11 New Movies This Week: ‘Elvis’, ‘The Black Phone’, and More!

Curious what the new releases are this week? There are a ton of films debuting in theaters and on streaming – 11 new movies to be exact!

This week’s new movie releases include Bar Luhrmann’s Elvis, the horror film The Black Phone, plus Beavis and Butt-Head return to screw up the future.

Below is the full rundown of all the new movies this week, from what’s coming out in theaters, as well as those releasing on the major streaming platforms.

New Movies Coming Out This Week June 20 – June 26, 2022

Elvis   (2022)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: Elvis is the story of how a young man (Austin Butler) from Tupelo, Mississippi, became the ‘King of Rock and Roll.’ However, it’s also how a man named Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) discovered Elvis on a local radio broadcast and guided him to the top, only to keep Elvis from becoming more.

What to Watch For: Austin Butler beat out Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harry Styles, and Miles Teller for the role of Elvis. Butler recorded himself singing ‘Unchained Melody’ at the piano for his audition tape.

Word on the Street: Production was shut down while filming the movie in Australia when Tom Hanks and his wife Rita tested positive for Coronavirus. The delay caused Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rufus Sewell to drop out as Presley’s parents. They were replaced by Helen Thomson and Richard Roxburgh.

My Take: Up to this point, Austin Butler has primarily appeared in TV series, including stints on Life Unexpected, Switched at Birth, and The Carrie Diaries.

The Black Phone    (2021)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: The Black Phone is about a small town in 1978 Colorado where five children have suddenly gone missing. Finney Shaw (Mason Thames) is a shy thirteen-year-old boy who is abducted by the sadistic killer (Ethan Hawke) of the five and is thrown into a soundproof room with no way out. Finney is stuck in the room with his fate in the hands of his abductor. That is until a disconnected black phone in the room starts ringing.

What to Watch For: The film is based on a short story of the same name by Joe Hill. Hill is the son of legendary horror writer Stephen King.

Word on the Street: The movie is by filmmaker Scott Derrickson, who directed Doctor Strange (2016), Deliver Us From Evil (2014), and Sinister (2012).

My Take: I can’t wait to see this film as it is currently at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with over 20 film critic reviews.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On    (2021)

Rating: PG

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is about a shell (voiced by Jenny Slate) who lives in an Airbnb with his grandmother Connie (voiced by Isabella Rossellini). Marcel and Connie were separated from the rest of their family when the homeowners broke up, and Marcel’s family and friends were accidentally packed away in the move. Marcel’s luck is about to change when a filmmaker (Dean Fleischer-Camp) moves into the Airbnb and begins filming Marcel, putting his adventures on the Internet. Can Marcel’s newfound fame help him find his lost family?

What to Watch For: The film is based on a character created for three short films made by Jenny Slate and her then-husband, Dean Fleischer-Camp. The shorts became an Internet sensation.

Word on the Street: The first short was also called Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and won Best Short Film at the 2010 AFI Fest.

My Take: Jenny Slate has been a favorite of mine since her starring role as Donna in the 2014 movie Obvious Child.

Rise    (2022)

Rating: PG

Release Date: Premieres on the Disney+ platform on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: Rise is about three Nigerian-Greek brothers who, with their parents, moved to Greece from Nigeria, seeking a better life. The family struggled to make a life in Greece, selling souvenirs to tourists with the threat of deportation always hanging over their heads. The brothers start playing basketball as a way to blow off steam and are discovered by an agent, who tells them that one day they might play in the NBA.

What to Watch For: The film is based on the true story of the Antetokounmpo brothers, who all became NBA players. Giannis Antetokounmpo, nicknamed ‘The Greek Freak,’ has become one of the best players in the league, winning the Finals MVP award when his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, won the 2021 World Championship.

Word on the Street: Uche Agada, who plays Giannis in the film, tried out for the role when he saw a social media post about the film written by Giannis himself.

My Take: I love the NBA and can’t wait to see this fantastic story come to life.

Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe    (2022)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: Premieres on the Paramount+ platform on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Summary: Your favorite slacker idiots are back in Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe, and the guys are headed to space camp, where they manage to get themselves sent into space, find a black hole, and are transported to 24 years into the future…to 2022. God help us all.

What to Watch For: The original series ran on MTV for seven seasons from 1993 to 1997.

