Any concerns about the box office not beating last year’s totals have now been put to rest. With a relatively successful July that included domestic (and global) hits like Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth, the last official summer month and the remaining slate of 2025 offerings put the studios well ahead of the pace over the last few years, making it the most successful post-COVID year to date. While there won’t be too many significant blockbusters this month (thanks in part to school starting again), August looks to continue the momentum of the summer in the right direction with a mix of crowd-pleasing comedies, sequels, reboots, and a whole lot of retro screenings (including the 50th anniversary of Jaws in IMAX). So that you don’t get burned in the parking lot waiting for your movie to start, always double-check the release date and time at your favorite Showplace Cinemas and AMC Theaters location.
The Bad Guys 2 (August 1) – Much like the stellar voice cast from the original (which includes Sam Rockwell, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Marc Maron), the now “Good Guys” are pulled in by a group of female “Bad Girls” for one last job. Pierre Perifel once again directs, with JP Sans co-directing from a script by returning writers Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen.
The Naked Gun (August 1) – Do we, as humans, need to laugh? Yes. Do we, as a society, need a reboot of this series? Probably. Liam Neeson embraces aspects of his later-in-life action phase with the natural comedic timing he’s shown throughout his career. Joining Neeson in the fun are resurgent star Pamela Anderson and this decade’s “The guy from that one movie,” Paul Walter Hauser. The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer co-writes and directs.
Freakier Friday (August 8) – 22 years after the reboot, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return to swap bodies yet again as Tess and Anna Coleman. This time, Anna’s daughter (Julia Butters) and step-daughter (Sophia Hammons) are thrown into the mix! Veteran TV director Nisha Ganatra helms this wacky comedy, written by Jordan Weiss (Sweethearts, Hulu’s Dollface).
Weapons (August 8) – Three years since the surprise horror hit Barbarian, writer/director Zach Creeger brings a new terror to the screen. After all but one child from the same elementary school class vanishes on the same night, a community must discover who or what is behind the disappearances. Julia Garner (The Fantastic Four: First Steps), Josh Brolin (Dune, No Country for Old Men), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story), and Justin Long (Barbarian, Jeepers Creepers) star.
Nobody 2 (August 15)-Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, and RZA reprise their roles from the original action/comedy, with veteran action/horror director Timo Tjahjanto taking over the series for this installment. This time around, the Mansell family discovers secrets about Mrs. Mansell’s (Nielsen) past. Series newcomers Colin Hanks and Sharon Stone join in on what’s sure to be a bloody good time for most of your family.
Highest 2 Lowest (August 15)-A new Spike Lee Joint! In this remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic crime thriller High and Low, a music mogul (Denzel Washington) faces a life-or-death moral dilemma when he is the target of a ransom plot. Anthony Ramos, Jeffrey Wright, Wendell Pierce, and Rosie Perez (as Rosie Perez) co-star. This film marks the first time Lee and Washington have worked together since 2006’s Inside Man (and is their sixth collaboration overall).
Honey Don’t (August 22)-Ethan Coen is flying solo once again, and brings the second of his “lesbian b-movie trilogy” to the screen! In this installment, Margaret Qualley (who also starred in Drive-Away Dolls) is a private detective who ties a series of strange deaths to a mysterious church. Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, and veteran character Bill Camp make up the rest of the ensemble cast. Tricia Cooke (Ethan Coen’s wife) once again serves as co-writer.
The Toxic Avenger (August 29)-Remaking a classic is always a challenge. But when you remake a beloved Troma classic, you have to do it right! Writer/director/co-star Macon Blair has his hands full with the story of a downtrodden janitor who becomes The Toxic Avenger after a freak accident. Peter Dinklage plays the titular hero, with Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, and Oscar winner Jacob Tremblay oozing out the cast.
Caught Stealing (August 29)-Academy Award winner Austin Butler stars as an ex-baseball player who unexpectedly finds himself navigating the treacherous underbelly of the criminal world in 1990s New York City. Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, and Matt Smith co-star. Darren Aronofski (The Whale, Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream) directs.
Henderson resident McManus Woodend is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at the University of Southern Indiana and has worked in film, television and commercials for more than 20 years. To see some of his work, visit www.mcmanuswoodend.com.
