10 of the best films to watch this April

StudioCanal

9. I Swear

John Davidson has Tourette’s syndrome, a motor disorder that compels him to make offensive remarks at the worst possible moments: he was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his awareness-raising work in Scotland, and he shouted a swear word at Elizabeth II during the ceremony. This touching biopic, written and directed by Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee), shows how tough Davidson’s life has been, but it manages to be sweet and optimistic, too. In the lead role, Robert Aramayo (The Rings of Power) beat the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to the best actor prize at the Baftas, although the film’s triumphs were overshadowed when the real Davidson involuntarily exclaimed racist terms while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. “Kirk Jones’s terrifically warm, generous film contains a great performance from Robert Aramayo, full of intelligence and charm,” says Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian. “This is an absorbing, compassionate film.”

Released on 24 April in the US

Universal Pictures

10. Michael

Michael is one of the year’s most controversial films. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), it’s a biopic of Michael Jackson (played by his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson), charting his life from child stardom in the Jackson 5 to world-conquering fame as the self-styled King of Pop. The project has been beset by delays and reshoots, and questions about the sex abuse allegations made against Jackson (which are rejected by his estate). But its producer, Graham King, also produced Bohemian Rhapsody, so maybe Michael will end up like his Queen biopic – a troubled production that became an Oscar-winning hit. “[Jackson was] an enigma, full of eccentricity, electrifying talent, arguably the most famous entertainer to ever cross the planet,” King said at Las Vegas’s CinemaCon in 2024. “And yet behind the unrelenting scrutiny and the accusations and the grinding media spotlight, he was simply a man. A man who lived a very complicated life. The movie will get into all of it.”

Released internationally on 23 and 24 April

—

If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can’t-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week. 

For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.