Speedy Footwork and Swift Vehicles –

June is the start of the summer movie season, and now that more cinemas are opening up, we’re getting more blockbusters on our list. There is also quite the variety – there’s horror, an animated film, a movie musical and quite a few action films to look forward to.

Another notable film that wasn’t quite big enough to make it on the list is Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood, which comes to Netflix on June 18th, 2021. The film’s release coincides with Father’s Day, so if you’re looking to keep things small and intimate for your Father’s Day celebrations, this film might be the way to go.

Here are the biggest new movies of June 2021.

 

1. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | June 4th, 2021

The Warrens are back with the third film in The Conjuring franchise. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It follows the trial of Arne Johnson, the first man in US history to plead “not guilty” for reasons of demonic possession. Director Michael Chaves has called it the franchise’s biggest and darkest movie, considering the dark material it dives into and the consequences that resulted from that case.

The first reviews for the film are out, and currently stands at 78% on Rotten Tomatoes with 18 reviews. Just like the first two, the critics praise Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s portrayal of the Warrens, and laud them for being the heart of the series. This third film does take a bit of a turn from the first two, which might not be too everyone’s taste. Still, all those twisting limbs are basically nightmare fuel, so horror fans can probably look forward to some scares.

 

2. Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard | June 11th, 2021

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is the sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard. The first film didn’t fare so well with the critics, but with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson starring, you’re guaranteed to be entertained no matter what. So it doesn’t reinvent the action comedy film, and does coast on the talents of its stars, but hey, sometimes all you need in a movie is some mindless entertainment you can laugh at.

Still unlicensed, Reynolds’ Bryce is forced into action by Darius’s (Jackson) wife, con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek) – now he has to protect both husband and wife. As Bryce is driven over the edge by both Darius and Sonia, things get even more dangerous when they discover they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman (Antonio Banderas).

 

3. In The Heights | June 11th, 2021

Out of all the new movies of June 2021, the one with the most hype is definitely In The Heights. Warner Bros. is releasing clips from the film like every other day, there are so many trailers I’ve lost count (I jest), and the film also has a ton of advanced screenings for press and movie-going folk. Don’t believe me? The film has yet to be released and already has 74 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 99%.

With music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Jon M. Chu onboard, In the Heights is a colourful film that follows the life and dreams of the residents of the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City. The story focuses on Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos), owner of a small bodega, who spends his days dreaming of leaving New York behind and moving back to the Dominican Republic to rebuild his parents’ business.

In the Heights is a dazzling kaleidoscope of dreams and a joyous celebration of life and living; if you’re a musical theatre fan, this is a movie you won’t want to miss.

 

4. Luca | June 18th, 2021

Disney and Pixar’s Luca is an animated coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca (Jacob Tremblay) shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer). However, the two have a secret – they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.

Initially, many assumed that Luca was a gay romance, mainly because it sounds so much like Call Me By Your Name. Director Enrico Casarosa stepped in to clear things up: Luca won’t be a love story at all, since Casarosa specifically wanted to focus on the intimate bonds of childhood friendship. It might not be the queer animated film we hoped for, but it does look like a cute and enjoyable film, which will be available for streaming on Disney Plus.

 

5. F9 | June 25th, 2021

Did we ever think The Fast and the Furious franchise would gain such momentum? After Tokyo Drift I thought it was pretty much dead in the water, until Vin Diesel and the gang returned for the next one. There was even a spin-off with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham – that’s how popular the franchise is.

In this film, Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son. But as we know, things never stay peaceful in Dom’s world. Dom and his crew find themselves joining forces to stop the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s brother, Jakob, played by John Cena.

Cena has been quite the surprise as an actor; he’s actually quite funny and has great comedic timing. You should watch the movie Blockers if you want to check out Cena’s comedic chops, or if you have time and just want to watch an entertaining movie. So far, the film currently has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 65%, with 23 critics having weighed in, who are complimentary of the stunt work and action set pieces, not so much the story. This isn’t the most shocking piece of news; after all, we don’t watch this franchise for the compelling narratives, so if fast cars are your things, F9 will most likely deliver.

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