Movie & TV Trailer Roundup – Early Summer Edition
Summer movie season is officially in full swing y’all. Game of Thrones and Avengers: Endgame have dominated the pop culture discourse so far this year, but there are a whole bunch of exciting movies and TV shows still coming our way. Plenty of noteworthy trailers have dropped since our last roundup, so let’s go ahead and rundown the movie and TV show trailers that are drawing the most buzz and anticipation:
Booksmart (May 24th)
Whether it be Superbad or Dazed and Confused, the “one crazy night” high school setup is one of my favorite movie tropes. Currently sitting at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Booksmart looks like it’s destined to be a cult classic of the high school movie genre. Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut has a great cast starring Beanie Feldstein (Jonah Hill’s younger sister who broke out in Lady Bird) and Kaitlyn Dever (who is not Jonah Hill’s sister, but was fantastic in Short Term 12). Describing it as a “female Superbad” may be reductive, but Booksmart looks like a stand-alone triumph worthy of eventually having imitators of its own.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (May 31st)
While certainly not a monster movie classic, I thought 2014’s Godzilla movie was fun and really visually impressive, so I had high hopes for this sequel. But it just seems like there’s way too much going on here. Apparently there’s now a whole crew of mega monsters taking over our planet, and Godzilla is the good guy earth needs to bring them down? This looks like fairly low level pulp, but the cast is great (shouts to Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights, Eleven from Stranger Things, and Paper Boi from Atlanta), and at least Matthew Broderick won’t be chasing baby Godzillas in Madison Square Garden this time around.
Always Be My Maybe (May 31st)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the world always needs more good rom coms. And this one looks really good! Ali Wong and Randall Park are a delightful leading duo, and the bizarro sex crazed Keanu Reeves character is instant icon status. This seems like a perfect movie to throw on Netflix on a Friday night for some low stakes laughs and feel-good vibes.
Ma (May 31st)
Octavia Spencer is always great, but this just looks super unsettling and frightening. If you are a parent to young teenagers and want to scare them away from the perils of social media, underage drinking, and talking to strangers, then this is definitely the movie for you. Otherwise, I think I’d pass on this one.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (June 7th)
This movie debuted at Sundance Film Festival in January with almost no buzz going in, but ended up winning awards for Best Directing and a Special Jury Prize for Creative Collaboration. This trailer definitely shows why it was met with so much acclaim. It looks beautiful and profound, and a story exploring friendship and family amid the backdrop of racial divides and gentrification in the Bay Area is extremely poignant.
Men in Black: International (June 14th)
At one point in time, Men in Black was one of our most beloved film franchises. The success of those films seems like a long time ago now, and the earlier films honestly don’t hold up particularly well upon rewatch. So I think it’s smart that they’re going for a total refresh of the story here. Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson had great comedic chemistry in Thor: Ragnarok, and they seem like a perfect leading duo to restart the franchise (along with the great Liam Neeson). This trailer seems to lean more into the action set pieces and CGI alien aspects, but I hope the film itself allows Hemsworth to follow in Will Smith’s footsteps and use his comedic talents to give the film a more humorous tone.
Murder Mystery (June 14th)
There was a time when a movie starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston would seem like a massive movie event. That certainly is not the case anymore, and this trailer just feels kind of depressing for two stars of their magnitude. Sandler has had a bit of resurgence lately with his Netflix special (which was really great if you haven’t seen it) and his wonderful return to SNL, and he’ll star in a movie called Uncut Gems later this year that could bring him back to critical acclaim. But Murder Mystery is not the movie to watch if you want to remember the Sandler glory days – permission to just go ahead and rewatch Happy Gilmore instead.
The Dead Don’t Die (June 14th)
Director Jim Jarmusch is one of the godfathers of the indie movie scene, and he has received more widespread recognition in recent years with his movies Only Lovers Left Alive and Paterson (I recommend the former in particular). With a fun zombie movie premise and an amazing cast led by Bill Murray, Adam Driver, and Tilda Swinton (plus RZA, Tom Waits, and Selena Gomez for good measure), this seems like it could be Jarmusch’s most commercially successful movie yet. If nothing else, this movie has already given us the gift of hearing Adam Driver pronounce ghouls.
