“Janet Planet”
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker makes her feature directorial debut with “Janet Planet” starring Julianne Nicholson. Premiering at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival, the film takes place in 1991 and follows a mother who grows frustrated with her daughter’s clinginess after she invites three people — her boyfriend, friend, and theater group leader — into her life. Zoe Ziegler, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, and Sophie Okonedo all star (read our review).
Release Date: In theaters June 21 via A24.
“Thelma”
The action/revenge narrative gets a twist in “Thelma.” June Squibb stars as the 93-year-old grandmother who, after losing a significant amount of money through a phone scammer, embarks on a quest in order to take back what is hers with the help of her friend and his motorized scooter. Josh Margolin directs the film with Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell all starring (read our review).
Release Date: In theaters June 21 via Magnolia Pictures.
“A Quiet Place: Day One”
Following the success of the John Krasinski-led features, Michael Sarnoski steps in with “A Quiet Place: Day One,” based on a story he and Krasinski conceived. The film takes place before the events of the first film, following a woman who must fight to survive an alien invasion in New York City who possesses ultrasonic sound hearing. Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou all star.
Release Date: In theaters June 28th via Paramount Pictures.
“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1”
Kevin Costner directs himself in “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1.” The first of four installments, the Western, co-written by Costner and Jon Baird, takes place during the American Civil War, depicting the expansion of the American West. The ensemble cast includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jenna Malone, Abbey Lee, and more (read our review).
Release Date: In theaters June 28 via Warner Bros. Pictures.
“Daddio”
Dakota Johnson produces and stars in “Daddio,” the feature directorial debut from Christy Hall. Johnson plays a woman who divulges her past decisions that led her to where she is now in life to her cab driver, played by Sean Penn. The two hander follows the characters as they share their intimate stories with one another about sex, relationships, power dynamics, and more (read our review).
Release Date: In theaters June 28 via Sony Pictures Classics.
Honorable Mentions: Karen Gillan stars as a woman trying to find herself in “Late Bloomers”; “Tiger Stripes” presents a body horror take on coming-of-age stories; Agnieszka Holland returns with the geopolitical “Green Border” (read our review); Lily Gladstone stars in the familial drama “Fancy Dance” (read our review); Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman reunite for the Netflix comedy “A Family Affair”; and Eric Bana and Sadie Sink star in the psychological drama, “A Sacrifice.”
