I really liked the first “Extraction” – a movie that saw Chris Hemsworth slip away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to make a full-on old school action flick. Now we’re getting a sequel simply titled “Extraction 2”. A returning Sam Hargrave directs with Joe and Anthony Russo producing. Netflix gave us a good tease a few weeks ago. Now they have dropped the full trailer and it looks like fans of the first film are going to get even more big, brawny, blockbuster action. I can’t wait.

Hemsworth is once again playing Australian black ops mercenary Tyler Rake. This time he’s tasked with rescuing a mysterious woman and her child who are being hunted by an equally mysterious (and heavily armed) force. The trailer does a good job of keeping the details hidden while still promising us some (a lot actually) exhilarating set pieces. As mentioned, I love what Netflix did with the first film and it looks like they are giving us much of the same with this big budget summer sequel.

“Extraction 2” premieres on Netflix June 16th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Streaming giant Netflix has shared its 2023 Summer Movie Preview which highlights the many films that will be available exclusively on their platform over the next four months. Throughout the summer Netflix will have something for everyone, offering up an interesting variety of movies that includes blockbusters, animated features, family films, documentaries, exciting sequels, and surprising spin-offs. And it all kicks off this Friday, May 12th.

Below you’ll find their slate of summer movies along with links to where you can learn more about them. (All Images Courtesy of Netflix)

May

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MAY 12

“The Mother“

Genre: Action
Logline: An assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter that she gave up years before, while on the run from dangerous men. 
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci and Gael García Bernal
Director: Niki Caro

Read more about The Mother and its cast.

MAY 16

“Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me“

Genre: Documentary
Logline: From director Ursula Macfarlane (Untouchable) and producer Alexandra Lacey comes an unflinching and humanizing examination of the life, death and secrets of Vickie Lynn Hogan — better known as model and actress Anna Nicole Smith. From her first appearance in Playboy in 1992, Anna Nicole’s dizzying ascent was the very essence of the American dream, brought to a tragic halt with her untimely passing in 2007. With access to never-before-seen footage, home movies and interviews with key figures who have not spoken out until now, Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me reveals new insights into the story of the quintessential blonde bombshell hardly anyone really knew.
Director: Ursula Macfarlane

Read more about Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me HERE.

MAY 23

“Victim/Suspect“

Genre: Documentary
Logline: On her first solo investigation, journalist Rae de Leon travels nationwide to uncover a shocking pattern: Young women tell the police they’ve been sexually assaulted, but instead of finding justice, they’re charged with the crime of making a false report, arrested and even imprisoned by the system they believed would protect them.
Director: Nancy Schwartzman

Read more about Victim/Suspect HERE.

June

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JUNE 16

“Extraction 2“

Genre: Action
Logline: Chris Hemsworth returns as Tyler Rake in Extraction 2, the sequel to Netflix’s blockbuster action film Extraction. After barely surviving the events of the first movie, Rake is back as the Australian black ops mercenary, tasked with another deadly mission: rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held. 

Hemsworth reunites with director Sam Hargrave, with Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO producing and Joe Russo writing. Golshifteh Farahani reprises her role from the first film, with Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko, Daniel Bernhardt and Tinatin Dalakishvili also co-starring. Get to know the cast of Extraction 2 here. 

This is a sequel to the first film that was based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks, from a story by Ande Parks, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, with illustrations by Fernando León González. Extraction 2 is produced by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Angela Russo-Otstot, Chris Hemsworth, Patrick Newall and Sam Hargrave, with Jake Aust, Benjamin Grayson, Steven Scavelli, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely as executive producers. 
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Daniel Bernhardt and Tinatin Dalakishvili
Director: Sam Hargrave

Read more about Extraction 2 HERE.

JUNE 19

“Take Care of Maya“

Genre: Documentary
Logline: When 9-year-old Maya Kowalski was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2016, nothing could have prepared her or her family for what they were about to go through. As the medical team tried to understand her rare illness, they began to question the basic truths that bound the Kowalskis together. Suddenly, Maya was in state custody –– despite two parents who were desperate to bring their daughter home. The story of the Kowalski family –– as told in their own words –– will change the way you look at children’s healthcare forever.
Director: Henry Roosevelt

JUNE 23

“The Perfect Find “

Genre: Rom-com
Logline: After a high-profile firing, Jenna’s (Gabrielle Union) fashion career comeback hits a snag when she falls for a charming, much younger co-worker (Keith Powers) — who happens to be her boss’ son. As sparks fly, Jenna must decide if she’ll risk it all on a secret romance.
Cast: Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers, Aisha Hinds, D.B. Woodside, Janet Hubert, Alani “La La” Anthony and Gina Torres
Director: Numa Perrier

Read more about The Perfect Find HERE.

