The end of the summer movie season is upon us, which means it's going to be a long next couple of months. While there are still bound to be notable titles between September and December, August is typically one of the months where studios compete with untested talent. They're on the hunt for their next big hit, be it a family friendly comedy, or YA novel series that delivers the goods. Ultimately you, the viewer, win, as there's a slew of potential heading our way, in particular the following 10 notable films heading to theaters near you - starting this weekend.
Christopher Robin
Winnie The Pooh has always been one of Disney's most underrated franchises, with the silly old bear and his friends typically taking a backseat to the rest of the studio's canon. But the Hundred Acre Wood gang is about to have another day in the sun, as director Marc Forster's Christopher Robin sees it human protagonist, played by Ewan McGregor, in much need of his old friends and the wisdom they impart. Expect Kleenex stock to rise with this one.
Opens: August 3rd
The Darkest Minds
The YA genre has been in need of a win for some time now, and The Darkest Minds is the latest film to try and take a crack at specialty box office glory. With the world suffering from a child-centric pandemic that wiped out 98% of all kids under 20, the remaining kids are rounded up in camps in order to suppress their super powered existence. But, of course, a rebellion is fighting to free them, and at the head of said rebellion is Ruby, played by Hunger Games alum Amandla Stenberg. If you're still searching for the next Young Adult franchise that could be a hit, you've got a treat headed your way.
Opens: August 3rd
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Well, this is a surprise. Here I thought The Spy Who Dumped Me was going to be a PG-13 romantic comedy that fell along the lines of more traditional entries in the genre. But as it turns out, this one's an R-rated free for all, with Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon trying to save the world, and their own skins, from everyone who wants to get to Kunis's fictional ex. In a PG-13 context, this film would have probably died on the vine. Seeing as that's not the case, letting Kunis and McKinnon off the MPAA chain improves this flick's chances of sticking the landing.
Opens: August 3rd
The Meg
I wish more movies were as confident as The Meg has been in its marketing. This movie is not pretending to be a super-serious action adventure movie, trading uber-stoicism for some comedic chops and a diverse crew of rogues. Not to mention, any movie that includes Jason Statham, Rainn Wilson, and Ruby Rose is bound to have its fair share of punchlines. But do you want to know the most important reason to see The Meg, besides to have a good time? If it does well enough, it'll make an even better case for National Treasure 3 to finally happen.
Opens: August 10th
Crazy Rich Asians
Is it just me, or does it feel like Warner Bros was sleeping for most of this summer? While they helped open the summer with Ocean's 8, they haven't released a film since. Now, they've got two big plays landing in the same month, with The Meg and Crazy Rich Asians dropping within a week of each other. Don't be afraid of the overlap though, as this film could very easily cater to the romantic comedy crowd that just aren't interested in big sharks and 3D bombast. Though if you happen to love both, then you'll be able to very easily have your cake and eat it too!
Opens: August 15th
Alpha
If you turn to page 43 of the Encyclopedia of Story Format Tropes, the "boy and his dog" cliché is one that's been so well worn, you could mistake it for a hat you've had since childhood. And yet, Alpha is ready to turn said tradition on its head, as it focuses on the first boy making friends with the first human friendly wolf in the days of early humanity. After the huge wham-bang summer that's been put in front of our faces, it's nice to see an action film crossed with a story of slower, more emotional stakes. Also, the movie features a wolf, and wolves are awesomely photogenic. Come for the story, stay for the good boy/girl.
Opens: August 17th
Mile 22
There are three speeds of Mark Wahlberg: prestige, action-packed, and The Happening. Obviously, with two of those speeds making up the most of his career, Mile 22 is a no-brainer addition to the action-packed section of his library. As a special ops team finds themselves with only 22 miles separating them and their protected witness from safety, anything can happen. And judging by the explosion or own Sean O'Connell witnessed on the set earlier this year, it looks like director Peter Berg has made sure that those 22 miles are going to be hard fought, and bad assed.
Opens: August 17th
Searching
Yes, August means the end of summer movie season, but it also means that more films with indie-festival friendly buzz will be coming out of the woodwork. Case in point is the technology driven thriller Searching, which see John Cho's David trying to find his missing daughter, through the use of her internet footprint. A thriller that has slowly been winning fans through advanced buzz, starting at this year's Sundance Film Festival, this one looks like it could be an upset on a particularly crowded weekend.
Opens: August 24th
The Happytime Murders
Despite Jim Henson creating The Muppets with his brilliant imagination, and equally brilliant collaborators, his creation is no longer part of The Henson Company's roster of Puppet Americans. So don't get confused when you see The Happytime Murders being promoted, as Jim's son, Brian, may have similar looking characters, but they certainly don't act like any Muppet you've ever seen. These puppets swear, have sex, and solve a suspicious spate of murders with Melissa McCarthy. So if you're looking for that Muppet feeling, you're going to want to go back to your video collection. But if you're into some subversive, R-rated comedy that goes over the top with its humor, then prepare to be amazed.
Opens: August 24th
Kin
Heads up readers: there's two movies that look extremely similar coming in August, and we want to help you tell the difference.A.X.L is the movie about a boy and his robot dog, not to be confused with either Alpha or Kin. Kin is the story of a young adopted boy who bonds with his brother over finding some hidden alien weapons, and their efforts to hide them from crime lord James Franco. Watching the trailers for A.X.L. and Kin back to back are not recommended, but you can tell you're watching the latter if it's more focused on the bonds of brotherly love.
Opens: August 31st
