From Kukri to Spider-Man: 10 films that’ll make your summer even more exciting

As the summer holidays kick off, children and adults are looking for ways to entertain themselves during a rather hot and humid climate. While there’s not much to do except for dining and perhaps arcade games, the movie theatre and its air-conditioned vibe are a pleasant alternative.

With an abundance of holidays and non-holiday releases coming up. there’s something for everyone, from animated movies to BTS documentaries to serial killer drama and superhero madness.

1.      Kukri
The long-awaited Abu Aleeha directorial on the life of the notorious Pakistani serial killer Javed Iqbal, is finally seeing the light of the day after more than a year’s struggle with the censor board. Previously titled Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer, the thriller sees Yasir Hussain in the titular role and Ayesha Omar as the officer investigating his case. The film was released on June 2, nationwide.

2.      Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
For people who last saw their favourite superhero in 2018 in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the five-year wait is finally over. Returning with many of your favourite characters, including Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker, and Miles Morales. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is set one year after the events of the previous film.

3.      Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Slated for a June 9 release, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, directed by Steven Caple Jr, takes place in the same continuity as the previous films but expands on the mythology of the Transformers by featuring cameos from the Beast Wars era, a popular Transformers animated series from the late 1990s. The live-action film stars Pete Davidson, Peter Cullen and Lisa Koshy.

4.      Elemental
Looking for an animated romantic comedy? Disney-Pixar joints have got you covered with Elemental, scheduled to hit theatres on June 16. The magical story, featuring the voices of Catherine O’Hara and Leah Lewis among others, is set in a city where fire, water, earth, and air residents live together. In there, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.

5.      BTS Solo Documentaries
K-pop boy band group has expanded to cinemas as well. BTS fans worldwide can now catch two exclusive documentaries featuring members Suga and J-Hope. Titled SUGA: Road to D-DAY and j-hope IN THE BOX, these documentaries will be shown in theatres globally for a limited time starting from June 17. Originally premiered on Disney+, the films provide an intimate look into the lives and creative processes of the two BTS rappers.

6.      Allahyar and The 100 Flowers of God

After four years, Allahyar and 100 Flowers of God, the sequel of Allahyar and The Legend of Markhor is finally releasing today. The animated action-thriller is Pakistan’s first-ever stereoscopic 3D film. The film features a star-studded cast for voiceovers including Humayun Saeed, Ali Zafar, Iqra Aziz, Bushra Ansari, and Nadia Jamil.

7.      Teri Meri Kahaniyaan
Teri Meri Kahaniyaan gives strong competition to Money Back Guarantee’s star-studded cast. The romantic comedy stars Mehwish Hayat alongside Pakistan's latest heartthrob, Wahaj Ali, who will be making his silver screen debut. The film also stars Zahid Ahmed, Amna Ilyas, Sheheryar Munawar, Ramsha Khan, Hira and Mani. The Nadeem Baig directorial, which is to be released on Eid-ul-Adha will be a creative collaboration between Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, Vasay Chaudhry, Ali Abbas Naqvi and Basit Naqvi.

8.      Babylicious
Shahroz Sabzwari and Syra Yousuf’s long-delayed love story titled Babylicious will hopefully hit theatres on Eidul Adha. The Essa Khan directorial sees a hopeless romantic Omar (Shahroz), a musician who gets dumped by his girlfriend, take on the world to sabotage her wedding and win her back.

9.      Madaari
June is certainly the month for crime-thrillers in Pakistani cinema. Written and directed by Seraj Us Salikin, Madaari explores the dichotomy of the justice system in Karachi. According to its synopsis, Madaari tells the story of Haris, played by Ibad Alam Sher, who has not had an easy life since his father was murdered over a political rift. The only luck he has is at his father’s killer’s office. The film explores whether he chooses to take revenge or aims for a better life. Madaari will release on Eidul Adha.

10. VIP
Another love story on the block! VIP, directed by Rana Kamran and Saqib Zafar, is scheduled for an Eidul Adha release. The romantic film stars Zakaria Khar and Namra Shahid in the lead roles. The film sees a corrupt family using the hero as a pawn for their political gains when the FBR starts chasing them. The pawn meets a girl hell-bent on changing society, and the story gets entangled in a web of love, life and politics.

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