As the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival prepares to descend upon New York City -- all ready to light up the Big Apple with an incredible amount of films, events and nerdy conversations from April 15 -- 26 -- we're here to make sense of it all, and let you know what movie fans are buzzing about.

Check this out.

Five Tribeca Movies To Put On Your Radar

From narrative competition premieres to spotlights to freaky midnight flicks, there's a little something for everyone in this year's film program. 

 
 
The Adderall Diaries
 
James Franco stars alongside Amber Heard and Ed Harris in this adderall-fueled adaptation -- one of the fest's buzzier titles.
 
In The Adderall Diaries, adapted from Stephen Elliott's popular memoir, Franco plays Elliott -- a drug-addicted writer with all kinds of issues (not the least of which includes a messed-up relationship with his father) who gets consumed by a bizarre murder trial that begins to hit a little too close to home. 
 
 
 
 
Maggie
 
After battling Terminators, the Predator and Richard Dawson (!), Arnold Schwarzenegger takes on zombies for the first time in the horror-drama, Maggie.

Arnuld plays a weathered father struggling to take care of his daughter (Abigail Breslin) when she becomes infected with “walking dead” syndrome. If her illness doesn’t kill her, her father may have to. Unlike the action hero’s recent big-screen fare, Maggie has a moody, brooding tone that fans of the Governator have never seen before. If the trailer is any indication, it looks like Arnold may deliver his best movie in years.

 
 
Mojave
 

Oscar-winning screenwriter William Monahan (The Departed) trades in the Boston Mafia for this slow burn, desert-set crime thriller about the evil that men do – specifically Oscar Issacs and Garrett Hedlund.

The latter plays a troubled artist who escapes to the desert to end his life when he encounters the former, a homicidal drifter who changes both of their lives. Mark Wahlberg and Walton Goggins (Justified) also star in the film, which will have its world premiere at the festival. 

 

 
 
Very Semi-Serious
 
An early favorite among festival insiders, this documentary about cartooning legends is poised to be among the most animated movies playing this year.
 
Directed by Leah Wolchok, the doc takes us behind the scenes of those iconic New Yorker cartoons, and how this much-loved dying art form has evolved over the years. 

 

 
 
 
Stung
 
If you're deathly afraid of wasps, then this is definitely the movie for you!
 
In the spirit of those vintage giant-monster flicks from the '50s and '60s, Stung looks to capitalize on the fact that none of us like wasps very much by delivering a movie about -- what else -- giant wasps. Yes it's gory and yes it's kinda corny, but you can't pass up a quintessential creature feature at a festival like this, and Stung looks to be just that.
 
 
 
Four Stars Who Are Trying Something Different
 
This year's festival slate comes packed with familiar names, but we've highlighted four (okay, five) who are tackling roles we're not particularly used to seeing them in.
 
 
Richard Gere
The Movie: Franny
In Franny, Gere tries on the persona of a rich eccentric dude who muscles his way into the life of a deceased friend's young daughter (Dakota Fanning) and her husband (Theo James). 
 
 
 
Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson
The Movie: Meadowland
We paired Wilde and Wilson for this one because they're both acting outside their comfort zones -- playing the parents of a missing child in this heavy drama that will no doubt feel like an emotional rollercoaster, especially for those moms and dads in the audience. We're intrigued at the prospect of watching Wilde and Wilson -- two performers known more for their offbeat humor and rom-com sensibilities -- sink their teeth into a meaty drama like this one.  
 
 
 
 
Mickey Rourke
The Movie: Ashby
Hey, Mickey Rourke is back! In Ashby, he plays a former CIA assassin who assists a neighbor that needs help fitting in. The film is being described as "Harold and Maude for the John Wick generation," and... sold!
 
 
 
Patricia Arquette
The Movie: The Wannabe
The recently-crowned Best Supporting Actress makes her return to the festival circuit with a bit of a bada-bing in this tale about a couple who move into a mobbed-up neighborhood to get in on some of that wiseguy action during the John Gotti-era '90s.
 
 
 
 
Three Events That Sound Amazing
 
Aside from movie screenings, the Tribeca Festival is known for its "event" screenings. This year features tributes to Monty Python and Frank Sinatra, as well as the following three events that just sound so great.
 
 
Goodfellas Cast Reunion and Screening
 
The only thing that could make Martin Scorsese’s seminal film about mobster-turned-rat Henry Hill better would be an opportunity to see it in 4K. Which is exactly what movie fans will get on the closing night of the festival

On Saturday, April 25, Tribeca will screen a newly-remastered 4K transfer from the original negative, followed by a Q & A with the film’s creators and stars – hosted by Jon Stewart. If you have plans that night, change them. Oh, and “don’t forget your shine box.” (Reference!)

 
 
Speedy with Live DJ
 
Imagine watching a classic silent film featuring music... from a world famous DJ?
 
That's exactly what this unique event promises -- a screening of the Harold Lloyd comedy classic set to a live soundtrack spun by none other than DJ Z-Trip. 
 
 
 
Mary J Blige -- The London Sessions
 
Who wants to get their Blige on?
 
Recording artist Mary J. Blige will be at the festival this year with the premiere of a documentary that takes you behind the scenes of her new album, said to be one of the most experimental and ambitious of her career. Fans on hand for the film's premiere at New York's Beacon Theater will get an extra special treat when Blige takes the stage following the screening for a performance. 
 
 
 
Two Conversations We Want In On
 
The festival is full of conversations and post-screening talks featuring some of the today's most exciting entertainers. Here are two we've circled and definitely want to check out. 
 
 
George Lucas and Stephen Colbert
 
Does it get any better than the creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones and... Stephen Colbert? We expect lots of hilariously nerdy info-drops to come out of this convo, which is sure to touch on a number of topics, including the past, present and future of the Star Wars franchise -- and what exactly Lucas will do now that he's retired his lightsaber.
 
 
 
Christopher Nolan and Bennett Miller
 
What will the director of Insterstellar and The Dark Knight have to say to the director of Moneyball and Foxcatcher? We haven't the slightest idea, but we imagine they'll touch on the future of filmmaking, IMAX -- Channing Tatum's wrestling moves? --  and a host of other brainy movie nuggets that may clue us in on what these two visionaries have planned next. 
 
 
 
 
One Experience We're Dying to Download
 
 
The Storyscapes section of the Tribeca Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing groundbreaking approaches in storytelling and technology. This year's lineup includes everything from an immersive documentary where you creep through the dark while clutching a rope to an exhibit that allows you to inhabit the body of another person. 
 
But this project, named Karen, sounds the coolest because it immediately reminds us of Spike Jonze's Her coming to life.
 
From the Tribeca guide...

 

Karen

Project Creator: Blast Theory, developed in partnership with National Theatre Wales.

Karen is an app that mixes together gaming, storytelling, and psychological profiling. Karen is a life coach and she’s happy to help you work through a few things in your life. As soon as you launch Karen, she will ask you some questions about your outlook on the world. As she becomes more and more curious, Karen starts to identify things about you that she shouldn’t know. Where exactly is this going to end?

 

For more on this year's Tribeca Film Festival, watch my preview on NBC's New York Live below.

 

 

 

Hit up the festival's official website for more info on movies and events, and let us know what you're most looking forward to hearing more about.