The summer movie season is finally coming to a close after its bustling open in May. It was a good summer for movies, for there were plenty of great blockbusters and indies. Listed below are some of my favorite movies from the summer and my most anticipated movies in the coming months.

MAY

Deadpool 2 

The original Deadpool burst onto the scene in 2016 with its gratuitous R rated violence and raunchy humor. While Deadpool 2 doubles down on the violence and humor, it also adds a unique emotional core that made me tear up a little. Reynolds is perfect as the titular merc with a mouth, and Zazie Beetz acts as a great foil to Deadpool as the smack talking Domino. Josh Brolin plays the villainous Cable, a villain whose motivations are clear and understandable. Brolin holds his own in the comedic department and brings a lot of emotional depth to the role. Deadpool 2 is a terrific summer blockbuster that shouldn’t be missed.

Out on Digital and Blu-ray

JUNE

Hereditary

Ari Aster’s directorial debut is one of the most unique horror films to date. After the matriarch of a family passes away, a grieving mother begins to unravel dark secrets passed down the family. Starring Toni Collete in a career-defining role, Hereditary combines supernatural horror with the horror the comes from losing a loved one to create a uniquely disturbing film. The film relies on psychological horror and grotesque imagery, rather than cheap, unearned jump scares. Aster’s methodical camera moments and pristine lighting create an unnerving sense of tension that won’t leave even after the credits roll. 

Out on Digital. Blu-ray on September 4th

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood was an important component of many people’s formative years. The show understood kids and talked to them at their level. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? chronicles the life and work of the show’s star Fred Rogers in a beautifully honest way. The film shows Roger’s compassion for others, and the compassion everyone should strive to have. In a time of division and hate, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and Fred Rogers are shining examples that love and kindness are possible.

Out on Digital. Blu-ray on September 4th

JULY

Eighth Grade 

Middle school or 8th grade specifically is a cesspool of old memes, overused snapchat filters, and uncontrollable voice cracks. Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade captures this perfectly. The film follows Kayla Day, an antisocial, awkward girl in her last week of eighth grade. Elise Fisher shines in the lead role, bringing authenticity and charm. That’s what Eighth Grade does so well, authenticity. Burnham’s dialogue is genuine, capitalizing on the ridiculous quirks and mannerisms middle schoolers have. Kayla is endearing and watching her struggle with social anxiety is realistic and relatable to people of all ages and genders. Eighth Grade is a wonderful coming of age film that anyone can enjoy.

Out on Digital September 25. Blu-ray on October 9th.

Mission Impossible Fallout

The Mission Impossible franchise began all the way back in 1996 and 22 years later the franchise is still going strong. The newest addition, Mission Impossible Fallout may be the best one yet. After a botched mission, Ethan Hunt must track down an evil organization and save the world from total annihilation. The plot may sound ridiculous (which it is) but Fallout works because of its execution. Director Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise are dedicated to creating visceral action set pieces and it shows. From the brutal hand to hand fights to the heart racing chases, the action in Fallout is impeccable. The camerawork and editing are miles ahead of other action films today (the only rival being the John Wick films). Cruise is notorious for doing his own stunts and he continues to up the ante. Cruise jumps from a plane, drives his own motorcycle, and hangs from a helicopter. All the stunts are real, which leads to a real sense of danger and tension. Mission Impossible Fallout is the pinnacle of big-budget action cinema that should be seen on the big screen.

In Theaters

Blindspotting 

Have you ever seen a movie that stunned you so much that you just sat in silence as the credits rolled? That is what happened when I saw Blindspotting. The movie follows a young black man who must avoid trouble and contain his volatile best friend during his last three days of probation. The stars Daveed Diggs and Rafel Casal provide two of 2018’s best performances. The two are friends in real life and it shows, for their onscreen chemistry is apparent and authentic. Their performances are good, but their script is even better. The film tackles so many social issues in a powerful and organic way. Police brutality, racial prejudice, cultural appropriation, and gentrification are all explored beautifully. Even though Blindspotting explores heavy social issues it also manages to be one of the funniest movies of the year. The script teeters between humor and drama better than any other movie this year. Blindspotting is a stunning and powerful film that should be seen by all. 

AUGUST 

BlacKkKlansman 

Spike Lee’s newest film tells the wild and outrageous true story of Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) the first black detective in 1970s Colorado who infiltrates the local KKK. After establishing a relationship with the KKK leader over the phone Stallworth sends seasoned detective Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) to be his stand-in at Klan meetings. This film has great performances and is extremely entertaining. John David Washington, son of Denzel, is outstanding. He sells both the comedic and intense moments. Adam Driver continues to show his versatility with another knockout performance as Flip. The criminally underrated Topher Grace is subtly vile playing the grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke. BlacKkKlansman explores America’s history of racism and its reoccurrence in recent years in a powerful and evident way. Lee is ferocious behind the camera and creates a powerful, yet entertaining film.                                                                                                   

In Theaters

Searching 

Searching portrays every parent’s worst nightmare in the digital age. John Cho plays David Kim, a father whose daughter goes missing. After 37 hours with no leads, David breaks into his daughter’s computer in search of clues. The catch is the entire film takes place on a computer screen of some kind. Every facetime call, Facebook post, and Youtube video feels legitimate and real.  The suspense is Hitchcockian, providing edge of your seat thrills for the entire runtime. Searching has surprisingly effective humor that mostly derives from the fantastic father-daughter dynamic. Searching is a movie that deserves all the praise it’s getting. It also deserves to be a box office success.

In theaters

MOST ANTICIPATED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

First Man 

Damien Chazelle’s second collaboration with Ryan Gosling focuses on Neil Armstrong and the Moon landing. After directing Whiplash and La La Land, Chazelle has proved that he is one of the best directors working today. Hopefully, First Man will be another gem in his already outstanding filmography. 

RELEASE DATE: October 12th 

Suspiria 

Suspiria is a remake of the 1977 film of the same name. Luca Guadagnino, director of the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name is at the helm. His remake looks disturbing, otherworldly, and unnerving. I can’t wait to see it. 

RELEASE DATE: November 2nd 

Bohemian Rhapsody 

Queen is one of my favorite bands so naturally, I was really excited when I heard a biopic was being made. Then Rami Malek, who is the lead actor in one of my favorite TV shows (Mr. Robot) was cast as Freddie Mercury. My anticipation is through the roof.  

RELEASE DATE: November 2nd