Last month, it felt impossible to avoid people banging on about going to the cinema. Walking through Leicester Square on any average weeknight, you’d be greeted by multiple groups in bright pink garb (bonus points for greeting each other with: “hey, Barbie!”) heading to the new Greta Gerwig, slightly shellshocked viewers emerging from the decidedly more intense Oppenheimer, and the odd cluster of brave punters in the business of attempting both. In terms of hype around a new release, Barbenheimer feels hard to top; but there’s still plenty more to come in London’s summer of film.
From dedicated seasons and revived old classics to the brand new releases to watch out for, here’s a rundown.
100 Years of Disney
To mark a century of enchanting children’s films, London cinemas are staging birthday celebrations, and screening countless Disney classics, from 1950’s Cinderella, to Bambi and Peter Pan, throughout the month. At the BFI, you’ll also find rare big screen outings for Luca, Turning Red, and Soul; three more recent Disney films which came a cropper during the pandemic and so missed out on theatrical runs.
Various cinemas, through August
Be Gay Do Crime: A Season of Queer Crime Films
A genius catchphrase spawned by the internet, “be gay, do crimes” refers to the LGBTQ+ community’s rich history of protest and activism – and at the BFI, they’re celebrating the very best in queer heist. The Wachowskis’ neo-noir crime thriller Bound – still subversive decades on from its 1996 release – is one highlight, along with John Waters and Divine’s Female Trouble, Al Pacino’s bank robbery film Dog Day Afternoon, and French-Brazilian drag biopic Madame Satã.
British Film Institute, Aug 3-28
Martin Scorsese
At Screen on the Green, August is dedicated to all things Martin Scorsese ahead of his upcoming Western, Killers of the Flower Moon. Come for the American-Italian director’s classics – The Irishman, Taxi Driver, The Wolf of Wall Street – and stay for the cinema’s ridiculously beautiful neon signage.
Screen on the Green, Aug 2-30
Kokomo City
This brand new documentary is directed by D. Smith, a former songwriter for the likes of Lil Wayne and André 3000, who was pushed out by the music industry and became homeless after transitioning. Focusing on the lives of four Black, trans sex workers in New York and Georgia, the film gives a voice to all of their experiences, from witty moments of brevity to dark encounters.
Various cinemas, Out now
Joy Ride
This directorial debut from Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim lands in cinemas this month, with screenings all around the capital. It stars Emily in Paris star Ashley Park as Audrey Sullivan, the adopted child of white parents, and descends into comedy chaos as a high-stakes business trip to China takes an unexpected turn.
Various cinemas, Out now
The Meg 2
Another worthy addition to the niche genre of ‘films about massive, angry sharks’ The Meg 2 sees Jason Statham returning as our bravely chiselled deep-sea diver Jonas Taylor, and linking up with a vengeful relative of his old prehistoric nemesis, the megalodon shark, for another sure-to-be ridiculous ocean-bound battle.
Various cinemas, Out now
Canary Wharf’s Family Film Club
Canary Wharf’s Canada Square Park is once again transforming for the summer into a free, open-air cinema. As well as screening the Women’s World Cup and Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, there’s plenty on offer for the kids: from Paddington and Inside Out, to last year’s brilliant film adaptation of Matilda the Musical.
Canada Square Park, Aug 12 and 19
Gran Turismo: The Movie
A real-life gamer who became a racing driver in his late teens, Jann Mardenborough got into professional Super GT off the back of his finely-honed talents on the Playstation game Gran Turismo, and this biopic focuses on his remarkable early career. Truly, an inspiration to keen Mario Kart players everywhere.
Various cinemas, Out now
Haunted Mansion
Striking a slightly different tone to the movie giant’s more wholesome 100th birthday celebrations elsewhere, this comedy-horror is based on one of Disneyland’s best known attractions. As well as LaKeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, Jared Leto, and Jamie Lee Curtis, it also features a sneaky, uncredited cameo from Winona Ryder.
Various cinemas, Out now
Do the Right Thing
To mark 50 years of hip-hop, Peckham’s Rooftop Film Club is showing a handful of influential films this month at its open-air spot. Along with the Janet Jackson and Tupac-starring Poetic Justice, you can also catch Spike Lee’s classic Do The Right Thing, on top of a converted south London factory building, no less.
Bussey Building, Peckham, Aug 16
Strays
With a synopsis that sounds like a fever-dream, Strays stars Will Ferrell as a naive Border Terrier called Reggie, who is completely devoted to his abusive owner despite his endless cruelty. When he’s abandoned onto the streets for good, the canine world’s answer to the Artful Dodger – Jamie Foxx, as worldly Boston Terrier Bug – swoops in to save the day, and the muttley crew (ha ha) set out to wreak revenge. Their method of choice? Brutally castrating Reggie’s nasty former owner, of course.
Various, Aug 17
The Miracle Club
Set in 1960s Ireland, this new film from Thaddeus O’Sullivan follows three women – played by Laura Linney, Kathy Bates and Maggie Smith – as they head off on a pilgrimage to Lourdes in search of various cures, both physical and spiritual.
Various, Aug 17
Blue Beetle
With a handful of releases now pushed back amid the writers’ strikes, DC Comics spin-off Blue Beetle is one of the bigger blockbusters yet to come this summer. It stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a college graduate who develops super-powers after becoming the symbiotic host to an ancient scarab beetle.
Various, Aug 18
Flushed Away and Ratatouille double-bill
This month’s answer to Barbenheimer? Leicester Square’s beloved cult film spot Prince Charles Cinema is putting on a ‘rat-infested’ Sunday double bill, sandwiching together Aardman favourite Flushed Away and Disney’s Ratatouille.
Prince Charles Cinema, Aug 20
Eat the Screen
Through a carefully curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and shorts, this tasty season at the Barbican is serving up a closer look at food: what we eat (and waste), how we consume it, and London’s varied landscape of dishes from all around the world.
Barbican, to Aug 24
Classic Film Season
It’s business as usual for this ongoing cult fixture of the Prince Charles Cinema, with some real gems lined up for the silver screen at their loveable abode this month. Highlights for August include Wong Kar-wai’s dizzying Hong Kong romance Chungking Express, Ridley Scott’s unbeatable sci-fi horror Alien and John Cassavetes’ extraordinary breakdown drama, A Woman Under the Influence.
Prince Charles Cinema, throughout Aug
The Blackening
Satirising the tired out trope of Black characters being killed off early in horror films, The Blackening’s poster jokes: “we can’t all die first”. And so, armed with their forensic knowledge of the classics, a group of friends do their best to evade their murderous captor when a Juneteenth camping trip takes a terrifying turn.
Various, Aug 25
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging 15th Anniversary
Following the trials and tribulations of Eastbourne teenager Georgia as she pines after notable local indie hunk Tom and attempts to bag a boyfriend, Louise Rennison’s novels were a fixture of countless Noughties bookcases. To mark the film adaptation’s 15th anniversary, the BFI is inviting director Gurinder Chadha, co-writer Paul Mayeda Berges, and some extra mystery guests down to a screening and Q+A.
BFI, Aug 26
Paris is Burning
Transforming their sculpture court into an open-air cinema for the summer, the Barbican is getting involved with ongoing Pride celebrations with a screening of the hugely influential documentary Paris is Burning, which takes an in-depth look at New York’s ballroom scene and documents its vast impact on drag culture and beyond.
Barbican Outdoor Sculpture Court, Aug 31
