TAGGED AS: Action, blockbusters, Comedy, Comic Book, Horror
As we near the end of summer and the beginning of the school year, we’ve still got a few noteworthy titles looking to pull in big audiences for that sweet blockbuster dough. The biggest of them is, of course, the DC super-anti-hero movie helmed by James Gunn, but we’ve also got a cheeky action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and a trio of horror flicks of very different stripes. Based on numbers compiled from our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter polls, as well as Want-to-See numbers on RT, here are the five most anticipated movies of August!
#1 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, #2 on RT
In theaters and available on HBO Max on August 6
Just in case you haven’t been following along with the DC Extended Universe, this is not the same movie as 2016’s Suicide Squad, directed by David Ayer, even though it features some of the same actors portraying the same characters (Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag). James “Guardians of the Galaxy” Gunn takes over behind the camera for this new iteration of a group of would-be villains who are recruited to fight other bad guys under a secret government initiative, and if early reviews are any indication, you all have good reason to be excited about this one.
#2 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, #3 on RT
In theaters on August 27
Taking a hard left from goofy, self-aware superhero shenanigans, we have this reboot-by-way-of-sequel of an iconic horror franchise. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as an artist who moves into a fancy new development where Chicago’s infamous Cabrini Green housing projects once stood — and where the vengeful spirit known as the Candyman once stalked his victims. As he explores Candyman’s origins in his art, he unwittingly unleashes a new horror. This film was delayed from its scheduled release last year, so fans have been eager to see it for over a year.
#1 on RT, #3 on Instagram and Twitter, #4 on Facebook
In theaters on August 13
This meta-comedy set in the world of video games centers on a background character (Ryan Reynolds) who becomes self-aware and decides to become the hero of the game with the help of the programmers responsible for his awakening. Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, and Taika Waititi co-star, and Reynolds has plenty of experience with this brand of silly, self-referential humor (see: Deadpool). This one was also delayed from its original release last year, but it still managed to rack up the most Want-to-See votes on RT.
#4 on Instagram and Twitter, #5 on Facebook
In theaters on August 13
Fede Álvarez had a sleeper hit with 2016’s relentless thriller Don’t Breathe, which followed a group of young burglars who find themselves at the mercy of a blind man with a very particular set of skills. This time, Álvarez takes on a producing role (alongside horror vet Sam Raimi) and hands the reins over to first-time director Rodo Sayagues, as Stephen Lang reprises his role as the blind man in question, Norman Nordrstrom, who again must protect his home from invaders who may or may not have a very good reason for breaking in. Nobody asked for — or expected — this sequel, but the first film was so deliciously raw that this one makes it to spot #4 on our list.
#3 on Facebook, #5 on RT
In theaters on August 20
No stranger to horror dramas and psychological thrillers, Rebecca Hall stars in this chiller about a woman grieving the sudden death of her husband. Holed up in the home he built for her, she begins to experience terrifying visions that lead her to uncover dark secrets from his past. This film premiered to solid reviews at Sundance back in 2020, and it’s finally getting a release. Most critics praised Hall’s performance and moody atmosphere, so if you’re looking for a good scare this month, you’ll only have to wait a few weeks for it.
Thumbnail by Warner Bros. Pictures
