BlacKkKlansman

Director Spike Lee

Genre Biography | Comedy | Crime

Cast John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018

“Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer from Colorado, successfully managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan and became the head of the local chapter.”

From director Spike Lee, who also co-wrote the screenplay, BlacKkKlansman is a crime biography with a comedic twist, telling the true story of an African American police officer who was able to successfully infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan and eventually become the head of the local chapter. The cast includes John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, and Topher Grace. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, BlacKkKlansman:

• After the investigation into the Klan was closed, Stallworth kept it a secret and told no one about his role in it. He went on to work for the Utah Department of Public Safety as an investigator for nearly 20 years, and retired in 2005. In January of 2006, he gave an interview to the Deseret News of Salt Lake City, in which he related all the details of his infiltration and investigation.
• John David Washington is the son of Denzel Washington, who appeared in four films directed by Spike Lee.

Dog Days

Director Ken Marino

Genre Drama

Cast Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria

Rating PG

Release Date August 8th, 2018

“Dog Days follows a group of interconnected people in Los Angeles who are brought together by their lovable canine counterparts.”

Directed by multi-talented veteran actor Ken Marino who has 121 acting credits according to his IMDb filmography, Dog Days is a cute and cuddly drama that follows a group of interconnected people in Los Angeles who are brought together by their lovable canine counterparts. Marino recently directed the comedy How to Be a Latin Lover, which was his directorial debut, so I am looking forward to what he brings to the table here. Plus, how can you go wrong with a movie that has a bunch of cute pups in it?! As long as it's not Weiner Dog, man that movie was BAD. The cast includes Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, and Rob Corddry. Check out the official trailers below!!  

A Prayer Before Dawn

Director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

Genre Action | Biography | Crime

Cast Joe Cole, Vithaya Pansringarm, Panya Yimmumphai, Nicolas Shake

Rating R

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“The true story of an English boxer incarcerated in one of Thailand’s most notorious prisons as he fights in Muay Thai tournaments to earn his freedom.”

From director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, A Prayer Before Dawn is based on the real-life of Billy Moore who survived a Thai prison by becoming a Muay Thai boxing champion. A24 continues to churn out hits and if early critic feedback is any indication this is going to be yet another gem!! The cast includes Joe Cole, Vithaya Pansringarm, Panya Yimmumphai, and Nicolas Shake. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, A Prayer Before Dawn:

• The inmates in the film are all played by real ex-inmates who have served time in Thai prisons.
• Joe Cole went through months of extensive boxing training and spend much time with the real Billy Moore and his family in Liverpool before shooting started.
• The real Billy Moore makes an appearance in the film as his own father, who had died of cancer before filming began.

Summer of 84

Director François Simard, Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell

Genre Drama | Horror | Mystery

Cast Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Gruter-Andrew

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“After suspecting that their police officer neighbor is a serial killer, a group of teenage friends spend their summer spying on him and gathering evidence, but as they get closer to discovering the truth, things get dangerous.”

From directors François Simard and Anouk and Yoann-Karl Whissell, Summer of 84 is a horror drama that tells the story of a group of teenage friends who suspect their police offer neighbor might be a serial killer, but as they begin spying on him and gathering clews things take a dangerous turn. The cast includes Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, and Cory Gruter-Andrew. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Summer of 84:

• The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Along Came the Devil

Director Jason DeVan

Genre Drama | Horror | Thriller

Cast Sydney Sweeney,  Madison Lintz, Bruce Davison, Jessica Barth

Rating TV-14

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“After a troubled childhood, Ashley searches for a connection, and unknowingly invites in a demonic force, which leaves her loved ones fighting for her soul.”

Directed by Jason DeVan and co-written in collaboration with his wife Heather as well as Dylan Matlock, Originally titled "Tell Me Your Name", the film follows a troubled teen named Ashley, who can’t seem to cope with her mother’s death and is sent to live with her estranged aunt Tanya when her older sister heads off to college. Back in her mom’s old hometown, Ashley can’t escape the sense that something is terribly wrong and visions of her deceased mother drive her to a dangerous seance that threatens her very soul. The cast includes Sydney Sweeney,  Madison Lintz, Bruce Davison, and Jessica Barth. Check out the official trailer below!! 

