With all the recent buzz around the Academy Awards, cord-cutters can look forward to Oscar winner “The Zone of Interest” hitting streaming this month. Other highlights include the premiere of the second half of Zack Snyder’s hit sci-fi epic “Rebel Moon” and the streaming debut of the Disney animated feature “Wish.”
Like the breezy spring weather, April’s selections are mostly light and fun, with romantic comedies and action filling a good part of the list. International content is also making a decent showing, with the streaming premier of multiple British films and the film adaptation of the popular Japanese manga “City Hunter.” Below are the movie streaming premieres you can look forward to this April.
‘Wish’ — April 3
In the Mediterranean island kingdom of Rosas, the sorcerer king Magnifico (Chris Pine) collects wishes from his subjects and stores them away, choosing one wish to be granted in a monthly ceremony. Seventeen-year-old Asha (Ariana DeBose) has watched her beloved grandfather’s wish to inspire others ignored year after year. After her final tactic to get his wish granted for his 100th birthday fails, she makes a desperate wish on a star. To her surprise, a strange star creature appears, granting animals speech with its touch and inspiring Asha to take back control of the kingdom’s wishes. To collect the lost wishes, she and her friends must go up against a king willing to turn to dark magic to hold on to power.
“Wish” is a heartwarming and beautifully animated Disney feature with the empowering message of making your own dreams come true.
‘Música’ — April 4
YouTuber and musician Rudy Mancuso directs and stars in the new Amazon Prime Video rom-com “Música.” Brazilian American Rudy (Mancuso) is just trying to get through life in Newark, New Jersey, while he’s overwhelmed by the sounds around him constantly translating to music in his mind. His girlfriend Haley (Francesca Reale) doesn’t understand his struggles and pushes him to focus on a stable job. He feels like someone finally gets him when he meets Isabella (“Riverdale” star Camila Mendez). It should be easy to just fall in love, but with so much going on in Rudy’s mind, from the music to Haley to the cultural pressure from his Brazilian family, it’s hard for him to not be pulled in a million directions.
“Música” promises to be relatable and heartwarming, and fans can look forward to seeing how Manusco’s creative mind translates to the big screen.
‘How to Date Billy Walsh’ — April 5
If you enjoy British coming-of-age movies like “Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging,” you’ll love this month’s new Amazon Original, “How to Date Billy Walsh.” Archie (Sebastian Croft) has had a crush on his childhood best friend Amelia (“Bridgerton” star Charithra Chandran) for years but never dared to tell her. Just as he gathers the courage to make a move, the arrival of charming and handsome new American transfer student Billy Walsh (Tanner Buchanan), throws a wrench in his plans. Amelia falls head-over-heels for Billy, while Archie hatches half-baked plans to sabotage their budding romance. Realizing he’s only pushing Amelia closer to Billy, Archie is forced to examine whether he really wants his best friend to be happy or if he’d rather pursue his own romantic interests.
‘Scoop’ — April 5
The late Queen Elizabeth’s second son, Prince Andrew, became infamous in 2019 when a BBC “Newsnight” interview detailed his association with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged sexual assault of a minor. “Scoop” follows the women who fought to bring the interview to life: “Newsnight” presenter Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) and investigative team leader Sam McAlister (Billie Piper). The movie shows the relentless negotiations with the royal family that were needed to secure the interview and to convince Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) to discuss the sensitive topics on air. The team walks a fine line of journalistic integrity as they meticulously plan for the world-shaking interview. They understand they may ruin someone’s reputation, but they remain determined to tell the truth and hold a powerful figure accountable.
Based on true events, The film boasts an impressive cast including Gillian Anderson of “The X-Files” and “The Crown,” “The Diplomat” star Rufus Sewell, and “Doctor Who” darling and British pop culture icon Billie Piper.
‘The Zone of Interest’ — April 5
“The Zone of Interest,” this year’s Academy Award winner for Best International Feature, gets a streaming debut this month. The film centers around Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the real-life commandant of Auschwitz. In 1943, Rudolf, his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller), and their five children live in an idyllic home next to a concentration camp. They spend their days swimming, fishing, and gardening, while sounds of machinery, shouts, and gunshots echo over the garden wall. Prisoners are servants in the household and the family is given the deportees’ stolen belongings, rationalizing their unnatural position and enjoying their life in the zone of interest next to the camp. As the war progresses and Rudolf is asked to take on new roles, he begins to recognize the reality of what he’s participating in.
The film’s long, static takes create a sense of emotional distance and discomfort that builds to disturbing tension in this slow-burn historical drama.
‘The Greatest Hits’ — April 12
Veronica (Lucy Boynton) is still devastated two years after the loss of her boyfriend in a tragic accident. She discovers that listening to songs from their relationship literally transports her to the past, where she can relive the happy moments before Max (David Corenswet) died. Believing that she may be able to stop the accident from happening, she listens to every possible record in an attempt to get back to the perfect moment in time. In the present day, she finds herself with a growing connection to a new man (Justin H. Min) with a love of music, forcing her to confront whether she can keep living in the past.
Rising star Lucy Boynton gives an emotionally powerful performance as Veronica in this romantic fantasy about love, loss, and the power of song.
‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’ — April 19
The second installment in iconic director Zack Snyder’s epic space-opera war story returns this month. In “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire,” we were introduced to Kora (Sofia Boutella) and her fight against the tyrannical Ream to save her peaceful colony of Kepler. We left her as she was escaping the aftermath of war with her warrior team. “Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver” picks up with the remaining soldiers and refugees of Kepler as they make a new home and attempt to defend the moon Veldt. General Titus (Djimon Hounsou) trains the warriors relentlessly before war’s inevitable return, and the people and the farmers of Veldt face their own threat from the Motherworld. The underdogs band together to stand in the face of tyranny and fight their final battle.
Fans can look forward to the long buildup finally paying off in the impressive final battle of this visually stunning sci-fi.
Don’t miss the premiere of “Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver” on Netflix.
‘City Hunter’ — April 25
The legendary 1980s manga series “City Hunter” isn’t new to adaptations. It’s been made into a complete anime series, many animated films, a live-action television series, and multiple live-action films, including a Cantonese-language version starring Jackie Chan. However, the new Netflix film “City Hunter” seems to take the source material a little more seriously, toning down some slapstick elements and focusing on character. Ryo Saeba (Ryohei Suzuki), a private investigator and hopeless playboy, works with his partner Hideyuki Makimura (Masanobu Andô) on dangerous cases in Tokyo’s criminal underworld. Clients contact their mysterious PI firm City Hunter by writing “XYZ” on a blackboard at Shinjuku Station. After receiving the plea “XYZ, please find my sister,” the team sets out in search of a famous cosplayer. Meanwhile, police detective Saeko (Fumino Kimura) struggles to crack a series of violent incidents around Shinjuku. When Hideyuki is killed during the investigation, her sister Makimura Kaori (Ayumi Yamashita) steps in, determined to get to the truth.