With the normally bursting at the seams summer movie season all but wiped away, we’ve compiled a list of the films still hitting the small, and, possibly, big screens over the coming months. We will be updating this post whenever a new title is moved from theatrical to VOD. For the time being here are the 15 films we believe will make the most waves between the months of May and August.
“King of Staten Island” — VOD, June 12th
Originally meant to debut at SXSW and then the Tribeca Film Festival, this collaboration between Judd Apatow (“Bridesmaids”) and SNL’s Pete Davidson (originally set for a June 19th theatrical release) is now set to be launched via Video on Demand on June 12th by Universal. The story follows Davidson as renegade Staten Islander Scott, who after losing his father, began to meander through life without purpose. However, his world is turned upside down by the arrival of someone who may force him to begin to move forward. The film also stars the likes of Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Danny Trejo, and the legendary Steve Buscemi.
“Da 5 Bloods” — Netflix, June 12
On the back of their “BlacKkKlansman” success, Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott return with this mysterious War drama, following a group of Vietnam veterans who return to the jungle to find their lost innocence. Starring the likes of Chadwick Boseman, Paul Walter Hauser, Jean Reno, and Giancarlo Esposito, and clocking in at a monster 2hr 34min, will this be Netflix’s biggest gem of the year?
“The Lovebirds” — Netflix, May 22nd
“The Big Sick” director Michael Showalter, and star Kumail Nanjiani, team up for another romantic comedy, this time with a dark twist to the story. Nanjiani stars alongside the fantastic Issa Rae, a couple who are unknowingly embroiled in a murder mystery, a situation that launches them from one extreme to another. But can their relationship survive the night? Originally meant for theatrical release, the film was sold to Netflix last month for its streaming debut on May 22nd
“The Vast of the Night” — Amazon Prime, May 29th
Having premiered to good responses at Slamdance and the TIFF, this debut feature from Andrew Patterson takes place over the course of one strange night in 1950’s New Mexico. Following two teenagers as they investigate a strange frequency coming through their radio. Based on an episode of “Twilight Zone” esque show “Paradox Theatre, the film will be landing on Amazon Prime later this month.
“Capone” — VOD, May 12th
A film already seen by some, including our own EIC Jordan Ruimy, and one that could have seen real money made at the box office if not due to the ongoing state of the world. The selling point of the film is undoubtedly Tom Hardy as the notorious AL Capone, during his final years which included suffering heavily from dementia. The film’s writer/director Josh Trank also adds an interesting side note, having not directed since 2015’s box-office and critical disaster “Fantastic Four” which saw him exit multiple future projects. You can read our review of the film below.
“The Old Guard” — Netflix, July 10th
This action/fantasy epic from “Love and Basketball” director Gina Prince-Bythewood follows the story of a covert team of apparently immortal mercenaries played by the likes of Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Kiki Layne, as they fight to keep their identity a secret. The film is based on the Comic-Book series by Leandro Fernandez and Greg Rucka.
“Kajillionaire” — Focus Features, June 19th
Miranda July (“Me and You and Everyone We Know”) brings us this crime drama, centered on one family of scammers and scavengers, and how the inner workings of this family ‘business’ are altered when a newcomer joins the group. The film stars Evan Rachel-Wood (“Westworld”) as ‘Old Dolio’, daughter of ‘Theresa’, and ‘Robert’, played by Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins. Whilst Gina Rodriguez plays the confident ‘Melanie’, an outsider to the group but who quickly wins the affections of the parents, causing friction between her and Wood’s ‘Old Dolio’
“Artemis Fowl” — Disney, June 12
Based on the 2001 sci-fi novel by Eoin Colfer, the film follows 12-year old “Artemis Fowl” (Ferdia Shaw) a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds as he hunts for his missing father. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, and starring Judie Dench, Josh Gad, and Colin Farrell, the film was originally set for theatrical release last August before being delayed to May of 2020. However recent events mean the film will be the first big straight to streaming offering on Disney +
“Space Force” — Netflix, May 29th
A four-star general begrudgingly teams up with an eccentric scientist to get the U.S. military's newest agency — Space Force — ready for liftoff. Steve Carell created and stars in this highly anticipated space comedy about life in the newly created sixth branch of the U.S. armed services. The title already has giggling, but so does the cast which includes the talented likes of Carell, Lisa Kudrow, and John Malkovich.
“Hamilton” — Disney, July 3rd
Disney caused shockwaves on Tuesday, announcing their planned release of the original Broadway production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s global phenomenon “Hamilton” would be dropping onto Disney + in only a few months. Having paid through the nose for the rights to the filmed production, Disney will surely be hoping (as Netflix and ESPN have done with “The Last Dance”) that increased viewership due to the ongoing pandemic will drive people to their screens for just under three hours of the telling of the life of one of America’s foremost founding fathers. “Hamilton” drops on July 3rd on Disney +.
“Tenet” — WB, August 14th?
No doubt the most intriguing cinematic story of the summer. Warner Bros and Christopher Nolan’s sheer will power to stick to their original release date has led to many cinema chains across the globe to aim for re-opening in time for Nolan’s next big original blockbuster. Anyone who got to see the IMAX prologue of the film before last years “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” already knows the type of intriguing, mind-bending story of international espionage, time travel, and evolution audiences are in for when the film hits. The question just remains whether it will be as soon as we think?
“Shirley” — VOD, May 5th
Josephine Decker and Sarah Gubbins bring us this adaption of Susan Scarf Merrell’s novel, in which Shirley Jackson, played by the excellent Elizabeth Moss, and husband Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg) welcomes young couple Fred (Logan Lerman) and Rose (Odessa Young) into their home. A decision that serves as inspiration for Jackson’s next horror mystery. The film made its debut at Sundance to an extremely positive response, with many signaling Moss out (yet again) for her mesmerizing performance.
“The Trip to Greece” — VOD, May 22nd
Michael Winterbottom, Steve Coogan, and Rob Brydon team up yet again for this fourth installment of “The Trip”. With Coogan and Brydon still playing heightened versions of themselves, this time they land in Greece as they travel from Troy to Ithaca, planning to follow in the footsteps of the Odysseus.
“Relic” — VOD, July 10th
Natalie Erika James’ directorial debut. An Australian-American horror, starring Emily Mortimer and produced by Jake Gyllenhaal. The film follows various generations of the same family as they are haunted by the manifestation of dementia that begins to consume the family home. Having premiered at Sundance in January, the film is still scheduled for a July 10th release.
“An American Pickle” — HBO Max, August 6
Seth Rogen’s HBO Max comedy is about an immigrant worker (Rogen) at a pickle factory who is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn and meets his grandson (also played by Seth Rogen). Sold. Directed by Brandon Trost, this latest comedy from Rogen also stars Maya Erskine and Sarah Snook.
Now the question is whether Spidey can become the first movie to cross $1 billion domestically. With its legs having slowed down, and $63M in receipts still needed, I highly doubt it.