Independence Day: Resurgence

Director Roland Emmerich

Genre Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Cast Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, William Fichtner, Jessie Usher

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind’s new space defenses be enough?”

“We always knew they were coming back. After ‘Independence Day’ redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.”

The Shallows

Director Jaume Collet-Serra

Genre Drama | Thriller

Cast Blake Lively, Oscar Jaenada, Sedona Legge

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“In the taut thriller The Shallows, when Nancy (Blake Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach, she finds herself on the feeding ground of a great white shark. Though she is stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of Nancy’s ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.”

I love Blake Lively, that is a fact I will fully admit. She was fantastic in Savages and I thought she was incredibly beautiful in The Age of Adaline. I'm not sure how I feel about her becoming shark food but the trailer for The Shallows looks intense so I may have to suck it up. Check out the official trailers below.

Want to see more? Below is the extended and official trailer #2.

Still not satisfied?! Below is the extremely intense shark attack trailer #3.

Free State of Jones

Director Gary Ross

Genre Action | Biography | Drama

Cast Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“As civil war divides the nation, a poor farmer from Mississippi leads a group of rebels against the Confederate army”

“Set during the Civil War, Free State of Jones tells the story of defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones. Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War”

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Director Taika Waititi

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 24th, 2016 (Streaming on Hulu & Netflix)

“A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.”

Directed by Taika Waititi (Flight of the Conchords, Boy, What We Do in the Shadows), Hunt for the Wilderpeople is an infectious comedy with a New Zealand twist. It stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, and Rachel House. I love Flight of the Conchords and personally I can't seem to get enough of New Zealand comedy. Check out the official trailer below.

Wiener-Dog

Director Todd Solondz

Genre Comedy

Cast Charlie Tahan, Greta Gerwig, Zosia Mamet, Danny DeVito

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“Chronicles the life of a dog as it travels around the country, spreading comfort and joy.”

Directed by actor director Todd Solondz, Wiener-Dog is a quirky comedy starring Charlie Tahan, Greta Gerwig, Zosia Mamet, and everyone's favorite little guy Danny DeVito. Check out the trailer below.

The Neon Demon

Director Nicolas Winding Refn

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Elle Fanning, Jena Malone

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.”

From visionary director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Only God Forgives), The Neon Demon stars Christina Hendricks (Drive, Dark Places), Keanu Reeves, Elle Fanning (Super 8, Maleficent) and Jena Malone (Pride & Prejudice. Into The Wild). Check out the trailer below.

The Phenom

Director Noah Buschel

Genre Drama | Family | Sport

Cast Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti, Louisa Krause, Johnny Simmons

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“A Major League rookie pitcher loses control over his pitching and is sent down to the minor leagues, where he begins sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist. In the process, hidden conflicts with his overbearing father are brought to light.”

Directed by Noah Buschel, The Phenom includes a well-known cast consisting of Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti, Louisa Krause, and Johnny Simmons. I love sports movies, especially the ones that can really get the juices flowing. My guess is The Phenom will either be pretty damn good, or a complete bust. Here's to hoping for the latter. Check out the trailer below.

The Fundamentals of Caring

Director Rob Burnett

Genre Drama

Cast Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Bobby Cannavale

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016 (Netflix)

“A man suffering an incredible amount of loss enrolls in a class about care-giving that changes his perspective on life.”

The Fundamentals of Caring is written and directed by Rob Burnett, who served as a contributing writer on The David Letterman Show for well over a decade. The cast includes Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts (Red Oaks), Selena Gomez, and Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire, Vinyl). It will release exclusively via Netflix streaming June 24th, check out the trailer below. 

The Duel

Director Kieran Darcy-Smith

Genre Drama | Western

Cast Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Emory Cohen, Alex Braga

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“A Texas Ranger investigates a series of unexplained deaths in a town called Helena.”

Directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith (Wish You Were Here), The Duel is a gritty western revenge tale where fate ensures Texas Ranger David Kingston (Liam Hemsworth) crosses paths with a man they call The Preacher (Woody Harrelson). The cast also includes Emory Cohen (The Place Beyond the Pines, Brooklyn), Alice Braga (Elysium), and William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption). Check out the trailer below.

Central Intelligence

Director Rawson Marshall Thurber

Genre Comedy

Cast Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Aaron Paul, Amy Ryan

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 17th, 2016

“After he reunites with an old pal through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.”

Kevin Hart is hilarious and I feel like most people will agree with that. Unfortunately that does not mean all of his movies are automatically good. Yes it is good news that he is starting to find his way into more feature films as his acting career develops but it has been very much up and down. Think Like A Man was funny, Ride Along was funny for what it was, Ride Along 2 felt lazy and forced, just the studio trying to make some easy money I suppose. Ride Along 2 certainly put the chemistry or lack thereof between Kevin Hart and Ice Cube under a microscope. They don't seem to like each other all that much, or at least Ice Cube simply does not find Hart funny. Paper Soldiers was a very good under the radar film for Hart but it received very little exposure, most people haven't even heard of it. Now the stand-up comedian turned actor is teaming up with the big dawg Dwayne Johnson, formerly known as The Rock, and if anyone is capable of mixing action and comedy it's him. I think Central Intelligence has a chance to be very funny as long as the writing holds up. Check out the official trailer below and let us know what you think.