Word on the Street: The voice cast, besides creator Mike Judge, who does the voices for both Beavis and Butt-Head, includes Chi McBride, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, Tig Notaro, David Herman, and Jimmy O. Yang.

My Take: I loved the first feature-length film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996), so I will be seeing this one.

Love & Gelato    (2022)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: Premieres on the Netflix platform on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

Summary: Love & Gelato is about Lina (Susanna Skaggs), who has promised her sick mother that she will spend the summer in Rome before she goes to college. It was a magical place for Lina’s mother, and now Lina will discover that the city has magic left over for her too.

What to Watch For: Susanna Skaggs is best known for her role as Haley Clark on the TV series Halt and Catch Fire.

Word on the Street: The film is based on a three-book series by Jenna Evans Welch.

My Take: Anjelika Washington plays Lina’s best friend in the film. I love Anjelika as Beth Chapel/Dr. Mid-Nite in the TV series Stargirl.

The Man from Toronto    (2022)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: Premiers on the Netflix platform on Friday, June 24, 2022

Summary: In The Man from Toronto, Teddy (Kevin Hart) is an ordinary guy who tends to screw up things up. Teddy mistakenly goes to the wrong Airbnb rental and gets mistaken for a hired assassin who goes under the name ‘The Man from Toronto.’ Consequently, Teddy is saved at the last minute by the FBI, who now wants him to go undercover as ‘The Man from Toronto.’ One problem, the real ‘Man’ (Woody Harrelson) is hot on Teddy’s trail.

What to Watch For: The outstanding cast includes Kaley Cuoco and Ellen Barkin.

Word on the Street: Woody Harrelson replaced Jason Statham, who abruptly left the production before shooting started.

My Take: It will be fun to see what Kevin Hart can do with this role.

Apples   (2020)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: Apples take place in a time of a worldwide pandemic that causes sudden amnesia, where the sick don’t remember anything, including their name. Aris (Aris Servetalis), a middle-aged man, is enrolled in a recovery program designed to help patients build their lives from the ground up.

What to Watch For: The film was a massive hit on the film festival circuit, winning over 15 awards at festivals around the world, including the Special Jury Prize at the 2020 Denver International Film Festival.

Word on the Street: The film was the Official submission of Greece for the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category of the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. Unfortunately, the film did not make the final cut.

My Take: I look forward to seeing this film, which is currently at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes with over fifty film critic reviews.

Olga   (2021)

Rating: N/A

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: Olga is set in 2013, where Olga (Anastasia Budiashkina) is a promising young Ukrainian gymnast exiled in Switzerland. Olga dreams of making the Swiss Olympic team as she tries to fit in with her new teammates. Straightaway, Olga’s focus is waning when she learns that her country is suddenly in a revolt and her mother, an investigative reporter is in danger as she reports from the scene.

What to Watch For: The film, from first-time feature film director Elle Grappe, was nominated for three awards at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Word on the Street: The actors in the film are all real-life gymnasts.

My Take: The film has perfect timing for all that is happening in Ukraine.

Beba    (2021)

Rating: R

Release Date: In select theatres on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: Beba is a documentary where first-time filmmaker Rebeca ‘Beba’ Huntt explores her identity as a first-generation American growing up in New York City. The daughter of a Dominican father and a Venezuelan mother, Beba investigates her past and the historical and generational trauma she has inherited.

What to Watch For: The film uses candid interviews with family and friends to explore Boba’s world and how it has molded her.

Word on the Street: The film uses poetry and home movies to explore its topics.

My Take: I am always ready to see new and exciting documentaries.

Press Play   (2022)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: On-Demand and in select theatres on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Summary: In Press Play, Laura (Clara Rugaard) has just lost the love of her life, Harrison (Lewis Pullman), to a tragic accident. While playing a mix-tape that the two made together, she discovers she can go back in time. Can Laura stop the accident from happening?

What to Watch For: Press Play features songs by Father John Misty, Dayglow, and Japanese Breakfast.

Word on the Street: Lewis Pullman is coming off his role as Lt. Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd in the mega-hit Top Gun: Maverick.

My Take: The film features an appearance by one of my favorite actors, Danny Glover.

What New Movies This Week Are You Planning to Watch?

And that’s your new releases for the week of June 20 – June 26, 2022.

In our comment section below, let us know what new movies this week you are excited to see!