A number of new movies and limited television series will debut this week, including the following titles opening in theaters or premiering via video on demand on various streaming platforms:
‘The Dog Stars’
Genre: Post-apocalyptic science fiction
Cast: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Guy Pearce.
Director: Ridley Scott
Rated: R
The film tells the story of Hig (Jacob Elordi), a young pilot who, together with a military survivalist, Bangley (Josh Brolin), has carved out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic world. But when Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission, he ventures into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exist.
The film is scheduled to be released by 20th Century Studios on Aug. 28.
‘The Last Sunrise’
Genre: Romantic drama
Cast: Maia Reficco, Fernando Lindez and Eva Longoria
Director: Carlson Young
Rated: R
Based on the beloved novel, “The Last Sunrise” follows Ry (Maia Reficco), a college student with a chronic illness, on a summer escape to Mallorca with her mother (Eva Longoria). As she unexpectedly falls for Julián (Fernando Lindez) and begins to embrace living in the moment, her worsening condition and long-hidden family secrets threaten to unravel everything before the summer ends.
The film is scheduled to be released on Amazon Prime Video on Aug. 26.
‘Coyote vs. Acme’
Genre: Animated comedy
Cast: Will Forte, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzmán, Martha Kelly, P.J. Byrne, Kenneth Choi, John Cena, Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, and Jim Cummings.
Director: Dave Green
Rated: PG
After decades of being blown to bits by bombs, demolished by dynamite, mangled by magnets, battered by boulders, trampled by trains, tricked by tunnels, sprung by springs, steamrolled by steamrollers, maligned by misfires, bedeviled by bungees, rattled by rockets, backstabbed by bat suits, rocked by rocket skates, upended by unicycles, quaked by quake pills, rubberized by rogue bands, and hurled headlong off every cliff in the Southwest, Wile E. Coyote (Genius) finally fights back. Teaming up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), he takes on slick corporate counsel Buddy Crane (John Cena) and ACME Inc., the profit-obsessed conglomerate behind every one of the Coyote’s chaotic catastrophes.
The film is scheduled to be theatrically released on Aug. 28 through Ketchup Entertainment.
‘Idiots’
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage
Director: Macon Blair
Rated: R
When two unqualified bozos are hired to transfer a rich teen to rehab, their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem.
The film is scheduled to be released on Aug. 28 by Independent Film Company.
‘Buddy’
Genre: Comedy slasher horror
Cast: Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt
Director: Casper Kelly
Rated: R
Remember Buddy — the bright orange unicorn and star of that classic children’s television show who brought joy and life lessons into your living room?
Inside the colorful world of “It’s Buddy!”, a group of children spend their days singing, dancing, and helping Buddy spread happiness. But when one child refuses to play along, Buddy is not pleased and cracks begin to appear in this seemingly perfect world.
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on Aug. 28 by Roadside Attractions and Saban Films.
‘The Whisper Man’
Genre: Crime thriller
Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater, and Owen Teague
Director: James Ashcroft
Rated: R
“The Whisper Man” is based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. When his 8-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer looks to his estranged father, a retired former police detective, for help, only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.”
The film is scheduled to be released on Aug. 28 by Netflix.
‘The Sun Never Sets’
Genre: Drama
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle, Lamorne Morris and Karley Sciortino
Director: Joe Swanberg
Rated: R
Wendy (Dakota Fanning) finds her life upended when her boyfriend Jack (Jake Johnson) — older, divorced, and with children — asks for space to reassess their relationship. During their separation, Wendy reconnects with her ex, Chuck (Cory Michael Smith), sparking an emotionally charged love triangle that forces all three to confront the realities of love, timing, and personal growth.
The film is scheduled to be released in limited theaters on Aug. 28 before a wide release on Sept. 4 through Independent Film Company.
‘Legend of the White Dragon’
Genre: Superhero
Cast: Jason David Frank, Aaron Schoenke, Jason Faunt, Rachele Brooke Smith, Michael Madsen, Andrew Bachelor, David Ramsey, and Mark Dacascos
Directors: Aaron and Sean Schoenke
Rated: R
Forced to hide in the shadows, fugitive hero Erik Reed (Jason David Frank) must clear his name to reunite with his family. Standing in his way is a mysterious villain obsessed with destroying the White Dragon for good.
The film is set to be released on Aug. 28 by Well Go USA Entertainment.
‘Finding Emily’
Genre: Romantic comedy
Cast: Angourie Rice, Spike Fearn, and Minnie Driver
Director: Alicia MacDonald
Rated: PG-13
When a lovesick musician is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a driven psychology student to find her. Together, they spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film is scheduled to be released on Aug. 28 through Focus Features.
For more movie news, visit www.TampaBayBeacons.com. Lee Clark Zumpe is the Beacons entertainment editor. He can be reached by email at lzumpe@TBNweekly.com.