Madeline's Madeline

Director Josephine Decker

Genre Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Cast Helena Howard, Miranda July, Molly Parker, Okwui Okpokwasili

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“A theater director’s latest project takes on a life of its own when her young star takes her performance too seriously.”

Co-written and directed by Josephine Decker, Madeline's Madeline is a drama thriller about a production for a play that takes on a life of its own when its young star takes her performance too seriously. The cast includes Helena Howard, Miranda July, Molly Parker, and Okwui Okpokwasili. Check out the official trailer below!!

BuyBust

Director Erik Matti

Genre Action | Thriller

Cast Anne Curtis, Brandon Vera, Victor Neri, Arjo Atayde

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“An anti-drug enforcement agency stages a massive drug bust in the slums of Manila.”

From director Erik Matti, BuyBust is an action thriller about an epic fight after a anti-drug enforcement agency stages a massive drug bust in the slums if Manila. The cast includes Anne Curtis, Brandon Vera, Victor Neri, and Arjo Atayde. Check out the official trailer below!!

Christopher Robin

Director Marc Forster

Genre Animation | Adventure | Comedy

Cast Ewan McGregor, Jim Cummings, Hayley Atwell, Chris O'Dowd

Rating PG

Release Date August 3rd, 2018

“Working-class family man Christopher Robin encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.”

From director Marc Forster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland), Christopher Robin  tells the story of a working-class man who discover's his childhood friend Winnie the Pooh who helps him rediscover the joys of life. The cast includes Ewan McGregor, Jim Cummings, Hayley Atwell, and Chris O'Dowd. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Christopher Robin:

• This will be the first Disney production since 1990 where Tigger is voiced by someone other than Jim Cummings.
• This is the first Winnie the Pooh film made in seven years, as well as the first one to be live-action.
• The film is to release in 2018, the 30th anniversary of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988).

The Darkest Minds

Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Genre Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast Skylan Brooks, Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, Miya Cech

Rating PG-13

Release Date August 3rd, 2018

“Imprisoned by an adult world that now fears everyone under 18, a group of teens form a resistance group to fight back and reclaim control of their future.”

From director Jennifer Yuh Nelson (Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2), The Darkest Minds is a sci-fi thriller based on the best-selling novel from author Alexandra Bracken. In a future where anyone under the age of 18 is imprisoned out of fear, a group of teens form a resistance group and fight back to reclaim control of their future. The cast includes Skylan Brooks, Amandla Stenberg, Harris Dickinson, Miya Cech, and Mandy Moore. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Darkest Minds:

• Jennifer Yuh Nelson's 2nd live-action movie, but the 1st to be directed by her. She has done work for mostly animated movies, notably the Kung Fu Panda franchise. She first did work on a live-action movie for the art department.
• Catherine Dyer and Peyton Wich have both appeared in Stranger Things as Agent Connie Frazier and Troy, respectively.

The Sinner: Season 2

Genre Thriller

Cast Bill Pullman, Carrie Coon, Ellen Adair, David Call

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere Wednesday August 1st, 2018 10:00 PM EST (USA Network)

“Detective Harry Ambrose returns to investigate the deaths of a New York couple murdered by their 11-year old son with no apparent motive or reasoning behind the crime.”

The Sinner was a HUGE success for USA network and it returns with a 2nd season this summer. The new season follows Detective Harry Ambrose as he returns to investigate the deaths of a New York couple murdered by their 11-year old son with no apparent motive or reasoning behind the crime. The first season with Jessica Biel in the lead role was intense and sucked you in right from the start to I hope this new season offers more of the same. Biel steps into the role of executive producer for the new season. The cast includes Bill Pullman, Carrie Coon, Ellen Adair, and David Call. Check out the official trailers below including an exclusive First Look!!

Better Call Saul: Season 4

Genre Crime | Drama

Cast Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian

Rating TV-MA

Series Premiere Monday August 6th, 2018 9:00PM EST (AMC)

“The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer, Jimmy McGill, in the time leading up to establishing his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.”

