Movies: Summer 2021

Monarch Movie Recommendations

The Water Man
Director: David Oyelowo Starring: Rosario Dawson, Maria Bello and Alfred Molina

David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut follows Gunner (Lonnie Chavis), a boy who sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for the Water Man, a mythic figure who holds the secret to immortality. Gunner and Jo (Amiah Miller), a mysterious local girl, journey into the remote Wild Horse forest and discover that the deeper they venture, the more dangerous the forest becomes. Their only hope for rescue is Gunner’s father (Oyelowo), who will stop at nothing to save them.

Fast and Furious 9
Director: Justin Lin Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris

This ninth installment of the beloved action franchise again follows Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, whose crew and family members join forces to battle one of the world’s most talented assassins and high-performance drivers — his estranged brother, Jakob, played by John Cena. The new movie also sees the return of Han Lue, a fan-favorite character thought to be long-dead.

Zola
Director: Janicza Bravo Starring: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough and Colman Domingo

Based on the viral 2015 Twitter thread, what could possibly be this summer’s wildest movie centers on Zola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress who befriends Stefani (Riley Keough), an exotic dancer who convinces her new friend to join her on a road trip to a high-end strip club in Florida where they can make a fortune in just one night of dancing. In the face of Stefani’s pimp (Colman Domingo) and idiot boyfriend (Nicholas Braun), Tampa gangsters and loads of debauchery, the 48-hour adventure spirals out of control.

Space Jam: a New Legacy
Director: Malcolm D. Lee Starring: LeBron James, Zendaya and Don Cheadle

NBA superstar LeBron James teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes crew for this long-awaited sequel to the 1996 classic, which debuts on HBO Max and in theaters. The family comedy, directed by Malcolm D. Lee, includes Sonequa Martin-Green, Don Cheadle and NBA players like Klay Thompson, Chris Paul and more.

Escape Room 2
Director: Adam Robitel Starring: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jaymes Butler

Plot details are scarce for this sequel to the 2019 psychological thriller, but we know Indya Moore, Holland Roden, Isabelle Fuhrman, Carlito Olivero, Thomas Cocquerel and James Frain joined the cast and there is likely to be another life-and-death game propelling the storyline.