Screens

What: Movie, 100 mins.
When: Fri., June 28
Where: In theatres
Genre: Horror
Why you should go: Director John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place was an unexpected smash in 2018: Who could have predicted the guy from The Office would write and direct the horror movie of the year? Krasinski also directed the pretty good followup Part II but has passed the baton to Michael Sarnoski (I guess he was busy directing the kids’ movie, IF). A Quiet Place: Day One stars Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn and is set in New York City on the day the ruthless alien monsters with amazing hearing attacked. Wondering what happened to Emily Blunt’s character and her brood from the original film? Don’t worry. There is a Part III already in the works.

What: Movie, 164 mins.
When: Fri., June 21
Where: In theatres
Genre: Drama
Why you should go: It’s been just over two months since his oddball Victorian spectacle, Poor Things, finished its awards run, and the gears are already turning on the would-be provocateur’s new farce, Kinds of Kindness. Starring Emma Stone once again, the cast is rounded off by a who’s who of young Hollywood talent, including Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, Hong Chau and Hunter Schaffer. Although the plot is under wraps, we know it follows three disparate stories in con-temporary America.

What: Movie, 95 mins.
When: Fri., July 3
Where: In theatres
Genre: Family
Why you should go: Minion mania may have mellowed a bit in the last few years but these mischievous yellow guys remain a reliable source of fun for all ages. In this latest outing, Gru and the family (with the newest, littlest member) must thwart the supervillain Maxime Le Mal while navigating their own chaotic household. Sure, four Despicable Me movies, on top of two Minion spin-offs, might seem excessive. But with its expressive animation, endearing characters and the madcap slapstick of the minions, this is certainly high-caliber family fare.

What: Movie, 103 mins.
When: Fri., July 5
Where: In theatres
Genre: Horror
Why you should go: Who could have predicted that Ti West’s 2022 throwback horror film X, about a group of would-be pornographers setting up camp in rural Texas, was the beginning of a genre-bending, era-spanning trilogy? The film was followed up with the stylish prequel Pearl, set in 1918 and deeply indebted to 1940s and ’50s melodrama. The final chapter, Maxxxine, follows X’s final girl Maxine (Mia Goth) as she makes her way to Hollywood for a shot at fame. There, she revels in the excesses of ’80s L.A. while being pursued by real-life serial killer, Night Stalker.

What: Movie, 130 mins.
When: Fri., July 26
Where: In theatres
Genre: Action
Why you should go: As the movie theatre superhero supremacy seems to be winding down, we are starting to see increasingly random outings from the Marvel and DC universe. In Hollywood B-movie tradition, here is a classic monster mashup! Starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, the film puts the two superheroes together when Deadpool is recruited to protect the multiverse.

What: Movie, 151 minutes
When: Fri., Aug 23
Where: In theatres
Genre: Thriller
Why you should go: While Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut is slightly sullied by foregoing its original title, Pussy Island, for something more family-friendly, Blink Twice still has an intriguing trailer and stellar cast. Channing Tatum plays a charming tech billionaire who invites a waitress (Naomi Ackie) and her friend (Alia Shawkat) to his luxurious private island, where the festivities soon turn sinister. While the premise is not exactly new (in the last few years, we have seen at least three fi lms and one HBO miniseries featuring rich people on an idyllic island committing murder), Blink Twice has enough star power and beautiful people to be, at the very least, a couple of hours of eye candy.

What: Movie, 100 mins.
When: Fri., May 24
Where: In theatres
Genre: Horror
Why you should go: The early responses to Jane Sheonbaum’s new film, I Saw the TV Glow, have been pretty hyperbolic, setting expectations high. Following the word-of-mouth success of We Are All Going to the World’s Fair, a creepy micro-budget horror about a sinister Internet game. I Saw the TV Glow treads similar terrain (with a marked uptick in budget) with a group of young people who investigate a sinister TV channel. The film begins a limited run at the Revue theatre on May 24.

