August heat is here and nothing feels better than the ice cold air conditioning inside a movie theater. Luckily, this month has a long list of varied movies to catch at the tail end of summer.
First up, the biographical comedy/drama film titled Tony. The film follows a young Anthony Bourdain, famed celebrity chef and travel documentarian, during the summer of 1976 when he begins to learn the craft of cooking. Directed by Matt Johnson (Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie) and based on Bourdain’s own memoir Kitchen Confidential, the film looks to have all the good hallmarks of a coming-of-age story. Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers) stars as Bourdain, with Emilia Jones (CODA), Rich Sommer (Mad Men) and Antonio Banderas (Babygirl) rounding out the cast. It arrives Aug. 7.
For a science fiction survival film, check out The End of Oak Street. The plot follows a mysterious cosmic event that uproots a family home to parts unknown. With that move comes what appears to be prehistoric creatures and other unexplained phenomena. The cast includes Anne Hathaway (Mother Mary) and Ewan McGregor (A Gentleman in Moscow) as a married couple dealing with the insanity and protecting their children at the same time. Directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows), the film hits theaters on Aug. 14.
If you want a throwback to live-action animation comedies, look no further than Coyote vs. Acme. Following the silent Wile E. Coyote, the movie sees him finally bringing a lawsuit against the Acme Corporation – the company from which Coyote continually buys products to catch Road Runner. Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth) plays Coyote’s down-and-out attorney while John Cena (Peacemaker) plays Acme’s lawyer. Initially to be released in 2023, Warner Bros. opted instead to cancel the project and write it off as a tax loss, an infuriating practice studios sometimes employ. Thankfully, strong condemnation caused a reversal, and the film will hit theaters on Aug. 28.
For post-apocalyptic science fiction, don’t miss The Dog Stars. Based on a book of the same name, the film is set after a devastating flu pandemic has eradicated a large swath of humanity. Two men cling to hope when they hear a transmission through the radio. Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien), the film looks to be another excellent notch on his belt. The cast is stacked, featuring Jacob Elordi (Wuthering Heights), Josh Brolin (the Dune trilogy), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Allison Janney (I, Tonya), and Guy Pearce (The Brutalist). It releases on Aug. 28.
Lastly, for a straight comedy outing, we have Idiots. Starring Dave Franco (Together) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), the film follows two men at rock bottom who must work together to transport a rich, troubled teen to rehab with a shady transport service. Written and directed by Macon Blair (The Toxic Avenger), this looks to be a rowdy, R-rated comedy in every way possible, with gross-out gags galore. It also releases on Aug. 28.
