What’s on at the cinema in June
With Stephen King horrors and unbelievable historical dramas, smash-hit animations and huge new Spider-Man and Indiana Jones sequels, June promises to be a corker for the silver screen.
By Christopher Kingston
Can you believe we’re halfway through the year already?! Where has the time gone.
Luckily, the mid-point of 2023 has brought with it loads of incredible new films coming out this month – from long-awaited blockbusters like The Flash and Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, to amazing, animated affairs from DreamWorks and Pixar.
Here’s what’s on at the cinema this month – and we promise we’ve found something for everyone to enjoy…
The Boogeyman
Out now
We begin the month with yet another adaptation of a book by famous horror writer Steven King.
The Boogeyman follows high school student Sadie Harper and her little sister, Sawyer, who are still reeling from the recent death of their mother. They aren’t getting much support from their father, Will – a therapist who is busy dealing with his own pain.
When one of Will’s desperate patients shows up at the family home unexpectedly asking for help, they also bring in a terrifying entity that preys on the family and feeds on their suffering.
Starring Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina and Vivien Lyra Blair (who, if you’re a Star Wars fan, plays a young Leia Organa in the Obi- Wan Kenobi series on Disney+), this one’s up the street of any and every lover of horror.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Out now
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was a great superhero movie and was, quite possibly, one of the best animated films of the last decade. It even won the Oscar for best Animated Feature.
So, expectations have been sky-high for this long-awaited sequel. Miles Morales voiced by (Shamelk Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) – alongside a whole new team of Spider-people, including a Spidey from the future world voiced by Oscar Isaac – continue their multiverse adventures, all while facing the villainous Spot (Jason Schwartzman) a man with a body full of interdimensional portals.
Expect loads more dimension-hopping insanity, along with arguably the most impressive visuals of any animated or even live-action superhero movies we’ve ever seen.
Chevalier
Out now
If blockbuster superheroes from the multiverse isn’t your jam, then why not try this historical biographical drama – based on the true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Played by Kelvin Harrison Jr, Bologne was the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rose to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, before an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette herself.
The film also stars Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton and Minnie Driver, so we’d take a guess and say it’ll be well worth a watch.
Elemental
16th June
Pixar’s previous animated outings – such as Up, Inside Out and the Toy Story films – tend to have a personal, emotional side to them, as well as colourful family adventures.
So, we’re hoping that Elemental becomes another classic we can add to their list of hit movies.
Set in a city where all the residents are element-based lifeforms (aka fire, water, land or air) who all tend to stick to their own zones, Elemental follows fire element Ember Lumen after she breaks the status quo and makes friends with the go-with-the-flow water element, Wade Ripple.
As they fight to protect their relationship from the opinions of everyone else in their world (including their own families), Ember and Wade soon come to realise that there’s more to life than sticking to your own pack.
The Flash
16th June
Boy, this movie has certainly been though a lot.
Following numerous delays and controversies circling its star man, Ezra Miller, The Flash will finally be seeing its release date this month.
The story follows young Barry Allen (Miller), as he travels through time in an attempt to prevent the murder of his mother. But he unwittingly causes changes that lead to the creation of a multiverse where there are no metahumans.
Most intriguing is that Michael Keaton (our personal favourite Batman, by the way!) will be reprising his role of Bruce Wayne from the Tim Burton movies. Not only that, but Ben Affleck is also set to appear as the DCEU version of Batman, too.
And if that wasn’t enough to get you excited, we’ll see a new Supergirl (Sasha Calle) and the return of General Zod (Michael Shannon), along with a few more surprise cameos.
Hopefully DC fans will be in for a real treat.
Asteroid City
23rd June
Wes Anderson is a director who is known for his weird and wacky films, like The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch – both celebrated for their unique visuals and eccentricity.
Asteroid City follows the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention that brought together students and parents from across the country for a scholarly competition, that is disrupted by spectacular world-changing events.
Anderson is also known for his frequent use of ensemble casts in his movies, and Asteroid City doesn’t disappoint in this capacity either; Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton and Bryan Cranston are among the many famous faces you’ll spot in this one.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
30th June
The legendary archaeologist returns in this highly anticipated fifth and final (we think) instalment of the iconic Indiana Jones franchise.
The sequel to Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull is the first not to be directed by the legend that is Steven Spielberg; instead, James Mangold of Walk The Line and Logan fame takes the reins.
This allegedly final entry sees Indy (Harrison Ford) team up with his goddaughter Helena – played byFleabag‘s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with a story set against the Space Race of the 1960s and the return of the sinister Nazis, led by the evil Voller (played by Mads Mikkelsen).
Rounding out the cast are Antonio Banderas, Boyd Holbrook, Toby Jones and John Rhys Daves, who returns as Sallah.
Naturally, many fans are pretty nervous – especially given the backlash to the last film – but hopefully Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny can recapture some of the original films’ magic.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
30th June
The latest animated offering from DreamWorks dives into the turbulent waters of high school.
This heartfelt action-comedy follows shy teenager Ruby, who soon discovers that she’s part of a royal lineage of mythical sea krakens and that her destiny lies in the depths of the waters – a destiny that is far bigger than she could have ever imagined.
With Toni Collette, Jane Fonda, Lana Condor and Annie Murphy providing the voices, Ruby Gillman promises to be a great watch for families to enjoy this summer.
Greatest Days
15th June
If you love feel-good musicals like Mamma Mia or Sunshine on Leith, then we’ve got a sneaky feeling you’re going to enjoy Greatest Days.
Based on hit musical The Band, Greatest Days just so happens to feature the songs of a certain boyband called Take That, if you hadn’t guessed from the title.
The film follows five friends who have the night of their lives at the concert of their favourite boy band, inspired by (but not the same) as the real pop group, and stars newcomers Aaron Bryan, Dalvin Cory, Joshua Jung, Mark Samaras and Mervin Noronha.
The film also numbers Alison Bea, Alice Lowe, Amaka Okafor and Jayde Adams among its cast – meaning it could well be in the running to claim the title of feel-good British film of the year.
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