By Chip Chandler — Producer

In Amarillo theaters this week: An acclaimed political satire about Russia's tyrannical political system — then and now? Also, like, the biggest movie of the year.

New in theaters

Avengers: Infinity War

I'm not reading reviews of this, and you can't make me. But the headlines look quite promising. And let's face it: If you're already interested in seeing this epic crossover, nothing here will change your mind. (PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references; click here for showtimes at United Artists Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd., and Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive; here for showtimes at Tascosa Drive-In, 1999 Tascosa Drive; and here for showtimes at Sandell Drive-In, 12 S. Center Drive in Clarendon.)

The Death of Stalin

Writer/director Arnando Iannucci (Veep, In the Loop) is back in action with this scathing political satire about the battle to lead the Soviet Union after Josef Stalin's unexpected death. Reviews are stellar: "It takes some time to adjust to the mix of silly, peevish bureaucrats and the serious atrocities they inflict. But that’s the beauty of the thing. Iannucci gets that grotesque horrors often emanate from egotists, clowns, and stumblebums, from small-minded people with vast and unchecked powers. As in the most unnerving satires, the glibness adds to the horror," writes Vulture's David Edelstein. (R for language throughout, violence and some sexual references; click here for showtimes at Premiere Cinemas Westgate Mall 6, 7701 W. Interstate 40) 

Special engagements

Cendrillon

The Met: Live in HD continues with the company's first production of Massenet's Cinderella story starring Joyce DiDonato, Alice Coote and Kathleen Kim. It'll screen at 11:55 a.m. Saturday at the Hollywood 16.

Labyrinth

The fantasy classic, starring the late David Bowie as the Goblin King, will screen in a three-day 30th anniversary celebration at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Amarillo Star 14.

Like Arrows

The faith-based family drama will screen at 7 p.m. Tuesday and May 3 at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

Upcoming

May 3: Anna Faris and Eugenio Debrez star in the gender-swapped remake of Overboard; advance tickets are on sale now at Hollywood 16, with Amarillo Star 14 expected to follow.

May 4: The thriller Bad Samaritan, starring David Tennant and Kerry Condon, and drama Tully, from the creators and stars of Juno and Young Adult, are expected to open nationally, but advance tickets are not yet on sale. Release dates are subject to change.

May 8: The children's animated film The Boxcar Children — Surprise Island will screen at 4 p.m. at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

May 9 and 12: The musical Puffs: Filmed Live Off Broadway, a parody of the Harry Potter series told from the perspective of different students, will screen at 7 p.m. May 9 and 12:55 p.m. May 12 at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

May 10: The anime film Digimon Adventure Tri.: Coexistence will hit big screens for showings at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

May 11: Advance tickets are on sale for home-invasion thriller Breaking In, starring Gabrielle Union, at Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16. Plus, advance tickets are on sale for college romp Life of the Party, starring Melissa McCarthy, at Hollywood 16; Amarillo Star 14 should follow.

May 13 and 16: The TCM Big Screen Classics series continues with Sunset Boulevard, screening at 2 and 7 p.m. May 13 and 16 at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

May 15: Singer Michael Bolton hosts American Dream: Detroit, a look back at the city's history and an optimistic examination of its future. It'll screen at 7 p.m. May 15 at Hollywood 16.

May 17: A National Theatre Live screening of Macbeth, starring Rory Kinnear and Anne-Marie Duff, will screen at 7 p.m. May 17 at Amarillo Star 14.

May 18: Advance tickets are on sale for comic book sequel Deadpool 2 at Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16. Adult dramedy Book Club, starring Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda, and children's comedy Show Dogs are scheduled to open nationally, but advance tickets are not yet on sale.

May 20 to 23: The Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 continues Porco Rosso at both the Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16. An English-dubbed version will screen at 12:55 p.m. May 20 and 7 p.m. May 23, with a subtitled version screening at 7 p.m. May 21.

May 22: The inspirational documentary Godspeed — The Race Across America charts an attempt by racers Jerry Schemmel and Brad Cooper to make it across America on bicycles. It'll screen at 7 p.m. May 22 at Amarillo Star 14.

May 25: The embattled sci-fi prequel Solo: A Star Wars Story, starring Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover, is scheduled to open nationally, but advance tickets are not yet on sale.

May 30: Based on the memoir, A Chance in the World tells the story of adoption advocate Steve Pemberton and his struggles surviving in the foster system. A live-streamed panel discussion will follow. It'll screen at 7 p.m. May 30 at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

May 31: Faith-based documentary Andy Irons: Kissed by God details the story of champion surfer Irons and his struggles with bipolar disorder and opioid addiction. A streamed Q&A will follow. It'll screen at 7 p.m. May 31 at both Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16.

Listings at a glance

Click on titles for my reviews and on theaters for showtimes.

Avengers: Infinity War (AS-14, H-16, Tascosa and Sandell); Black Panther (H-16); Blockers (AS-14, H-16); Chappaquiddick (WM-6); The Death of Stalin (WM-6); I Can Only Imagine (AS-14, H-16); I Feel Pretty (AS-14, H-16); Isle of Dogs (WM-6); Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (WM-6); Midnight Sun (WM-6); The Miracle Season (AS-14, H-16); Pacific Rim Uprising (WM-6); Paul, Apostle of Christ (AS-14); Peter Rabbit (WM-6); A Quiet Place (AS-14, H-16 and Tascosa); Rampage (AS-14, H-16); Ready Player One (AS-14, H-16); Super Troopers 2 (AS-14, H-16); Traffik (H-16); and Truth or Dare (AS-14, H-16). 

Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS and a member of GALECA. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.