Here are all the major international movies to catch in Chinese theaters this June.*
Now Showing: Beyond the Clouds
Image via Namah Pictures/IMDb
This tale of redemption and love takes place in the underbelly of Mumbai. The Hindi-language film tells the tale of Aamir, a small-time criminal who lives under a bridge. After almost being caught by police, Aamir is chased into the workplace of his sister, Taara. While Aamir is initially begrudging of Taara’s help in evading the police, the pair connect with each other and with other children, learning how to be happy in the process.
Now Showing: UglyDolls
Image via STX Entertainment/IMDb
With an all-star cast, featuring the likes of Nick Jonas, Kelly Clarkson, Pitbull, Janelle Monae and many, many more, this animated musical comedy takes place in the fictional Uglyville. Led by Moxy (Clarkson), a group of deformed dolls seek to leave Uglyville behind and make their way to the ‘Big World’ to find the perfect kid to take care of them. A series of obstacles stand in the way of the dolls, including begrudging leaders and perfectionist doll-creators. This musical tale is a perfect day out for the little ones.
Now Showing: Maria by Callas: In Her Own Words
Image via Elephant Doc/IMDb
The latest film to arrive on Chinese shores courtesy of the National Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas, this 2017 documentary follows the life of Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas. Holding a score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, Maria by Callas uses private letters, photographs, home movies, TV interviews and more to delve into the fascinating life story of a self-made superstar who rose from humble beginnings in New York City.
June 1: Doraemon: Nobita’s Chronicle of the Moon Exploration
Image via CJ Entertainment/IMDb
The latest film in the extensive Doraemon movie series sees the blue cat robot from the 22nd century voyage with his friend and ostensible owner Nobita to the moon to seek out new life. After noticing that the moon has changed color, Nobita tells his classmates but is immediately ridiculed. Doraemon steps in and enourages the young boy, before taking him on the journey of a lifetime to the lunar surface.
June 5: Kaabil
Image via Film Kraft/IMDb
This 2017 film is a tale of love, loss, tragedy and revenge. Kaabil follows blind man Rohan Bhatnagar who meets and falls in love with Supriya Sharma, a blind woman. The two then get married. Happy ending, right? Not quite. Disaster looms after the pair have a disagreement with the brother of a local politician. Eventually, Rohan comes home to find Supriya’s corpse. He then sets out on a dangerous mission to gain revenge for the murder.
June 6: X-Men: Dark Phoenix
The latest film in the X-Men series sees the hero mutants established as beloved national heroes. Having been encouraged to unleash the full extent of her powers in previous film, X-Men: Apocalypse, Jean Grey is hit by a solar flare on a risky mission in outer space, causing her to lose control of her abilities, corrupting her and turning her into Dark Phoenix. The X-Men must then decide whether Jean Grey’s life is more important than the lives of everyone else on Earth.
June 13: Going Vertical
Image via Kinopoisik/IMDb
Sick of seeing the United States basketball team win? This is the film for you. Taking the 1972 Olympic Games as our starting point, Going Vertical (also known as Three Seconds) tells the story of the Soviet Union’s unlikely gold-medal finish at the Munich games. While the story takes a look at the USSR coach’s training techniques and the terrorist bombings that clouded the 1972 Olympics, the final match between the US and the Soviet Union is the highlight. The big game comes down to just the final three seconds and is the definition of a nail-biter.
June 14: Men in Black: International
In another popular sequel released this month, the Men in Black return with a whole new cast, introducing London-based Agent H and Agent M, played by Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson respectively. A series of alien attacks around the world force the agents to travel around the globe in search of the culprit. Expect chemistry aplenty from the two leads, who have previously played alongside each other in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame, while laughs will be provided by Pakistani-American comedian Kumail Nanjiani and English actor Rafe Spall.
June 14: White Fang
Image via Superprod/IMDB
Based on the famed Jack London book of the same name, White Fang follows the story of a wolf-dog hybrid in the Yukon Territory who, in early parts of the story, becomes wild and uncontrollable, only to be taken in by a human later in the story and tamed through patience and love. With voice-over provided by former Parks & Recreation stars Rashida Jones and Nick Offerman, among others, this is the perfect introduction for kids to London’s beautiful story-telling and the rugged, isolated landscapes of Alaska and the Great White North.
June 21: Toy Story 4
A quiet release by Toy Story standards, Woody and the gang are back to take viewers on another wild adventure. When new owner Bonnie makes a toy from a plastic fork (named Forky, obviously), the unfortunate plastic utensil has an existential breakdown and subsequently escapes from Bonnie’s house. In classic Toy Story fashion, the toys leave in search of Forky. Woody’s resolve to return to Bonnie is tested throughout as he meets old flame Bo Peep in an antique toy store, and becomes accustomed to a new way of life. Expect thrills, spills and a bundle of laughs. Great for the kids.
June 21: Spinning Man
Image via Film Bridge International/IMDb
Who doesn’t love a good ol’ Pierce Brosnan thriller? The Irishman again lands on our screens, after protraying the crooked Northern Irish politician Jim Kavanagh in the Jackie Chan-fronted The Foreigner. This time, the former James Bond star appears alongside another actor who’s well-known in thriller circles – Guy Pearce. Pearce’s character is an esteemed professor who is subject to scrutiny from all angles when a female student at a nearby high school goes missing. But, is he guilty or not?
June 21: Spirited Away
Image via Studio Ghibli/IMDb
Hiyao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning animated masterpiece Spirited Away is finally coming to Chinese theaters, 18 years after it was first released. It’s the second Studio Ghibli film to get a Chinese release after My Neighbor Totoro hit theaters in December last year, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film follows 10-year-old Chihiro Ogiri, whose parents have been turned into pigs, as she works at a bathhouse in the ‘world of spirits’ in an attempt to save her parents. Widely considered to be one of the greatest animated films ever made, if you haven’t seen Spirited Away, you are 100% missing out.
June 28: Spider-Man: Far From Home
Picking up after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the sequel to 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming gets released in China and Japan four days earlier than the US. Tom Holland stars as Peter Parker, who must don the Spidey suit to protect the world as it faces brand new threats. Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal, Cobie Smulders and Samuel Jackson also star.
With additional files from Bridget O’Donnell
*Release dates subject to change.
[Cover image via 20th Century Fox/IMDb]
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