‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
Opens at 7 p.m. Thursday
Not quite a sequel, yet not exactly a reboot, George Miller’s fourth lap around the “Mad Max” track stars Tom Hardy in the role originated by Mel Gibson. Here, the taciturn loner does battle with bloodthirsty bad guys in a post-apocalyptic world where gasoline is king (and Charlize Theron is queen). Rated R | Time: 2:00
‘Pitch Perfect 2’
Opens at 7 p.m. Thursday
A competitive a cappella group attempts to redeem itself after an embarrassing gaffe in this sequel to the 2012 hit. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson return. And the comedy marks the feature directorial debut of actress Elizabeth Banks. Rated PG-13 | Time: 1:55
‘Far From the Madding Crowd’
Opens Friday
In this adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel, a headstrong young woman in Victorian England attracts three very different suitors: a sheep farmer, a wealthy bachelor and a reckless soldier. With Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts and Michael Sheen. Rated PG-13 | Time: 1:59
‘Animals’
Opens Friday
David Dastmalchian, who grew up in Overland Park, wrote and co-stars in this tale of a couple of heroin addicts pulling scams to pay for their escalating habit. Kim Shaw co-stars. Not rated | Time: 1:30
‘Area 51’
Opens Friday
Director Oren Peli has reportedly been working on this found-footage horror film since his “Paranormal Activity” became a hit back in 2007. This time a man obsessed with UFOs persuades a couple of friends to help him break into the famed New Mexico military base to find proof that aliens are real. Rated R | Time: 1:35
‘Iris’
Opens Friday
A documentary portrait of 93-year-old New York style maven Iris Apfel. It’s directed by Albert Maysles — one half of the legendary documentary team that made “Grey Gardens.” Rated PG-13 | Time: 1:20
‘Famous Last Words’
Opens Friday at Screenland Crossroads
This documentary, from local filmmaker Brian Boye, explores the last things people say to loved ones before death. Not rated | Time: 1:27
‘Echoes of War’
Opens Friday at AMC Independence
A Civil War veteran (James Badge Dale) returns home, only to find his family embroiled in a feud with a nasty cattle rancher. Rated R | Time: 1:40
‘Time Lapse’
Opens Friday at Screenland Crossroads
Three friends discover a mysterious machine that takes pictures 24 hours into the future. When they conspire to use it for personal gain, things inevitably go wrong. Not rated | Time: 1:44
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