Toy Story 4 (June 21st)
Toy Story 3 ended on such a beautifully pitch perfect note for those of us who grew up with the franchise. It’s certainly nice to see our old friends Woody & Buzz back in action, and I’m sure this movie will be a fun and heartfelt journey. But sometimes it’s better to let a great thing lie, and I hope this 4th installment doesn’t do anything to tarnish the legacy of the original trilogy.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2nd)
With apologies to Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, I think Tom Holland has officially established himself as the best to ever wear the Spidey-Suit. Holland brings so much charm and charisma to the role, and perfectly captures the character’s teenage perspective and pubescent awkwardness. This movie is being posed as the launching point for the next phase of Marvel movies after Avengers: Endgame, so I am curious to see where the story takes us. But the European setting seems like a fun twist, and I’m curious to see what enticed Jake Gyllenhaal to delve into the Marvel machine for this role when he’s mostly been focused on dark character driven movies in the latter part of his career. Regardless, Holland’s performance in the leading role should make this a fun few hours at the cineplex.
The Farewell (July 12th)
This story of a Chinese-American family dealing with the death of their matriarch looks beautiful and truly touching. Awkwafina broke out with her roles in Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians, but this movie could be the launching point for her as an acclaimed lead actress in a dramatic role. This movie was met with acclaim when it debuted at Sundance, and could be a major player during Oscar season. Watch this trailer, and then go give your mom or grandma a hug and tell them you love them as soon as possible.
Stuber (July 12th)
The “roughneck crime fighter and his unwitting but loyal driver” gag is well worn in movies like Die Hard and Deadpool, but this looks like a fun take on the premise. Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista are both extremely funny and likable leading men, so just hanging out with those two will probably make this movie a fun time. Plus, Uber could probably use the good press right about now.
21 Bridges (July 12)
Chadwick Boseman’s reputation is pretty firmly tied to Black Panther at this point, but I’m excited to see him do something totally different here. He demonstrated great charisma and acting chops in films like 42 and Get on Up before diving into the Marvel vortex, and this movie looks like an awesome opportunity for him to showcase his talents. Plus, it’s great to see Tim Riggins back in the mix.
Crawl (July 12th)
We’ve had a surplus of shark movies in recent years, with movies like The Meg, 47 Meters Down, and The Shallows all providing their take on the creature feature genre. But alligators/crocodiles haven’t had their moment in the sun since Lake Placid, so it’s good to see reptiles getting their opportunity to shine again and providing us with some deadly animal diversification. This mostly looks pretty bad, but no doubt I would watch the heck out of this on an airplane or on a rainy afternoon.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (July 26th)
A new Quentin Tarantino film is always a must-see event, and his 9th feature is certainly worthy of major anticipation and hype. With a loaded cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is set in the background of a fascinating moment in history, Los Angeles in 1969. Exploring the Manson murders and Sharon Tate’s tragic death seems like pretty fraught and controversial territory, but as Tarantino has demonstrated with his recent explorations of Nazis and American slavery, fraught territory is squarely within his wheelhouse. Leo’s hilarious and teary eyed “great fucking note” line to end this trailer is the sort of incredible dialogue you can only get in a Tarantino movie, and I couldn’t be more excited for this one.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? (August 16th)
The pedigree for this movie is pretty stellar. It stars the legend Cate Blanchett, and is directed by one of my all-time favorite filmmakers, Richard Linklater. The source material novel is also extremely renowned, and everybody I know who’s read the book has nothing but great things to say about it. But this trailer comes across as pretty cheesy, and feels like a mashup of Eat Pray Love and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (no shots at Exotic Marigold, which is super delightful). I’m hopeful that this trailer is deceiving us as an audience to maintain the central mystery of the story, and that the film itself is a more nuanced and interesting account of suburban apathy. But I’m keeping my expectations low for now.
Good Boys (August 16th)
Little kids saying vulgar things is pretty low hanging fruit on the comedy scale, but this trailer is undeniably super funny. Seth Rogen is definitely a trustworthy guiding hand when it comes to making comedies, and the charm of the little kid from Room saying a bunch of gross things is pretty undeniable. I always worry that trailers like this spoil all of the movie’s best jokes and leave no surprises for when you actually see it. The “how many husbands does she have?!” line is a genuine laugh out loud moment, and I just hope that all the good jokes aren’t given away in this trailer. But all in all, this looks pretty genuinely hilarious.
