopic about former Hollywood star Grace Kelly’s involvement in a dispute between her husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and French President Charles de Gaulle over tax laws in the early 1960s. With Nicole Kidman, Tim Roth, Frank Langella and Paz Vega. Written by Aresh Amel. Directed by Olivier Dahan. The Weinstein Co.

Le Chef

A veteran chef faces off against his restaurant group’s new chief executive, who wants the establishment to lose a star from its rating to bring in a younger chef who specializes in molecular gastronomy. With Jean Reno, Michael Youn and Raphaelle Agogue. Written and directed by Daniel Cohen. In French with English subtitles. Cohen Media Group

Le Week-End

A long-married middle-class British couple attempt to reinvigorate their marriage by returning to Paris for the first time since their honeymoon. With Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan and Jeff Goldblum. Written by Hanif Kureishi. Directed by Roger Michell. Music Box Films

Need for Speed

After serving two years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, a blue-collar mechanic seeks revenge against his rival and former partner via a high-stakes underground street race. With Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots and Ramon Rodriguez. Written by George Gatins. Directed by Scott Waugh. Walt Disney Pictures

The Right Kind of Wrong

A failed writer made infamous by his ex-wife’s scathing blog meets a wonderful new woman — on her wedding day. With Ryan Kwanten, Sara Canning and Ryan McPartlin. Written by Megan Martin. Directed by Jeremiah Chechik. Magnolia Pictures

Shirin in Love

An absent-minded Iranian American woman living with her parents in Los Angeles falls for a mysterious man inhabiting a lighthouse in Northern California, despite being engaged to a successful plastic surgeon. With Nazanin Boniadi, Riley Smith and Amy Madigan. Written and directed by Ramin Niami. Sideshow Releasing

Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club

Brought together by an incident at their children’s school, single mothers from different walks of life bond and form a support group to help one another overcome their personal challenges. With Nia Long, Amy Smart, Cocoa Brown and Terry Crews. Written and directed by Tyler Perry. Lionsgate

Uwantme2killhim?

A popular high school student infatuated with his online girlfriend befriends her loner brother and is drawn into a web of intrigue. With Jamie Blackley, Toby Regbo and Joanne Froggatt. Written by Mike Walden. Directed by Andrew Douglas. Tribeca Film

Veronica Mars

On the eve of graduating law school and while interviewing at high-end law firms, the former PI Veronica Mars is drawn back into sleuthing when she learns her ex-boyfriend has been accused of murder. With Kristen Bell, Krysten Ritter and Gaby Hoffman. Written by Diane Ruggiero and Rob Thomas. Directed by Thomas. Warner Bros. Pictures

March 21

Bad Words

A 40-year-old man exploits a loophole to enter and hijack a children’s spelling bee, and along the way he forges an unlikely alliance with a cheerful 10-year-old competitor. With Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn and Rohan Chand. Written by Andrew Dodge. Directed by Bateman. Focus Features

A Birder’s Guide to Everything

A 15-year-old bird-watching fanatic embarks on a road trip with a ragtag crew led by a legendary ornithologist to solidify a place in birding history. With Ben Kingsley, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Katie Chang. Written by Luke Matheny and Rob Meyer. Directed by Meyer. Screen Media Films / Focus World

Cheap Thrills

A struggling family man who has just lost his low-wage job gets roped into an escalating series of dares with his friend thanks to a wealthy couple with a twisted sense of humor. With Pat Healy, Ethan Embry and David Koechner. Written by David Chirchirillo and Trent Haaga. Directed by E.L. Katz. Drafthouse Films

Divergent

In a future world where people are divided into distinct factions based on their personalities, a young woman who doesn’t fit into a single group discovers a conspiracy to destroy those like her. With Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Jai Courtney. Written by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor. Directed by Neil Burger. Summit Entertainment

Falcon Song

A guitar-playing drifter helps a rancher’s granddaughter find her true calling against the backdrop of a land war. With Rainey Qualley, Gabriel Sunday and Hart Turner. Written by Michelle Poteet Lisanti and Jason Corgan Brown. Directed by Brown.

