Vin Diesel takes on a giant, slimy beastie in “Riddick.”
Credit: Universal Pictures
1 ‘Riddick’
Did you know Vin Diesel’s “Pitch Black” character’s full name is Richard B. Riddick? Anyway, he’s back, even though no one saw the nine-year-old sequel. That’s because Diesel’s back on top — or back in a franchise (“Fast & Furious”) he once abandoned.
2 ‘Drinking Buddies’
Mumblecore legend Joe Swanberg gets a tripod and tries to make a more traditional indie with this dramedy, concerning two craft beer workers (Olivia Wilde and Jake Johnson) who wonder if their friendship should be something more.
3 ‘Terraferma’
Winner of Best Film at the Vienna Film Festival, this drama from Emanule Crialese (“Golden Door”) tells of the inhabitants of a small Sicilian island who debate whether to help illegal immigrants.
4 ‘One Direction: This is Us’
Why, yes, Morgan Spurlock made a concert movie about the boy band One Direction.
5 ‘Instructions Not Included’
Many were surprised last weekend when this vehicle for Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez cracked the top five at the North American box office, having the best ever debut of any Spanish-language film.
6 ‘Getaway’
Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez spend an entire film inside a souped-up car, being forced to do reckless acts by a mysterious gentleman who has kidnapped the former’s wife.
7 ‘The Grandmaster’
Expressionistic director Wong Kar-wai (“In the Mood for Love”) returns with this lavish look at kung-fu legend Ip Man (Tony Leung), which of course takes a melancholy bent (while still boasting lots of ass-kicking).
8 ‘Closed Circuit’
Rebecca Hall and Eric Bana play lawyers in way over their heads as they investigate the case of a 7/7-ish terrorist bombing in London.
9 ‘Short Term 12’
Former teen pop star Brie Larson gives an admirably dour performance as a young caretaker at a residence for at-risk kids, who finds that one of her young charges may be harboring a horrible secret.
10 ‘The World’s End’
Meanwhile, not enough people are seeing the third in Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s Cornetto Trilogy, following “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” It’s delightful. Get on that, people who like good things.
