Summer Movies Coming to a Theater Near You

By Amit Jagwani  | 

Summer is typically a time for the release of blockbuster films, but it’s no surprise that this season’s movie lineup looks a little different. Ongoing Covid-19 concerns mean that even as all 50 states launch partial reopening initiatives, many theaters are staying shut until late July to combat the spread of the virus. Some highly anticipated titles, including Marvel’s Black Widow, Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick and Sony’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife have pushed to autumn, winter or 2021 release dates. Still other studios opted for video-on-demand (VOD) premieres, bringing offerings like The King of Staten Island and Scoob! to lockdown living rooms months earlier than expected. While the schedules for theatrical release of many films may seem like a moving target, some options remain for those who crave big screens and giant popcorn buckets. Here’s a look at the current calendar of films expected to hit theaters over the next few months.

July
Two films are set to premiere on July 3: The Truth, about a French cinema star played by Catherine Deneuve, and The Outpost, based on a bestselling book about the Afghan War. On July 10, Solstice Studio releases Russell Crowe’s newest feature, Unhinged. It tells a psychologically unnerving road-rage tale about a single mother stalked by a man following a traffic confrontation. July 24 is the expected date for two films to hit the silver screen: Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan and The Rental, a horror film directed by Dave Franco. Tenet, director Christopher Nolan’s much-awaited espionage thriller, originally scheduled for a July 17 premiere, is now expected to hit theaters on July 31, as is British crime thriller The Informer, starring Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Clive Owen and Common.

August
Five new movies are currently slated for theaters on August 14. Fatima tells the real story of a 10-year-old Portuguese girl who reportedly witnessed the appearance of the Virgin Mary. The One and Only Ivan stars Angelina Jolie in a fantasy flick about a gorilla raising a baby elephant in a mall. The Secret Garden is an adaptation of the beloved children’s classic book. And Bill and Ted Face the Music is the third in a series that began in 1989. After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival last September and being acquired by Amazon Studios for distribution in the U.S., Sound of Metal, rounds out the new releases currently scheduled for August 14. Two additional offerings are expected to open on August 21, —Tesla, starring Ethan Hawke as the Serbian-American inventor, Nikola Tesla; and Antebellum, with Janelle Monáe in the leading role. The month goes out with an X-Men bang, courtesy of The New Mutants slated for wide release on August 28.

Film has always been a catalyst for escapism and self-care, which may be why these and other titles are so ardently awaited. Come September, theaters will hopefully have even more to offer eager fans.

Amit Jagwani
Latest posts by Amit Jagwani (see all)
Recommended Posts