We’re almost halfway through 2017, which means we’re seeing some of the biggest and bestest films of last year appear on our On Demand service of choice. Neon’s got some wildly successful New Zealand films like Tickled and Three Wise Cousins, Netflix has got some creative originals like Okja and Shimmer Lake, and many films from the start of the year are appearing on iTunes, Google Play, Blu-ray, DVD and anything else that plays movies.
Take a look at what’s good and new this June:
New to Neon
Tickled
This New Zealand Film Award-winning documentary follows journalist David Farrier who investigates the bizarre and troubling world of competitive tickling. “Much like being strapped down to a tickle chair, things quickly go from chuckle-worthy weirdness to uncomfortably intense.” -Liam Maguren, Flicks Available now
Turbo Kid
An unapologetic, violent throwback to everything that made ‘80s junk-food cinema so rad. Set in the post-apocalyptic future of 1997. “This movie is a laugh a minute and makes no attempt at making it hollywood-style. Got to love the bad because it’s so good.” -The Chihuahua, Flicks User Available now
Three Wise Cousins
Comedy about a 22-year-old Samoan-Kiwi looking to impress a woman, so he goes to Samoa and gets advice from his cousins about how to become a ‘real island guy’. “Its funny, entertaining, family content with a message that will make people think afterwards.” -Songanmashoo, Flicks User Available now
Kubo and the Two Strings
Oscar-nominated stop motion animated fantasy adventure from Laika (ParaNorman), set in ancient Japan, following a boy who must find help when a vengeful spirit is released. “The most beautiful film Laika has created.” -Liam Maguren, Flicks Available now
Bachelorette
Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia), Isla Fisher (Now You See Me) and Lizzy Caplan (Now You See Me 2) lead this comedy about three coked-up, foul-mouthed friends asked to be bridesmaids for the loser they ridiculed back in high school (Rebel Wilson, How to Be Single). “A tasty cast and a good share of snappy dialogue provide entertainment…” -Hollywood Entertainment Available now
Little Men
Filmmaker Ira Sachs follows up critical darling Love is Strange with another New York-set tale following the new friendship of two boys who can’t avoid their parents’ problems. “A bittersweet charmer.” -Russell Baillie, NZ Herald Available now
Suicide Squad
The third entry into the DC Comics shared universe films, following a ragtag group of villains forced to save the world. “So bad-to-the-bone it’s good.” -Empire Available now
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Wild wedding comedy starring Zac Efron (Bad Neighbours), Aubrey Plaza (Dirty Grandpa), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) and Adam Devine (also Pitch Perfect). “It’s often bafflingly bad.” -Daniel Rutledge, Flicks Available now
Jason Bourne
This fifth entry in the Bourne series sees Matt Damon return to his role as a former assassin still in hiding, alongside Oscar-winners Alicia Vikander and Tommy Lee Jones and director Paul Greengrass. “Predictably satisfying results.” -Steve Newall, Flicks Available now
Central Intelligence
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart team up for this buddy-cop comedy from the director of We’re the Millers. “This is a very inoffensive film that is easy to enjoy.” -Daniel Rutledge, Flicks Available now
Absolutely Fabulous
Twenty years after the premiere of Jennifer Saunders’ outstanding sitcom, Edina (Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) return for this feature film. “Absolutely fabulous it is not – every now and again a little bit fabulous at a stretch.” -Kate Rodger, NewsHub Available now
Mary Kills People
First season of the not-your-usual serial killer series following overworked single mother and ER doctor Mary. When she’s not on the job, she works in secret to perform illegal, assisted deaths for patients who want to die on their own terms. Available now
Fear the Walking Dead S3
The spinoff zombie series led by Cliff Curtis is alive and walking, this time set on the US-Mexico border. Available now
New to Netflix
Shimmer Lake
Netflix original black comedy crime flick told in reverse, following a small town heist that goes horribly wrong. “From start to finish, Uziel’s packaging of the story seems more inspired than its contents.” -RogerEbert.com Available now
The Intern
Comedy from director Nancy Meyers (It’s Complicated) following a 70-year-old widower (Robert De Niro) who, bored with retirement, takes a job as an intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules (Anne Hathaway).”There’s a bright and breezy freshness to proceedings that draws you in.” -James Croot, Stuff.co.nz Available now
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
The Tom Cruise action-spy franchise continues, this time with Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher) in the director’s chair. “A two-hour blast of good, honest, stupid fun. And that, I reckon, is just as it should be.” -Graeme Tuckett, Stuff.co.nz Available now
Black Mass
Johnny Depp leads this true crime drama as Whitey Bulger, the ruthless South Boston criminal who sought to take down an invading Mafia family by becoming an FBI informant. “The film ends up feeling like a cover version of previous crime dramas, with only a few moments that truly unsettle.” -Tony Stamp, Flicks Available now
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – 23 June
Disney adaptation of Judith Viorst’s 1972 award-winning children’s book, following 11-year-old Alexander as he experiences the worst day of his young life. “It’s a not so terrible, not so horrible, not so good movie to occupy the little ones on a dull day.” -Adam Fresco, Flicks Available now
A Hologram for the King – 25 June
Tom Hanks is a washed-up American businessman in the adaptation of the Dave Eggers novel, directed by Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas). “Hanks’ portrayal of a man caught between utter defeat and a yearning to begin again is pitch-perfect.” -Hollywood Reporter Available now
Okja – 28 June