Finding Vivian Maier

A documentary about Vivian Maier, a solitary Chicago nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs has earned her a posthumous reputation as an accomplished and prolific street photographer. Directed by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel. IFC Films

Maladies

When an unstable former soap opera star in 1960s New York tries to reinvent himself as a writer and takes up with his eccentric sister at the seaside home of their best friend, he begins to retreat further into his own mind. With James Franco, Catherine Keener and Fallon Goodson. Written and directed by Carter. Tribeca Film

McCanick

Upon learning that a seemingly harmless young criminal has been released from prison, a Philadelphia narcotics detective mercilessly hunts down the ex-con. With David Morse, Cory Monteith and Ciaran Hinds. Written by Daniel Noah. Directed by Josh C. Waller. Well Go USA

Muppets Most Wanted

While performing on an international tour, the Muppets find themselves unwittingly embroiled in an international crime caper. With Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell and Tina Fey. Written by James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller. Directed by Bobin. Walt Disney Pictures

Nymphomaniac: Volume 1

Taken in by an older bachelor after being beaten and left in an alley, a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her adolescence and young adulthood. With Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Stacy Martin and Shia LaBeouf. Written and directed by Lars von Trier. Magnolia Pictures

Rob the Mob

A crazy-in-love Queens couple rob a string of mafia-run clubs and become targets of the mob and the FBI. With Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda and Andy Garcia. Written by Jonathan Fernandez. Directed by Raymond De Felitta. Millennium Entertainment

Stretch

With only one shift left to pay off a big debt, a desperate limo driver tries to score a big tip from his latest fare, a reclusive billionaire, by catering to his deviant appetites. With Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, Ed Helms and Jessica Alba. Written and directed by Joe Carnahan. Universal Pictures

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

March 28

A Haunted House 2

After moving on from his demonically possessed ex-girlfriend and starting over with a new love and her two kids, a man is once again plagued by bizarre paranormal events. With Marlon Wayans, Jaime Pressly and Gabriel Iglesias. Written by Wayans and Rick Alvarez. Directed by Michael Tiddes. Open Road Films

Boys of Abu Ghraib

An American soldier develops a secret friendship with an Iraqi detainee during the torture scandal at Abu Ghraib prison. With Luke Moran, Sean Astin and Sara Paxton. Written and directed by Moran. Vertical Entertainment

Breathe In

The arrival of a foreign exchange student in a small town in upstate New York upends the dynamics of her host family’s relationships. With Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Amy Ryan. Written by Drake Doremus and Ben York Jones. Directed by Doremus. Cohen Media Group

Cesar Chavez

A biopic about the Mexican American union leader Cesar Chavez, who organized farm workers in California and across the southwestern U.S. With Michael Pena, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson and John Malkovich. Written by Keir Pearson and Timothy Sexton. Directed by Diego Luna. Pantelion Films

No God, No Master

In 1919, an agent of the Bureau of Investigation (precursor to the FBI) probes a series of package bombs sent to prominent politicians and businessmen, uncovering an anarchist conspiracy. With David Strathairn, Sam Witwer and Ray Wise. Written and directed by Terry Green. Monterey Media

Noah

A man is chosen by God for a great task before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world. With Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone and Emma Watson. Written by Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel. Directed by Aronofsky. Paramount Pictures

March TBA

Awful Nice

Two estranged brothers are forced to travel to Branson together to renovate and flip the lake house they’ve inherited from their recently deceased father. With Alex Rennie, James Pumphrey and Christopher Meloni. Written by Alex Rennie and Todd Sklar. Directed by Sklar. Screen Media Films

Just a Sigh

An actress on a train to Paris for an audition has a chance encounter with and is drawn to a mysterious Irishman. With Emmanuelle Devos and Gabriel Byrne. Written and directed by Jerome Bonnell. Distrib Films

Tey

In Senegal, a seemingly healthy man wakes one morning aware that he will die at the end of the day and spends his final hours bidding farewell to those around him. With Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman and Aissa Maiga. Written by Alain Gomis, Djolof Mbengue and Marc Wels. Directed by Gomis. In French, Manjack and Wolof, with English subtitles. BelleMoon Productions

April 2

The Unknown Known

A documentary profile of former Secretary of Defense and Iraq war architect Donald H. Rumsfeld, who discusses his career in Washington from his days as a congressman in the early 1960s to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Directed by Errol Morris. Radius-TWC

April 4

Alan Partridge

After his radio station is taken over by a media conglomerate, a middle-aged DJ gets caught between his disgruntled, gun-toting former colleague and the police. With Steve Coogan, Felicity Montagu and Simon Greenall. Written by Coogan, Peter Baynham, Neil Gibbons, Rob Gibbons and Armando Iannucci. Directed by Declan Lowney. Magnolia Pictures