Blinded by the Light (August 16th)
The concept of this movie feels somewhat similar to the upcoming film Yesterday and its approach with The Beatles, but this time it’s the hits of The Boss himself providing the premise and soundtrack. This movie comes from the team that brought us the delightful Bend it Like Beckham, and Blinded by the Light looks absolutely delightful as well. A coming of age story exploring the British-Pakistani experience through the lens of Bruce Springsteen’s classics is such a great set up, and this looks like a real crowd pleaser.
It: Chapter 2 (September 6th)
I’m not a huge horror movie guy, but I really enjoyed 2017’s It: Chapter 1. It had the vibe of the The Goonies within a horror movie landscape, and the cast of kids making up The Losers Club (led by Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard) were all super charming. The sequel fast-forwards to 27 years later, and features the great Bill Hader, James McAvoy, and Jessica Chastain as the adult versions of The Losers Club kids. I love this trailer’s unique approach of showing a full two minute scene to set up the terror that lies ahead, and the closing shot of Pennywise is definitely pretty terrifying and chill-inducing.
Lucy in the Sky (September 20th)
Natalie Portman and John Hamm as space explorers is really all I need as a description to get me excited about this one, but the premise of “astronaut has affair with fellow astronaut, and then slowly starts losing her mind” is even more intriguing. This is directed by Noah Hawley (creator of the TV shows Fargo and Legion), who is known for leaning into strange and paranormal storylines, so I imagine Lucy in the Sky will have some major surprises and may get super weird. I’m all in.
Joker (October 4th)
After Heath Ledger’s absolutely iconic performance followed by Jared Leto’s disastrous turn in Suicide Squad, I definitely didn’t think the world needed another Joker movie for a long, long time. But damn, this looks really good and interesting. Director Todd Phillips (who is most well known for making The Hangover) based his script upon Martin Scorsese's films Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, and is approaching the story as a nuanced character study of a man who is slowly breaking as he’s isolated from society. You can definitely see Scorsese’s influence in this trailer, and Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the character looks incredible. Despite my initial reservations, I’m fired up for this one.
Gemini Man (October 11th)
The premise seems almost like a carbon copy of the great 2012 film Looper. Gemini Man is pitched as the story of an “aging assassin seeking to exit his career, who finds himself going against a younger clone of himself who can predict his every move.” Even if it is repeating the same beats as Looper, this is undeniably a super cool set up, made even more promising by the fact that it’s led by Will Smith and renowned director Ang Lee. As with all Will Smith movies, I hope his performance brings some of the classic comedy chops that he has showcased in movies like Independence Day and Men in Black, rather than the the dourness he’s brought in movies like After Earth. I’m forever rooting for the resurgence of classic Will Smith, so keeping my fingers crossed that Gemini Man is a return to form for the Fresh Prince.
Terminator: Dark Fate (November 1st)
Yet another reboot for the Terminator saga. Terminator 2: Judgment Day stands alone as one of the greatest action movies ever made, and the franchise has been failing to reach those standards ever since. After sequels released in 2003, 2009, 2015 (all of which had their moments, but were mostly pretty subpar), Terminator: Dark Fate is trying to bring back that Judgment Day magic. James Cameron is back on board as producer, and Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger reprise their iconic roles. The problem that has plagued the recent Terminator sequels is that they are just so dang complicated, serious, and humorless. Judgment Day worked so well because it infused heart and levity through the eyes of the teenage John Connor character. This trailer seems to again be leaning in to the dark and morose mythology, but I’m holding out hope that the film is able to find that balance of humor and wonder once again.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (December 20th)
The preceding chapter in the Star Wars saga, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, was met with a very divisive and controversial reception amongst hardcore fans. Some people felt that the turn to kill off Luke and reveal that Rey doesn’t come from any sort of noteworthy Jedi parentage was a betrayal of the hero's journey arc. I personally loved it, and Last Jedi ranks amongst my favorite Star Wars films. I thought the premise that Rey isn’t a Skywalker, and the theme of “anyone can be a hero” was a really cool and surprising conception. With J.J. Abrams now back in the director’s chair, I’m a little bit worried that the title of the film itself reveals that they’re now retconning The Last Jedi’s setup, and may be leading to a twist revealing that Rey really is a Skywalker after all. But no matter what, this trailer is visually stunning and got me really excited to spend time with these characters again. Emperor Palpatine back? Not sure how that’s possible, but I’m down for it. One thing I think we can all agree upon: that backflip at the beginning of the trailer is super fucking dope. I have my reservations, but I’ll still be first in line and extremely excited to see this on December 20th.
