Films to Watch in June 2024
Films to Watch in June 2024 | As a new month begins, we have an exciting lineup of films hitting theaters. While I won’t be discussing the biggest blockbusters like Inside Out 2 or Bad Boys, I want to highlight some intriguing films you might not have heard of but are worth adding to your watchlist.
Tuesday – June 7th (Wider Release: June 14th)
Tuesday is an A24 film co-produced with the BBC and BFI. It’s directed by first-time Croatian director Daina O-Pušić, who works out of London. The film stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a role quite different from her usual comedic performances. Tuesday is a psychological allegorical drama that follows a mother and her terminally ill daughter as they metaphorically and literally confront death, which appears as a physical being in the form of a bird. While the trailer might seem a bit cheesy, early reviews suggest it’s a serious exploration of death and metaphysics. It promises to be a deep and thought-provoking film.
I Used to Be Funny – June 7th (Available to Stream: June 18th)
I Used to Be Funny is the first feature from Canadian director Ally Pankiw. I was lucky enough to catch this film at the Calgary International Film Festival last year. It stars Rachel Sennott, who has been making a name for herself with critically acclaimed films like Shiva Baby, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and Bottoms. In this film, Sennott plays a struggling comedian dealing with depression and PTSD. It’s a film that balances humor with a serious exploration of mental illness and family dynamics. Sennott’s performance stands out, and if you want to be ahead of the curve, this film is a must-watch. Plus, it features not one but two needle drops from Phoebe Bridgers, capturing the millennial and Gen Z angst perfectly.
Ghostlight – June 14th
Ghostlight, directed by Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan, premiered at Sundance and has received wide praise for its emotional depth and human portrayal of grief and familial relationships. The film stars real-life father and daughter Keith and Katherine Kupferer, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to their performances. The story follows a grieving father and daughter who reconnect through a play, specifically Romeo and Juliet. As a former high school English teacher, I promise I’m not biased towards this film just because of its Shakespearean elements. It’s a profound exploration of grief and features Dolly de Leon, who broke out in Triangle of Sadness. Look for it in limited release.
Kinds of Kindness – June 21st
Kinds of Kindness is the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos, who recently directed Poor Things, which garnered multiple Academy Awards. This film played at the Cannes Film Festival and has received general praise. True to Lanthimos’s style, it’s weird and divisive, divided into three separate stories filled with violence, sex, and oddities. The cast includes Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, and Jesse Plemons, with Plemons winning the best acting award at Cannes. If you’re a fan of Lanthimos’s unique and offbeat films, Kinds of Kindness is a must-see.
Janet Planet – June 21st (Wider Release: June 28th)
Janet Planet marks the feature directorial debut of Annie Baker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. This A24 film is slow, methodical, and deeply rooted in character and relationship dynamics. It follows mother Janet and daughter Lucy over several months as they struggle with life and invite various people into their home. The film explores familial connections, particularly between mother and daughter, and addresses the universal struggle of figuring out life. Early reviews praise its blend of humor and human emotion, making it a compelling watch for fans of relationship-centric dramas.
A Sacrifice – June 28th
A Sacrifice, directed by Jordan Scott (daughter of Ridley Scott), is a psychological thriller starring Eric Bana and Sadie Sink. The film follows a psychiatrist trying to save his daughter from a cult. Although it hasn’t had a wide festival run, the film promises to be creepy and strange, with potential echoes of Ridley Scott’s success. It’s an intriguing project from a director willing to take risks, and it’s worth keeping an eye on to see how it turns out.
These are just a few of the notable films coming out this month. Be sure to check your local listings – hopefully they have a showing for you to check out!
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