August is well underway and here are all the movies that are now in theatres, and that are coming in the next few weeks.
Kicking things off is a duo of familiar faces, one with a new identity and one with a new generation: Liam Neeson steps into Leslie Nielsen’s chaotic shoes as the son of Frank Drebin in a reboot of The Naked Gun, while Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back for more body-swapping shenanigans in Freakier Friday.
But if you’ve already had your fill of legacy sequels and animated talking animals (looking at you, The Bad Guys 2), the latter half of the month offers a buffet of genre-bending delights. From Zach Cregger’s Barbarian follow-up, Weapons, to Bob Odenkirk’s return to bone-snapping action in Nobody 2, there’s a certain thrill in watching filmmakers try to replicate surprise hits.
Then there’s the truly eclectic fare: Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, and Halsey in the modern-day Western Americana; Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans reuniting for the rom-com Honey Don’t; and Darren Aronofsky bringing his arthouse sensibilities to a crime novel with Caught Stealing.
With Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Roses, a divorce movie that’s not really about divorce, and the cryptic-sounding Relay and Splitsville also vying for our attention, this August isn’t just about what’s good—it’s about what’s gloriously, unapologetically, all over the place.
Meanwhile, Canada offers a compelling homegrown voice with Amar Wala’s drama Shook, and on the indie front, there’s the rom-com Oh, Hi!, starring Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman, and the Amy Berg-directed documentary It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley for music lovers.
AUGUST 1
The Naked Gun
Only one man has the particular set of skills – to lead Police Squad and save the world. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
The Bad Guys 2
The Bad Guys are struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do “one last job” by an all-female squad of criminals. Featuring the voices of Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, and Awkwafina.
Oh, Hi!
Iris and Isaac’s first romantic weekend getaway goes awry in a most unexpected way. Written and directed by Sophie Brooks. Starring Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, and Geraldine Viswanathan.
AUGUST 8
Freakier Friday
22 years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice. Directed by Nisha Ganatra and starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.
Weapons
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. Written and directed by Zach Cregger. Stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich.
Shook
After a run-in with his estranged father, aspiring writer Ashish or “Ash” learns a secret that will force him to balance family, love and success while navigating the divide between the exciting city life he wants and his suburban reality. Written and directed by Amar Wala. Starring Saamir White, Bernard White, Pamela Sinha, and Amy Forsyth.
AUGUST 15
Nobody 2
Suburban dad Hutch Mansell, a former lethal assassin, is pulled back into his violent past after thwarting a home invasion, setting off a chain of events that unravels secrets about his wife Becca’s past and his own. Starring Bob Odenkirk, Christopher Lloyd and Connie Nielsen.
AUGUST 22
Americana
The lives of local outsiders and outcasts violently intertwine when a rare Lakota Ghost shirt falls onto the black market in a small South Dakota town. Starring Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, and Halsey.
Honey Don’t!
A dark comedy about Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator, who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Written and directed by Ethan Coen. Starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Evans.
Relay
A broker of lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten them breaks his own rules when a new client seeks his protection to stay alive. Starring Riz Ahmed, Lily James, and Sam Worthington.
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Never-before-seen footage, exclusive voice messages, and accounts from Jeff Buckley‘s inner circle paint a captivating portrait of the gifted musician who died tragically in 1997, having only released one album.
AUGUST 29
The Roses
A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, and Allison Janney.
Caught Stealing
Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined. Directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Bad Bunny, and Matt Smith.
Splitsville
When Ashley asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey runs to his friends, Julie and Paul, for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos. Starring Dakota Johnson.
