As the back half of the year approaches, August is stacked with some truly must-see films – so leave your weekends open, because there’s something here for everyone.
Starting strong with a legacy sequel, don’t miss The Naked Gun. Starring Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr., son of Frank Drebin Sr. – played by Leslie Nielsen in the original films and TV series Police Squad!, this sequel seems to understand all the elements that made the original funny. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, one of three members of The Lonely Island, a comedy troupe known for their SNL sketches and music, the film also stars Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird). Hopefully it can live up to the lofty standards of its predecessors when it releases on Aug. 1.
For a mystery horror film, look no further than Weapons. The story is set in a small town where all but one child from a specific class disappear overnight. Directed by Zach Cregger, known for the 2022 horror film Barbarian, the film stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner (Ozark), Alden Ehrenreich (Fair Play) and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange) and looks to have some truly bone-chilling imagery. I thought Barbarian shined but fell apart in the final act, so maybe Creeger can pull it off a bit better this time when Weapons drops on Aug. 8.
If you’re looking for an action heavy sequel to a surprise hit, check out Nobody 2. Following Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul) and his family as they adjust to the revelation that he’s a former government assassin, the trailer shows them attempting to take a summer vacation only to be bombarded by criminal forces. The cast includes Connie Nielsen (Gladiator), John Ortiz (American Fiction), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) and Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct), and looks to be just as action-packed as the previous film, with long takes and superbly choreographed fight scenes. It hits theaters on Aug. 15.
For a crime thriller remake, don’t skip Highest 2 Lowest. Directed by Spike Lee and a remake and reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, this film has all the hallmarks of a Spike Lee joint. Starring Denzel Washington and Jeffery Wright (Angels in America), the movie concerns a music mogul who is caught up in a ransom plot with heavy moral implications. The world premiere at Cannes came with positive reviews, with many saying it uses the bones of the original as a jumping off point to start a different conversation. It drops on Aug. 22 before going to Apple TV + on Sept. 5.
For a different kind of crime thriller, go see Caught Stealing. Based on the book of the same name, the film follows Hank Thompson, a former baseball player, who finds himself deeply imbedded in the criminal underworld of 1990’s New York. Starring Austin Butler (Elvis), Regina King (Shirley), Zoe Kravitz (The Batman) and Matt Smith (The Crown), and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), everything here indicates an excellent outing when it releases on Aug. 29.