What: Movie, 102 mins.
When: Fri., June 7
Where: In theatres
Genre: Family
Why you should go: Equal parts charming and heartbreaking, Robot Dreams is a kid-friendly, inventive animated film. But be warned there is an existentially sad section in the middle. In the film, a lonely dog orders a robot online, and a beautiful friendship blooms between the two. But a day at the beach ends with the robot rusting stiff and too heavy to move, and he spends a long winter on the sand, dreaming of being reunited with his friend. Directed by Pablo Berger, this wordless film is an ode to the transformative power of friendship and the chaotic charm of New York City.

What: Movie, 92 mins.
When: Fri., June 14
Where: In theatres
Genre: Comedy
Why you should go: If you’ve watched HBO’s Hacks, chances are you’re a fan of Megan Stalter. After gaining social media fame during the pandemic for her hilariously unhinged Instagram videos, she took a small role in the beloved HBO show and ran away with every scene. The new queer dramedy Cora Bora is her biggest and meatiest role yet. Directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, Cora Bora follows a fledgling singer-songwriter (Stalter) who returns from L.A. to Portland to reconnect with her girlfriend but discovers that someone has taken her place. Cora Bora balances cringe comedy with a compassionate story of a failure to launch.

What: Movie, 92 mins.
When: Fri., June 21
Where: In theatres
Genre: Drama
Why you should go: Coming off the whirlwind press tour for Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone brings her inimitable screen presence to Fancy Dance, an indie by Erica Tremblay. In the film, Gladstone plays an Indigenous woman trying to hold on to her niece after her sister goes missing. As the two women travel to attend a powwow, they’re hounded by police and their family members. Balancing tense, moody drama with real issues of missing Indigenous women and Indigenous kids adopted into white families, Fancy Dance should be a thought-provoking watch.

What: Movie, 104 mins.
When: Fri., June 28
Where: In theatres
Genre: Drama
Why you should go: Controversial French director Catherine Breillat returns with her first film in a decade, the provocative and nuanced Last Summer. Despite being a remake of the Danish film Queen of Hearts, this film is all Breillat — intimate and fearless in its examination of desire and sex. The film follows a successful married defence attorney whose life is turned up-side down when her 17-year-old, troublemaker stepson moves in. As an affair develops between the two, Breillat keeps them in precise, unforgiving frames that shift the bucolic beauty of her luxurious French country home into something fraught and full of desire, transgression and manipulation.

What: Movie, 101 mins.
When: Fri., July 12
Where: In theatres
Genre: Horror
Why you should go: For horror fans, there are a few options at the theatre this summer: the apocalyptic prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, another exorcism movie starring Russel Crowe (The Exorcism) and films by both M. Night Shyamalan (Trap) and his daughter, Ishana (The Watchers). But perhaps the buzziest among them is the moody horror Longlegs, starring Nicholas Cage and indie horror star Maika Monroe (It Follows). Monroe plays an FBI agent on the tail of a brutal serial killer. Directed by Oz Perkins (son of Psycho’s Anthony Perkins), the film looks grim and grimy in the best way.

When: Fri., May 24 – Fri., May 31
Where: In theatres
Genre: Thriller
Why you should go: The Innis Town Hall at the University of Toronto is one of the best venues for free films in the city. The student union hosts an exciting lineup of entertaining and thought-provoking films during the school year. Before it closes for the summer, catch two free films as part of the Mayworks Festival of Working People. First is the revolutionary classic The Battle of Algiers, an unforgettable and deeply influential film. The following week, catch Tomorrow’s Freedom, a wide-ranging documentary on the imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi.

What: Movie, 82 mins.
When: Tue., May 28
Where: In theatres
Genre: Drama
Why you should go: Year-round, Toronto Public Library branches offer free weekly screenings (check your local branch for its schedule). But a standout this summer is a screening of the Indigenous drama Taututavuk (What We See) at the Toronto Reference Library. Directed by sisters Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk, the film follows two sisters (played by the directors) as they struggle to stay connected and grounded during COVID-19.

