We head into the April off the back of a pretty strong first quarter of the year at UK cinemas – thanks both to awards season films that arrived in the UK after their 2025 American premieres and major new films like Project Hail Mary and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

This month sees another varied selection, with the box office expected to be dominated by two new releases in particular: the second animated Super Mario movie and the biopic of highly controversial pop superstar Michael Jackson.

But there are plenty of other options as well, from Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s new movie The Drama to buzzy horror title Undertone to the extremely intriguing Mother Mary – which stars Anne Hathaway as a fictional pop star and has been described as undefinable even by it’s own director David Lowery.

Elsewhere, Josh O’Connor turns in another stellar performance in low-key gem Rebuilding, two Scottish actors – James McAvoy and Brian Cox – both make their directorial debuts with California Schemin’ and Glenrothan respectively, and Regé-Jean Page and Halle Bailey lead new romcom You, Me and Tuscany.

There’s all that plus Jude Law starring as Vladimir Putin and the latest project from acclaimed, offbeat Cornish director Mark Jenkin – so plenty to get stuck into.

To help you pick out the highlights, we’ve put together a selection of some of the best films to watch this month – check out the video above or read on for our choices.

Best films released in the UK this month: April 2026

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Release date: Friday 1 April in cinemas

This follow-up to the 2023 mega-hit is based on the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy and introduces some more of the beloved Nintendo characters, with Donald Glover and Brie Larson joining the voice cast as Yoshi and Rosalina respectively.

The plot will see iconic Italian plumbers Mario and Luigi befriend Yoshi and join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure into outer space, where they meet Rosalina and once again face off against Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr.

The Drama

Release date: Friday 3 April in cinemas

Robert Pattinson and Zendaya lead this comedy drama from writer director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) about a couple whose plans for their upcoming wedding are upended when a shocking secret comes to light about Zendaya’s character’s past.

Much has been made about the nature of that secret – though its of course best to avoid spoilers before watching – but this certainly looks like a film that will spark conversation…

Fuze

Release date: Friday 3 April in cinemas

Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as a bomb disposal expert who is brought in to urgently assist when an unexploded WWII bomb is discovered in Central London in this crime thriller from director David McKenzie.

But that bomb is just the starting point for a film that also involves a major heist element, with the supporting cast including key roles for Theo James, Sam Worthington and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

California Schemin’

Release date: Friday 10 April in cinemas

James McAvoy makes his directorial debut with this biographical drama about Silibil N’ Brains, a Scottish rap duo who pretended to be American in their bid to make it in the music industry – and ended up supporting some very major names.

Based on the true story of Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd and adapted from the former’s memoir California Schemin’: How Two Lads from Scotland Conned the Music Industry, it boasts energetic performances from Samuel Bottomley and Séamus McLean Ross as the central duo, while McAvoy also has a key role himself.

You, Me and Tuscany

Release date: Friday 10 April in cinemas

This Italy-set romcom stars Halle Bailey as a young cook who unexpectedly find love after taking a trip to Tuscany and posing as the fiancé of a man she’d met only once after being found squatting in his house.

In the process of keeping up the pretence – which involves spending a lot of time with the man’s somewhat eccentric family – she also meets his cousin Michael (Regé-Jean Page), and sparks begin to fly…

Undertone

Release date: Friday 10 April in cinemas

This buzzy horror film from first-time director Ian Tuason follows two podcast hosts who are sent an eerie, mysterious email from one of their listeners, containing some very creepy voice recordings.

Unfolding entirely from the perspective of Evy (Nina Kiri) – the more sceptical of the two hosts who is also caring for her ill mother – most of the scares come from the film’s terrifying sound design, which leaves plenty to the imagination.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas

No relation to the previous Mummy films, this supernatural horror from Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin follows the creepy events that occur when a girl shows up eight years after she had disappeared.

The synopsis teases: “What should have been a joyful family reunion quickly turns into a true nightmare…”

The Wizard of the Kremlin

Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas

Jude Law plays Vladimir Putin in this satire based on a 2022 novel of the same name, with Paul Dano and Alicia Vikander also in the star-studded cast and acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas at the helm.

It follows a fictional character named Vadim Baranov (Dano), who morphs from a young artist in 1990s Russia into an influential government official and spin doctor at the heart of the government.

Rebuilding

Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas

Josh O’Connor has the starring role alongside Meghann Fahy and recent Oscar-winner Amy Madigan in this low-key Western about a man named Dusty who is attempting to rebuild his life after his ranch is destroyed by wildfires.

The synopsis continues: “Dusty winds up in a FEMA camp finding community with others who lost homes, after reuniting with his daughter and ex-wife.”

Glenrothan

Release date: Friday 17 April in cinemas

Brian Cox directs and leads the cast of this comedy drama described as a “love letter to Scotland” with Alan Cumming also starring.

Cumming plays Donal, a man who returns to Scotland after 35 years abroad in a bid to make amends with his brother Sandy, played by Cox.

Michael

Release date: Wednesday 22 April in cinemas

This biopic of controversial pop superstar Michael Jackson sees Jaafar Jackson – Michael’s nephew – take on the central role, with Antoine Fuqua directing and Colman Domingo starring as his father Joe.

The film is mainly focused on Jackson’s early life and career, including his time with the Jackson 5 and his start as a solo artist, but it seems certain to reopen conversations about his legacy.

Mother Mary

Release date: Friday 24 April in cinemas

Anne Hathaway plays a fictional pop star in this mysterious new psychological drama from writer/director David Lowery, which also stars Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Sian Clifford and FKA Twigs.

According to a synopsis, it will follow the “psychosexual affair between pop singer Mary and fashion designer Sam (Coel) after the former’s need for a dress for her new tour draws them back together.”

Rose of Nevada

Release date: Friday 24 April in cinemas

The third film from audacious Cornish director Mark Jenkin is an intriguing sci-fi drama starring George MacKay and Callum Turner.

The synopsis reads: “A mysterious boat returns to a village thirty years after it vanished. Two men join its crew hoping for better fortune. After one voyage, they find themselves transported back in time, mistaken for the original crew.”

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.