Love & Friendship

Director Whit Stillman

Genre Comedy | Drama | Romance

Cast Kate Beckinsale, Morfydd Clark, Tom Bennett, Jenn Murray

Rating PG

Release Date June 3rd, 2016

“Lady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in-laws’ estate and, while there, is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederica — and herself too, naturally.”

“Set in the 1790s, Love and Friendship centers on beautiful widow Lady Susan Vernon, who has come to the estate of her in-laws to wait out colorful rumors about her dalliances circulating through polite society. Whilst there, she decides to secure a husband for herself and her rather reluctant debutante daughter, Frederica.”

Finding Dory

Director Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane

Genre Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Ellen DeGenerus, Albert Brooks, Idris Elba, Kate McKinnon

Rating PG

Release Date June 17th, 2016

“The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.”

Finding Dory is a sequel to the Pixar hit film Finding Nemo, which released 13 years ago in 2003 (wow does time fly!). This will be the first Pixar film to receive the IMAX treatment since the 2011 release of Cars 2.  Dory is considered to be the most "liked" character on Facebook from any Disney or Pixar film, according to the 25 million likes it has. The film takes place six months after the events in Finding Nemo. Check out the highly anticipated trailer below.

Clown

Director Jon Watts

Genre Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Cast Andy Powers, Laura Allen, Peter Stormare, Christian Distefano

Rating R

Release Date June 17th, 2016 (Limited)

“A loving father finds a clown suit for his son’s birthday party, only to realize that it is not a suit at all.”

“A little boy’s birthday party gets ruined when his entertainment (clown) cancels. His father finds a clown suit and becomes the new entertainment but something is weird about it, there is an evil curse and it won’t come off. He specializes in eating little kids... everything after that goes down hill.”

Tickled

Director David Farrier, Dylan Reeve

Genre Documentary

Cast David Farrier, Dylan Reeve, David Starr, Hal Karp

Rating R

Release Date June 17th, 2016

“Journalist David Farrier stumbles upon a mysterious tickling competition online. As he delves deeper he comes up against fierce resistance, but that doesnt stop him getting to the bottom of a story stranger than fiction.”

Tickled is a shocking documentary directed by David Farrier and Dylan Reeve. Everyone involved with the making of the film were sued in U.S. Federal Court in an effort to stop the film from being shown. Tickled will release in limited theaters on June 17th, check out the trailer below. 

The Conjuring 2

Director James Wan

Genre Horror

Cast Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Franka Potente

Rating R

Release Date June 10th, 2016

“Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.”

I was generally impressed by 2013's The Conjuring, a very well done and genuinely scary ghost story. Director James Wan is back with The Conjuring 2, along with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. I have high expectations and if the below trailer is any indication, this will be well worth the wait. Check it out.

Warcraft

Director Duncan Jones

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Callan Mulvey, Clancy Brown

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 10th, 2016

“The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people, and their home.”

I know about as much about World of Warcraft as I do about advanced calculus, and I use the calculator on my phone to figure out a 20% tip. Seriously. But this movie actually looks pretty cool, check out the trailer below.

Now You See Me 2

Director Jon M. Chu

Genre Action | Comedy | Thriller

Cast Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Daniel Radcliffe

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 10th, 2016

“The Four Horsemen resurface and are forcibly recruited by a tech genius to pull off their most impossible heist yet.”

“One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, The Four Horsemen resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry, a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.”

Careful What You Wish For

Director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum

Genre Drama | Thriller

Cast Isabel Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Nick Jonas, Graham Rogers

Rating R

Release Date June 10th, 2016

“A guy gets more than he bargained for after entering into an affair with the wife of an investment banker. Soon, a suspicious death and substantial life insurance policy embroil him in a scandal.”

Careful What You Wish For is a drama/thriller directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum and it stars Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Red Dawn), Dermot Mulroney (The Grey, Insidious: Chapter 3), Nick Jonas, and Graham Rogers (Love & Mercy). Check out the trailer below.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Director Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone

Genre Comedy

Cast Andy Samberg, Imogen Poots, Sarah Silverman, Bill Hader

Rating R

Release Date June 3rd, 2016

“When his new album fails to sell records, pop/rap superstar conner4real goes into a major tailspin and watches his celebrity high life begin to collapse. He’ll try anything to bounce back, anything except reuniting with his old rap group The Style Boyz.”

In many ways former SNL star turned actor Andy Samberg reminds me of Will Ferrell. Yes they both have SNL as their claim to fame, but they are both also very much love them or hate them type of actors. I personally enjoy both actors even though certain roles they play are much too over the top. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping looks like it will be funny and the fact that Judd Apatow is producing gives me a reason to be excited. Check out the trailer below. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Director Dave Green

Genre Action | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Megan Fox, Will Arnette, Stephen Amell, Allen Ritchson

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 3rd, 2016

“The Turtles return to save the city from a dangerous threat.”

I was the biggest TMNT fan growing up. I remember getting the Ninja Turtle van for one of my birthdays and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. The earlier films always had a dark feel to them which I enjoyed (they also were not CGI) and they always made me crave pizza. Delicious cheese pizza. Although the films have grown to be much more lighthearted and goofy and have also adopted the CGI approach, they are still enjoyable. 2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was an enjoyable film even though it was ripped apart by critics. I had some nostalgic moments and that was enough for me. They also added Megan Fox who is also in Out of the Shadows. She isn't much of an actress but she is very, very easy on the eyes. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows hits theaters this summer and I can't wait for some good old fashioned fun. Check out the trailer below. 

Need more? Check out the official trailer #2 below.