Summer at the movies - Stripes

Summer at the movies

SUMMER AT THE MOVIES

Summer kicks off early at the box office – and stays strong with hot releases through the end of August. Stay up to date with Stars and Stripes on all the movies heating up screens, including the latest news and reviews. And find out what we’re excited to see with our round up of movies.

SPOTLIGHT

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" movie <br>Focus Features/TNS

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" movie <br>Focus Features/TNS

Five lessons learned from the summer's box office hits and misses

As Hollywood's summer movie season winds down over Labor Day weekend, the box office results can be summed up in one word every studio executive wants to hear: up. But a season that saw more than its share of surprise hits also had a handful of surprise misses -- and proved the only reliable trend is the bankability of superhero blockbusters. Here's a look at five lessons learned from the biggest flubs and triumphs of the season.

John Cho stars in "Searching" as a frantic father searching his missing daughter's computer for clues.
<br>Screen Gems/TNS

John Cho stars in "Searching" as a frantic father searching his missing daughter's computer for clues.
<br>Screen Gems/TNS

John Cho was 'Searching' for movie making answers

There was a very big reason John Cho initially balked at the offer to star in “Searching,” the story of a father forced to dive deep into the online world to search for clues to the disappearance of his teenage daughter. He liked the story and even the fact that that first-time director, Aneesh Chaganty, shared a deep connection to the Bay area. The character was interesting and really touched him on a personal level.

Henry Golding as Nick, Constance Wu as Rachel and Sonoya Mizuno as Araminta in Warner Bros. Pictures' and SK Global Entertainment's contemporary romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.<br>Warner Bros.

Henry Golding as Nick, Constance Wu as Rachel and Sonoya Mizuno as Araminta in Warner Bros. Pictures' and SK Global Entertainment's contemporary romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.<br>Warner Bros.

'Crazy Rich Asians' dominates the box office, makes history for representation

Warner Bros.' highly anticipated "Crazy Rich Asians" dominated the box office this weekend, making history for Asian-American representation and becoming the highest-opening romantic comedy since 2015's "Trainwreck."

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'Crazy Rich Asians' breakout star Awkwafina is here to steal scenes and change the way you see Asian American women

She was filming a scene with Rihanna for “Ocean’s 8” in the New York Times building, as one does, and when she walked outside, it was nighttime in the city where she grew up. It was beautiful and crisp and clear, and when she looked up, she saw it: The office where she used to work. The one she would take the subway to every morning, hating herself. The office where she got fired.
ANALYSIS

The summer comedy is dead - long live the summer comedy

It somehow seems very far away, but it was just seven years ago when “Bridesmaids” changed the face of the summer film comedy.
What the star of 'BlacKkKlansman' learned from the real black cop who infiltrated the KKK

Over his 32 years in law enforcement, Ron Stallworth says, he developed a suspicion of journalists. Once, he gave a television reporter an interview about how Utah’s narcotics bureau was handling street gang shootings. When the piece aired, it was full of embellishments, according to Stallworth. So he called up the reporter, told him he’d personally recorded their interview as well, and blackballed the local TV station for three years.
How the team behind 'The Meg' set out to build a better giant-shark movie

As a filmmaker, Jon Turteltaub has always prided himself on his versatility, and over the years he has tackled everything from romantic comedies ("While You Were Sleeping") to family films ("The Kid") to action blockbusters ("National Treasure") to a movie about the 1988 Jamaican Olympic bobsled team ("Cool Runnings"). Still, when he was approached in 2016 with the idea of directing "The Meg," a film about a rampaging prehistoric giant shark, Turteltaub wasn’t sure he wanted to bite.
The 12 best movies of the year (so far)

Hollywood used to release its summer movies during the summer. But the race to be the first into the theaters has gradually changed the timing. Now the “summer” blockbusters start showing up in the spring.
Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play a more real female friendship for laughs in 'The Spy Who Dumped Me'

Having a conversation with Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon is a lot like sitting in on an improv session at the Upright Citizens Brigade (where "Saturday Night Live" star McKinnon earned her stripes).
Atwell, McGregor love sharing spotlight with Pooh in 'Christopher Robin'

Director Marc Forster turned to some big acting names to tell his story of a bear not much bigger than a honey pot in "Christopher Robin." The film opens nationwide Friday.
'Eighth Grade' breakout talks channeling her awkwardness on-screen

Elsie Fisher is just trying to enjoy her lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., but her waiter won’t stop telling jokes. And they’re really bad jokes. Painful, in fact.

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STAFF PREVIEWS

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Mission Impossible - Fallout

REVIEWS

MOVIE TIMES