This week, we feature a classic family drama set in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn and a low-key comedy-drama on small community interests versus big corporate profits.
New Release
‘ChaO’
Stephan (Oji Suzuka), a worker at a shipbuilding company, gets pulled into the orbit of Princess Chao (Anna Yamada), whose mix of innocence and aggression keeps him off-balance as she pushes into his life. Her devotion collides with his confusion, forcing him into a romance he never planned.
This animated tale moves with a playful streak that keeps swerving just when it starts to settle. With vibrant color, odd turns, and offbeat humor, it’s the kind of ride you watch again just to catch the small moments you missed the first time.
Comedy | Fantasy | Romance
Release Date: April 10, 2026 (Limited)
Directors: Yasuhiro Aoki
Starring: Hiromi Kawakami, Kenta Miyake, Taro Nikuguso
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Family Pick
‘The Croods’
Grug (Nicolas Cage), an overprotective Neanderthal father, runs his family by fear and routine until Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a more advanced outsider with fire and ideas, shows up as the world starts breaking apart, pushing them into a shifting landscape where holding on collides with moving forward.
This animated flick keeps things moving with constant gags, a lively pace, and a strong voice cast that makes each family member feel distinct, while strange creatures, bright animation, and a playful score keep the whole family engaged.
Adventure | Comedy | Family
Release Date: March 22, 2013
Directors: Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone
Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: YouTube, Amazon, Apple TV
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
Understated Brilliance
‘Local Hero’
“Mac” MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) shows up in a remote Scottish village aiming to buy the whole place for his eccentric boss Felix Happer (Burt Lancaster). Things seem to be going well until a stubborn beachcomber named Ben Knox (Fulton Mackay) flatly refuses to sell his crucial patch of sand.
Peter Riegert nails the role of a lost suit slowly realizing that he may have found his true home. You’ll probably need to watch it a few times to catch all the brilliant, weird characters.
Comedy | Drama
Release Date: Feb. 17, 1983
Directors: Bill Forsyth
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Fulton Mackay
Running Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
A Family That Won’t Fold
‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’
Francie Nolan (Peggy Ann Garner) grows up in a Brooklyn tenement while her mother Katie (Dorothy McGuire) keeps the family afloat and her father Johnny (James Dunn) drifts between charm and alcoholism.
The cast disappears into a rough Brooklyn life where money stays tight, yet this family keeps pushing forward with the kind of stubborn humor and warmth that refuses to give in.
Drama | Family | Romance
Release Date: March 1945
Director: Elia Kazan
Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Peggy Ann Garner, Joan Blondell
Running Time: 2 hours, 9 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: YouTube
Rated: 4 1/2 stars out of 5
What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to features@epochtimes.nyc