JUNE

“Nimona“

Genre: Animated family film
Logline: When Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a mischievous teen with a taste for mayhem — who also happens to be a shape-shifting creature Ballister has been trained to destroy. But with the entire kingdom out to get him, Nimona’s the best (or technically the only) sidekick Ballister can hope for. And as the lines between heroes, villains and monsters start to blur, the two of them set out to wreak serious havoc — for Ballister to clear his name once and for all, and for Nimona to… just wreak serious havoc.   

Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, Nimona is an epic tale about finding friendship in the most surprising situations and accepting yourself and others for who they are. Based on the National Book Award-nominated, New York Times best-selling graphic novel by ND Stevenson.
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, Indya Moore, RuPaul Charles, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman 
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane

Read more about Nimona HERE.

July

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JULY 5

“Wham!“

Genre: Documentary 
Logline: In 1982, the best of friends and still teenagers –– George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley as WHAM! set out to conquer the world. By June of 1986 they played their very last gig at Wembley Stadium having done exactly that. Now for the very first time, told in their own words, the amazing story of how in four years they dominated the charts around the world with timeless and classic pop songs. Hit after hit –– “Club Tropicana,” “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go,” “Freedom,” “I’m Your Man” and of course “Last Christmas.” Their time in the spotlight was white-hot, becoming the very first western pop act to play in China. It was a time that both encapsulated and epitomised not just their youth, but also those of the many millions of fans that adored them. Wham! is a feature-length documentary that captures this magical time, from director Chris Smith (Tiger King, “Sr.”) and producers John Battsek (The Deepest Breath) and Simon Halfon (Supersonic) With unprecedented access to both George and Andrew’s personal archive including remarkable and never-before-seen footage, alongside rare, candid and previously unheard interviews. Wham! charts their incredible journey from school friends to superstars.
Director: Chris Smith

Read more about Wham! HERE.

JULY 7

“The Out-Laws“

Genre: Action comedy
Logline: Owen Browning (Adam Devine) is a straitlaced bank manager about to marry the love of his life, Parker (Nina Dobrev). When his bank is held up by the infamous Ghost Bandits during his wedding week, he believes his future in-laws (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin), who just arrived in town, are the infamous Out-Laws.
Cast: Adam Devine, Nina Dobrev, Michael Rooker, Poorna Jagannathan, Julie Hagerty, Richard Kind, Lil Rel Howery, Blake Anderson, Lauren Lapkus, Laci Mosley, with Ellen Barkin and Pierce Brosnan
Director: Tyler Spindel

Read more about The Out-Laws HERE.

JULY 14

“Bird Box Barcelona“

Genre: Action thriller
Logline: From the producers of the global phenomenon Bird Box comes Bird Box Barcelona, an expansion of the film that riveted audiences in 2018. After a mysterious force decimates the world’s population, Sebastian must navigate his own survival journey through the desolate streets of Barcelona. As he forms uneasy alliances with other survivors and they try to escape the city, an unexpected and even more sinister threat grows.
Cast: Mario Casas, Georgina Campbell, Diego Calva, Alejandra Howard, Naila Schuberth, Patrick Criado, Lola Dueñas, Gonzalo de Castro, Michelle Jenner and Leonardo Sbaraglia
Director: Álex Pastor, David Pastor

Read more about Bird Box Barcelona HERE.

JULY 19

“The Deepest Breath“

Genre: Documentary
Logline:  A champion freediver trains to break a world record with the help of an expert safety diver, and the two form an emotional bond that feels like fate. This heart-stopping film follows the paths they took to meet at the pinnacle of the freediving world, documenting the thrilling rewards — and inescapable risks — of chasing a dream through the silent depths of the ocean.
Director: Laura McGann

Read more about The Deepest Breath HERE.

JULY 21

“They Cloned Tyrone“

Genre: Mystery action thriller
Logline: A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio (John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris) onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.
Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, David Alan Grier, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Tamberla Perry, Eric Robinson Jr. with Kiefer Sutherland and Jamie Foxx 
Director: Juel Taylor

Read more about They Cloned Tyrone HERE.

JULY 27

“Happiness for Beginners“

Genre: Rom-com
Logline: Helen (Ellie Kemper) has always lived her life as far from the edge as possible. Newly divorced, she joins a quirky group of strangers on a survival course for the “adventure of a lifetime” with the hope of learning how to live — and love — again.
Cast: Ellie Kemper, Luke Grimes, Nico Santos, Blythe Danner, Ben Cook, Shayvawn Webster, Esteban Benito, Gus Birney, Julia Shiplett
Director: Vicky Wight

Read more about Happiness for Beginners HERE.

August

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AUG. 11

“Heart of Stone“

Genre: Action
Logline: Rachel Stone (Gal Gadot) is an intelligence operative, the only woman who stands between her powerful global peacekeeping organization and the loss of its most valuable — and dangerous — asset.
Cast: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighöfer, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready
Director: Tom Harper

Read more about Heart of Stone HERE.

