Spanish Cinemas Get Major Refresh with Diverse New Films

This week, Spanish cinemas are getting a big refresh with many new movies. There's a wide variety to choose from – animation, action, horror, sci-fi, comedy, and drama. This shows how lively the film industry is in Spain, offering something for everyone and helping cinemas recover after the pandemic.

One of the main new films is Hoppers, an animated movie from Disney and Pixar. Directed by Daniel Chong (who worked on We Bare Bears), it's about Mabel, a young woman who loves animals. She uses advanced tech to put her mind into a robotic beaver so she can talk to them directly.

For action fans, there's Cleaner: Vertical Rescue, which feels like a 90s thriller. It's directed by Martin Campbell, known for James Bond hits like Casino Royale and GoldenEye. Daisy Ridley stars as a former soldier who now cleans windows. She's joined by Clive Owen, playing an extremist leader, and Tenerife actor Taz Skylar from One Piece.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, who directed the acclaimed The Lost Daughter, brings us The Bride!. This film is a fresh take on the Frankenstein story, set in 1930s Chicago. Christian Bale plays a lonely monster who asks a scientist, Annette Bening, to make him a friend. They bring a murdered young woman back to life, played by Jessie Buckley. The impressive cast also includes Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Also new is the thriller Extinction Line. It's set in a dark future where deadly creatures live only below 2,500 meters. Directed by George Nolfi, it stars Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin. The story follows a father trying to save his son. He crosses this dangerous line with a scientist and a young woman, hoping to secure humanity's future.

From Spain, there's Walking with the Devil, a gripping rural thriller and Rubén Pérez Barrena's first film. Set in 1980s Spain, it stars Tamar Novas and Marina Salas. The movie looks at themes like guilt, loss, and the darker side of human nature in a harsh, stifling setting.

Denmark offers the dark comedy The Last Viking. Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen, it stars Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, and Søren Malling. This road trip movie follows Anker, who, after 15 years in prison for robbery, searches for the treasure his brother Manfred buried. The problem is, Manfred has a mental condition that makes him think he's one of the Beatles.

Also showing is Pillion, which won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section. This first film from Harry Lighton stars Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. Set in London, it explores a romantic and sadomasochistic relationship between a shy young man and a charismatic biker gang leader.

Then there's The Kremlin Wizard, a political thriller directed by Olivier Assayas. Paul Dano plays advisor Vadim Baranov, and Jude Law stars as Vladimir Putin. Alicia Vikander is also in the cast.

Antonio Vicent's first full-length film, Poultry, mixes thriller and comedy. Starring Diego Anido, Pedro Casablanc, and Chechu Salgado, it tells the story of a criminal gang planning to kill a CNI leader. But their plans get complicated when a couple's weekend trip unexpectedly gets in the way.

Finally, for animation, there's The Extraordinary Life of Marcel Pagnol. Directed by Sylvain Chomet, this biopic tells the story of the 20th-century French author's childhood in Marseille and his successful career in writing and filmmaking.