West Newton Cinema

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers—in Disney and Pixar’s all-new movie “Elio,” the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

Follows a Formula One driver who comes out of retirement to mentor and team with a younger driver.

From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise. On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader. The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

KinoRAW is an independent film community dedicated to giving a voice to young filmmakers and introducing audiences to auteur cinema that rarely makes it to the big screens. As part of our screening, we will present six short films created by Ukrainian filmmakers - three documentaries and three fiction films, each revealing important themes and showcasing fresh cinematic approaches.

A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in postapocalyptic Australia in search for her home-land with the help of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshipper, and a drifter named Max.

A matchmaker's lucrative business is complicated when she falls into a toxic love triangle that threatens her clients.

A pair of young lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out to find them.

This screening will be accompanied by a Q&A with the movies directors, Carter Oakley and Heather Hogan following the film. ABOUT Death is inevitable, suffering may be optional. After three separate cancer diagnoses, and undergoing nauseating and difficult treatment for each one, Connecticut based activist Lynda Bluestein set her sights on medical aid in dying. This compassionate end-of-life option was not available in her home state, so she filed a lawsuit against the state of Vermont to gain access to their Death With Dignity law, Act 39 – and she won. A rich portrait of a fearless activist, matriarch, and fallible human, this feature documentary follows Lynda and her family over the course of a year as they navigate life and prepare for her inevitable death. But will her life end the way she intends it to?

In August 2017, in the lead-up to national elections, Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly became New Zealand’s opposition party leader. She had just turned 37. Two frenetic months later, she was Prime Minister. Just before the final vote was in, she discovered she was pregnant. She would become only the second head of state in history to give birth while in office. Ardern quickly became one of the most recognizable leaders in the world. She drew global attention from people craving a sensitive and compassionate approach to the critical issues of our time. In private, she struggled with being a mother and proving herself to a public skeptical of women’s leadership. A series of crises - the Christchurch massacre, pandemic lockdowns, and disinformation-fueled protests outside Parliament - would test that leadership and the feminine touch she brought to it. She resigned from office in January 2023, shocking her supporters and critics alike. Going behind the scenes of her administration and her private life, PRIME MINISTER follows Jacinda for seven years as she is catapulted to the top of New Zealand politics, becomes a feminist political icon, resigns suddenly from office and continues to champion the fight against isolationism, fear, and the distortion of truth. Intimate home footage shot by her husband and audio interviews that Jacinda did while in office give us unparalleled access. Along with in-depth contemporaneous interviews, these form the emotional backbone of the story, giving viewers an unfiltered window into her years in power. The world is at a perilous political crossroads. Trust in institutions, expertise, and liberal democracy itself are under dire strain. Which direction will we go? PRIME MINISTER leaves viewers wondering what the world might be like with more Jacindas at the helm.

Rebel with a Clause: Special Screening & Talkback with Filmmaker Brandt Johnson and Star Grammarian Ellen Jovin Join us for a delightful and thought-provoking evening celebrating language, learning, and the joy of human connection. Rebel with a Clause is a charming and insightful documentary that follows grammarian Ellen Jovin as she travels the country with her “Grammar Table,” sparking spontaneous conversations about commas, clauses, and the quirks of English with curious passersby. What begins as a playful educational project turns into a moving exploration of civility, curiosity, and the unexpected ways language brings people together. Following the screening, stay for a lively discussion with filmmaker Brandt Johnson and the film’s star, Ellen Jovin, as they share behind-the-scenes stories, linguistic laughs, and reflections on the power of grammar to bridge divides. Perfect for word nerds, teachers, students, and anyone who enjoys the beauty of language and the spark of spontaneous conversation.

Follows the titular superhero as he reconciles his heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way in a world that views this as old-fashioned.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal. The action adventure also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles. Directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis and Tim Lewis, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” opens in theaters July 25, 2025.

From the hearts and minds of Stephen King and Mike Flanagan comes THE LIFE OF CHUCK, the extraordinary story of an ordinary man. This unforgettable, genre-bending tale celebrates the life of Charles 'Chuck' Krantz as he experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.

Join us for a cult classic dripping with '80s attitude, horror, and hair gel—The Lost Boys! Part vampire flick, part teen rebellion tale, this stylish ride through Santa Carla’s undead underground remains a defining film of Gen X cool. Stick around after the screening for a conversation with screenwriter, podcaster and Gen X film expert Brad Abraham and horror/fantasy author R.E. Carr as they unpack the film’s cultural legacy, subversive humor, and its place in the pantheon of coming-of-age horror. Whether you're here for the Coreys, the soundtrack, or the saxophone guy—you'll want to sink your teeth into this one.

Join us for the Ty Burr Film Club's screening of Night of the Hunter. The film will be followed by a facilitated discussion led by Ty Burr. The only movie ever directed by actor Charles Laughton, “The Night of the Hunter” (1955) was a flop on its release but has gone on to be one of the great cult films, acclaimed by critics and audiences and named the second best film of all time (behind “Citizen Kane”) by Cahiers du Cinema in 2008. Above all, it’s memorable for Robert Mitchum’s performance as the movie’s embodiment of evil, a bogus preacher and murderous con artist with “love” tattooed on one hand and “hate” on the other — a visual that has worked its way into movies like “Do the Right Thing” and elsewhere. A dreamlike film noir about two young children fleeing Mitchum’s Harry Powell, “The Night of the Hunter” has a script by James Agee and luminous black-and-white cinematography by the great Stanley Cortez (who shot Orson Welles’ “The Magnificent Ambersons”). It’s an expressionistic masterpiece that doubles as a hair-raising midnight-movie classic. With Shelley Winters and silent screen icon Lillian Gish.

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME. The story of a family and a family business. Starring: Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, his daughter/a nun; Michael Cera as Bjorn Lund, their tutor. With: Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The great Rimas Tuminas’ final Moscow production, the epic “War and Peace”, focuses on its three families as a microcosm of the human condition. The Napoleonic Wars become the background for the lives, ambitions, hopes and sorrows of the open-hearted Rostovs, the honorable and uncompromising Bolkonskys, and the arrogant and ravishing Kuragins. Tuminas creates, explores and comprehends destinies, paradoxes, madness, love, joy and despair. The world he presents to the audience is a beautiful, aesthetic, theatrical and fragile one, but one at constant risk of being destroyed by the ominous comet that is already in the sky above.