What: Festival
When: Wed., June 19 – Sun., Aug. 25
Where: Various
Genre: Various
Why you should go: The Toronto Outdoor Picture Show returns with a series of films about the workplace. Catch all-time favourites like 9 to 5 (1980), Out of Sight (1998) and Empire Records (1995) as well as recent gems like Sorry to Bother You (2018), Perfect Days (2024) and Someone Lives Here (2023). The films will screen throughout the summer in Fort York, Christie Pits Park, Corktown Common and Bell Manor Park.

What: Movie
When: Fri., July 19 and Fri., August 31
Where: Humber River Paddling Centre
Genre: Various
Why you should go: For that very special night out, try Movies on the River. Combine your loves of nature and cinema: rent a canoe or kayak (or bring your own boat) and paddle with a guide to a floating screen for the main attraction. If you’re brave, you can catch Steven Spielberg’s ground-breaking 1975 blockbuster, Jaws. Or if you’re in the mood for calmer waters, bring the kids to their screening of the less treacherous Finding Nemo.

What: Festival
When: Fri., May 24 to Sat., June 1
Where: Various
Genre: Various
Why you should go: This pride month, one of the city’s most beloved festivals returns with an exciting and unexpected slate of short and feature-length films as well as parties and panels. Check out a documentary about a three-generation family made up exclusively of queer women (Unusually Normal), or one about the Nêhiyaw artist George Littlechild shot on 16mm film. And catch the Aubrey Plaza-starring My Old Ass or the Eliot Page-starring Close to You. Other standouts include We Forgot the Break Up, a romantic drama set in Toronto’s music scene, and Winter Kept Us Warm, considered among the first Canadian gay films.

What: Festival
When: Thurs., May 30 to Sun., June 9
Where: Various
Genre: Various
Why you should go: Now in its 32nd year, the TJFF returns with a slate of fascinating documentaries, dramas and comedies exploring the multiple facets of Jewish life and identity. Some standouts include Between the Temples, a comedy by Nathan Silver starring Jason Schwartzman as a singer who is unexpectedly reunited with his music teacher, played by Carol Kane; The Goldman Case, a taut courtroom drama that dramatizes the 1976 murder trial of Pierre Goldman; and Midas Man, a biopic about Brian Epstein, the man who discovered The Beatles.

What: Movie, 97 mins.
When: Thurs., June 27
Where: Fox Theatre
Genre: Comedy
Why you should go: Since its re-lease nearly 30 years ago, Clueless has been the quintessential soundtrack for countless slumber parties. Amy Heckerling’s pitch-perfect modernization of Jane Austen’s Emma handily transports the story to an elite high school in Beverly Hills. Hilarious and endlessly quotable, Clueless is a razor-sharp satire with a killer wardrobe. So put on your PJs and relive those salad days or experience this all-time teen classic for the first time on the big screen.

What: Movie, 120 mins.
When: Fri., July 12
Where: The Revue
Genre: Drama
Why you should go: The Revue will be screening a series of films turning 35 this year on a 35mm print. And what is a more appropriate summer classic than Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing? Set over the course of one searing day in Brooklyn, Lee’s film deals with race, gentrification, hip hop, and gender relations with inimitable style and humor. Series also screens Showgirls (June 24 & 25), Bring Me the Head Of Alfredo Garcia (July 19) and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (Sept. 6).

What: Movie, 82 mins.
When: Sun., June 2
Where: The Paradise Theatre
Genre: Documentary
Why you should go: Contours is the buzzy new series at The Paradise that highlights films inspired by or featuring the fine arts. Don’t miss the underseen 1982 film Wild Style, the film follows a young graffiti artist (Lee Quiñones) who’s courted by the art world. Featuring performances by hip hop artists like the Rock Steady Crew and Grandmaster Flash, Wild Style is a time capsule of a specific time and place and a stylish ode to art form as resistance.

