The best films to see in cinemas in June: from ‘F1’ to ‘28 Years Later’

It’s the 50th anniversary of Jaws this summer and the water is getting no safer. Those sharp-toothed fish aren’t the villains of this Aussie shark-sploitation thriller, however. That’ll be Jai Courtney’s shark dive operator and all-round psychopath, who lures tourists aboard his rustbucket vessel and then feeds them to the sealife. It’s Wolf Creek at sea, but Hassie Harrison’s (Yellowstone) enterprising American surf chick will be levelling up the odds.

In cinemas Jun 6

Not to be confused with the cult Laurence Fishburne/Jeff Goldblum drugs thriller, this Deep Cover also delves into a criminal underworld – but this time for laughs. Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed plays amateur improv actors who are sent undercover into a London criminal syndicate to ‘yes, and…’ their way through sting operations. Three Amigos! meets The Long Good Friday? We’re here for it.

Streaming on Prime Video Jun 12

You’ve seen the animation, now settle back for a live action take on the most spectacular dragon drama since the end of Game of Thrones. Sure, nitpickers will quibble with the definition of ‘live action’ here – director Dean Deblois isn’t giving character notes to real dragons, after all – but with big budgets and a larger-than-life cast (Nick Frost, Gerard Butler, Bronwyn James), the story of Vikings teen Hiccup (Mason Thames) should soar again.

In cinemas Jun 13

Filmmaker Daisy-May Hudson knows of what she speaks when it comes to documenting life on the margins. The Londoner was made homeless when her family was evicted from its Epping home, an experience she parlayed into 2015 doc Half Way. Her first feature film is an equally human look at the predicament faced by a young woman (Posy Sterling) facing a battle to regain custody of her two kids when she’s released from prison.

In cinemas Jun 13

Expect rugged countryside and equally rugged characters in this period thriller set in 1870s Scotland. Japanese star Kōki plays an enterprising woman whose travelling puppet show crosses paths with a gang of violent outlaws led by Sugarman (Tim Roth) and his ambitious son Little Sugar (Jack Lowden). John Maclean, director of the excellent Michael Fassbender western Slow West, is behind the camera on this one, so it should be a good’un. 

In cinemas Jun 13

The 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth is being celebrated in cultural events big and small this year. At the more intimate end of the spectrum is the charming romantic drama about a young Parisian woman (Camille Rutherford) who dreams of writing like her literary hero and loving like one of her heroines. When her friend invites her to an Austen residency across the Channel, those dreams come true – but bring problems of their own. 

In cinemas Jun 13

Inside Out 2’s box-office-breaking success proved there’s still some juice in Pixar’s existing IP, but it’s been a while since the studio has produced a fresh hit. Whether this one turns out to be a phenomenon or not, at least it looks pretty fun. When an alien-obsessed boy’s dream of being sucked up into a UFO comes true, he finds himself stuck in the middle of extraterrestrial family drama, leading him on a cosmic adventure and journey of self-discovery. 

In cinemas worldwide Jun 20

The extraordinary teaser trailer for Danny Boyle’s zombi.. sorry, infected sci-fi ramped up anticipation levels instantly. Accompanied by the insistent rhythms of Rudyard Kipling’s Boer War marching poem Boots, it was full of mood and menace. There was a glimpse of stars Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and one emaciated member of the undead everyone thought was Cillian Murphy’s Jim (it’s going to be bleak, but not that bleak). Boyle and his 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland seem to be leaning into Britain’s folk horror traditions with this action-horror reboot.

In cinemas Jun 20

Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski trades dogfights for hairpin turns in this big-money sports-racing drama, starring Brad Pitt as a Formula 1 legend coming out of retirement to train a promising young driver. The final budget is allegedly massive – and based on the action-packed trailers and a banger of a soundtrack, it’s been money well spent.

In cinemas Jun 25

From the moment she TikTok danced into our social media timelines in early 2023, it was clear the homicidal android babysitter would become a camp-horror icon who’d reappear in our lives for years to come. The plot of the first (and definitely not last) sequel is unknown, though online speculation suggests it might have something to do with the ‘erotic’ spinoff SOULM8TE that’s already scheduled for 2026. Yes, please, let’s do that.

In cinemas Jun 27