Following a July that boasted several summer blockbusters, including “Jurassic World Rebirth”, “Superman”, and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, August starts to see some of the more prestigious, and potentially award friendly films coming to the big screen. There are plethora of films set for release this coming month that have recieved critical acclaim following their US releases, or in a couple of cases, festival premieres. Those finally getting a UK release include Celine Song‘s romantic drama “Materialists”, Ari Aster‘s neo-western “Eddington”, “Sorry, Baby”, and Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck”– the latter winning the coveted People’s Choice Award at TIFF in 2024.
Two other films that are finally making it to the big screen despite their 2023 festival premieres are crime thriller “Americana” starring Sydney Sweeney, and Macon Blair‘s reboot of “The Toxic Avenger” film series, with Peter Dinklage starring as the chemically deformed vigilante.
Two films that have seemingly switched places in the UK theatrical calendar are horror titles “Bring Her Back” and “Together”. Te latter was originally scheduled for a late July release, with the traumatic Aussie supernatural horror releasing in mid-August. Now however, “Bring Her Back” is being released on 25th July, with “Together” – starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco – coming to cinemas on the 15th August. To add to the upcoming horror releases is Zach Cregger‘s second feature film “Weapons”, which may be my most anticipated release of a pretty stacked month.
Other notable releases include the reboots and sequels, “The Naked Gun”, “Freakier Friday”, and “Nobody 2”, as well as Darren Aronofsky‘s crime thriller “Caught Stealing”.
Which August release are you most excited for?
The Naked Gun (15)
Dir: Akiva Schaffer
Cast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Danny Huston
Synopsis: Following in the footsteps of his bumbling father, Detective Frank Drebin Jr. must solve a murder case to prevent the police department from shutting down.
The Pickup (TBC)
Dir: Tim Story
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Keke Palmer
Synopsis: A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armoured truck drivers get ambushed by ruthless criminals. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.
Weapons (15)
Dir: Zach Cregger
Cast: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan
Synopsis: When all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
Freakier Friday (PG)
Dir: Nisha Ganatra
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, Mark Harmon
Synopsis: Tess and Anna discover that lightning may indeed strike twice as they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge.
Fixed (TBC)
Dir: Genndy Tartakovsky
Cast: Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Han, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, Bobby Moynihan
Synopsis: Bull, an average, all-around good dog who discovers he’s going to be neutered in the morning! As the gravity of this life-altering event sets in, Bull realizes he needs one last adventure with his pack of best friends as these are the last 24 hours with his balls!
Together (15)
Dir: Michael Shanks
Cast: Alison Brie, Dave Franco
Synopsis: After moving to the countryside, a supernatural encounter starts to transform a couple’s love, their lives, and their flesh.
Materialists (15)
Dir: Celine Song
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal
Synopsis: A young New York City matchmaker’s lucrative business gets complicated as she finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
Nobody 2 (15)
Dir: Timo Tjahjanto
Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, John Ortiz, RZA, Colin Hanks, Christopher Lloyd, Sharon Stone
Synopsis: Workaholic assassin Hutch Mansell takes his family on a much-needed vacation to the small tourist town of Plummerville. However, he soon finds himself in the crosshairs of a corrupt theme-park operator, a shady sheriff, and a bloodthirsty crime boss.
Night Always Comes (TBC)
Dir: Benjamin Caron
Cast: Vanessa Kirby, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Zack Gottsagen, Stephen James, Randall Park, Julia Fox, Michael Kelly, Eli Roth
Synopsis: A desperate woman in the Pacific Northwest tries to raise money.
The Map That Leads to You (TBC)
Dir: Lasse Hallstrom
Cast: Madelyn Cline, KJ Apa, Sofia Wylie, Madison Thompson, Josh Lucas
Synopsis: In Europe on vacation after graduation, Heather Mulgrew meets a handsome stranger,
Eddington (15)
Dir: Ari Aster
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deidre O’Connell, Michael Ward, Austin Butler, Emma Stone
Synopsis: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, N.M.
The Life of Chuck (15)
Dir: Mike Flanagan
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill
Synopsis: From childhood to adulthood, Charles “Chuck” Krantz experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.
Sorry, Baby (TBC)
Dir: Eva Victor
Cast: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carrol Lynch, Louis Cancelmi, Kelly McCormack
Synopsis: Something bad happened to Agnes, but life goes on for everyone else. When a beloved friend on the brink of a major milestone visits, Agnes starts to realize just how stuck she’s been, and begins to work through how to move forward.
Americana (TBC)
Dir: Tony Tost
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon, Simon Rex
Synopsis: A shy waitress and a lovelorn military veteran find themselves in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal as they try to retrieve a rare Native American artifact.
The Thursday Murder Club (TBC)
Dir: Chris Columbus
Cast: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Richard E. Grant
Synopsis: Four retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.
Caught Stealing (TBC)
Dir: Darren Aronofsky
Cast: Austin Butler, Regina King, Zoe Kravitz, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Vincent D’Onofrio, Griffin Dunne, Benito A Martinez Ocasio, Carol Kane
Synopsis: When his punk-rock neighbour asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, New York City bartender Hank Thompson suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters who all want a piece of him.
The Toxic Avenger (18)
Dir: Macon Blair
Cast: Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Page, Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon
Synopsis: A janitor becomes a social outcast when a freak accident at a chemical factory turns him into a mutant. However, he soon uses his newfound superhuman strength to battle slimy criminals and a corrupt CEO.
Dan Loves Film 
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