What: Movie
When: Fri., May 24 – Fri., May 31
Where: Hot Docs Cinema
Genre: Various
Why you should go: Before temporarily closing, Hot Docs celebrates Asian Heritage Month with nine films that explore Asian identity. Highlights include Enter the Clones of Bruce, David Gregory’s doc about the cult of Bruce Lee and the cottage industry of imitators that sprung up after his untimely death; the neon-tinged The Last Year of Darkness, a drama set in Chengdu’s queer nightlife; and a talk with Lies and Weddings author Kevin Kwan.

What: Series, 6 episodes, 30 mins.
When: Fri., May 24
Where: CBC Gem
Genre: Documentary
Why you should go: A six-part documentary on Canadian Paralympian Ness Murby. This rousing and honest series follows Murby, who lost his sight as a child, and his family as he works to become the first openly trans male athlete in the Paralympics.

What: Movie, 115 mins.
When: Fri., May 24; streaming Fri., June 7
Where: In theatres, Netflix
Genre: Thriller
Why you should go: Richard Linklater’s latest was an unexpected critical hit at Venice and TIFF last year. Funny, sexy, and unexpected, the film follows an undercover cop (Glenn Powell) who poses as a hitman and meets a lovely lady in the process. After last year’s surprise hit Anyone but You with Sydney Sweeney, is Glen Powell going to be the face of the rom-com renaissance?

What: Series, 10 episodes, 30 mins.
When: Thurs., August 15
Where: Netflix
Genre: Comedy
Why you should go: The unexpected smash hit Emily in Paris returns for its fourth season this summer. In the two-part fourth season, the overtly cheerful American marketing executive and Parisian transplant gets a new love interest, visits a new city and finds herself in a lot of drama. Is this the season where Emily finally learns French? Tune in to find out!

Where: Crave
What: Miniseries, 4 episodes, 58 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NNNNN (out of 5)
Why you should watch: This spectacular, inspiring and ultimately infuriating documentary tells an amazing music story of Memphis-based, Black showcasing soul record label, Stax while powerfully locating it in the context of the tumultuous ‘60s and ‘70s society around it. Read our full review.

Where: Paramount+
What: Miniseries, 3 episodes, 55 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NN (out of 5)
Why you should watch: This self-aggrandizing series is more an infomercial celebrating Lollapalooza. Cofounder Perry Farrell is unbearable, lit like an oracle for his interview segments, he drops what he clearly considers bon mots with absurd regularity followed by lingering reaction shots — he even occasionally smugly licks his lips — giving us plenty of time to contemplate his cleverness. His obvious self-satisfaction borders on self-parody.

Where: Paramount+
What: Movie, 96 mins.
When: Tue., June 4
Genre: Documentary
Why you should watch: Cyndi Lauper is finally getting the respect she deserves both as an artist and activist, especially her work as an ally for the LGBTQ+ community and we’re hoping this is a documentary worthy of this pioneering legend.

What: Movie, 107 mins.
When: Fri., May 31
Where: Disney+
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)
Why you should go: Ron Howard’s excellent documentary on the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson is a thoughtful exploration of the artist behind some of the most beloved characters in children’s entertainment from The Muppets and Sesame Street. Henson was as inventive and talented as he was good-natured and introverted. He also longed to be seen as more than “just a kids’ show puppeteer” and struggled with the uneven reception of his film work for “grown-ups.” This warm-hearted documentary features interviews with Henson’s family members as well as archival footage from his famous TV shows and his own film work, including experimental films. Read our full review.

What: Movie, 102 mins.
When: Fri., June 7
Where: In theatres
Genre: Horror
Why you should go: Ishana Shyamalan’s disturbing tale of a young artist stranded in an immaculate forest in western Ireland, the strangers she is trapped with and creepy creatures she faces. Yipes. Read our full review.