August movie lineup

By Tharishi Hewavithanagamage

A jam-packed slate of must-watch movies and binge-worthy TV shows lay ahead for August. With the pandemic starting to settle down in some areas of the world, movies are finally receiving their long-awaited theatrical releases, with a simultaneous digital release for other audiences. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on all the shows and movies being released during the first two weeks of the month of August.

Pray Away

This upcoming American documentary film, produced and directed by Kristine Stolakis looks at the controversial conversion therapy movement. The documentary focuses on Exodus International, one of the most influential conversion therapy organisations in the world, until many of its leaders disavowed the movement and came out themselves. The movie will follow survivors and former leaders, who speak out about its harm to the LGBTQ+ community and its devastating persistence. ‘Pray Away’ is scheduled for release on August 3.

BlackPink: The Movie

‘BlackPink: The Movie’ is a film commemorating the fifth anniversary of the debut of the world’s beloved global group, Blackpink consisting of four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. The upcoming movie follows Blackpink’s 2020 Netflix documentary ‘Light up the Sky’. Directed by Su Yee Jung and Oh Yoon-Dong, the film gives audiences and fans a chance to witness Blackpink’s five years of memories shared with fans all over the world, undisclosed special interviews, their most shining moments, distinctive stages and a dozen more hit songs to enjoy in a theatrical environment. The film is scheduled for release worldwide on August 4.

Vivo

Directed by Kirk DeMicco from a story based on an original idea by Peter Barsocchini, ‘Vivo’ is Sony Pictures Animation’s first-ever musical adventure. The film also features all-new original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The voice cast includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldana, Juan de Marcos González, Michael Rooker, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicole Byer, and Gloria Estefan. The film follows a one-of-a-kind, music-loving kinkajou named Vivo, who embarks on the journey of a lifetime to fulfill his destiny and deliver a love song for an old friend. ‘Vivo’ releases on August 6.

The Swarm (La Nuée)

Directed by Just Philippot from a screenplay by Jérôme Genevray and Franck Victor, this fantasy film stars Suliane Brahim, Sofian Khammes, Marie Narbonne, Raphael Romand and Nathalie Boyer. The film follows a single mother who begins a business of breeding edible grasshoppers to save her farm from bankruptcy. Soon she develops a strange, obsessive relationship with them, which forces her to confront the local farmers and her own children, who can no longer recognize her. ‘The Swarm’ releases on August 6.

The Suicide Squad

‘The Suicide Squad’ is making a comeback! Intended to be a soft reboot and standalone sequel to ‘Suicide Squad’ (2016), ‘The Suicide Squad’ will be the tenth film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). This film is written and directed by James Gunn and stars an ensemble cast including, Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Peter Capaldi, Sylvester Stallone, and Viola Davis among others. The film will have the old members and introduce new squad members. The plot has the squad sent to Corto Maltese, on a new mission to destroy Jotunheim, a Nazi-era prison and laboratory. Scheduled for release theatrically and digitally on August 6.

The Kissing Booth 3

Directed by Vince Marcello, the upcoming film is a sequel to and the third installment of ‘The Kissing Booth’ film series which are based on the original books of the same name by Beth Reekles. The film stars Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Meganne Young and Molly Ringwald. Determined to make the most of her final summer before college, Elle plans the ultimate bucket list as she navigates what comes next with Noah and Lee. Whose heart will she break? Find out on August 11.

Beckett

Directed by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino and starring John David Washington, Boyd Holbrook, Vicky Krieps, and Alicia Vikander, the film follows Beckett, an American tourist vacationing in Greece before becoming the target of a manhunt, after a devastating car accident. On the run and desperate to reach the US embassy, Beckett finds himself falling deeper into a dangerous political conspiracy. The movie is scheduled for released on August 13.

Free Guy

After being pushed back three times, ‘Free Guy’ has finally settled on a theatrical release scheduled for August 13. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Taika Waititi. The film follows Guy, a bank teller who discovers that he’s actually an NPC (non-player character) inside an open world video game that is on the verge of getting shut down. In a world with no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way, before it is too late.

Don’t Breathe 2

Rodo Sayagues’s directorial debut ‘Don’t Breathe 2′ is a sequel to ‘Don’t Breathe’ (2016). Stephen Lang reprises his role as Norman Nordstrom/’The Blind Man’, while Brendan Sexton III and Madelyn Grace star in supporting roles. The sequel is set in the years following the initial deadly home invasion, where Norman Nordstrom lives in quiet solace until his past sins catch up to him. The movie is scheduled for released on August 13.

CODA

Written and directed by Sian Heder, the film is about a teenage girl named Ruby, the sole hearing member of a deaf family – a CODA, child of deaf adults. The film is a remake of the 2014 French film ‘La Famille Bélier’. Seventeen-year-old Ruby’s life revolves around acting as an interpreter for her family who run a struggling fishing business. When she joins the choir club in school, she discovers a gift for singing and an attraction to her duet partner Miles. Ruby finds herself torn between the obligations she has to her family and her need to pursue her own dreams. Emilia Jones plays the title character, with Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur as her culturally deaf parents, Daniel Durant as her deaf brother and Eugenio Derbez and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo in other roles. The film will be released theatrically and digitally on August 13.