June Movie Preview

Animation/Drama/Documentary - dir. Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani
In theaters June 26

Meriem Bennani and Orian Barki, best known for their 2020 quarantine web series 2 Lizards, make their feature directing debut with this animated story based on an actual conversation between Bennani and her mother. Suffering from writer's block, Bouchra (voiced by Bennani), calls her mom, Aicha (Yto Barrada), in Casablanca, and their dialogue begins to inspire her work and lift an emotional burden she has been carrying for years. The twist is that Bouchra and her mother are portrayed as computer-animated coyotes. In fact, all the characters are various anthropomorphic animals, but this definitely isn't Zootopia. It's a very adult film about queer identity, sexual intimacy, artistic struggle, and the attempt to reconcile through truthful and difficult communication.

Drama/Thriller - dir. Adam Rehmeier
In theaters June 5

Working from a script by Tom Dean (Charlie Harper), Adam Carter Rehmeier (Dinner in America, Snack Shack) directs Samara Weaving as Caroline, a restless young woman looking to leave the small Texas town where she cares for her single father (Jon Gries). When she clocks Oliver (Kyle Gallner) trying to pull off a petty con, Caroline seizes her opportunity to hit the road. Fans of Weaving and Gallner won't be surprised that their chemistry is what makes this romantic crime thriller sing.

Adventure/Drama - dir. Michael Sarnoski
In theaters June 19

For his third feature, following 2021's Pig and 2024's A Quiet Place: Day One, writer-director Michael Sarnoski puts a new spin on the centuries-old tale of Robin Hood. Hugh Jackman stars as a Robin Hood who is coming to grips with the violent acts of his past. Gravely injured, he is rescued by a mysterious woman (Jodie Comer) and given a chance at salvation. With a strong supporting cast that includes Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett and Noah Jupe, this is not Ridley Scott's Robin Hood —or Kevin Costner's, Taron Egerton's (forgot that one?), Cary Elwes, Disney's, or Errol Flynn's. Yes, there have been a lot of Robin Hood movies (and TV shows).

Sci-Fi/Drama/Thriller - dir. Steven Spielberg
In theaters (and IMAX) June 12

After 2022's deeply personal The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg returns to theaters to investigate how the world might react if the public learned of irrefutable evidence that we are not alone—that aliens exist. Written by David Koepp, who collaborated with the director on War of the Worlds, the new thriller follows Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor), a cybersecurity expert who steals evidence of extraterrestrials from the government. Eventually, he joins forces with Emily Blunt's Margaret Fairchild, a Kansas City meteorologist through whom the aliens begin to communicate. The strong supporting cast includes Colin Firth, Colman Domingo and Eve Hewson. Next year will mark 50 years since the release of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It's about time Spielberg took audiences on another encounter with aliens.

Comedy/Drama - dir. Olivia Wilde
In select theaters June 26 (expands nationwide in July)

Working from a script by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, Olivia Wilde directs this remake of Cesc Gay's oft-adapted 2020 Spanish comedy The People Upstairs. Wilde stars with Seth Rogen as Angela and Joe, a married couple who are hosting their upstairs neighbors (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) for dinner, though the night does not progress as expected. After impressing critics with 2019's Booksmart, a Metacritic Must-See, Wilde's follow-up, Don't Worry Darling, failed to garner the same support. But, following positive reviews out of Sundance, her latest looks to have her back in top form.

Documentary/Action/Comedy - dir. Jeff Tremaine
In theaters June 26

With many of the original Jackass crew now in their 50s, Johnny Knoxville has promised this is their last rodeo. The fact that they've survived this long is incredibly impressive considering how many times they have willingly put themselves in harm's way. Featuring stunts old and new, as well as archival footage from the over 25 years of insane pranks, this farewell promises to satisfy fans who have followed the cast members' antics since Jackass premiered on MTV in 2000. (And if you missed any of that early action, the first three seasons of the MTV series have just been added back to Paramount+, restored to their original formats.)

Horror - dir. Adrian Chiarella
In theaters June 19

In writer-director Adrian Chiarella's debut feature, the lust that Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen) feel for each other is turned against them by a deadly curse that takes the form of the person they desire most—each other. Set in rural Australia and also starring Mia Wasikowska as Naim's mom, Leviticus offers a skillful amalgamation of intense scares, deep feeling, and sharp social commentary.

Comedy/Drama - dir. John Early
In NY June 19 / LA June 26 / more cities to follow

In his feature debut as writer-director, actor-comedian John Early stars as Maddie Ralph, a dishwasher turned foodie superstar whose eating disorder returns as her popularity soars. Helping to bring Early's unique vision to life are frequent Early collaborator Kate Berlant plus Conner O'Malley, Eric Rahill, Claudia O'Doherty, and Kristen Johnston. When Maddie's Secret premiered at TIFF last year, IndieWire's Sam Bodrojan praised it as "an extremely accomplished debut and one of the boldest American movies I have seen in years."

