Trailer Blitz: Sovereign, Xeno, Eden, Videoheaven, Guns Up, The Strangers - Chapter 2, Finally Dawn, My Mother’s Wedding and More
Time to catch up on this week's movie trailers! Here's a list of films coming to screens soon!
“Sovereign” Trailer: Nick Offerman Plays a Radical Father Spiraling into Extremism in Tense True-Crime Thriller with Jacob Tremblay and Dennis Quaid — In Theaters and on VOD July 11th
Get ready to see Nick Offerman in a whole new light. Shedding his trademark deadpan comedic demeanor, the Parks and Recreation star steps into the role of a father whose staunch anti-government beliefs have put him on a dangerous collision course with law enforcement. Worse yet, he’s dragged his innocent teenage son along for the ride, turning a fringe ideology into a family crisis.
In this new gripping father-son thriller Sovereign, based on true events and an actual anti-government activist group, Offerman stars as Jerry Kane, a fiercely anti-establishment father who, alongside his teenage son Joseph (played by Jacob Tremblay, of The Life of Chuck, Good Boys, and Room), travels the country delivering self-styled legal seminars, preaching the word of the Sovereign Citizen movement. To them, the government is illegitimate, the law is a lie, and personal freedom trumps all.
But as their rhetoric grows more extreme and their actions more confrontational, their crusade puts them on a dangerous collision course with Police Chief Jim Bouchart (played here by Dennis Quaid), a man equally committed to law, order, and protecting his town. What begins as a philosophical standoff soon spirals into a deadly showdown—one that forces all involved to reckon with the true cost of conviction and the perilous edge between liberty and lawlessness.
Part road movie, part psychological powder keg, Sovereign aims to explore how rigid ideology, generational influence, and paranoia can turn belief into utter tragedy.
Co-starring Thomas Mann, Martha Plimpton, and Nancy Travis, Sovereign will be arriving in theaters on July 11th. It will also be made available on VOD and digital platforms.
“Xeno” Trailer: Lulu Wilson Befriends an Alien Monster in This Kevin Hart-Produced Sci-Fi Adventure Thriller Featuring Creature Effects by Jim Henson’s Studio — In Theaters September 19th
If we learned anything from E.T., it’s that kids will form bonds with the most unexpected of creatures—as long as they come in peace, have big eyes, and maybe a touch of magic. It helps if said extraterrestrial being looks like a harmless lost puppy crossed with a squishy garden gnome and just wants to phone home.
But what if an alien creature landed on Earth with a very different kind of appearance… one that might scare the living daylights out of anyone who sees it? One with claws, scales, and the jaws of a shark? It’s the kind of visitor that doesn’t fit the plush toy mold, but still might have a heart buried somewhere beneath the horror.
So, would a kid still find a way to look past the teeth, talons, and leathery skin, and see a lost soul in need of a friend? Well, in this upcoming sci-fi adventure thriller Xeno, first contact becomes the unlikely coming-of-age journey of a teen girl who discovers that the mysterious alien monster hiding in the desert isn’t here to conquer... but to survive. Their unlikely friendship sparks an epic adventure that challenges everything she thought she knew about monsters, trust, and humanity itself. With shadowy government agents in hot pursuit and a universe-altering secret on the line, she must fight to protect her new companion in a story where the real alien threat... might not be the one from another planet.
Produced by Kevin Hart (yup, that Kevin Hart) through his production company Hartbeat Productions, the upcoming film stars Lulu Wilson (Becky, The Wrath of Becky, The Fall of the House of Usher) as the brave teen girl at the center of it all. She is joined by Wrenn Schmidt, Trae Romano, and Paul Schneider, with Omari Hardwick (Starz’s Power, Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead) as a relentless government agent hunting down the alien monster—without mercy and without compromise.
First-time feature filmmaker Matthew Loren Oates writes and directs, working with alien creature designs made by the legendary Jim Henson Company’s Creature Shop.
Xeno is hitting theaters nationwide on September 19th.
“Eden” Teaser Trailer: Jude Law and Ana de Armas Face Off in Ron Howard’s Survival Thriller About a Failed Island Utopia with Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, and Sydney Sweeney – In Theaters August 22nd
Building utopia isn’t all it's cracked up to be. When a group of travelers attempt to turn a remote South American island into their own self-sustaining paradise, what they discover is far from idyllic.
