August 2022 won’t see many big releases hitting the big screen, but it will welcome a highly-anticipated action-comedy movie, a black comedy slasher movie, a crime drama, the prequel of a popular horror movie, and a new movie from George Miller. Although the coronavirus pandemic isn’t really over yet, the world has slowly but surely been adjusting to a new “normal”, and for that, theaters all over the world are open and working as normal again, while studios are finally releasing all the movies that had to be delayed. However, there are some studios that are still opting for a direct-to-stream release, a simultaneous release in theaters and streaming platforms or are shortening the window between theatrical and streaming releases, and that continues to be the case with some of the movies releasing in August 2022.
July saw a variety of movies hitting theaters, of which many already have established streaming release dates, while others are waiting for one. July’s biggest releases were Minions: The Rise of Gru, Thor: Love and Thunder, Where The Crawdads Sing, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, The Gray Man, Jordan Peele’s Nope, and DC League of Super-Pets. Out of all these, the only one that is already available to stream is The Gray Man on Netflix, while many others will have to wait 45 days to hit the world of streaming (or four months, as is the case of Minions: The Rise of Gru).
After two months of big releases, August is slowing down but it will still bring some interesting movies to theaters, such as an action-comedy movie based on a Japanese novel, a black comedy slasher starring Amandla Stenberg and Pete Davidson (among many others), a crime drama, the prequel to Orphan, and George Miller’s latest project. Here’s every movie coming to theaters in August 2022.
Bullet Train – August 5
Bullet Train is an action-comedy movie directed by David Leitch and based on the Japanese novel Marie Beetle (published in English as Bullet Train) by Kōtarō Isaka. Ladybug (Brad Pitt) is a trained killer who wants to give up the life but is pulled back in by his handler, Maria Bettle (Sandra Bullock), in order to collect a briefcase on a bullet train heading to Kyoto. Onboard the train, Ladybug comes across other competing assassins, and they all discover that their objectives are connected. Also starring are Brian Tyree Henry, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Bad Bunny, Zazie Beets, Logan Lerman, and Joey King.
Bodies Bodies Bodies – August 5
Bodies Bodies Bodies is a black comedy slasher movie directed by Halina Reijn. It follows a group of seven friends who have a house party at a remote mansion during a hurricane, hosted by childhood best friends Sophie (Amandla Stenberg), who is recently sober, and David (Pete Davidson), who is ridiculously wealthy. Bee (Maria Bakalova) is Sophie’s working-class girlfriend and new to the group of friends, and as such, she is naive to the kind of party they are hosting. The group decides to play "bodies bodies bodies", a murder in the dark-style game, which goes poorly and fractures the friendships even more, so they end the game… but they soon find a real murder has taken place, and have to again search for the murderer among them. Also starring are Rachel Sennott, Chase Sui Wonders, Myha’la Herrold, Lee Pace, and Conner O’Malley.
Emily The Criminal – August 12
Emily the Criminal is a crime drama movie directed by John Patton Ford. It’s the story of Emily Benetto (Aubrey Plaza), a young woman saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she agrees to take a shady gig as a “dummy shopper”, consisting of buying goods with stolen credit cards given to her by charismatic middleman Youcef (Theo Rossi). Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism and becomes increasingly interested in Youcef – and together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles. Emily the Criminal premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
Beast – August 19
Beast is a survival thriller directed by Baltasar Kormákur and based on a story by Jaime Primak Sullivan. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) is a recently widowed man who returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife, on a long-planned trip with his two teenage daughters to a game reserve managed by an old family friend. However, things soon take a turn when a ferocious, man-hunting lion begins attacking them and devouring anyone in its path, and so their journey of healing turns into a fight where their resilience is tested. Also starring are Iyana Halley, Leah Sava, Sharlto Copley, and Riley Keough.
Orphan: First Kill – August 19
Orphan: First Kill is a psychological horror movie directed by William Brent Bell and a prequel to the 2009 movie Orphan. Orphan: First Kill explores the backstory of Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), who after orchestrating an escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. What Esther wasn’t counting on was coming across a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost. Also starring are Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, and Hiro Kanagawa. Orphan: First Kill will be released simultaneously through limited theatrical release, video on demand, and on Paramount+.
The Invitation – August 26
The Invitation is a horror movie directed by Jessica M. Thompson. Through a DNA test, Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel) finds out about a cousin, Oliver (Hugh Skinner), who is open to meeting her and invites her to a wedding to meet the rest of their family. However, once there, Evie learns the shocking and bloody truth about her family history, and the wedding quickly turns into a living nightmare. Also starring are Thomas Doherty, Alana Boden, and Stephanie Corneliussen.
Three Thousand Years of Longing – August 31
Three Thousand Years of Longing is a dark fantasy movie directed by George Miller and based on the short story “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye”, by A.S. Byatt. It’s the story of Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), a scholar and loner content with life who on a trip to Istanbul acquires an antique that turns out to contain a Djinn (Idris Elba), who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. However, their conversation in a hotel room leads to consequences neither would have expected, and making a wish suddenly becomes extremely important. Three Thousand Years of Longing premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in May, where it received a six-minute standing ovation from the audience.
