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New films to catch this week in Philly

Sylvester Stallone stars as a once-great superhero in "Samaritan," Tilda Swinton gets three wishes from Idris Elba in "Three Thousand Years of Longing," and a documentary about rapper Lil Baby.

Javon Walton, left, as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone, right, as Joe Smith in "Samaritan."
Javon Walton, left, as Sam Cleary and Sylvester Stallone, right, as Joe Smith in "Samaritan."Read moreUnited Artists Releasing
    by Howard Gensler, For The Inquirer
    Published 

‘Samaritan’

Sylvester Stallone is back in action mode. He plays a once-great superhero believed dead for two decades, now living as Mr. Smith, across the street from a young boy (Javon “Wanna” Walton) who thinks he knows Smith’s secret. With their city on the brink of ruin due to gang violence, the boy tries to coax Smith out of retirement. Directed by Julius Avery. (Rated PG-13. Premieres Friday, Aug. 26, on Prime Video.)

‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’

Director George Miller, who has made films as different as The Road Warrior and Happy Feet, here directs a fantasy romance about a mythology scholar (Tilda Swinton) who gets three wishes from a Djinn (Idris Elba) she meets when she buys his bottle in an Istanbul bazaar. He’ll get his freedom, but what will she get? Maybe a vacation with Idris Elba is enough. (Rated R. Premieres Friday, Aug. 26, in theaters.)

‘Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby’

Documentary about the rise of the Atlanta rapper, written and directed by Karam Gill. With Young Thug, Charlamagne the God, Drake, Mohawk, Maurice Hobson, and Lashawn Jones. (Rated R. Premieres Friday, Aug. 26 on Prime Video.)