Based on an incredible true story, Eden is a new island-set survival thriller from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, featuring a stacked ensemble cast that includes Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Ana de Armas, Daniel Brühl, and Sydney Sweeney.
Law portrays Dr. Friedrich Ritter, a real-life German scientist who, in the early 1930s, left Germany to establish a self-sufficient community on the Galápagos Islands with hopes of building a utopian society where communal relationships are essential and equality is paramount. However, his romantic vision quickly devolves into a brutal ecosystem driven by paranoia, control, and primal instinct—where survival of the fittest becomes the only rule.
Brühl and Sweeney portray a humble German couple who have traveled to the island to follow Ritter’s dream, while Kirby takes on the role of Ritter’s fiercely independent spouse and science partner.
De Armas plays a mysterious Austrian Baroness who claims to come from great wealth and aristocratic lineage. Her arrival, however, changes the island dynamics as a struggle for power, territory, and influence erupts, exposing the darker impulses lurking just beneath the surface of this so-called paradise.
Written by Noah Pink (Tetris), Eden tells the true and shocking story about the mystery behind what really happened on the island. The film premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, and it’s now slated to open in theaters on August 22nd.
“Videoheaven” Trailer: Alex Ross Perry Rewinds to the Golden Age of VHS in a Nostalgic Doc Essay Narrated by Maya Hawke — Screening July 2nd at NY’s IFC Center, and August 6th at LA’s Vidiots
Remember the days of VHS tapes and video rentals? Late fees and flimsy plastic cases. “Please Rewind” labels and the bright blue FBI piracy warnings before every movie. And the countless hours spent wandering aisles, flipping through endless VHS covers, reading the backs like sacred texts before finally selecting your movie for the night. Ah, what lovely memories.
But with the advent of streaming, these memories are becoming more and more faded and grainy, like the fuzzy static of the past. So, wouldn’t it be the perfect time for someone to come in and remind us about this era of VHS tapes before it’s fully eaten by the VCR of history?
Enter: filmmaker Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Philip, Her Smell) with a new nostalgia-filled film essay that rewinds to the analog era when the video store reigned supreme, and movie nights meant driving to our local rental shop where the thrill of discovery was as magical as watching the movie itself.
Part love letter, part eulogy, Alex Ross Perry’s new lo-fi documentary Videoheaven stitches together a treasure trove of commercials, film clips, and archival footage as it charts the rise and fall of the VHS rental empire that reshaped how we watched, talked about, and worshipped movies. Equal parts nostalgia trip and cultural autopsy, this “film essay” is a bittersweet ode to a flickering past, where cinema lived on shelves and was always just within reach, waiting to be discovered, rewound, and watched again.
Narrated by Stranger Things actress Maya Hawke and running at 173 minutes (that’s nearly a 3-hour-long “film essay”), Videoheaven might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely speaking to the generation that grew up under the glow of tube TVs, clutched rental cards like golden tickets, and knew the true joy of a Friday night spent in the aisles of their local video store.
The doc will screen at the Cinema Conservancy at New York’s IFC Center on July 2nd, and at Vidiots in Los Angeles on August 6th, followed by more limited screenings at a later date.
“Guns Up” Trailer: Kevin James Plays a Dad Who Moonlights as a Mob Enforcer in This Action Crime Comedy with Christina Ricci — In Theaters and on VOD July 18th
You might know Kevin James as a hilarious stand-up comic who frequently stars in slapstick, goofy comedies, namely Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups, and his long-running sitcom The King of Queens. But from time to time, Kevin James has changed things up, playing against type. For instance, in the sports comedy Here Comes the Boom, James transforms from a mild-mannered biology teacher into a fierce MMA fighter. In the off-kilter home invasion thriller Becky, James really explored his dark side, playing a ruthless neo-Nazi ringleader who squares off with a surprisingly violent teenage girl.
Now, James is once again stepping out of his comfort zone, diving into a bit more dramatic territory with a performance that could catch some of his fans off guard Yet, it’s still a dark comedy, blending his signature everyman charm with a sharper, more sardonic edge.
In Guns Up, James plays a family man who secretly has one foot in the mob as one of the city’s most-feared henchmen and debt collectors. When a business opportunity presents itself—buying a rundown local diner—he might have just found a way to leave his violent criminal past behind for good. Sadly, no one leaves the mob… unless it’s in a body bag. Now, with a target on his back and time running out, he’s got one night to save his unsuspecting kids, who have no idea he’s been working for the wrong side of the law this whole time. Luckily for his family, this mob-connected dad has a secret weapon: his wife, who turns out to be just as capable of dishing out brutal violence as he is.
