SoCal new movies, March 27-April 3: ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ ‘La Chimera’ and more

Major new releases, indie flicks, foreign films and art-house fare

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to new and current releases screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.

Lights, camera and … action!

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Opening

• Starts Wednesday, March 27

‘Hate to Love: Nickelback’ This 2023 documentary profiles the admittedly mediocre 1990s-era Canadian rock band. 90 mins. Not Rated. nickelbackfilm.com

• Starts Friday, March 29

‘Asphalt City’ A newbie EMT and his veteran partner work the mean streets of NYC after hours in this 2023 thriller starring Tye Sheridan and Sean Penn. Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire directs. Rated R. Various theaters

‘Bad Faith’ The rise of Christian Nationalism in these United States is charted in this 2024 documentary directed by Stephen Ujlaki and Christopher Jacob Jones. 90 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com

‘A Cat’s Life’ A young Parisian girl and her feline companion find adventure while vacationing in the countryside in Guillaume Maidatchevsky’s 2023 tale. In French with English subtitles. 83 mins. Rated PG. amctheatres.com, regmovies.com

‘DogMan’ A troubled young drag queen who grew up with an abusive father travels with a pack of canine companions in Luc Besson’s 2023 thriller. With Caleb Landry Jones. 113 mins. Rated R. amctheatres.com, drafthouse.com

‘A Fragile Flower’ A talented young Vietnamese singer (Maya) finds success while facing adversity in Mai Thu Huyen’s 2024 drama. In Vietnamese with English subtitles. 96 mins. Not Rated. amctheatres.com, regmovies.com

‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ The kaiju of all kaiju and his oversized simian frenemy joins forces once more in this effects-laden 2024 franchise entry. Adam Wingard directs and Rebecca Hall, Dan Stevens and Brian Tyree Henry co-star. 115 mins. Rated PG-13. godzillaxkongmovie.com

‘In the Land of Saints and Sinners’ Liam Neeson plays a man with a particular set of skills trying to live the quiet life in a coastal village in 1970s Ireland in this 2023 action thriller. Robert Lorenz directs and Kerry Condon co-stars. 106 mins. Rated R. Various theaters

‘Karaoke’ The residents of a Tel Aviv hi-rise vie for the attention of a handsome new tenant who hosts weekly karaoke parties in Moshe Rosenthal’s 2022 comedy. In Hebrew with English subtitles. 103 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com, regmovies.com