Independence Day is a time-old tradition in the United States, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, fireworks, and mosquito bites. Just as Christmas Day always has a huge box office turnout, the Fourth of July happened to fall on a Thursday, making that day and Friday prime time for cinematic adventures with friends and family.
There have been a plethora of new and exciting movies hitting the big screen since late June, includingKinds of Kindness,The Bikeriders,Inside Out 2, andA Quiet Place: Day One, so if you haven’t seen any of those yet, be sure to check them out before they leave theaters.
Additionally, this weekend will also havea limited re-release of the 1977Steven Spielbergfilm,Close Encounters of the Third Kind, on Sunday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 10. Over 45 years have passed since the film was originally released, but for those who didn’t have the opportunity to see the movie in theaters can now experience the wonder of the science fiction drama as it was meant to be seen. However, if you’re looking for something brand new, read on to see what you can look for at the ticket booth this weekend!
‘MaXXXine’
MaXXXineis the third installment ofTi West’s A24 horror trilogy. The movie is set in 1985, following the events of the first film,X. After surviving theTexas Chain Saw Massacre-esque situation that resulted in the deaths of her friends and colleagues, Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) continues West to reach Hollywood. She’s determined to become a star and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. Goth starred as both the protagonist and antagonist inX, as Maxine, and asPearl, the titular character of the second installment. The trilogy examines themes of ambition, aging, and agency as a woman throughout the past decades. InX, which is set in 1979, Maxine is an adult film actress who wants to become a “real” Hollywood star.Pearldives into the origin story of the elderly villain inX, taking place during World War I as she struggles to break free from her simple rural existence.
As mentioned previously,MaXXXinetakes place in Los Angeles in 1985, as Maxine Minx continues to claw her way toward fame and fortune, tackling new obstacles and taking out any competition. One of these obstacles is the fact that she’s a potential target for the serial killer Richard Ramirez, also known as “The Night Stalker,” who terrorized the inhabitants of the area during that time. If the two face off in the film, Ramirez will be in over his head because nothing will come between Maxine and her dreams of becoming a famous actress. In addition to Mia Goth, the film will also starElizabeth Debicki,Moses Sumney,Kevin Bacon,Lily Collins,Bobby Cannavale,Michelle Monaghan, and many morefamousmovie stars.
Fandango‘Despicable Me 4’
The fourth installmentin Illumination’s adorable villain-turned-hero franchise will hit theaters on Wednesday, August 09, 2025, just before the big holiday. In this movie, Gru (Steve Carell) attends a class reunion, where he apprehends the villainous Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), who has surgically implanted cockroach parts into his body. After Maxime escapes prison, Gru, Lucy (Kristen Wiig), and their growing family must relocate under the protection of the Anti-Villain League (AVL) with three of his little yellow minions. With false identities and a new home in an affluent neighborhood, all seems to go well, until the teenage daughter of their neighbor, Poppy (Joey King), recognizes Gru and blackmails him. As an aspiring villain, Poppy wants Gru to help her in stealing the mascot from his alma mater, a vicious badger. Meanwhile, the rest of the minions continue to work at AVL and five of them undergo an experimental “super serum” trial, in which they are given superpowers.
Despicable Me 4
Gru and his family are back, welcoming a new member, Gru Jr., who causes chaos at home. Facing a new nemesis, Maxime Le Mal, and his partner Valentina, Gru and his family go on the run.
Fandango‘Mother, Couch’
Directed byNiclas Larsson,Mother, Couchis a dark comedy and drama that centers around a matriarch who sits down on a couch at a furniture store and refuses to get up to leave. As her adult children show up to try and convince her to move, the mother, played byEllen Burstyn(Requiem for a Dream), warns them that she will bite, kick, thrash, and ultimately bash her own head in if they attempt to carry her out. Her sons, Gruffudd (Rhys Ifans) and David (Ewan McGregor) struggle to convince her that she needs to leave, as store owner Marcus (F. Murray Abraham) and his employee Bella (Taylor Russell) try to find a peaceful solution. Linda (Lara Flynn Boyle), their sister, arrives last, with her children in tow.Mother, Couchtakes one dysfunctional family and examines the delicate relationships that each member has with one another. If you enjoy slice-of-life movies or films that can simultaneously make you laugh and cry, this is the pick for you this weekend at the cinema.
Mother, Couch
In the surreal comedy-drama Mother, Couch, an elderly matriarch’s refusal to leave a couch in a furniture store draws her three estranged children—David, Gruffudd, and Bella—into a strange and humorous confrontation. As they grapple with their mother’s bizarre decision, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and reconciliation, uncovering long-buried secrets and redefining their fractured relationships.
Fandango‘Boneyard’
Based on the true events surrounding the serial killer known as “The Bone Collector,” this film starsMel Gibsonas FBI Agent Petrovick, tasked with hunting down the killer. Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2009, he teams up with Police Chief Carter (Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson) to figure out who left the remains of 11 women and one unborn child buried in the desert. What they’re not prepared for, is the possibility that the killer could very well be someone on the police force. Detectives Ortega (Brian Van Holt) and Young (Nora Zehetner) also realize that the killer could be an undercover cop, which means his alternate identity is protected. The team investigating the serial murders of young women has to learn to trust each other enough to finally bring the killer to justice before he strikes again.Boneyardwill have a theatrical release on July 5, but will also be available to rent or purchase on VOD starting June 2 if you feel like staying home to watch this suspenseful crime thriller.
Stay tuned here to see what will be coming to theaters next week!