Yellowjackets star Christina Ricci is James’s lethal better half, while the supporting cast includes Luis Guzmán, Melissa Leo, and Timothy V. Murphy.
Written and directed by indie filmmaker Edward Drake (Cosmic Sin, Apex), Guns Up hits theaters and VOD on July 18th.
“The Strangers - Chapter 2” Trailer: Madelaine Petsch Faces a Second Round of Masked Mayhem in This Slasher Sequel with Gabriel Basso and Ema Horvath — In Theaters September 26th
They came masked. They left bodies. But one got away. And if you thought surviving a night of pure terror was the full story, just wait 'til you see what happens next!
Hint: there's a lot of blood-curdling screaming, a lot of frantically running down darkened hallways, and plenty of masked slashers popping out of nowhere. Now The Strangers are back—colder, crueler, and dead-set on finishing the job.
The Strangers – Chapter 2 (yes, a sequel to the 2024 slasher remake… and yes, the second installment of a trilogy that was shot back-to-back-to-back) once again stars Madelaine Petsch as Maya Lucas, the sole survivor of the events in Chapter 1. When Maya finds herself recovering in a hospital bed, those pesky masked killers return with a vengeance, turning her fragile recovery into a waking nightmare.
With no help, no haven, and no reason behind the madness, Maya must endure a second round of unrelenting terror… because for The Strangers, it’s never over until everyone’s dead.
Again directed by action maestro Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea) and featuring returning cast members Gabriel Basso and Ema Horvath, The Strangers – Chapter 2 is set to terrorize theaters on September 26th.
“Finally Dawn” Trailer: A Wide-Eyed Dreamer (Rebecca Antonaci) Swept Into Rome’s Glamorous Film Industry in This 1950s Vintage Hollywood Fable with Lily James, Joe Keery, Rachel Sennott, and Willem Dafoe — In Theaters and on VOD July 18th
If you always thought vintage Hollywood had a dream-like veneer of a fairy tale, straight out of something like Cinderella where a young woman can waltz into town and find overnight fame, fortune, and maybe even love... Well, here’s a movie that’s placed straight into that fantasy where anyone can be queen for a day… or until the clock strikes at dawn.
In this Italian period dramedy Finally Dawn, Italian actress Rebecca Antonaci stars as Mimosa, a shy and sheltered young woman in 1950s Rome. While on the verge of a quiet engagement, Mimosa is offered a chance to audition as a film extra at Cinecittà, Italy’s biggest movie studio. She is soon plunged into one dazzling, dizzying night among the gods of golden-age Hollywood.
Swept into the orbit of glamorous American starlet Josephine Esperanto (played by Lily James, of The Iron Claw and Baby Driver), Mimosa’s world turns technicolor as she brushes shoulders with movie idols (Stranger Things’ Joe Keery), ambitious ingénues (Saturday Night’s Rachel Sennott), and powerful movie execs (Willem Dafoe). As the line between fantasy and reality blurs, Mimosa must decide who she truly is... but this night of dreams can only last so long.
Written and directed by Italian filmmaker Saverio Costanzo (Hungry Hearts, My Brilliant Friend), Finally Dawn aims to take viewers back to the golden age of epic sword-and-sandal productions like Cleopatra, Quo Vadis, and Spartacus—but told through the eyes of an unlikely heroine whose eyes are as big and wide as her aspirations.
Finally Dawn arrives in theaters and on VOD July 18th.
“My Mother’s Wedding” Trailer: Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, and Emily Beecham Navigate Family Chaos in Kristin Scott Thomas’s Directorial Debut — In Theaters August 8th
When she’s not encountering towering dinosaurs this summer, you can also catch Scarlett Johansson tackling something just as unexpected: an English accent.
In the upcoming dysfunctional English family comedy My Mother’s Wedding, Johansson plays one of three sisters dealing with complicated emotions at their twice-widowed mother’s attempt at walking down the aisle for the third time. Johansson is joined by Sienna Miller (American Sniper) and Emily Beecham (1899, Hail, Caesar!) playing the other sisters.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Oscar-nominated actress Kristin Scott Thomas (Slow Horses, The English Patient, Darkest Hour), who also stars as the titular mother. Her wedding devolves into one unforgettable, drama-filled weekend where laughter, tears, and champagne flow as mother and daughters confront the past, the future, and the messy beauty of family ties.