The hit AMC Breaking Bad spinoff series Better Call Saul is returning for a 4th season, and hardcore fans of the show (myself included) know that things were really starting to heat up by the end of last season. With that being said, the August 6th premiere date cannot come soon enough!! Check out the official teaser trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Better Call Saul:

• The salon where the "temporary" office of Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) is, is the one that he (as Saul Goodman) offers to sell to Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) for money laundering in Breaking Bad (2008).
•   It is known that in Breaking Bad (2008), Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) was first seen in the 8th episode of season 2. It is not a coincidence that Better Call Saul's first episode premiered on February 8. "08/02" (episode/season, day/month).

The Spy Who Dumped Me

Director Susanna Fogel

Genre Action | Comedy

Cast Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, Sam Heughan

Rating R

Release Date August 3rd, 2018

“Audrey and Morgan are best friends who unwittingly become entangled in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers the boyfriend who dumped her was actually a spy.”

Co-written and directed by Susanna Fogel (Life Partners), The Spy Who Dumped Me is an action comedy about two best friends who find themselves mixed up in an international conspiracy after they discover that one of their recent ex-boyfriends is a spy. The cast includes Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, Sam Heughan. Check out the official trailers below!! 

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Director Desiree Akhavan

Genre Drama | Romance

Cast Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Ehle, Quinn Shephard, Sasha Lane

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 3rd, 2018 (Limited)

“In 1993, a teenage girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center by her conservative guardians.”

Co-written and directed by Desiree Akhavan, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a drama that takes place in 1993 and tells the story of a teenage girl who is forced into a gay conversion therapy center by her conservative guardians. The cast includes Chloë Grace Moretz, Jennifer Ehle, Quinn Shephard, and Sasha Lane. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Miseducation of Cameron Post:

• Based on the book of the same name by Emily M. Danforth.
• Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2018

Never Goin' Back

Director Augustine Frizzell

Genre Drama

Cast Maia Mitchell, Camilla Malone, Kyle Mooney

Rating R

Release Date August 3rd, 2018 (Limited)

“Jessie and Angela, high school dropouts, are taking a week off to chill at the beach. Too bad their house got robbed, rent’s due, they’re about to get fired, and they’re broke.”

Written and directed by actress Augustine Frizzell, her directorial debut, Never Goin' Back is a slightly twisted and ironic comedy drama about two high school dropouts who decide to take a week off and chill at the beach while ignoring their glaring shortcomings in their "adult" lives. I trust pretty much anything A24 is willing to touch so I plan on watching this as soon as it becomes available, plus as misguided as these girls are they are still pretty damn cute. The cast includes Maia Mitchell, Camilla Malone, and Kyle Mooney. Check out the official Red Band trailer below!!.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

Director Christopher McQuarrie

Genre Action | Adventure | Thriller

Cast Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg

Rating PG-13

Release Date July 27th, 2018

“Ethan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.”

Co-written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie (The Way of the Gun, Jack Reacher, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation), Mission: Impossible - Fallout is the latest entry in the franchise and is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats! This time around Ethan Hunt and his IMF find themselves on a race against time after a mission gone wrong. Veteran actor Tom Cruise has hitched his trailer to the Mission: Impossible films and I for one have enjoyed the ride and I am looking forward to his latest action-packed adventure. At the age of 55, Cruise keeps himself in tip top shape to be able to handle demanding roles such as this with ease. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Kirby, and Michelle Monaghan. Check out the official trailers below!!  

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Mission: Impossible - Fallout:

• Henry Cavill grew a mustache in order to play the villain and was expected to shave it off for Justice League (2017) reshoots. However, Paramount would not allow this, meaning Warner Bros had to pay millions to have it digitally removed in post-production, making it the most expensive mustache in movie history.
• Tom Cruise trained for an entire year to perform a stunt in this film.
• Jeremy Renner is not in this film due to his commitment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Castle Rock

Genre Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Cast André Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Jane Kevy, Sissy Spacek

Rating TV-14

Series Premiere July 25th, 2018 (Hulu)

“Henry returns to Castle Rock, Maine, unsettled by the place he once called home; based on the literary canon of Stephen King.”

From executive producer J.J. Abrams, Castle Rock is the latest Stephen King adaptation, and what I have seen so far has me pretty excited. The Hulu exclusive is a psychological horror series based on the stories of Stephen King, seamlessly intertwining characters and themes from from some of the great authors best work, all taking place in the fictional Maine town of Castle Rock. The cast includes André Holland, Bill Skarsgård, Jane Kevy, Sissy Spacek, Melanie Lynskey, Scott Glenn, and Terry O'Quinn. Check out the official trailers below. 