Action-Adventure/Family - dir. Travis Knight
In theaters June 5

LAIKA President and CEO Travis Knight will have two features hit the big screen this year. On October 23, Wildwood, his animated follow-up to 2016's Kubo and the Two Strings (a Metacritic Must-See), hits theaters. But first comes this adaptation of the Mattel toy line and animated series, Knight's second live-action movie following 2018's Bumblebee. Nicholas Galitzine stars a Prince Adam, who has been trapped on Earth for 15 years until he rediscovers the Sword of Power and returns to Eternia. With the help of his allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan (Idris Elba), he must become He-Man and face off against the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto).

Rom-Com - dir. Ol Parker
Streams on Netflix beginning June 5

Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein—you know them better as J.Lo and B.Go—headline this raunchy, straight-to-streaming rom-com directed by Ol Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). Lopez plays the CEO of an airline who reluctantly finds herself attracted to one of her new employees (Goldstein) and tempted to violate her own anti-fraternization policy. Betty Gilpin, Edward James Olmos, Tony Hale, Amy Sedaris, and Bradley Whitford fill out the very solid main cast. In addition to starring, Goldstein wrote the screenplay alongside his fellow Ted Lasso co-creator Joe Kelly.

Musical/Comedy - dir. John Carney
Expands nationwide on June 5

Writer-director John Carney (Once, Begin Again, Sing Street, Flora and Son) hits the sweet spot again with another movie about music and romance, but in this case it's a bromance with a little bit of betrayal. Rick (Paul Rudd) is a wedding singer. Danny (Nick Jonas) is a former boy-band star. When they meet at one of Rick's gigs, they spend the night jamming and bonding over their shared love of music. Months later, when Danny reignites his career with one of Rick's songs, Rick sets out for the recognition he deserves, putting everything he cares about at risk. The supporting cast includes Carney stalwart Jack Reynor, Havana Rose Liu, Beth Fallon, Rory Keenan and Peter McDonald, who co-wrote the script and whose feature acting debut, I Went Down, is worth a look on Prime Video.

Foreign/Drama - dir. Carla Simón
In theaters June 26

Carla Simón's third feature, following 2022's Berlin Golden Bear winner Alcarràs, continues in the semi-autobiographical vein of her debut feature, Summer 1993. Over five days in 2004 on Spain's Atlantic coast, 18-year-old orphan Marina (Llúcia Garcia) seeks out her father's family, learning about his death, how they view her mother, and what wealth can and cannot hide. Romer ía, the Spanish word for pilgrimage, won't reach the Metacritic Must-See status of Simón 's first two award-winning features, but it is undoubtedly another intelligent and intimate examination of family by the director.

Drama/Fantasy/Horror/Sci-Fi - dir. Mark Jenkin
In theaters June 19

Cornish writer-director Mark Jenkin's third feature, following Bait and Enys Men, is a ghost story of sorts. Serving as writer, director, cinematographer and editor, Jenkins sets his story at a struggling fishing village where a boat, lost at sea 30 years earlier, appears in the harbor. Hoping to bring luck to the village, Nick (George MacKay), Liam (Callum Turner), and Murgey (Francis Magee) are hired to take the boat out. They return with a load of fish, but also to a bustling village, because it's now 1993. They are welcomed as the original crew, but only Liam is comfortable with assuming another life. Nick, who left a young daughter when he boarded the boat, is desperate to get back to his family. It's another hypnotically mounted riddle by a one-of-a-kind filmmaker.

Action-Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-Fi - dir. Craig Gillespie
In theaters (and IMAX) June 26

Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl , I, Tonya, Dumb Money) is at the helm for this second film in James Gunn's version of the DC Universe. Milly Alcock, seen at the end of last year's Superman, stars as Kara Zor-El, Kal-El's cousin. Based on the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book series, this intergalactic adventure finds Kara helping a young girl (Eve Ridley) after her father is killed and Krypto is poisoned by Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) and his goons. Along the way, they get some help from Jason Momoa's Lobo. A second DC title, Clayface, hits theaters this fall.

Animation/Family - dir. Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris
In theaters (and IMAX) June 19

Many thought the amazingly consistent Toy Story series (all four films are Metacritic Must-Sees) found the perfect ending with Toy Story 3, but in 2019 Toy Story 4 hit theaters, ending with Woody heading off on his own adventure with Bo Peep. What could bring him back to help his old pals Buzz, Jessie, Forky, and the rest of the gang? (Other than another massive payday for Disney, that is.) The scourge of technology, specifically Bonnie's new toy, Lily Pad (voiced by Greta Lee). Andrew Stanton, the director behind Pixar classics Finding Nemo and WALL-E, is back with the studio for the first time since 2016's Finding Dory, and he and co-writer/director McKenna Harris hope to keep the Toy Story streak alive.

Drama/Thriller - dir. Haifaa Al-Mansour
In theaters June 19

Writer-director Haifaa Al-Mansour burst onto the international cinema scene with 2012's award-winning Wadjda, the first film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first by a Saudi woman. She has since directed several TV series, as well as Mary Shelley and The Perfect Candidate. For her latest feature, she reunites with her prior film's lead actress, Mila Al Zahrani, to tell the story of Noelle Al Saffan, a divorced true crime obsessive who recently lost a child. Upon discovering a dead teenage girl in the desert, Noelle fights against authorities to identify the body and unravel the mystery of her death.

WANT MORE FILMS?
View our Movie Release Calendar for a complete list of titles headed to theaters, VOD, and streaming in June and beyond.