Thomas also co-wrote the screenplay with her husband, British journalist John Micklethwait, making this a true family affair.
Co-starring Freida Pinto, Joshua McGuire, Mark Stanley, and Thibault de Montalembert, My Mother’s Wedding is slated to open in theaters August 8th.
“Witchboard” Trailer: A Young Couple Unleashes a Vengeful Spirit in Chuck Russell’s Supernatural Horror Remake, Starring Madison Iseman and Jamie Campbell Bower — In Theaters August 15th
Word to the wise: don’t play around with dark magic unless you’re looking to unleash something you can’t put back!
In this new supernatural horror thriller, an ancient cursed Witchboard unleashes sinister spirits in the heart of New Orleans, turning the Big Easy into a place where voodoo and vengeance collide. And no, we’re not talking about Mardi Gras!
Veteran filmmaker Chuck Russell (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, 1988's The Blob, The Mask, The Scorpion King) returns to his horror roots for this modern remake of the 1986 cult classic Witchboard from filmmaker Kevin Tenney.
Starring Madison Iseman (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Aaron Dominguez (Only Murders in the Building), Melanie Jarnson (2021's Mortal Kombat), Charlie Tahan (Ozark), with Antonia Desplat (Shantaram) and Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things), the film follows a young couple who unlock dark secrets from a cursed Ouija board, known as the Witchboard. They are soon pulled into a nightmarish spiral of possession, deception, and otherworldly horror, where every move could be their last... and the board always gets the final word.
Witchboard is coming to theaters August 15th. Prepare to ask your questions carefully... because sometimes, there’s something on the other side that’s always listening.
“Monster Island” Trailer: WWII Enemies Join Forces Against a Mythical Sea Monster in This Jungle-set Survival Horror from Singaporean Director Mike Wiluan — Premiering July 25th on Shudder
One island. Two stranded soldiers from opposing sides. No way out and no escape. They thought they’d seen the horrors of war. But they ain’t seen anything yet… ‘cause something else is on this island. And it’s deadlier than any enemy they’ve encountered before.
Welcome to Monster Island, where the only rule is survive… and even that’s not guaranteed. Because war is hell… but this island is worse.
Written and directed by Singaporean filmmaker Mike Wiluan (Buffalo Boys), this Shudder original follows a Japanese soldier and a British POW as they survive a torpedo strike during WWII. When they wash up on a remote island, they find that war was the least of their worries. Stranded, wounded, and forced into an uneasy alliance, these enemies-turned-survivors must face a terrifying legend: the Orang Ikan, a monstrous sea creature that stalks the jungle with primal fury.
Just when they thought surviving a torpedo strike was their biggest miracle… along comes an island with a monster, where the jungle doesn’t just hide danger... it is the danger!
Starring Dean Fujioka, Callum Woodhouse, and Alexandra Gottardo, Monster Island is expected to premiere exclusively on the streaming horror platform Shudder on Friday, July 25th.
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★ “Montana Mavericks” Trailer: Katherine McNamara Finds Love and Inspiration in the CW’s Cowboy Romance Based on Elle Kennedy’s Bestselling Novel — In Theaters August 26–27, Coming to The CW This Fall
Heather (Katherine McNamara, Walker: Independence), a bestselling NYC author with a bad case of writer’s block and a looming deadline, thinks a quick trip to Montana to offload her newly inherited family ranch will solve her problems. But when she and her two best friends arrive, they find the place in shambles—and a swoon-worthy cowboy vet named Cliff (Dennis Andres) next door who’s as rugged as he is romantic. As sparks fly and city slicker ideals clash with cowboy charm, Heather might just find inspiration—and love—under the big sky. Directed by Annie Bradley and co-starring Linda Kee and Kaya Coleman, Montana Mavericks is the first of six original CW movies based on the best-selling Harlequin romantic novels by Elle Kennedy. The film is set to open in select theaters nationwide in limited engagement on August 26–27 (via Fathom Entertainment) before making its CW debut this fall.
★ “Strange Harvest” Trailer: New Found Footage Horror From Grave Encounters Co-director Stuart Ortiz — In Theaters August 8th
When a string of brutal killings leads detectives to a trail of grotesque and otherworldly horrors, they uncover a terrifying truth: this is no ordinary serial killer... it’s something far more sinister. Told through eerie found footage and laced with cosmic dread, Strange Harvest marks the return of writer-director Stuart Ortiz (one half of The Vicious Brothers, the filmmakers behind the cult Grave Encounters found footage franchise), delivering a nightmarish descent into malevolent forces beyond comprehension. Starring Dawsyn Eubanks, this is one harvest you won’t survive. Hitting theaters August 8th.