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

While still adjusting to the modern world, the superhero Captain America returns to action alongside the Black Widow and a new ally, the Falcon, to thwart a conspiracy orchestrated by a formidable new enemy, the Winter Soldier. With Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie. Written by Christopher Markus and Steve McFeely. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. Walt Disney Pictures

Dom Hemingway

After 12 years in prison, a cocky safecracker looks to collect what he’s owed for keeping his mouth shut and protecting his boss, while also trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter. With Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir and Emilia Clarke. Written and directed by Richard Shepard. Fox Searchlight Pictures

Goodbye World

College friends reunite at a remote cabin in Northern California when a cyber attack cripples civilization. With Kerry Bishe, Caroline Dhavernas and Adrian Grenier. Written by Denis Henry Hennelly and Sarah Adina Smith. Directed by Hennelly. Phase 4 Films / Samuel Goldwyn Films

Ilo Ilo

A 10-year-old Singaporean boy forges a bond with his Filipino caretaker while his parents try to stay afloat during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. With Koh Jia Ler, Yeo Yann Yann and Chen Tian. Written by and directed by Anthony Chen. In English, Chinese and Tagalog, with English subtitles. Film Movement

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

A documentary about the diverse but endangered lemurs inhabiting the remote island nation of Madagascar. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Directed by David Douglas. In 3-D and Imax. Warner Bros. Pictures

Jinn

A supernatural thriller about the ancient mythological beings known as jinn. With Ray Park, Faran Tahir and William Atherton. Written and directed by Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad. Freestyle Releasing

Under the Skin

A voluptuous woman of unknown origin seeks out isolated and forsaken men, lures them into her otherworldly lair and strips them of their humanity. With Scarlett Johansson. Written by Jonathan Glazer and Walter Campbell. Directed by Glazer. A24

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

April 11

Draft Day

On the day of the NFL draft, the general manager of the Cleveland Browns trades for the No. 1 pick and has the onerous task of saving football in his city. With Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner and Denis Leary. Written by Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman. Directed by Ivan Reitman. Summit Entertainment

Only Lovers Left Alive

Two world-weary, centuries-old vampire lovers come together again in Detroit, but their reunion is soon disrupted by the appearance of an uncontrollable younger sister. With Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton and Mia Wasikowska. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Sony Pictures Classics

Rio 2

Traveling from Rio de Janeiro to the Amazon rainforest, a family of birds gets acquainted with the wild in this sequel to the 2011 animated film “Rio.” With the voices of Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, Jemaine Clement and Tracy Morgan. Directed by Carlos Saldanha. 20th Century Fox

Sabotage

An elite DEA agent and his task force successfully execute a high-stakes raid on a cartel safe house and think their work is done — until the team members start being eliminated one by one. With Arnold Schwarzenegger, Olivia Williams and Mirelle Enos. Written by Skip Woods and David Ayer. Directed by Ayer. Open Road Films

St. Vincent

A boy whose parents recently divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, hedonistic war veteran who lives next door. With Naomi Watts, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd and Bill Murray. Written and directed by Theodore Melfi. The Weinstein Co.

April 16

Heaven Is for Real

When their young son awakens after a near-death experience, a small-town couple are stunned by his claims that he visited heaven and encountered biblical figures and deceased relatives. With Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly and Connor Corum. Written by Randall Wallace and Christopher Parker. Directed by Wallace. TriStar Pictures

April 18

13 Sins

A cryptic phone call sets off a dangerous game for a down-on-his-luck salesman who is promised increasing rewards for completing 13 tasks, each more sinister than the last. With Mark Webber, Ron Perlman and Rutina Wesley. Written by David Birke and Daniel Stamm. Directed by Stamm. Radius-TWC

Authors Anonymous

A dysfunctional group of unpublished writers accepts a new member into its fold but is unprepared for her overnight success. With Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein and Teri Polo. Written by David Congalton. Directed by Ellie Kanner. Screen Media Films / Starz

Bears

A nature documentary following a year in the life of a bear family in Alaska with two impressionable young cubs. Narrated by John C. Reilly. Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey. Walt Disney Pictures

Nymphomaniac: Volume 2

Taken in by an older bachelor after being beaten and left in an alley, a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac continues recounting her life story. With Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Stacy Martin and Shia LaBeouf. Written and directed by Lars von Trier. Magnolia Pictures

