Tennis anyone? In “King Richard,” Will Smith plays Richard Williams, father and tennis guru to Venus and Serena Williams. The film, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, is an authorized dramatization (the Williams family was heavily involved) of the long-odds origin story of two of tennis’ greatest stars. “King Richard,” which Warner Bros. will release Friday in theaters and on HBO Max, is a portrait of their father coach as he steers them in their youth on the court and off. Often portrayed as a brash self-promoter, “King Richard” — featuring one of Smith’s most sensitive and acclaimed performances — captures Richard Williams as a trailblazing and inspiring parent whose vision for his daughters led them from Compton, California, to a global stage. (AP Film Writer Jake Coyle)
Also new this week:
• The Milford Independent Cinema presents “Finding Home,” the 2021 MIC Film Fest, starting at noon Sunday, Nov. 21, and running through Saturday, Nov. 27. Live discussions with filmmakers, snacks and live music will be part of the fun. Tickets are $5 per film or $25 for a festival pass. Details at milfordcinema.org.
• “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”: A single mother and her two children move to a new town, and discover they have a connection to the original Ghostbusters. Starring Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Bill Murray and Paul Rudd. In theaters, Nov. 19.
• “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road”: The troubled legend behind The Beach Boys’ biggest creative period looks back on his life and music in this documentary from director Brent Wilson and Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine, with input from contemporaries such as Don Was, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. The Tribeca festival favorite is available for digital rental on Friday, Nov. 19
• “Caveat”: In desperate need of money, Isaac accepts a job looking after his landlord’s niece, Olga, for a few days. But there is a catch. He must wear a leather harness and chain that restricts his movements to certain rooms in order to protect Olga’s extremely frail mental state. Once left alone with Isaac, Olga exhibits erratic behavior, while Isaac makes horrific discoveries in the house that trigger a deeply buried, traumatic memory. Available on demand and digital from RLJE Films / Shudder.
• “Hellhound”: Otherworldly beings appear out of nowhere to issue a decree and condemn individuals to hell, causing mayhem that enables the religious group The New Truth to grow in influence. A few people become suspicious of its activities and begin investigating its involvement in mysterious events in this Korean horror thriller streaming on Netflix.
• “The Humans”: Inside a pre-war duplex in downtown Manhattan, the Blake family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving. As darkness falls outside the crumbling building, mysterious things start to go bump in the night and family tensions reach a boiling point. The cast includes Troy native Steven Yeun (“The Walking Dead,” “Minari”), Amy Schumer and Richard Jenkins. In theaters Nov. 19.
• “Julia”: This documentary celebrates legendary cookbook author and television superstar Julia Child, who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women. In theaters Nov. 19.
• “Multiverse”: Colleagues are on the verge of a breakthrough in quantum physics when Loretta dies in a fiery car accident. Five months later, as the survivors struggle to move on with the work they’d started, Loretta returns full of enthusiasm, seemingly unaware she’s been gone for months. Are the friends losing their minds or has something remarkable happened? Soon, each comes face to face with their dead ringer, until the friends realize only one version of them can exist in our reality. Available on demand and digital platforms.
• Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his feature film directorial debut with “Tick, Tick… Boom!,” an adaptation of Jonathan Larson’s musical about writing a musical. Larson, played by Andrew Garfield, was the playwright of the Broadway smash “Rent.” But before that production made Larson a success, he struggled to get produced a futuristic rock musical called “Superbia.” Larson then turned that experience into an autobiographical show about the pressures of achieving something as an artist before he turned 30. In Miranda’s film, “Tick, Tick… Boom!” is an affectionate ode to Larson, musical theater and Broadway dreams. Streaming on Netflix on Friday. (AP Film Writer Jake Coyle)
• “Zeroes and Ones”: Called to the city to stop an imminent terrorist bombing, soldier J.J. (Ethan Hawke) desperately seeks news of his imprisoned rebel brother, Justin (also Hawke), who holds knowledge that could thwart the attack. Navigating the capital’s darkened streets, J.J. races to a series of ominous encounters, hoping to keep the Vatican from being blown to bits in this tense political thriller set on one deadly night in Rome. It’s available on demand and digital Nov. 19.