13 Must-See Movies Coming To Your Theatre This Summer, July - August 2018

When is the last time you went to the theater to watch a movie? It wouldn't be surprising if you have trouble remembering the last time you were at a movie theater considering domestic movie theater attendance hit a 25-year low in 2017 according to Bloomberg. But this summer, there are plenty of reasons to hit the theatre to check out the new releases coming to film.

The slump is part of an ongoing downward trend when it comes to domestic ticket sales. The Hollywood Reporter estimates that attendance in North America could be at a 27-year low and has been steadily going down since 1964. But some films truly are worth making the effort to see in a theatre vs waiting for the DVD or to stream it on another movie watching another way.

There are several factors at play that have contributed to this such as streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and HBO Go which offer a vast assortment of entertainment options all from the comfort of one's home. Despite the lack of moviegoers, movie tickets continue to rise in price and since the recession, not many people can afford to actively go to the movies.

Last year’s slump in domestic ticket sales can partly be attributed to a very poor turnout during the summer blockbuster season. Theater attendance in the US and Canada during the summer months, which saw releases like Baywatch, The Mummy, and the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, hit a 25-year low.

The number of tickets sold from May through Labor Day was reportedly down 16 percent from 2016. Sumer blockbuster season is a pivotal time for movie theaters and movie producers. If the movies being released don't catch the eye and interest of the public during summer than ticket sales will remain at a slum.

But there is a light at the end of the movie theater tunnel since this years summer season looks to be a lot more enticing for moviegoers. With blockbuster movies such as Oceans 8, Incredibles 2 and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom which all came out in June and have done significantly well. And the months of July and August also look promising with an assortment of films that should appeal to a wide array of attendees.

Going to the theater is a great way to de-stress and spend some quality time with the ones you care about. So grab a date, buy some overly priced popcorn and enjoy the show.

Here is a list of upcoming summer movie releases you should see in theaters you'll want to go see:

July 2018

1. "Sorry to Bother You", Release date: July 6th

Boots Riley’s unpredictable indie sci-fi comedy, Sorry to Bother You, was all the rage at this year's Sundance film festival. Starring Atlanta‘s LaKeith Stanfield, this surreal comedy centers on a black telemarketer who learns the quickest way up the corporate ladder is to adopt a “white voice” on the phone, but professional success may come at the price of his integrity. This film ambitiously pushes the envelope of the sci-fi and comedy genres for a wholly unique, refreshing and hilarious film. It’s a somewhat experimental film that may catch some viewers off guard, but it’s bound to be a conversation starter for those bold enough to check it out.

2. "Eighth Grade", Release date: July 13th

This well-reviewed coming-of-age comedy starring young breakout actress Elise Fisher had festival goes in tears at it’s Sundance premiere. The protagonist (Kayla) is an awkward, introverted middle schooler who is just trying to make it through the awful final week of her already awful middle school career. This film is sure to bring you back to your own painfully awkward teenage years, full of angst, acme and self-loathing. Quirky coming-of-age tales often resonate well with viewers and the film has drawn comparisons to last year’s wildly popular, Lady Bird — which is already a good sign.

3. "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again", Release date: July 20th

A great mother/daughter movie, sure to make you laugh, cry and dance along to some ABBA tunes. This sequel to the hit 2008 musical is bound to make a splash with both musical and film lovers alike. Ol Parker is giving the famed musical an encore performance, This time, Amanda Seyfried's Sophie grapples with her impending motherhood — while she learns new truths about her mother's past, exploring a young Donna. There will be familiar faces (Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried) as well as (Cher).

4. "Blindspotting," Release date: July 20th

Hamilton‘s Daveed Diggs and spoken-word poet Rafael Casal, both Oakland natives, co-wrote and star in this drama about two best friends in California, one black and one white, who are forced to confront the ways in which race and privilege have influenced their relationship. This story about the intersection of race and class, set against the backdrop of a rapidly gentrifying Oakland, is a ridiculously relevant storyline that everyone needs to watch.