Ted Takes Series Facts, Hulu's Castle Rock:

• Castle Rock is the same town where Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern lived in the movie Stand By Me.
• Bill Skarsgård shot this series in between two other Stephen King projects: It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019).
• Some filming took place at West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia. The penitentiary once housed 2,400 violent criminals with 85 executions taking place on the property, along with murder, rape and suicides. The 142 year old penitentiary is considered, to some, as one of the most haunted sites in the state.

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies

Director Aaron Horvath, Peter Rida Michail

Genre Animation | Action | Comedy

Cast Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Tara Strong, Will Arnett

Rating PG

Release Date July 27th, 2018

“A villain’s maniacal plan for world domination sidetracks five teenage superheroes who dream of Hollywood stardom.”

From directors Aaron Horvath and Peter Rida Michai, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is the first Teen Titans movie to get a big-screen feature debut. Teen Titans Go! is a animated television series that made its debut on the Cartoon Network in 2013, and is based on the DC Comics fictional superhero team. Interestingly enough this will more than likely end up as one of the highest rated DC films to date (I get it, the bar has been set pretty low). Nonetheless, critics have been raving about this animated feature. The talented cast of voice actors includes Kristen Bell, Nicolas Cage, Tara Strong, Will Arnett, Stan Lee, and Patton Oswalt. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies:

• First theatrically released traditionally animated Warner Bros. film since Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004) 14 years prior.
• The fourth theatrical film based on a Cartoon Network TV series, after The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002) released 16 years prior, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) 10 years prior, and The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017) a year before.

Blindspotting

Director Carlos López Estrada

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, Jasmine Cephas Jones

Rating R

Release Date July 27th, 2018

“Lifelong friends Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal co-wrote and star in this timely and wildly entertaining story about the intersection of race and class, set against the backdrop of a rapidly gentrifying Oakland.”

From director Carlos López Estrada, Blindspotting is a comedy drama that provides a unique look at the intersection between race and class, set against the backdrop of a rapidly gentrifying Oakland, CA. The cast includes Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, and Jasmine Cephas Jones. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Blindspotting:

• The film had its world premiere on January 18, 2018 in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
• The character, Miles, is based off of a man who walked across the film set on the first day of shooting.

Hot Summer Nights

Director Elijah Bynum

Genre Drama

Cast Timothée Chalamet, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, William Fichtner

Rating R

Release Date July 27th, 2018 (Limited)

“A teen winds up in over his head while dealing drugs with a rebellious partner and chasing the young man’s enigmatic sister during one scorching summer in Cape Cod, Mass.”

Written and directed by Elijah Bynum, Hot Summer Nights is a crime drama with a coming-of-age twist, about a boy in Cape, Cod, MA, during a hot summer who gets in over his head dealing drugs and falling in love. Picked up by A24, this is the first I have heard of this movie but it looks pretty awesome, almost like a coming-of-age Traffic. I'm definitely looking forward to it. The cast includes Timothée Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird), Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, William Fichtner, and Emory Cohen. Check out the official trailer below!!

Extinction

Director Ben Young

Genre Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast Michael Peña, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Colter, Emma Booth

Rating Unrated

Release Date July 27th, 2018 (Netflix)

“A father has a recurring dream of losing his family. His nightmare turns into reality when the planet is invaded by a force bent on destruction. Fighting for their lives, he comes to realize an unknown strength to keep them safe from harm.”

From director Ben Young (Hounds of Love), Extinction is a sci-fi thriller about a father who finds himself having recurring dreams about losing his family, only the dreams become reality when the planet is invaded by an alien force. Now I watched Young's film Hounds of Love, and it was really good but very, very messed up (proceed with caution of you decide to check that one out). I'm not sure what the tone will be for this Netflix exclusive film but I think the cast is solid so I look forward to giving this movie a try. Young also made comparisons from this movie to District 9 on a thematic level so that is very intriguing as well. The cast includes Michael Peña, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Colter, and Emma Booth. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Extinction:

• This is Ben Young and Emma Booth's second feature film collaboration together after Hounds of Love (2017). Young and Booth have been friends for over a decade prior to filming Extinction.