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June is often a prime moviegoing month for fans of blockbusters, but none of Hollywood’s typical calendar rules seem to apply in 2024. The strike-induced production delays in 2023 have left many studios with abnormally thin summer movie slates this year, meaning that many cinephiles might find themselves relying on streaming more heavily than usual.
Fortunately, Netflix has a particularly robust slate of additions to its movie library this month. Many eyes in the film world are on “Godzilla Minus One,” the 2023 Japanese blockbuster that has previously been unavailable to stream in the United States; and “Hit Man,” Richard Linklater’s Glen Powell-led comedy that earned strong reviews at last year’s Venice Film Festival and has adorned Los Angeles with viral billboards lampooning the city’s many slip-and-fall lawyers. In addition to those new releases, Netflix has also loaded up on studio hits and indie gems of yesteryear, providing something for everyone this month.
Keep reading for our seven favorite movies streaming on Netflix in June 2024.
‘Godzilla Minus One’ (Streaming now)
While Legendary Entertainment continues to roll out new entries in its MonsterVerse franchise featuring Godzilla and King Kong, any true kaiju fan will tell you that the most exciting Godzilla projects are still coming out of Japan. ‘Godzilla Minus One‘ is the 33rd Godzilla movie produced by Toho, the studio that started it all in 1954. Its dazzling, Oscar winning special effects and World War II-adjacent story are proof that a giant lizard destroying skyscrapers will always captivate moviegoers if used correctly.
‘Hit Man’ (Streaming now)
Richard Linklater continues to alternate between sprawling cinematic undertakings about the passage of time (see: his 20-year ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ project) and charming hangout movies with a distinctly Texas flair. ‘Hit Man’ fits firmly into the latter category, starring Glen Powell as a man who poses as a paid assassin in order to catch people in the act of planning murders. Working with Linklater is a rite of passage for any Texas movie star worth their salt, and the film is further proof that Powell is one of his generation’s most exciting performers.
‘Tangerine’ (Now streaming)
As Sean Baker basks in his Palme d’Or win for ‘Anora,’ it’s a great time to revisit the film that put him on the radar of many cinephiles. His 2015 film ‘Tangerine’ was arguably more known for its production process than its actual substance, as many held the fact that it was shot on iPhones as evidence that new technologies were democratizing high art. But while that may be true, the film itself is a beautiful take on the themes that Baker has spent his entire career exploring: the humanity of sex workers and the social malaise that seems to be rotting parts of America to their core. It’s a vital entry in what is quickly becoming one of the most important director filmographies of the 21st century.
‘Aftersun’ (Streaming now)
Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut ‘Aftersun’ instantly established her as a brilliant auteur and cemented Paul Mescal’s status as a bona fide movie star, earning him his first Oscar nomination in the process. The film, which follows a woman looking back on fleeting memories of a vacation she took with her young father with the hope of figuring out what happened to him, is a haunting portrait of the way our minds shape our recollections of distinct periods of our lives and hide the things we’d rather ignore. If anyone is feeling particularly depressed this Father’s Day, an ‘Aftersun’ rewatch might be the thing that meets you where you are.
‘The Lego Movie’
Before there was ‘Barbie,’ there was ‘The Lego Movie.’ The old reigning king of toy adaptations that worked despite being a bad idea on paper is still an endlessly charming rewatch thanks to the distinct creative vision of directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller. By blending characters from every IP under the sun, the film created the sensation of a child playing with a box of mixed Legos and allowing their imaginations to run wild. Its unlikely success is proof that, in the hands of the right filmmakers, almost any property can be turned into cinematic gold.
‘Dune’ (Streaming now)
While it might be a stretch to call David Lynch’s ‘Dune’ a good movie, it’s a fascinating cinematic artifact that shows how a great director working with great source material does not always guarantee a hit. In light of Denis Villeneuve’s triumphant ‘Dune: Part Two,’ it’s worth revisiting the original film to appreciate how brilliantly Villeneuve turned the esoteric novel into something easily digestible. And while it’s fun to mock Lynch’s film for its endless monologuing and general cheesiness, it still boasts some impressive practical effects and the first-ever pairing of Lynch and leading man Kyle MacLachlan. If nothing else, we should all be thanking this movie for paving the way for ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘Twin Peaks.’
‘1917’ (Streaming June 21)
As Sam Mendes begins work on his bold four-part Beatles biopic, any of the project’s doubters should remember that the British director has never shied away from bold storytelling formats before. Case in point: ‘1917.’ The World War I film, which follows two British soldiers risking their lives across enemy lines to deliver a message calling off a doomed attack, was shot and edited in a way that makes it appear as a single take. But rather than weigh down the film with gimmicks, Mendes skillfully uses the gambit to convey the tension of the deadly adventure while still keeping the focus on the soldiers themselves. The result is one of the best war movies of the 21st century so far.
