Texas, 1870 Ex-Confederate officer turned traveling news reader Jefferson Kidd (Tom Hanks) agreed to take charge of a semi-feral 10-year-old girl (Helena Zengel)-newly freed from an upbringing with the Kiowa-and deliver her to her surviving relatives in Coatesville. Their journey through a territory fraught with political tension, as well as more palpable peril, is colorfully recounted in this take on the Paulette Jiles western novel from Paul Greengrass; Mare Winningham, Elizabeth Marvel co-star. 118 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English.

Brad Pitt stars as Maj. Roy McBride, an astronaut whose father, the legendary H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), disappeared years earlier during a space journey to locate intelligent alien life. When it looks as though Clifford's mission may have created dangerous power surges that could destroy humanity, Roy embarks on a daring quest to find his father and save mankind. Set in the not-too-distant future, this exciting sci-fi actioner co-stars LIV Tyler, Ruth Negga, and Donald Sutherland. 123 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English.

Leavening the Jack London adventure staple with striking CGI animal effects, this engaging effort follows the odyssey of Buck, the sturdy mutt stolen from his home in 1890s California and shipped to the Yukon for service as a sled dog during the Klondike Gold Rush. Rescued from an abusive owner by elderly prospector John Thornton (Harrison Ford), the two forge a bond that will be tried by unforgiving fate. Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford also star. 100 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English. Two-disc set.