Summer brings to mind a lot of things - the beach, the sun, parties. But for us, it makes us crave an air-conditioned cinema and a brand new movie (not to mention a very, very big bucket of popcorn).
But as you arrive at the box office ready to kick back, you may be confronted with too many choices. And that’s why we’re here! To let you know the absolute must-see movies this summer.
Bad Genius
We are stupidly excited about Bad Genius. Why? Well, everyone loves an underdog, and this is the ultimate underdog story. Based on the spectacularly popular 2017 Thai film of the same name, Bad Genius follows Lynn (Callina Liang), a brilliant student whose only hope for a college admission is a scholarship. But when the system threatens to cheat her of her future, she decides to cheat right back, starting a scheme to have rich students pay if she’ll help them cheat. It’s a brilliant, unconventional take on a heist film, with a group of compelling heroes taking down a rigged system - plus, it’s loosely based on the real-life SAT cheating scandal which made headlines in the States. You can see Bad Genius when it hits the big screen on December the 5th.
Better Man
If you’re thinking, hey! Better Man is the name of a Robbie Williams song, right? Well, you’re correct - and Robbie Williams is the star of this avant garde biopic… sort of. Director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) has made a fascinating and truly wild movie here, in which the life story of Robbie Williams is retold with a chimpanzee in the lead role. Actually, the real Robbie narrates, whilst Jonno Davies plays the monkey-fied version of everyone’s favourite bad boy of pop. As Robbie himself says, this story is what it is precisely because he sees himself as being a little less evolved. Better Man is weird, touching, hilarious… and the perfect blockbuster for summer viewing. Better Man hits cinemas on Boxing Day (December 26th).
Conclave
Choosing a new pope is a bit of an event. So, imagine what happens when a really popular pope dies, and a cardinal (played by Ralph Fiennes) has the unenviable job of helping pick the next one. And now imagine that once all of the most powerful leaders of the church are locked in a room deciding, that cardinal uncovers a shocking conspiracy. Sounds exciting, right? Conclave tells that exact story, and manages to cram in Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, too. Plus, it manages to pile in more intrigue, betrayal and mystery than most regular movies. With Oscar winning Director Edward Berger at the helm, don’t sleep on this one, folks. Not only that, but there’s some early Golden Globe and Oscar buzz! Catch it in cinemas January 9th.
Den of Thieves 2 Pantera
There’s been a conspicuous lack of action in our summer movies list, so we thought we’d make sure you get your fix with the sequel to 2018’s action slash heist banger, Den of Thieves. Starring Gerard Butler once again as Big Nick, this sequel sees our hero getting embroiled in a world full of diamond thieves, organised criminals, and a heist involving stealing the world’s biggest diamond exchange. Gerard Butler always gives his all, but Den of Thieves was such a great showcase for his skills, and this sequel really does deliver the goods, due in part to the return of director Christian Gudegast. Coming to cinemas from January 9th.
So, there you have it, four epic films coming to the big screen to satisfy all your summer cinema needs!