Creature feature from Korean director Joon-Ho Bong (Snowpiercer) starring Tilda Swinton, Seo-Hyun Ahn, Jake Gyllenhaal and Giancarlo Esposito. “The pure energy and likability of this film make it such a pleasure.” -The Guardian Available now
Oz: The Great and Powerful – 28 June
Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) imagines the origins of the Wizard of Oz in this prequel to the 1939 cinema classic. “Raimi’s Oz is a world of brilliant blues, vivid reds and enchanting emeralds.” -James Croot, Flicks Available now
New to Everything Else
Gary of the Pacific
A loser real estate agent (Josh Thomson) becomes the chief of a sinking Pacific island in this Kiwi-Pacific comedy from thedownlowconcept (TV’s 7 Days). “There’s humour throughout, but often lower-key than you’d expect from a cinematic comedy, resulting in amusement rather than belly laughs for the majority of the film.” -Steve Newall, Flicks Available now
Logan
Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and James Mangold (director of 2013’s The Wolverine) are back for the third Wolverine, featuring an older, more broken, Logan than we’ve seen to date. “Provides the tough, adult version of Wolverine that fans have been wanting for a long time…” -Tony Stamp, Flicks Available now
Trespass Against Us
Three-time Golden Globe nominee Brendan Gleeson (The Guard) and two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave) are outlaw father and son in this crime drama, set in an anarchic corner of Britain’s richest countryside. “Where it succeeds is as slow-burn character study of machism…” -Adam Fresco, Flicks Available now
Railroad Tigers
Jackie Chan is a railroad worker in China in 1941 who leads a team of freedom fighters against the Japanese to get food for the poor in this Chinese action-comedy. “A fun but flabby period adventure that plays to the (current) strengths of its star.” -FilmInk Available now
Red Dog: True Blue
Prequel to the 2011 Australian family hit, following the young scrappy canine and an 11-year-old who’s been forced to spend time at his grandfather’s cattle station. “This oddly conceived sequel evokes memories of episodes of ‘Skippy’.” -James Croot, Stuff.co.nz Available now
Le Ride
Amazing Race star Phil Keoghan physically and mentally breaks himself as he replicates the gruelling bike ride taken by Kiwi Harry Watson during the 1928 Tour de France. “Phil and Ben take an entertaining, amusing and sometimes touching tour in a film that’s part madcap Top Gear-style adventure, part historical documentary, part video diary.” -Adam Fresco, Flicks Available now
Chronesthesia
A barista takes direction from cryptic messages that begin to form on his bedroom window, leading him to form unexpected connections with others around him. “This is a film for anyone who lives in Wellington or just enjoys a simple, Kiwi, love story (with a hint of mystery).” -SKYUNI123, Flicks User Available now
The Music of Strangers
The filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom captures a globe-spanning experiment, started by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, where a diverse range of cultures put their musical sensibilities together to create something new. “Anything that gives a human being meaning is valuable, and with effortless elegance, The Music of Strangers expresses exactly that about musicians and the songs they create.” -Liam Maguren, Flicks Available now
Loving
Based on a true story, this romance from writer-director Jeff Nichols (Mud) sees a white man (Joel Edgerton, Black Mass) and a black woman (Ruth Negga, in an Oscar nominated performance) fight the Virginian legal system for their right to be a married couple. “A very light drama with great performances and a gorgeous eye for Southern America that spends two hours saying one simple thing.” -Liam Maguren, Flicks Available now
The Great Wall
From the director of 2002’s Hero comes this fantasy-action blockbuster, an alternate history twist on why China built The Great Wall. “I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun I had with it…” -Daniel Rutledge, Flicks Available now
Life
Sci-fi horror from the writers of Deadpool and Zombieland. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation). “It’s a serviceable, watchable, determinedly unoriginal film…” -The Guardian Available now
Gold
Oscar winner Stephen Gaghan directs fellow Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey as relentless gold prospector Kenny Wells in this true story drama. “With 10 per cent less McConaughey and 10 per cent more everyone else, Gold, you feel, would be a much better investment.” -Matt Glasby, Flicks Available now
A Cure for Wellness
Dane DeHaan must retrieve his company’s CEO from a creepy wellness centre in the Swiss Alps in this psychological thriller from Gore Verbinski (2002’s The Ring). Available now
The Space Between Us
Asa Butterfield (Ender’s Game) is a teen, born and raised on Mars in this coming-of-age sci-fi, given an opportunity to experience Earth for the first time. “Feels like a series of scenic car commercials, smothered in obnoxious emo ballads…” -Variety Available now
Before I Fall
A young woman keeps repeating the day of her death in this teen drama based on the best-selling novel by Lauren Oliver. “It would be a shame if Before I Fall was reduced to something as simple as “Teen Groundhog Day” when it has more to offer.” -Dan Slevin, Radio NZ Available now
Headshot
Iko Uwais (The Raid) stars in this fast and furious revenge thriller as an amnesiac whose mysterious past aids him in taking on the henchman of a powerful drug lord. “A wild, thrilling ride.” -Daniel Rutledge, Flicks Available now
Beauty and the Beast – 28 June
A quarter-century on from the animated classic, Disney brings the romance fantasy tale to life in live-action. “There are a few winky nods to the modern folk (Le Fou is gay!!!!!) but everything else remains entirely the same…” -Alex Casey, Flicks Available now
Power Rangers – 28 June
The director of Project Almanac takes on a modern version of the ’90s action series about a group of teens who find a mysterious source of power. “Unlike, say, Guardians of the Galaxy, Power Rangers can’t fit five origin stories into one.” -Liam Maguren, Flicks Available now