Sonic The Hedgehog (February 14, 2020)
Oof, this is brutal. This trailer was met with so much ridicule and outcry when it debuted that it has since been announced that they’re delaying the release of the film to go back and totally redesign the character. The current design depicts Sonic with super creepy human looking teeth and leg muscles, and Jim Carey seems to have reached an embarrassing low here. Setting the trailer to “Gangsta’s Paradise” just seals the deal in making this an all-time bomb of a trailer. I’m not sure any amount of edits or redesigns can save this one.
* TV Show quick hits:
Good Omens (May 31st, Amazon Prime)
Based on Neil Gaiman’s classic story of an angel and demon working together to bring down the antichrist, this trailer seems to perfectly capture Gaiman’s comedic tone. David Tennant and Martin Sheen are perfect fits for the leading roles, and this show should be a really great time.
When They See Us (May 31st, Netflix)
Director Ava DuVernay (Selma) is back to tell another important historical story of racial divide in America, this time focusing on the tragic tale of the Central Park Five. This may be heartbreaking and difficult to watch, but it’s an important story that deserves a big platform.
Big Little Lies: Season 2 (June 9th, HBO)
I missed the initial Big Little Lies hype wave, thinking that the show wouldn’t really be of any interest to me. But I ended up binging season one in a single weekend, getting totally engrossed by the mystery and Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman’s great performances. The legend Meryl Streep joins for season 2, and I’m excited to get back to Monterey and see what sort of antics Reese & friends get up to now.
Too Old to Die Young (June 14th, Amazon Prime)
Director Nicolas Winding Refn has made some really captivatingly dark and strange movies in recent years with his films like Drive, Only God Forgives, and Neon Demon. Too Old to Die Young seems to be yet another extremely dark and disturbing tale, but I’m interested to see Miles Teller in this sort of role.
City on a Hill (June 16th, Showtime)
This show is produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and comes from a story derived by Affleck himself. It looks like a pretty straight forward cops versus criminals show, but I’m hoping it captures the same magic Affleck was able to create with The Town.
Dark - Season 2 (June 21st, Netflix)
Season one of Dark was one of my favorite TV shows in recent years. The German-language show feels like a mashup of Lost meets Stranger Things, and is a completely engrossing sci-fi mystery. I give this show my highest recommendation, and can’t wait for season two (tip: the show is much better watched in its original German with subtitles, rather than watching the English dub).
The Loudest Voice (June 30th, Showtime)
Roger Ailes is a monster of a human, and if nothing else I hope this sheds light on the disgusting man that created the Fox News behemoth. Russell Crowe and Naomi Watts headline an impressive cast.
Stranger Things 3 (July 4th, Netflix)
Season 2 of Stranger Things was up and down, but I still found it to be irresistibly fun and bingeable. I like that this trailer is leaning into the notion that these kids are growing up fast and things are changing, and "Baba O'Riley" as a backdrop song just makes the allure even more undeniable. I’ll definitely be excited to fire this up over the 4th of July weekend.
The Righteous Gemstones (August, HBO)
The premise alone is a pitch perfect setup for comedic gold: "following the world famous Gemstone televangelist family, which has a long tradition of deviance, greed, and charitable work, all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." With an amazing cast led by John Goodman, Danny McBride, and Adam Devine (and brought to us by the team that created the absolute treasure that is Eastbound & Down), I could not be more excited for this one.
Watchmen (TBD in Fall, HBO)
While not a reader myself, Watchmen is considered to be one of the most beloved comic book stories ever created. The 2009 film adaption bombed and was a major disappointment, so I’m glad to see the story is getting a fresh take here. Damon Lindelof, creator of Lost and The Leftovers, has been given the reins for this rendition, and the trailer is definitely very visually enticing and effective in piquing my interest.
His Dark Materials (TBD, HBO)
The His Dark Materials trilogy ranks amongst the greatest fantasy stories ever written. 2007’s The Golden Compass film adaptation had its moments, but was mostly a disappointment as it wasn’t able to capture the scope and richness of Philip Pullman’s classic tale. But the trailer and the cast (featuring James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Dafne Keen from Logan as the main character Lyra) for this upcoming TV show adaption are both incredible, and I think that the extended hours of runtime that a TV show allows will be a much better fit to fully delve into this amazing story.
