Cinemas right now might be dominated by Barbie and Oppenheimer but if you’ve already seen the double bill that everyone’s talking about, then August’s line-up might be right up your street.
From the raucous comedy Joy Ride to a pertinent Italian drama, these are the best August movies to catch in cinemas this month.
6 Brilliant August Movies To Watch
Joy Ride
Four friends travel across Asia on a riotous journey in the new comedy Joy Ride. Audrey (Ashley Park) goes on a business trip to the continent, which unfortunately falls apart. She looks to her best friend from childhood Lolo (Sherry Cola) for advice, as well as help from friend and rival Kat (Stephanie Hsu) and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu). The four end up journeying across China and South Korea to find Audrey’s long-lost mother who she never met- but their task ends up leading them to unexpected places. As they dodge drug dealers and border inspections and get into one mishap after the other, they’ll become closer than ever.
Out in cinemas 4.08.23
Haunted Mansion
Disney’s Haunted Mansion rolls into cinemas this month, based on the theme park ride of the same name. Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and her son Travis (Chase W. Dillon) move into their new home, an old and rather creepy mansion. Gabbie has an idea to turn it into a bed and breakfast but discovers one big problem: the place is haunted by ghosts.
They enlist the help of Ben (LaKeith Stanfield), a paranormal tour guide with an interest in the supernatural, Harriet (Tiffany Haddish), an eccentric psychic, Father Kent (Owen Wilson), who exorcises spirits, and Prof. Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito), a historian. As they get to work ghostbusting, they meet Madame Leota (Jamie Lee Curtis) and the Hatbox Ghost (Jared Leto).
Out in cinemas 11.08.23
Gran Turismo
Strap in for Gran Turismo, a sports biopic which is (believe it or not) based on a true story. Teen car fanatic Jann Mardenborough aspires to one day become a professional race car driver and has become an expert at the video game Gran Turismo. He enters a competition created by Danny Moore (Orlando Bloom), a motorsport marketing exec, to prove that his skills in the virtual world can work just as well in a real car.
His trainer Jack (David Harbour) is somewhat sceptical about putting teenagers behind the wheel but agrees to help anyway. As Jann starts to impress on the track, he starts pushing himself to become the best of the best. The rest of the cast meanwhile includes Darren Barnet as Jann’s rival Matty, Djimon Honsou as his father, and Geri Halliwell (yes, that one) as his mother.
Out in cinemas 11.08.23
L’immensita
A 2022 Italian film getting a limited release in the UK, L’immensita is an acclaimed drama anchored by Penelope Cruz. The star plays Clara, a Spanish expatriate living in Rome, who is stuck in an unhappy marriage to Felice (Vincenzo Amato). Felice is having an affair with his secretary, and Clara is struggling to deal with both her souring relationship and her children. In particular, she finds affinity with her eldest child Adriana (Luana Giuliani) who identifies as male and goes by the name Andrea, and is struggling somewhat with their identity. With her abusive husband also not accepting their child’s identity, and keen to keep her children feeling upbeat, Clara and Andrea grow closer together.
Out in cinemas 11.08.23
Blue Beetle
A new instalment in DC’s extended universe, Blue Beetle is a superhero film featuring Cobra Kai star Xolo Mariduēna as college grad Jaime Reyes. Returning to his home in Palmera City, Jaime is all set to take it easy in his time post-graduation but finds himself instead chosen by an ancient alien technology called the Scarab, which bonds to him and gives him a powerful exoskeleton suit.
The armour can be configured to produce different tools for various situations when needed, and Jaime starts to enjoy the freedom of being the Blue Beetle. However, a malevolent force in the form of businesswoman Victoria Kord (Susan Sarandon) is pursuing him, intent on taking the scarab for herself to use its power. The film also stars George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Raoul Max Trujillo and Damián Alcázar.
Out in cinemas 18.08.23
Strays
Strays might have two cute dogs as its stars, but make no mistake: this isn’t a family film. Reggie (Will Ferrell), a well-meaning and gullible Border Terrier, is left alone and abandoned on the street by his selfish and animal-hating owner Doug (Will Forte). He meets a streetwise Boston Terrier, Bug (Jamie Foxx) and a pack of other dogs including Australian Shepherd Maggie (Isla Fisher) and Great Dane Hunter (Randall Park), and finds himself at last belonging to a group. Together, the dogs set out on an adventure, as Reggie realises his owner never cared about him and decides to exact revenge. It’s a foul-mouthed comedy with a surprising amount of heart.
Out in cinemas 18.08.23
