New Releases in Cinemas: A Guide to this Week’s Fresh Movie Offerings

Managing the influx of new film releases can be particularly complex this month, especially in light of recent Hollywood strikes that led to numerous delays. With the recent resolution of the WGA and actors’ strikes, August now features a diverse array of both major studio releases and independent films.

August 16 marks the premiere of “Alien: Romulus,” which reinvents the iconic sci-fi horror franchise with a storyline about young scavengers battling an alien threat in deep space. This installment stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, and Isabela Merced.

Also debuting on the same date is “Skincare,” a thriller revolving around a prominent aesthetician struggling to maintain her business after a new rival opens nearby. The film features performances by Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.

Among the limited releases for this week are “Close to You,” a poignant drama that explores the life of a transgender man returning to his hometown after years away, and “The Greatest Surf Movie in the Universe,” an animated comedy depicting a world where a global vaccine erases all knowledge of surfing. Additionally, keep an eye out for the upcoming releases of “Blink Twice” and “The Crow,” which are scheduled for next week.