5. "Searching", Release date: Aug. 3rd

A novel approach to the missing person thriller genre, Aneesh Chaganty crafts a suspenseful story about a father desperately searching for his missing daughter. John Cho stars as the father, who uses his missing daughter's laptop for clues to her whereabouts. Interestingly, the entire film is framed from the point of view of the computer and smartphone screens. This hyper-modern thriller is a chilling reminder of the negative aspects of the technology devices we use on a day to day basis. Strap in because this movie is quite the roller coaster ride.

6. "Christopher Robin", Aug. 3rd

For the Winnie the Pooh fan in all of us comes a live-action adaptation of the beloved animated series. Ewan McGregor stars as an adult Christopher Robin, who returns to Hundred Acre Wood to get back in touch with his childhood and rediscover the joys of life. Prepare to dive into your own nostalgic past and reunite with your childlike spirit along with Christopher Robin. This film is a perfect blending of fantasy and reality and will keep moviegoers of all ages entertained.

7. "Mile 22", Aug. 3rd

For the high-energy, action-packed film enthusiasts, Mile 22 is bound to satisfy all your butt kicking desires. The star-studded film stars Mark Wahlberg, John Malkovich, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and Indonesian action star Iko Uwais. This modern action-thriller from the director of Lone Survivor, Peter Berg, stars Mark Wahlberg as James Silva, an operative of the CIA’s most highly-prized unit. Aided by a top-secret tactical command team, Silva must retrieve and transport an asset who holds life-threatening information to Mile 22 for extraction before the enemy closes in.

8. "The Miseducation of Cameron Post", Aug. 3rd

This powerful drama centers around the real-life controversial practice of gay conversion therapy. Adapted from a young adult novel the film stars Chloë Grace Moretz who plays an orphaned high school girl, named Cameron Post, who is sent by her guardians to a gay therapy center when she’s discovered making out with the prom queen. The film came away with the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival, for its earnest storytelling and captivating message of acceptance and understanding.

9. "The Meg", Aug. 10th

Summer is the perfect time to go watch an epic shark movie. The classic man vs beast story ark never gets old and this time it stars action-thriller superstar Jason Statham. In this long-awaited adaptation of the popular 1990s novel, Statham plays a marine biologist who fights to save the crew of a deep-sea submarine from a prehistoric 75-foot-long shark known as Megalodon. Part action, thriller, sci-fi, and horror this film is sure to have a little bit of everything to keep you at the edge of your seat. Warning, you may want to avoid large bodies of open water for a few days after watching.

10. "The Happytime Murders", Aug. 17th

This movie is a fun blend of comedy, thriller, mystery, neo-noir crime drama, mixed with a good blend of puppets. Starring three very funny comedians, Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, and Maya Rudolph, the laughs will not be in short supply. When the puppet cast of an '80s children's TV show begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case. Set in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, the jokes cater to adult humor so this isn’t one for the kids despite the Sesame Street-like cast, though you are bound to love it.

11. "Crazy Rich Asians", Aug. 17th

This contemporary romantic comedy, based off of Kevin Kwan's popular novel, introduces us to the outlandish antics of the Youngs, the Shangs, and the T’siens. Constance Wu stars as Rachel Chu, a woman who accompanies her boyfriend home to Singapore. There, she discovers that he's actually among the richest and most desirable young men in the country, which puts a rather large target on her back. Watching Rachel navigate through the world of the rich, jealous socialites, and her boyfriend's disapproving mother will leave you rooting for her all the way. Money might not be able to buy love but it can definitely complicate things.

12. "Replicas", Aug. 24th

Keanu Reeves stars in this science fiction thriller about a biologist driven to violate all known laws of science in order to resurrect his dead family, who died in a car accident. This film really builds off of the “how far will a man go to save his family” story hook by adding an intricate sci-fi element. No stranger to sci-fi films, Keanu has had a lot of success in the genre and this film seems to have the makings of another smash hit for the actor. Replicas has a good chance of being a success for audiences around the globe.

13. "Slender Man", Aug. 24th

If you are a horror film enthusiast like me, then you are in for a treat with the release of the Sony-produced horror flick Slender Man. Evolving from an online urban legend, this headline-grabbing phenomenon is now a full-fledged movie villain. Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Jaz Sinclair, and Annalise Basso star as four friends who attempt to debunk the legend of this inhuman killer, only to invite him into their lives. Slender Man’s foreboding influence is sure to leave you feeling unsettled in the theater along with everyone else.