From Pixar revisiting one of its most beloved franchises with Toy Story 5 to Homi Adajania's Cocktail 2, and from an award-winning film on the impact of war to Malayalam and Tamil films tackling identity, memory and social expectations, this week's theatrical slate spans genres, languages and audiences.
Here's what to watch in theaters this week:
Hindi
Cocktail 2
Fourteen years after Cocktail, Director Homi Adajania returns with a new relationship drama. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon, the film explores how an unexpected reunion complicates a long-standing romance.
English
Toy Story 5
Toy Story 5 reunites Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the gang as they confront a challenge unlike any before: technology. When Bonnie becomes attached to a new tablet called Lilypad, the toys begin questioning their place in a world increasingly dominated by screens.
The Furious
Action choreographer and director Kenji Tanigaki helms this Hong Kong action thriller starring Xie Miao as a mute tradesman whose daughter is abducted by a criminal network. Forced to take matters into his own hands, he teams up with a journalist and launches a relentless search through the underworld.
Arabic
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania blends real emergency call recordings with dramatised sequences to recount the story of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed in Gaza in January 2024. The film follows the desperate rescue attempts made by Palestine Red Crescent volunteers and has emerged as one of the year's most discussed documentaries. It went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at Venice and received nominations at both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Malayalam
Balan: The Boy
Directed by Chidambaram and written by Jithu Madhavan, Balan: The Boy follows a young kid attempting to uncover the truth behind his turbulent childhood and his mother's disappearance. The psychological thriller stars Adhisheshan K R and Farzana Palathingal.
Chinna Chinna Aasai
Set in Varanasi, this romantic drama, Varsha Vasudev’s directorial debut, revolves around two strangers whose chance meeting gradually develops into a deeper emotional connection. The film stars Indrans, Madhoo, Aparna Balamurali and Vishnu Agasthya, with music by Govind Vasantha.
Telugu
Maa Inti Bangaaram
Produced by and starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Maa Inti Bangaaram follows a woman whose carefully built family life is threatened when secrets from her past resurface. Directed by B. V. Nandini Reddy, the film also features Gulshan Devaiah, Diganth and Gautami.
Tamil
Nooru Saami
Directed by Sasi, Nooru Saami centres on a widowed mother whose decision to pursue happiness later in life disrupts the expectations of her family and community. As opposition mounts, she must decide whether to follow convention or chart her own path. Starring Vijay Antony, Ajay Dhishan and Lijomol Jose, the film explores questions of personal choice, tradition and social expectations.