5 Major Film Releases on April 23: A Michael Jackson Biopic and Ukraine’s ‘Killhouse’ Lead the Pack

New Cinema Releases for April 23, 2026

According to Главком: April 23, 2026, marks a significant day for moviegoers, with five new films hitting theaters. This diverse lineup offers something for everyone, from biographical dramas to animated adventures.

• 'Michael,' a biopic about Michael Jackson (USA)
• 'Killhouse,' a Ukrainian war action-thriller
• 'The Chronology of Water,' a dramatic biographical film and Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut
• 'Empire of Sand,' a historical action-drama from Saudi Arabia
• 'Holly the Hedgehog,' an animated feature

Film Highlights

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, 'Michael' is an American biopic that explores the life of the pop icon. Jaafar Jackson, the King of Pop’s nephew, portrays adult Michael Jackson. The cast also includes Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Nia Long, and Juliano Valdi. Production costs ranged from $155 to $200 million, with principal photography running from January to May 2024 and additional reshoots in 2025. Notably, the film has received mixed reactions, with Paris and Janet Jackson describing it as 'too smoothed over.'

Ukraine’s 'Killhouse,' directed by Liubomyr Levytskyi, is a war action-thriller featuring Serhiy Strelnikov, Denys Kapustin, Oleksandra Soroka, Valeriy Velychko, Karina Tymoshenko, Pavlo Tekuchev, Audrey McAlpine, and Maksym Tkachenko. Its soundtrack was composed by a Ukrainian Defense Intelligence operative known by the call sign 'Deviatyi.'

'The Chronology of Water' marks Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut. This dramatic biographical film is a co-production between the USA, France, and Latvia. The cast includes Imogen Poots, Tom Sturridge, Earl Cave, James Belushi, Michael Epp, Charlie Carrick, and Susannah Flood. Based on the memoirs of writer Lidia Yuknavitch, filming took place in Latvia and Malta over roughly six weeks in summer 2024. The world premiere occurred in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where critics praised it as 'harsh, experimental, and deeply personal.'

Saudi Arabia’s historical action-drama 'Empire of Sand,' directed by Rupert Wyatt, carries a budget of around $150 million. Its cast features Anthony Mackie, Ben Kingsley, Aisha Hart, Sharlto Copley, Géza Röhrig, and Numan Acar. Filming took place in Saudi Arabia from September 2021 to February 2022, with its premiere at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival.

'Holly the Hedgehog' is an animated co-production from the UK, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Directed by Caroline Origer, the voice cast includes Kyla Lord Cassidy, Matthew Goode, Stephen Mangan, and Jules de Jongh. The film premiered at the Luxembourg Film Festival in March 2025, with a screenplay partially inspired by 'Don Quixote.'

Overall, April 23, 2026, stands out as a pivotal date in cinema, offering audiences a wide range of projects spanning multiple genres and themes. These films have the potential to shape the industry by opening new doors for directors, actors, and producers while boosting global interest in filmmaking.

As film enthusiasts anticipate the latest releases, it's worth noting that just a few weeks earlier, on April 2nd, audiences were treated to a diverse array of films, ranging from a Ukrainian comedy to a blockbuster featuring Robert Pattinson. This showcase of cinematic talent reflects the growing variety in film offerings. For a closer look at that lineup, check out the details in our article on the recent April 2nd releases.