AUG. 18

“The Monkey King“

Genre: Animated family film
Logline: Inspired by an epic Chinese tale, translated into an action-packed comedy, a Monkey and his magical fighting Stick battle demons, dragons, gods and the greatest adversary of all — Monkey’s ego.
Cast: Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Stephanie Hsu, Andrew Pang, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie and BD Wong
Director: Anthony Stacchi

Read more about The Monkey King HERE.

AUG. 25

“You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah“

Genre: Family comedy
Logline: Stacy and Lydia are BFFs who’ve always dreamed about having epic bat mitzvahs. But things start to go comically awry when a popular boy and middle school drama threaten their friendship and their rite of passage.
Cast: Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Samantha Lorraine, Dylan Hoffman, Sarah Sherman, Dan Bulla, Ido Mosseri, Jackie Hoffman and Luis Guzmán 
Director: Sammi Cohen

Read more about You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah HERE.

AUG. 31

“Choose Love“

Genre: Interactive rom-com
Logline: Cami Conway has it all. She’s got the job she wants and is headed toward engagement, marriage and kids with her wonderful boyfriend, Paul. And yet, she feels something is missing. Cami faces a kaleidoscope of tempting but tough choices: from serious ethical dilemmas to the frivolous “Truth or Dare.” What she chooses depends wholly on you, the viewer.  But be careful! Things don’t always play out like you think!
Cast: Laura Marano, Avan Jogia, Jordi Webber and Scott Michael Foster
Director: Stuart McDonald

Read more about Choose Love HERE.

I had a blast with 2018’s “The Meg”. It was silly and over-the-top which is a big reason it was so much fun. It also made over $530 million at the box office so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we are getting a sequel. It took a while but it’s finally on the way. To get us ready Warner Bros. Pictures has released its first trailer. And wouldn’t you know it they’re taking the silliness to a whole new level. That’s a good thing and exactly what I was hoping for.

The sequel is directed by Ben Wheatley whose last film was the terrific horror thriller “In the Earth”. Jason Statham returns as rescue diver Jonas Taylor, our Meg-battling hero from the first film. While the plot isn’t fully revealed, it’s clear that Jonas and several other returning characters are facing bigger and hungrier threats. The glimpses of bonkers action we get from the trailer are hysterical and this looks like the perfect movie to see in a theater with an energetic crowd. I know I’ll be there.

“Meg 2: The Trench” roars into theaters August 4th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Amid all the bigger and more high-profile summer blockbusters there’s one little fish that isn’t getting much press. “Meg 2: The Trench” is the follow to the wacky but rip-roaring 2018 shark thriller “The Meg”. In that film a group of scientists in a research facility built on the ocean floor encounter a 75-foot-long megalodon shark. Not much has been said about the sequel’s plot, but we do know Jason Statham is returning in the lead role. Granted, despite its first film earning over $530 million, “Meg 2” is considerably smaller compared to the more talked about movies on the summer roadmap. But I had fun with the first film, and I really like the playful vibe of the new posters just released from Warner Bros. Pictures. Check them out.

DIRECTOR – Ben Wheatley

WRITER – Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Dean Georgaris

STARRING – Jason Statham, Sienna Guillory, Cliff Curtis, Shuya Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Skyler Samuels, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Wu Jing

RELEASE – August 4, 2023

This is how you do a trailer! Universal Pictures has released their latest look at Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated next film, “Oppenheimer” and it looks amazing. Within its three minutes we’re teased with much of what has made Nolan such a revered filmmaker. And again check out the cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Rami Malek, Florence Pugh, Matthew Modine, Benny Safdie, Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Alden Ehrenreich, James D’Arcy, and more. Wow!

“Oppenheimer” is Nolan’s first swing at doing a biopic, but you can be assured that he won’t be beholden to any formula. He tells the story of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Murphy) who is often credited as the “father of the atomic bomb”. Nolan takes a deep dive into the Manhattan Project, showing how the key players, led by Oppenheimer, came together to create the first ever atomic bomb. It looks and sounds absolutely riveting and I can’t wait to see what Nolan has in store for us both narratively and visually.

“Oppenheimer” hits theaters July 21st. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Character posters are a big thing and what can I say, I like them. The latest to get the character poster treatment is Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of their own 1989 animated feature “The Little Mermaid”. The film is directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago”, “Nine”, “Mary Poppins Returns”) who’s working from a script by David Magee (“Finding Neverland”, “Life of Pi”, “Mary Poppins Returns”). Disney’s live-action remakes have been pretty hit-or-miss, but they’re putting a lot into it this one.

These beautiful new character posters give us close-up looks at the film’s interesting cast which includes Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Javier Bardem, Awkwafina, Jonah Hauer-King, Jacob Tremblay, and Melissa McCarthy. “The Little Mermaid” releases exclusively in theaters on May 26th. (All Images are Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios).