June’s 8 best movies

Esquire.com: June has a strange slate of movies coming out. If you look at the description on paper, there are really only about two-and-a-half original ideas below. Everything else is a reboot or remake of something that’s come before it. But the thing is, when you look at the movies themselves, it looks like a banger of a June. 

‘Men in Black’ is getting its 2019 glow up, while Aubrey Plaza looks like a perfecting casting choice for 2019’s take on ‘Child’s Play’. And if you’re already missing ‘Game of Thrones,’ Sophie Turner is happy to swoop in as the dangerously rogue (it’s a pun!) Jean Grey. In short, don’t trust the noise: it’s going to be a great summer at the movies.

‘DARK PHOENIX’

Ever consider what the ‘Game of Thrones’ universe might look like if Sansa Stark was a mutant, gets brainwashed, turns on her fellow mutants, and uses her powers for evil? Well, then you’re going to love the story of Jean Grey. Sophie Turner isn’t messing around in ‘Dark Phoenix,’ and it’s up to the rest of the X-Men crew to get the situation figured out.

‘LATE NIGHT’

This is the movie that everyone was buzzing about at Sundance this year. The film follows a late night host (Emma Thompson) who is nearing the end of her tenure because of poor ratings as a new staff writer (Mindy Kaling) jumps into the fold. The duo realise that their ideas might be at odds, but the end game is the same: putting together the best damn late night show on air.

‘THE DEAD DON’T DIE’

Let’s be frank: this is your typical zombie movie. But then again, no it’s not. Because what other zombie movie features Adam Driver, Selena Gomez, Tilda Swinton, Carol Kane, and Billy Murray in the same cast? And that’s not even an exhaustive list. If you’re looking for an early-summer zombie fix and you’ve given up on ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’ then you have a treat in what looks like a delightfully campy zombie film.

‘MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL’

Yes, it’s hard to imagine a ‘Men in Black’ film without Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones in the starring roles, but times change. The good news is that if anyone is capable of breathing new life into the franchise, it’s Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth. In the 2019 revamp, the comedic duo are still at odds with aliens on earth, but a mole within their own could cause some serious issues.

‘SHAFT’

Here. For. This. ‘Shaft’. Reboot. The story of Shaft continues when Shaft the Third, an FBI cyber security expert, is faced with the mysterious death of his best friend. Who else do you turn to in a time of need? Shaft! The duo hits the streets in search for what really happened.

‘CHILD’S PLAY’

Someone should have figured out that Aubrey Plaza was a perfect horror film star before now. In a revamp of the original, ‘Child’s Play; brings Chucky back to life in a 21st century world that’s really going to have you questioning how much you trust your smart devices. With technology on his side, the Child’s Play reboot feels fresh in a way that the 1988 original couldn’t have dreamed of.

‘TOY STORY 4’

This is a dangerous move because of all the recent film trilogies, Toy Story’s three movie run is a damn near perfect one. But the toys are back in town in this fourth instalment. Woody gets separated from his new owner, but he’s not alone. A recent craft-project-come-to-life named Forky is beside him as the rest of the toys figure out how to get the team back together. Only question is: do they want to return?

‘YESTERDAY’

Imagine that The Beatles never existed and then you were the only person that remembered any of their songs. That’s the premise of ‘Yesterday’. One struggling singer-songwriter named Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is gifted the entire Beatles songbook to present to the world as his own, but the whirlwind becomes bigger than he ever expected as the songs continue to resonate with everyone who hears them.