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Movies in Tampa Bay: ‘Ad Astra,’ ‘Rambo: Last Blood,’ ‘Downton Abbey’

‘Villains’ and ‘Ambition’ also open, plus Gigglewaters features ‘Mars Attacks!’ before the “storming” of Area 51.
"Rambo: Last Blood" stars Sylvester Stallone. [YANA BLAJEVA | Lionsgate]
Published Sep. 18

THURSDAY

AD ASTRA

Brad Pitt stars as an astronaut searching for his father in the outer realms of the solar system. With Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, Donald Sutherland. Written by James Gray, Ethan Gross. Directed by Gray. (122 minutes, PG-13)

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD

Sylvester Stallone’s venerable action hero embarks on a vengeful final mission. With Paz Vega. Written by Matthew Cirulnick, Stallone; story by Stallone; based on the character created by David Morrell. Directed by Adrian Grunberg. (100 minutes, R)

DOWNTON ABBEY

The Crawleys and their staff prepare for a royal visit in this big-screen adaptation of the beloved British TV series. With Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Matthew Goode. Written by Julian Fellowes. Directed by Michael Engler. (122 minutes, PG)

Maggie Smith stars as the Dowager Countess of Grantham and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot in "Downton Abbey." [JAAP BUITENDIJK | Focus Features]

VILLAINS

Two would-be burglars uncover a suburban couple’s twisted secret. With Bill Skarsgard, Maika Monroe, Jeffrey Donovan, Kyra Sedgwick. Written and directed by Dan Berk, Robert Olsen. (88 minutes, NR)

FRIDAY

AMBITION

A highly competitive musician is alarmed when her rivals begin to die off in bizarre ways. With Katherine Hughes, Giles Matthey, Sonoya Mizuno. Written by John Rocco, Jenna Wright. Directed by Bob Shaye. (87 minutes, NR)

"Ambition" stars Katherine Hughes. [Unique Features]

UNDER THE STARS: BUMBLEBEE

The City of New Port Richey Parks and Recreation Department shows Bumblebee as part of its family-friendly outdoor movie series. Rated PG-13, the sci-fi action flick is a Transformers spinoff following the robot superhero character Bumblebee. Bring chairs or blankets, plus snacks (though some may be for sale on site). The first 150 kids receive the featured giveaway: a Bumblebee bobble head or an art set. Free. 8 p.m. Saturday. Sims Park, 6341 Bank St.

NO GOOD THING EVER DIES: THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Shawshank Redemption. The drama, released in 1994, is based on a Stephen King novel in which a prisoner serving a life sentence and a mild-mannered banker wrongly convicted of murder form an unbreakable bond. Showings are at 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Sept. 25, but prices and times vary by theater. Citrus Park 20 (Tampa), Park Place 16 (Pinellas Park), Woodlands Square 20 (Oldsmar) and Regency 20 (Brandon). fathomevents.com.

COMEDY CLASSIC: MARS ATTACKS!

The crew behind social club and screening room Gigglewaters have a good sense of humor. They plan to present this 1996 sci-fi parody on the eve of the “storming” of Nevada’s Area 51, a viral Facebook event that started as a joke. Gigglewaters even dreamed up a cocktail for the occasion: The Area 151, which combines RumHaven and Campari with pineapple, lime, a Goslings 151 flaming lime and ... “little floating green men.” Directed by Tim Burton, Mars Attacks! spoofs the alien invasion genre with a star-studded cast. $5, food and drink additional. Noon, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday. 737 Main St., Safety Harbor. (727) 669-7077. gigglewaters.com.

The Area 151 at Safety Harbor's Gigglewaters. [Courtesy of Gigglewaters]

CRITICS’ PICKS

Toy Story 4: As directed by Josh Cooley and written by Stephany Folsom and the veteran Andrew Stanton, the film surprises with the amount of genuine emotion it generates with its focus on love, loyalty and what matters most in life, to humans as well as toys.

Yesterday: A struggling English musician awakens after an accident to a new reality in which the Beatles never existed and their song catalog is free for him to use as his own.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Spooky things happen when teens tell scary stories in an old mansion with a dark history.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt star as a fading movie star and his stunt double during the dying days of Hollywood’s golden age. Quentin Tarantino directs.

UPCOMING RELEASES

All dates subject to change.

Sept. 27: Abominable; The Day Shall Come

Oct. 4: Joker

Oct. 11: The Addams Family; Gemini Man

Oct. 18: Jojo Rabbit; The Lighthouse; Maleficent: Mistress of Evil; Torrance; Zombieland 2: Double Tap

Times staff writer Meaghan Habuda and Times wires

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