From Suicide Squad to Kingsglaive Final Fantasy XV, August’s Anticipated Theatrical Releases, Ranked

While August is not always the strongest month, this August should see Suicide Squad possibly become the biggest August release of all time. To do so, it would have to surpass the $333.2 million Guardians of the Galaxy brought home in 2014. While it’s all but a foregone conclusion Suicide Squad will take the top spot at the box office this month, there are plenty of other films to look forward to. Here’s a list of the 27 movies headed to theaters this August ranked in order of anticipation:

1. Suicide Squad (August 5)

Armed with the slickest trailers of the summer, Suicide Squad is expected to bring in big box office numbers. It should also be polarizing as most DC and Marvel movies have been over the last 2 years. Some people are excited to see Jared Leto as The Joker while others are appalled as news of his behavior on set came out. Personally, it’s Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn that I’m most excited to see.

2. Sausage Party (August 12)

Last month, it was The Secret Life of Pets that generated the most interest for animated films. This month it is the secret life of food as the R-rated Sausage Party hits theaters in August. The last big R-rated animated box office success I can remember is South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut in ’99 which pulled in $83 million. It’s not expected to outdo South Park but I wouldn’t bet against it.

3. Kubo and the Two Strings (August 19)

Another animated entry, Kubo and the Two Strings is not rated R but it isn’t your typical animated option, either. Basically, that means it comes from another studio outside of Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks and Illumination. This looks like a winner.

4. Hands of Stone (August 26)

The story of Roberto Duran hits theaters at the end of the month. This film from The Weinstein Company boasts a strong cast and a compelling tale. Last year, we were treated to two great boxing movies — Creed and Southpaw — and here’s hoping Hands of Stone is another.

5. War Dogs (August 19)

While I’m still not completely sold on Miles Teller and Jonah Hill, the thought of Jesse Eisenberg and Shia LaBeouf — the pair originally cast in the lead roles — is not any better. Teller and Hill star in this Todd Phillips directed comedy about two arms dealers who get a government contract to supply weapons to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

6. Pete’s Dragon (August 12)

In typical Disney fashion, the remake of Pete’s Dragon will be a grand retelling. The original which was a mixture of animation and live action and a musical is only present in the core story as the reboot goes the action/family drama route.

7. Nine Lives (August 5)

Remember all of those body switching tales of the ’80s and ’90s? Some studio loves to dust off the mothballs and roll out this concept every few years and this time we get Kevin Spacey as the voice of a cat he gets stuck in. Spacey plays a billionaire who works too much and, after a terrible accident, ends up in the body of a cat. Adopted by his family, he gets to see them from a new perspective. Oh and Christopher Walken is in it, too.

8. Ben-Hur (August 19)

The summer of 2016 has been overloaded with remakes, reboots and sequels. Here’s one more.

9. Southside With You (August 26)

When POTUS met FLOTUS.

10. Hell Or High Water (August 12)

One of those limited releases that looks like a hidden gem. Ben Foster and Chris Pine have both done some excellent work and Jeff Bridges is usually more hit than miss. Hopefully, this one gets a wider release later in the month.

11. Don’t Breathe (August 26)

While Don’t Breathe looks like it might have a scare or two in it, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it being sold as “From the Creators of Evil Dead” and Sam Raimi having absolutely nothing to do with it. It should say “From the Creators of the remake of Evil Dead” or maybe I’m just nitpicking.

12. Mechanic: Resurrection (August 26)

Filmed in 2014, the release date for this film has changed three times. Usually that’s a red flag. However, it’s a Jason Statham movie which means (a) it probably won’t have much of a plot and (b) it will be balls to the wall action.

13. Morris From America (August 19)

I’m all in on Morris From America. An American-German coming of age film about a 13-year-old African American living with his father in Germany who coaches professional soccer? Yes, please! Did I mention this is from A24 Studios?

14. Little Men (August 5)

Another coming of age film not to be confused with the classic Louis May Alcott novel of the same name or 2006’s Little Man (one of the worst movies of all time).

15. The Hollars (August 26)

John Krasinski has the fortunate task of starring and directing in a film with a terrific cast. Anna Kendrick, Sharlto Copley, Charlie Day, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Groban, Richard Jenkins and Mary Kay Place join Krasinski in this film centered around a dysfunctional family.

16. Florence Foster Jenkins (August 12)

The film is based on an inspiring true story and features Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. Despite that, this is one I’m not all that thrilled about.

17. The Brooklyn Banker (August 5)

The only thing promising about this film would be Paul Sorvino. Otherwise, this one looks like one that can wait until you accidentally stumble upon it on cable.

18. Five Nights in Maine (August 5)

Tense drama featuring Dianne Wiest and David Oyelowo. Originally screened at 2015’s Toronto International Film Festival, Five Nights in Maine will hit theaters in a limited release on August 5th.

19. Edge of Winter (August 12)

One of those nondescript dramas you’ll eventually stumble over on a streaming service somewhere. You still might not watch it, even when it’s free.

20. Arthropoid (August 12)

Maybe this is going to be good but, at this point, Holocaust fatigue has set in. Insensitive as it sounds, there’s only so many Holocaust movies you can watch. It does look better than…