★ “Shaman” Trailer: A Catholic Family Faces an Ancient Evil in This Jungle-Set Possession Horror with Sarah Canning and Daniel Gillies — In Theaters and on VOD August 8th
In the remote jungles of Ecuador, a missionary family’s quest to save souls takes a dark turn when their young son emerges from a sacred cave possessed by an ancient, malevolent force. As Candice (Sarah Canning) clings to her Catholic faith and prepares for an exorcism, the local shamans warn that this spirit predates her God... and it won’t go quietly. Caught between two worlds and one terrifying evil, they must choose: tradition or survival, belief or blood. Directed by Antonio Negret and co-starring Daniel Gillies and Jett Klyne, this supernatural horror thriller is coming to theaters and VOD on August 8th. Pray you won't be next.
★ “Ghost Killer” Trailer: A Shy Student (Akari Takaishi) Becomes a Spirit-Driven Assassin in Kensuke Sonomura’s Supernatural Action Thriller — On VOD July 22nd
When shy college student Fumika (Akari Takaishi) discovers the bullet that killed legendary hitman Kudo (Masanori Mimoto), she doesn’t just uncover a mystery... she becomes the weapon. Possessed by the ghost of a cold-blooded assassin, Fumika transforms into a vengeance-fueled force of nature, hunting down his killers with brutal precision. But as the kills pile up and Kudo’s fury consumes her, Fumika must fight to hold onto her soul—or risk becoming a ghost herself. From Kensuke Sonomura, the action mastermind behind Baby Assassins, One-Percent Warrior, and Bad City, this high-octane blast aims straight for the jugular. The film lands on VOD Tuesday, July 22nd.
★ “Bone Lake” Red Band Teaser: A Couple’s Romantic Getaway Turns Deadly in This Seductive Horror Flick Starring Maddie Hasson and Alex Roe — Coming Soon to Theaters
What starts as a romantic escape turns into a twisted vacation from hell in this seductive and darkly funny horror tale. When a couple arrives at a remote lakeside mansion, they’re surprised to find another alluring pair already in residence. But what begins as an awkward double-booking soon devolves into a tense game of desire, deceit, and deadly secrets. As passions flare and truths unravel, the weekend getaway erupts into a bloody battle for survival. Directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and starring Maddie Hasson and Alex Roe, Bone Lake is where lust meets terror... and no one checks out unscathed. Coming soon to theaters.
★ “Folktales” Trailer: Teens Seek Identity and Independence at a Remote Norwegian School in Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Arctic Coming-of-Age Doc — In Theaters July 25th
At the edge of the Arctic and the cusp of adulthood, a group of teenagers embarks on a life-shaping journey at a traditional folk high school in remote Norway. With no grades, no phones, and nothing but snow, silence, and sled dogs, they learn to rely on each other—and themselves—as they navigate identity, independence, and the wild unknown. From Oscar-nominated documentary filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp, The Boys of Baraka), this is a raw, intimate coming-of-age portrait where the landscape is as transformative as the kids' journey itself. In theaters July 25th.
★ “Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print” Trailer: Doc Chronicles the Magazine That Helped Ignite the Feminist Movement — Premiering July 2nd on HBO MAX
More than ink on a page, Ms. magazine sparked a cultural uprising. This powerful documentary, told through the lens of three directors (Salima Koroma, Alice Gu, Cecilia Aldarondo) and the groundbreaking covers that shook the status quo, traces the feminist movement’s fight for visibility, voice, and lasting change. This is a loving tribute to the magazine that didn’t just report history... it made it. Premiering Wednesday, July 2nd on HBO MAX.
★ “The Twin” Trailer: A Father (Logan Donovan) Faces His Dark Reflection in J.C. Doler’s Psychological Horror About Grief and Guilt — On VOD July 1st
Grief turns to dread when a grieving father (Logan Donovan) begins seeing a dark, identical figure stalking him from the shadows. As his grip on reality slips, he’s forced to confront buried secrets and a sinister force that may be more than just guilt made flesh. From filmmaker J.C. Doler, this chilling psychological horror is coming to VOD on Tuesday, July 1st.