“Animal Farm”
Given that it has no distributor yet, will this release date stick? Regardless, directed by Andy Serkis and written by comedic writer Nicholas Stoller, “Animal Farm” is an animated fantasy comedy-drama film based on George Orwell’s classic novella about the rise of fascism. The film stars the voice work of Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons, Kathleen Turner, and Iman Vellani. It follows a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where all animals are equal. However, absolute power corrupts, and some animals begin to mirror their previous authoritarian overlords.
Release Date: July 11 via TBD.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer”
The fourth installment in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” slasher horror franchise, this legacy sequel set decades later stars Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Lola Tung, and Nicholas Alexander Chavez. Of course, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising their roles from the first two films, and the story follows five friends who inadvertently kill a pedestrian in a car accident and cover up their involvement. A year later… well, you know how it goes…
Release Date: July 18 via Sony Pictures.
“Eddington”
Quickly becoming one of the most highly anticipated auteurs in the elevated horror/thriller space, writer/director Ari Aster (“Midsommar”) returns with “Eddington,” an American contemporary Western drama with politically polarized overtones. Set just a few months into the 2020 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in small-town New Mexico. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Austin Butler, Deirdre O’Connell, Michael Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., and William Belleau.
Release Date: July 18 via A24.
“Fantastic Four: First Steps”
Years in the making, Marvel’s “first family The Fantastic Four, finally makes its ‘First Steps’ into the Marvel Cinematic Universe this summer. Set in an alternate Earth somewhere in the multiverse that is already retro-futuristic in its version of the 1960s, there are no Avengers or other MCU characters here. Instead, the standalone Fantastic Four must defend Earth from the ravenous space god Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer. Directed by Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”), ‘First Steps’ stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, and Julia Garner.
Release Date: July 25 via Disney.
“Happy Gilmore 2”
Nearly 30 years after the original was released, Adam Sandler returns in a belated “Happy Gilmore 2” for Netflix. Directed by Kyle Newacheck, the sports comedy sequel catches up with the ex-hockey player turned golf pro as he attempts to raise enough money to pay the IRS for his grandmother’s years of delinquent back taxes. In addition to Sandler, the relatively large ensemble features Julie Bowen, Dennis Dugan, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny), Kym Whitley, Ethan Cutkosky, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Scott Mescudi, Haley Joel Osment, Margaret Qualley, Benny Safdie, Philip Fine Schneider, Conor Sherry, and Nick Swardson. Can we get a “Billy Madison” sequel while we’re at it?
Release Date: July 25 via Netflix.
“Oh, Hi!”
Directed by Sophie Brooks and co-written by actress Molly Gordon (“The Bear”), “Oh, Hi!” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to much acclaim. A romantic comedy, the film centers on a newly married couple (Gordon and Logan Lerman) who go on a weekend road trip that takes an unexpected turn. Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds, David Cross and more co-star.
Release Date: July 25 via Sony Pictures Classics.
“The Bad Guys 2”
A sequel to 2022’s successful adaptation of Aaron Blabey’s cherished “The Bad Guys” children’s book series, the sequel is once again directed by Pierre Perifel with assistance from JP Sans (an animator on “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”). The animated heist comedy sequel follows the gang as they struggle to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys and get drawn into a scheme involving the Bad Girls. The voice cast features Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Lilly Singh, and Alex Borstein. In contrast, new cast members include Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova, and Natasha Lyonne.
Release Date: August 1 via Universal.
“The Naked Gun”
A legacy sequel of the beloved slapstick comedy of the same name by the Zucker Brothers starring the late Leslie Nielsen, this version is directed by Lonely Island filmmaker Akiva Schaffer (also formerly of SNL’s digital shorts). The action comedy features Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.— Nielsen’s character’s son from the original films—who steps into his father’s shoes to uncover a plot that threatens the city. Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddy Yu, and Danny Huston co-star.
Release Date: August 1 via Paramount.
“Together”
The feature-length directorial debut of filmmaker Michael Shanks (the series “The Wizards of Aus”), “Together” is a psychological supernatural body horror starring real-life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco. Mirroring their real lives, they play spouses who move to the country and encounter mysterious forces that horrifically alters their relationship, existence, and physical form. The supporting cast includes Damon Herriman, Mia Morrissey, Karl Richmond, and many more.
Release Date: August 1 via Neon.
“Weapons”
Filmmaker Zach Cregger went from an unknown entity to a white-hot director following the success of the freakish horror “Barbarian.” Fielding dozens of offers and lining up myriad projects since Cregger’s first post- “Barbarian” film, the mystery horror thriller, “Weapons.” Starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan, the drama follows a small community after 17 kids mysteriously disappear overnight, leaving the residents questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
Release Date: August 8 via Warner Bros.
