It is amazing how quickly the last two months have gone by. It seems like it was only last week that I wrote the first After Theater Round Up, but the number of movies that have come out proves that there has been quite a bit of time. Luckily, a lot of those movies have been absolutely wonderful. So without further ado, let’s dive right into some of the best films that came out in March and April of 2026.

Michael

By far one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Michael came bursting onto the stage to great box office success. While the critics were somewhat split on the film, it is clear that audiences love this movie. It will take time to see if this becomes one of the first billion-dollar films of the year, but it could make its way there. Michael does go deep into some lore that is not as commonly known about the King of Pop, and there are other aspects of it that don’t go deep enough. It is one of the double-edged swords about biopics, especially with one focusing on the life of someone as complicated as Michael Jackson’s.

Normal

One of the best action surprises of this year, Normal has confirmed what many in the action film community already know: Bob Odenkirk is a certified action star. While this movie is absolutely bonkers on paper, as well as on the big screen, it is just the right type of ridiculousness. Most will go to this film for the over-the-top action scenes and the occasional funny moments, though Normal has a lot of heart to it. If you have a chance, make sure to check it out with a good drink.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

What is likely to be the first billion-dollar movie, assuming that their recent streaming plans don’t screw that up, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie arrived with a big splash! While this film certainly isn’t of any better quality than the first film, it is a great time for children of all ages to enjoy. There are plenty of easter eggs for the casual and hardcore Nintendo fans. For myself, I was very glad to see my favorite blue Luma, who yearns for the afterlife. I hope that next time Lumalee gets a bit more screentime, but we shall have to wait for the sequel to see what mischief he gets up to.

Project Hail Mary

I have been familiar with the book this movie adapts from for quite a long time because of its general popularity at my local library. While I have not gotten around to reading the book myself, I was fascinated by it due to the absolutely wonderful film adaptation of The Martian from a few years ago. As well as the great track record of Phil Lord & Chris Miller. There were moments throughout Project Hail Mary that confused me due to them being jam-packed with scientific jargon. You would think that someone who grew up on Star Trek would be able to keep up, but you would be mistaken. Hopefully, a second viewing will help fill in the gaps for me on a film that I overall enjoyed!

Hoppers

With Elio being an unsuccessful science fiction story from Pixar, I was a bit worried going into Hoppers. I remember telling my family about the film, and they honestly questioned how such a plot could be interesting or for children. Given the box office performance, it seems like that may have been the consensus of many moviegoers. Regardless, Hoppers is definitely a film that everyone should go see for the phenomenal characters that each bring something different, the humor that pops up from time to time, and the overarching message that stems from one young adult’s attempt to protect the environment.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

If you thought that the first Ready or Not film was a crazy action horror flick, this sequel takes everything that made the first one memorable and doubles down. Taking place immediately after the events of the first film, our favorite bride comes face to face with more members of the devil cult that controls the world, while also having to deal with her younger sister, who gets stuck in the middle of everything. Ready or Not 2: Here I come definitely seems to lose a lot of the things that made the first one a horror film, but I think that is for the better, as this film dives into more of the cult’s lore and culture, which is far more interesting for a viewer like me.

Thanks for checking out this second issue of The After Theater Round Up. What films came out these past two months that you enjoyed? Leave them in the comments below!

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!