Between a stylish Guillermo del Toro horror and a critically acclaimed Paul Thomas Anderson coming of age drama, who would have thought that the common theme drawing those two new cinema releases together is… Bradley Cooper? Not me!

The rest of the new movies include Denzel Washington directing Michael B. Jordan in a guaranteed tear-jerker of a true-life drama, and an allegedly gripping new thriller that reveals all its plot points in the trailer (according to the YouTube comments).

Licorice Pizza

Alana Kane and Gary Valentine grow up, run around and fall in love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this coming of age comedy drama stars Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie. Licorice Pizza is considered one of the best films of 2021 by critics, elevated by its raw authenticity.

Nightmare Alley

In the 1940s, an ambitious carny (Bradley Cooper) with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett) who is even more dangerous than he is. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, neo-noir psychological thriller Nightmare Alley features an all-star cast. Look out for Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, and David Strathairn.

A Journal for Jordan

Directed by Denzel Washington and starring Michael B. Jordan with a screenplay by Virgil Williams, A Journal For Jordan is based on the true story of First Sergeant Charles Monroe King (Jordan), a soldier deployed to Iraq who begins to keep a journal of love and advice for his infant son. Back at home, senior New York Times editor Dana Canedy (Chanté Adams) revisits the story of her unlikely, life-altering relationship with King and his enduring devotion to her and their child. A sweeping account of a once-in-a-lifetime love, the film is a powerful reminder of the importance of family.

Shattered

In the tradition of Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct comes this action thriller starring Academy Award Nominee John Malkovich (RED) and Frank Grillo (Avengers: Endgame). As lonely tech millionaire Chris (Cameron Monaghan, “Shameless”) encounters charming, sexy Sky (Lilly Krug), passion grows between them. And when he’s injured, she quickly steps in as his nurse. But Sky’s odd behavior makes Chris suspect that she has more sinister intentions, especially when Sky’s roommate is found dead from mysterious causes.