Oculus

A woman tries to exonerate her brother, recently released from a juvenile mental institution, for the murder of their parents by proving that they were killed by an antique mirror. With Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites and Rory Cochrane. Written by Mike Flanagan and Jeff Howard. Directed by Flanagan. Relativity Media

Redwood Highway

Estranged from her family and unsatisfied with her life in a retirement community in Oregon, an elderly woman treks 80 miles on foot to the coast to attend her granddaughter’s wedding as an unexpected guest. With Shirley Knight and Tom Skerritt. Written by Gary Lundgren and James Twyman. Directed by Lundgren. Monterey Media

Transcendence

When a scientist researching artificial intelligence is mortally wounded by anti-technology extremists, his wife and best friend upload his consciousness online, but his thirst for knowledge evolves into a relentless quest for power. With Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall and Kate Mara. Written by Jack Paglen. Directed by Wally Pfister. Warner Bros. Pictures

April 25

Blue Ruin

After learning the man who murdered his parents is being released from prison, a Virginia drifter sets out for vengeance but gets in over his head. With Macon Blair, Devin Ratray and Amy Hargreaves. Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier. Radius-TWC

Chinese Puzzle

A heartsick Parisian writer follows the mother of his two children to New York City to be near his kids in this sequel to “L’Augerge Espagnole” and “Russian Dolls.” With Romain Duris, Audrey Tatou, Cecile De France and Kelly Reilly. Written and directed by Cedric Klapisch. In English and French, with English subtitles. Cohen Media Group

Earth to Echo

After a construction project begins in their neighborhood, three boys begin to receive strange coded messages on their cellphones, and their investigation brings them into contact with an extraterrestrial who needs their help. With Teo Halm, Brian “Astro” Bradley and Reese Hartwig. Written by Henry Gayden. Directed by Dave Green. Relativity Media

Locke

Over the course of an evening, a construction manager juggles major personal and professional challenges from the front seat of his car. With Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson and Olivia Colman. Written and directed by Steven Knight. A24

The Machine

Two computer programmers fall in love while creating the world’s first self-aware artificial intelligence, but things take a disastrous turn when the British government commandeers their creation and weaponizes it. With Toby Stephens, Caity Lotz and Denis Lawson. Written and directed by Caradog W. James. XLrator Media

The Other Woman

After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman strikes up an unlikely friendship with the man’s wife, and the two plot their revenge — with help from yet another of his mistresses. With Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Kate Upton. Written by Melissa K. Stack. Directed by Nick Cassavetes. 20th Century Fox

The Quiet Ones

Following the theory that paranormal activity is caused by negative energy, an unorthodox professor leads his students in an experiment to create a poltergeist, with terrifying consequences. With Jared Harris, Sam Claflin and Erin Richards. Written by Craig Rosenberg, Oren Moverman and John Pogue. Directed by Pogue. Lionsgate

Walking With the Enemy

During World War II, a Hungarian Jew impersonates a Nazi officer and initiates a series of daring rescues while so disguised. With Jonas Armstrong, Hannah Tointon and Ben Kingsley. Written by Kenny Golde. Directed by Mark Schmidt. Liberty Studios

FULL COVERAGE: Movie Sneaks 2014

April TBA

Cuban Fury

Shamed into leaving the world of professional dance, a former prodigy resigned to an ordinary existence has his passion reignited by his new boss, who harbors a secret love for salsa dancing. With Nick Frost, Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd. Written by Jon Brown. Directed by Chris Griffiths. eOne

The Immigrant

Separated from her ill sister at Ellis Island in 1921, a Polish immigrant is released to the mean streets of Manhattan and falls prey to a conniving man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution. With Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner. Written by James Gray and Richard Menello. Radius-TWC

Small Time

Still pining for the ex-wife who left him years ago, a used-car salesman learns that their son has decided to forgo college in favor of selling cars with his old man. With Christopher Meloni, Devon Bostick and Dean Norris. Written and directed by Joel Surnow. Anchor Bay Films

Spring TBA

The Double

A timid office worker’s life is turned upside down by the appearance of a new hire who looks just like him but is otherwise his polar opposite. With Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska and Wallace Shawn. Written by Richard Ayoade and Avi Korine. Directed by Ayoade. Magnolia Films

Hank and Asha

An Indian woman studying in Prague and an aspiring New York filmmaker strike up an online friendship and begin trading video messages. With Mahira Kakkar and Andrew Pastides. Written by James E. Duff and Julia Morrison. Directed by Duff. Paper Chain Productions