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Now that you’ve had some time to digest all of the noise and superstars and box office bucks coming our way in .nightsandweekends.com/articles/19/NW1900048.php>May and June, it’s time to come back for more! Want to know what’s coming as the box office heats up in July and August? Here’s a look at the second half of Summer Blockbuster Season!
Once again, keep in mind that release dates can change—and other releases will open in different cities at different times. Also, films here are listed by the week of release, typically using Friday as the standard release day—but, especially on holiday weekends, films may open earlier in the week. So, as always, keep an eye on your local listings for exact release dates.
And now…back to the hits!
JULY 5:
If you’re like me, you’re still trying to recover from Avengers: Endgame. But Marvel rarely lets fans catch their breath—especially not during prime blockbuster season! So we’re kicking off the holiday weekend—and the second half of Summer Blockbuster Season—with Spider-Man: Far from Home, which follows Tom Holland’s Peter Parker as he, like us, attempts to recover from recent events and move on with his own brand of crime-fighting.
When a Marvel movie comes out, you shouldn’t expect a lot of other options—but, this week, you can also check out Midsommar, a thriller about a young couple’s summer holiday that goes horribly wrong.
Kristin’s Pick: I was never all that excited about Spider-Man movies until the webslinging hero finally joined up with the Avengers. So I’m excited to see where Spidey’s next adventure will take him—especially post-Endgame.
JULY 12
Marvel movies may mix in a little bit of laughs with their big-budget action, but if you want an action movie that’s a little heavier on the laughs, you can join Guardians of the Galaxy’s Dave Bautista in Stuber, the adventures of a detective who enlists his Uber driver (Kumail Nanjiani) on a mission.
For more serious action, there’s 21 Bridges, starring Chadwick Boseman (yet another Marvel star) as an NYPD detective in a manhunt that locks down the entire island of Manhattan. Or, for some over-the-top action, there’s Crawl, following a woman in her fight to survive a hurricane and gators.
Also this week, a Chinese family plans a wedding before their grandmother passes in The Farewell. Jesse Eisenberg tries to learn how to stand up for himself in The Art of Self-Defense. And a woman is given a sword that’s supposed to prove that the South won the Civil War in Sword of Trust.
Kristin’s Pick: There’s plenty of action and adventure to choose from this week, but I’ll give my pick to Chadwick Boseman and 21 Bridges.
JULY 19:
Disney chimes in this week with another big summer release—this time, their latest “live-action” remake, The Lion King. Jon Favreau directs, with Donald Glover starring as the voice of Simba.
Once again, you won’t find many others racing to battle such a big release at the box office—but if you’re in the mood for something completely different, you can also check out the documentary David Crosby: Remember My Name.
Kristin’s Pick: Disney’s live-action remakes of beloved animated classics always make me a little nervous—but I’m still looking forward to seeing Favreau’s take on The Lion King.
JULY 26:
Whenever Quentin Tarantino makes another movie, movie lovers take notice. And this week Tarantino releases his ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio as an aging TV star and a stuntman on a quest for stardom in the ‘60s.
Also this week, Katie Holmes heads up the cast of Brahms: The Boy II, an eerily familiar-sounding thriller about a boy who befriends a creepy doll.
Kristin’s Pick: Since I’ve had more than my fill of creepy-doll films lately, my pick definitely goes to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
AUGUST 2:
As August hits and parents start thinking about sending their kids back to school, things typically start to slow down at the box office. But this August still has some action and adventure up its sleeve. This week, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham team up for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, a spin-off film following the unlikely partners as they battle a frightening new villain.
For some family-friendly action and adventure, there’s also Dora and the Lost City of Gold, starring Isabela Moner as the beloved young explorer, who sets out to rescue her parents with some help from her friends.
Or, if you’re not in the mood for an adventure, there’s also Luce, starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as parents who face a troubling situation with their adopted teenage son, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Kristin’s Pick: The Fast & Furious movies are always good for some brainless action—so Hobbs & Shaw gets my pick this week.
AUGUST 9:
It’s another busy summer for Disney! This week, Kenneth Branagh takes on another literary adaptation with Artemis Fowl, based on the first two novels in the beloved sci-fi series by author Eoin Colfer.
Also this week, Elisabeth Moss and Tiffany Haddish star as a couple of wives taking over for their incarcerated mobster husbands in The Kitchen. A group of teens faces their worst fears in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. And, in Brian Banks, a football player whose NFL dreams were cut short by a wrongful conviction sets out to clear his name.
Kristin’s Pick: While Kenneth Branagh definitely knows his way around a literary adaptation, I’m going to give my pick this week to the girls of The Kitchen.
AUGUST 16:
Whether they need an end of summer outing or a break after their first days of school, kids can head out this weekend to see The Angry Birds Movie 2, which follows the continuing battle between the birds and the green pigs. Or, if they’re not into video game adaptations, they can choose a toy adaptation with Playmobil: The Movie.
Meanwhile, Good Boys may star a bunch of kids, but if you’re going to see this R-rated story of three boys and their quest to make it to a party, it’s best to leave the kids at home.
Also this week, an ex-con goes undercover in prison in The Informer, and in 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, four girls are hunted by a deadly shark while exploring an underwater city.
Or, for something lighter, there’s the story of a British teen’s coming of age through the music of Bruce Springsteen in Blinded by the Light or a mom’s creative journey in Richard Linklater’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette.
Kristin’s Pick: Admittedly, August’s releases aren’t at the top of my must-see list—but you could find a hidden end-of-summer gem in a literary adaptation like Where’d You Go, Bernadette.
AUGUST 23:
As summer winds down, the action keeps going. In Angel Has Fallen, Gerard Butler returns to his role as Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, who’s forced to go on the run to clear his name after he’s framed for the attempted assassination of the President.
Also this week, in inspirational sports drama Overcomer, a cross country coach from a struggling town helps an athlete on an important journey.
Kristin’s Pick: Once again, this week’s releases probably aren’t must-sees—but Angel Has Fallen promises some brainless action.
AUGUST 30:
As it usually the case, another Summer Blockbuster Season fizzles out this weekend with just one release: My Boyfriend’s Meds, a Mexican comedy following a young couple whose island vacation goes horribly wrong when he accidentally leaves his medication at home.
And, with that, we’ve reached the end of another Summer Blockbuster Season. What are you looking forward to seeing this summer? Whatever it is—and wherever the summer takes you—I hope it’s filled with action, adventure, and laughs (and some buttery popcorn, too)!
Up next…stay tuned for another Award Season!
