(This article first appeared in the August print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Even without a Barbenheimer-level event like last year, July promised and delivered a surprisingly successful slate of motion pictures that not only entertained but broke records and brought in a solid amount of box office coinage for studios. With the release of Despicable Me 4, Twisters, the shocking sleeper horror hit Longlegs, and the record-breaking performance of Deadpool & Wolverine ($205 million in its opening weekend, the highest grossing R-rated release in history), and the continued success of Inside Out 2, overall grosses for 2024 are no longer languishing 30% behind last year’s numbers. If the upward momentum continues, and the holiday/awards season pays off, 2024 may come close to replicating the fiscal success of 2023 and bring the industry back to pre-pandemic numbers. August most certainly has a few titles that can keep things moving in the right direction, and here are a few to keep an eye out for. As always, check the local listings for your favorite Showplace Cinemas and AMC Theaters locations.
Trap (August 2) – Everyone’s favorite twist ending Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan is back again, this time, he brings us a Swiftian nightmare (Taylor, not Jonathan) about a father and teenage daughter who become trapped in a sinister pop concert with no way to escape. Josh Hartnett (Oppenheimer, The Virgin Suicides) and newcomer Ariel Donoghue star as the family members who realize too late they’re in the center of this dark event.
Sing Sing (August 2) – Few actors of late have consistently turned in stellar performances on par with what Oscar-nominated Colman Domingo (Rustin, The Color Purple, Zola) has over the last few years. With yet another critically acclaimed as wrongly imprisoned inmate Devine G, Domingo leads an ensemble cast as they find purpose in a prison theater group. Greg Kwedar (Transpecos) writes, produces, and directs this Audience Award Winner from the 2024 South by Southwest Film Festival.
Harold and the Purple Crayon (August 2) – Based on the classic 1955 children’s book by author Crockett Johnson, Harold (Zachary Levi) can make any of his drawings inside a special book come alive, including himself! Hilarity ensues when the adult Harold enters our world and learns a lot about real life. Co-starring Lil Rey Howard (Get Out), Zooey Deschanel (Elf), Jemaine Clement (HBO’s Flight of the Concords), and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home), this live action/animation hybrid is Directed by Carlos Saldanha (Rio, Ice Age, Robots).
It Ends with Us (August 9) – In another popular literary adaptation, Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel makes its way to the big screen, with Blake Lively (A Simple Favor, The Age of Adaline) starring as Lily, a successful businesswoman who finds herself in a relationship with Ryle (Actor/Director Justin Baldoni) that brings up childhood traumas and abuse. Jenny Slate (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Obvious Child) and Hasan Minhaj (Babes, The Daily Show) co-star.
Borderlands (August 9) – In yet another–you guessed it–popular adaptation (this time, it’s a video game), a stacked ensemble cast that includes Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis, MTV Movie Awards winners Jack Black and Kevin Hart, and Haley Bennett (The Girl on the Train) co-star as ragtag misfits attempting to find a missing girl who holds unimaginable powers. Veteran horror Writer/Director Eli Roth (Thanksgiving, Hostel) takes the helm of this high-wire act that could be a surprise hit this month.
Alien: Romulus (August 16) – In space, and if you were tired of more Alien spinoff movies, no one can hear you scream. Ridley Scott hands over the reins of this legendary universe to Writer/Director Fede Alverez (Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead). Not unlike previous installments, this sci-fi/horror/thriller focuses on a group of young space colonizers (including Cailee Spaeny and Isabela Merced) who come face to facehugger with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Like the chestburster that turns into the Alien Queen, this chapter has a lot riding on the continuation of this beloved series.
The Crow (August 23) – Bill Skarsgard (John Wick: Chapter 4, IT) takes over the role that made the late Brandon Lee a goth icon as Eric Draven/The Crow in this now-classic reboot from 1994. Skarsgard is joined by music star FKA twigs and veteran Actor/Director Danny Huston. Rupert Sanders (Ghost in the Shell, Snow White and the Huntsman) directs.
Reagan (August 30) – Dennis Quaid is Ronald Reagan. Yes, you read that correctly. In this timely biopic on the life and times of America’s 40th President, Quaid leads an all-star cast that includes Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, Mena Suvari as classic Hollywood actress Jane Wyman, and Jon Voight as KGB Agent Viktor Petrovich. Sean McNamara (Spare Parts, Soul Surfer) serves as Director on this long-gestating project.
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.