June film preview: Steven Spielberg and the Wayans go back to basics

He-Man, Supergirl, and Johnny Knoxville crash back into theaters this June.

June film preview: Steven Spielberg and the Wayans go back to basics

Summer is heating up with enough blockbuster energy to power popcorn vessel production for many years to come. Not only does each Friday in June have a major blockbuster release, including Masters Of The Universe, Disclosure Day, and Supergirl, but comedy counterprogramming in the form of a new Scary Movie, a new Jackass, and a movie called Stop! That! Train! It’s too hot to deal with the outside world, so our June film preview highlights what you’ll find in the air-conditioning.


Masters Of The Universe (June 5)

Is it really hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since moviegoers were last invited to Castle Grayskull? Not really. The ’80s action figure returns to cinemas in a reverse Barbie, with hyper-jacked office drone Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) whisked back to his homeland of Eternia to reclaim the throne as He-Man. And, in a seeming move of self-sabotage by the studio, Jared Leto plays the iconic villain Skeletor.

Scary Movie (June 5)

Wazzup! Comedy’s legal again, so Shawn and Marlon Wayans are allowed to make movies again (for theaters, even). The first Scary Movie since 2013, and the Wayans’ first since 2000’s Scary Movie 2, in true legacy sequel fashion, has reunited the original cast of characters, Cindy (Anna Faris), Brenda (Regina Hall), Shorty (Marlon Wayans), Ray (Shawn Wayans), and, yes, even Doofy (Dave Sheridan). 

Carolina Caroline (June 5)

Director Adam Rehmeier reteams with his Dinner In America star Kyle Gallner for a take on Badlands. Gallner leans into his typical charming-dirtbag mode as a drifting grifter who bewitches Caroline (Samara Weaving), a lifelong Texan looking for any reason to leave. He teaches her the ways of the con before they work themselves into a romantic crime spree. 

Disclosure Day (June 12)

Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi thriller sends the blockbuster director back to his Close Encounters roots. When beings from another planet begin transmitting messages through a local meteorologist (Emily Blunt), the only person who can translate is a twitchy Josh O’Connor on the run from the government, which presumably wants to turn him all gray just like they did E.T. All that, plus a screenplay by David Koepp, cinematography by Janusz Kamiński, and a score by John Williams. Summer has arrived. 

Stop! That! Train! (June 12)

The Wayans aren’t the only ones allowed to make comedies again. Stop! That! Train! sashays onto the screen with RuPaul playing the President Of The United States, who must manage the country amid a runaway Glamazonian bullet train filled with Drag Race‘s fiercest queens and a healthy collection of guest stars for a ZAZ-style disaster film performed in the key of Ru. 

The Death Of Robin Hood (June 19)

Pig director Michael Sarnoski is rewriting the legend of Robin Hood by giving him the Unforgiven treatment. Now an old man escaping the myth of his name, Robin (Hugh Jackman) pulls one last job after the child of the woman who saved his life (Jodie Comer) goes missing. Co-starring Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe, the movie is Sarnoski’s first since A Quiet Place: Day One.

Girls Like Girls (June 19)

Singer-songwriter and actor Hayley Kiyoko adds film director to her resume with Girls Like Girls, a coming-of-age romance based on her 2023 novel (itself titled after her 2015 song). Is there anything she can’t do? Set across one summer, Coley (Maya da Costa), who is new to town, makes a strong romantic connection with Sonya (Myra Molloy). Along the way, she’s helped by her widower father, played by Zach Braff.

Toy Story 5 (June 19)

Pixar takes another bite of the toy apple with Toy Story 5. Now that Bonnie is growing up and trading her toys for screens, Buzz calls Woody back to the playroom to help deal with her ever-growing screentime addiction. The latest in the series promises a lot of Buzz Lightyears and yet another opportunity to tie a bow around the series—which, despite its aging cast, Disney shows no signs of ending.

Jackass: Best And Last (June 26)

Speaking of an aging cast, a Jackass greatest hits collection is not how anyone expected this long-running series to end. But considering how it could’ve concluded, we much prefer it. The latest Jackass sends the now-gray-haired daredevils and the new crop of idiots from Jackass Forever on another ill-advised, self-destructive adventure. In addition to several new stunts, the film will include old and unseen footage, bringing some familiar faces back into the fold. 

Supergirl (June 26)

James Gunn’s new DCU takes flight again with Supergirl. Based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s Woman Of Tomorrow, the Craig Gillespie-directed Supergirl sees Kara Zor-El enjoying her 23rd birthday by getting wasted on Red Sun planets. But when Krem Of The Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) shoots Krypto, Supergirl joins a young vengeance-seeker (Eve Ridley) to get what’s owed. David Corenswet’s Superman will join the fray, and so will Jason Momoa’s Lobo, as the actor leaps from one DC universe to the next. 

The Invite (June 26)

Don’t Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde returns with the far less dramatically produced The Invite, an adult comedy about a dinner party turned horny. Wilde also stars as Angela, who’s perpetually annoyed with her husband, Joe (Seth Rogen). That all changes when they invite their sexy neighbors, Pína (Penélope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton), to dinner. 

More June premieres:

June 5

Office Romance 

June 12

Find Your Friends

The Furious

June 19

Leviticus

Maddie’s Secret

Voicemails For Isabelle

 
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