The Life of Chuck (June 6)

The winner of last year’s TIFF People’s Choice Award finally hits theatres to win over a whole new audience. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan—best known for horror hits like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass—The Life of Chuck marks a tonal departure for the genre maestro. Adapted from a Stephen King novella, this touching character study unfolds in reverse chronological order, chronicling the life of its titular character. While Flanagan is no stranger to adapting King’s work, this film dives into surprisingly intimate and heartfelt territory—buzzing with a magical, almost apocalyptic sense of profundity. Oh, and there’s an elaborate musical number that has to be seen to be believed. (Elevation Pictures)

The Phoenician Scheme (June 6)

Wes Anderson, the beloved connoisseur of symmetry, colour, and stacked ensembles, returns with The Phoenician Scheme. Starring Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, and Benedict Cumberbatch (to name a few), Anderson’s latest takes place in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Phoenicia—an analogue to The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Zubrowka. The story follows Zsa-Zsa Korda (Del Toro), a conniving business magnate, and his art-obsessed daughter, Liesel (Threapleton), as they attempt to industrialize Phoenicia while secretly skimming profits off the top. If anyone can turn that plot into something enchanting, it’s Anderson.

The Materialists (June 13)

Hot on the heels of her cosmic exploration of lost love in Past Lives, writer-director Celine Song returns with a sharply modern New York-set romantic comedy. The Materialists follows professional matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson), who falls for wealthy tech mogul Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal) while still harbouring feelings for her ex, John (Chris Evans), a down-on-his-luck waiter. While the love triangle might seem old-school at first glance, expect Song to dive beneath the surface, drawing both laughter and tears in equal measure.

Endless Cookie (June 13)

Winner of Hot Docs’ Best Canadian Documentary, Endless Cookie is also the festival’s weirdest—and most unequivocally Canadian—offering. Directed by Seth and Peter Scriver, this hilarious and heartfelt family portrait unfolds through psychedelic, cartoon-infused vignettes. Structured around in-person and phone conversations between two brothers—one white, one Indigenous—and their extended family, the film zigzags from 1980s Toronto to present-day Shamattawa First Nation. While its structure resembles a chaotic social media feed, Endless Cookie drills into the vibrant heart of a Canadian family while confronting the legacies of the RCMP and residential schools. Beneath the humour lies a melancholic depth that reminds us our lives are just one chip off the endless cookie.

28 Years Later (June 20)

Danny Boyle returns to the post-apocalyptic zombie franchise he launched over two decades ago. 28 Years Later stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell (fresh off his villainous turn in Sinners), and centers on a small group of survivors on an isolated island linked to the mainland by a single, heavily defended bridge. When a family escapes, they uncover the horrific truths of their world. Shot using a fleet of iPhone 15s, this third installment continues the digital experimentation that made the original such a game-changer.

F1 (June 27)

Directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, F1 sees Brad Pitt return to the driver’s seat—literally—as a retired Formula 1 legend who mentors a young upstart at the Apex Grand Prix. While the story treads familiar ground, it channels the blockbuster spirit of the ’80s and ’90s, evoking a type of movie we rarely see anymore: the star-powered sports drama. Yes, it’s basically a slick ad for Formula One—but with the right mix of nostalgia and adrenaline, F1 could be a lap ahead of the competition.

M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)

Your favourite murderous robotic doll is back. In M3GAN 2.0, the cult-favourite A.I. menace takes on a new role—hero. This time, she’s up against bigger tech threats, armed with her signature sass and a few more dance moves. Shifting from horror into full-blown action-comedy, M3GAN 2.0 leans into camp, chaos, and iconic one-liners (“Hold onto your vaginas!”)—and we’re more than ready for her second act.