Beauty and the Beast and Kong: Skull Island dominated Hong Kong’s box office in March, and although they’re still proving popular in cinemas, this month sees the release of a slew of new standout films. Spanning the genres of science fiction, anime, action and neo-Western, here’s our list of must-see movies this month.

Ghost in the Shell

It seems everyone is talking about Ghost in the Shell, a live action adaptation of the hit anime film from 1995, which was based on a Japanese manga series of the same name. Scarlett Johansson stars as Major, a human-cyborg hybrid who heads up an elite task force called Section 9. Major and her humanoid crew must eliminate an enemy that wants to sabotage Hanka Robotic’s advancements in cyber technology. Another reason to see this sci-fi flick is the fact that the futuristic setting was partly shot in Hong Kong, with scenes depicting Central and Victoria Harbour.

In theatres now

Fast & Furious 8: The Fate of the Furious

The Fast & Furious franchise is still going strong 16 years later, and this month will see another action-packed, explosion-filled blockbuster hit the big screen. Familiar faces like Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez are back once again, plus some new additions, including Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren. When the villainous Cipher (Theron) lures Dom (Diesel) back into the criminal world, the crew travels the globe to bring him back. Even those who love to hate the franchise won’t be able to look away. According to Slash Film editor Peter Sciretta, “The Fate of the Furious takes the ridiculousness of the franchise to a whole new level, yet feels very different. Should be a gigantic hit.”

In theatres 13 April

Hell or High Water

Set in Texas, two estranged brothers reunite to fight a common enemy – the bank that is threatening to foreclose on their family’s property. They exact their revenge by robbing branches of the bank, all while being pursued by Texas Ranger Marcus, played by Jeff Bridges (who is perhaps best known for his iconic portrayal of ‘The Dude’ in The Big Lebowski). The Guardian described the film as: “Part heist, part western for the Occupy generation, this sharply plotted thriller is a triumph for both director David Mackenzie and writer Taylor Sheridan.”

In theatres now

In This Corner of the World

Japanese anime fans won’t want to miss the latest film by director Sunao Katabuchi, who has previously worked on several Studio Ghibli films. In This Corner of the World tells the story of Suzu Urano, a young woman who gets married in 1944 and finds herself helping to run a household in challenging wartime conditions. Then, just a year after her honeymoon, the bombs start falling and everything changes. Despite the despair, this film has a touching message: love trumps nationalism.

In theatres now

Text: Emily Petsko