Weekly Trailer Roundup: The biggest new movie and TV previews to watch
This week’s trailer blitz mixes auteur comebacks, star-driven festival fare, and the kind of high-concept hooks that make you rewind the preview. Highlights include Spike Lee reuniting with Denzel Washington, Noah Baumbach’s latest starring George Clooney, and Jordan Peele‑adjacent horror that turns “hell week” literal. Here’s what to keep on your radar and why.
Major movie trailers to know
– Highest 2 Lowest — Denzel Washington and Spike Lee: Washington plays a New York music mogul whose son is kidnapped for a $17.5 million ransom, forcing a moral and class-driven dilemma. Spike Lee directs (their first collaboration since Inside Man). In theaters Aug. 15; streaming on Apple TV+ Sept. 5. Cinematography by Matthew Libatique; A$AP Rocky appears and contributes a hip‑hop edge.
– Rental Family — Brendan Fraser: Fraser stars as an American actor in Tokyo who takes work posing as surrogate family members, a premise drawn from Japan’s real surrogate family services. World premiere planned at Toronto; theatrical release Nov. 21. Directed by Hikari (Beef, Tokyo Vice).
– Ella McCay — James L. Brooks’ return: Emma Mackey leads as a newly elected governor juggling politics and a chaotic family (Woody Harrelson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julie Kavner narrates). Opens Dec. 12. Brooks’ first film in 15 years, with a large ensemble including Ayo Edebiri, Kumail Nanjiani, and Rebecca Hall.
– HIM — sports horror: Tyriq Withers is a rising NFL prospect drawn into a sinister training compound run by Marlon Wayans’ legendary quarterback. Producer Jordan Peele is attached; director Justin Tipping. In theaters Sept. 19.
– Jay Kelly — George Clooney & Noah Baumbach: Clooney plays a beloved movie star confronting his off‑screen identity on a European tour with Adam Sandler as his manager. Venice premiere planned; select theaters Nov. 14, Netflix Dec. 5. Cast includes Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Greta Gerwig, and more.
– If I Had Legs I’d Kick You — Rose Byrne: A24’s Sundance hit about a mother pushed to her limit; Byrne leads in a blistering performance. In theaters this October. Co-stars include Danielle Macdonald and A$AP Rocky; Conan O’Brien appears as the therapist.
– Cold Storage — fungal horror (coming 2026): Joe Keery and Georgina Campbell are night-shift workers who unleash a resurgent military fungal experiment. Liam Neeson and Sosie Bacon play agents trying to contain the outbreak. Adaptation of David Koepp’s debut novel, directed by Jonny Campbell.
Additional notable movie trailers
– Shelby Oaks — Chris Stuckmann’s directorial debut (Oct. 3).
– Adulthood — Alex Winter’s dark crime comedy with Josh Gad and Kaya Scodelario (select theaters Sept. 19; VOD Sept. 23).
– Witchboard — Chuck Russell’s Ouija remake (Aug. 15).
– The Cut — Orlando Bloom boxing drama (Sept. 5).
– Eden — Ron Howard’s island survival thriller with Jude Law and Ana de Armas (Aug. 22).
– The Thursday Murder Club — Cozy whodunit with Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan (Aug. 28).
– The Choral — Ralph Fiennes leads a WWI era drama (this Christmas).
TV trailers and streaming previews to watch
– One Piece: Season 2 — Into the Grand Line (Netflix, 2026): Iñaki Godoy returns as Luffy; Season 3 already greenlit. Expect larger scale, deeper lore.
– The Paper (Peacock, Sept. 4): Greg Daniels’ mockumentary set at a failing Ohio newspaper; Domhnall Gleeson stars, Oscar Nuñez returns in a new role.
– Tulsa King: Season 3 (Paramount+, Sept. 21): Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi faces old‑money adversaries and an escalated turf war.
– Invasion: Season 3 (Apple TV+, Aug. 22): The global sci‑fi series continues two years after the mothership fell; survivors confront new alien threats.
– Other picks: The Runarounds (Prime, Sept. 1), Let the Devil In (MGM+, Aug. 31), My Life With the Walter Boys: Season 2 (Netflix, Aug. 28), The Resurrected (Netflix, Oct. 9).
Extra: physical media nostalgia
A human-interest segment notes The Video Wave, a surviving San Francisco video rental store, drawing younger collectors who never lived the VHS era. Vinyl’s revival suggests physical media nostalgia could revive interest in tapes and discs as displayable, collectible cultural artifacts.
Quick take and context
– Festivals matter: Several of these films—Rental Family (TIFF), Jay Kelly (Venice)—are using festivals to build early buzz before theatrical and streaming rollouts. That’s a common path for projects mixing prestige art‑house sensibilities with star power.
– Big names across genres: The slate shows established actors and auteurs returning to distinctive projects (Spike Lee, James L. Brooks, Noah Baumbach, Ron Howard) alongside mainstream and genre fare (horror, sports drama, thrillers).
– Streaming windows remain fluid: Several titles plan hybrid approaches—festival premieres, limited theatrical runs, then streaming debuts—reflecting continued experimentation with release strategies.
What to watch first
– For tense, adult drama: Highest 2 Lowest (Lee + Washington) — delivers moral stakes and pedigree.
– For festival conversation: Jay Kelly (Baumbach/Clooney) and Rental Family (Fraser/TIFF).
– For genre thrills: HIM (sports horror) and Cold Storage (biological horror, 2026) if you like body‑horror or high concept scares.
– For a release to mark on your calendar: Ella McCay for fans of James L. Brooks’ blend of comedy and emotional complexity; If I Had Legs I’d Kick You for a raw, Sundance breakout performance from Rose Byrne.
A hopeful note
This week’s trailers show creative risk across scales—from intimate indie performances to high-concept horror and prestige comebacks. That variety means there’s something for every mood this fall and next year, and several films look poised to spark awards and cultural conversation while others will fuel must-watch streaming nights.
Short summary
This roundup highlights major new trailers, including Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s Highest 2 Lowest (Aug. 15 theaters, Sept. 5 on Apple TV+), Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family (TIFF premiere, Nov. 21 theatrical), James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay (Dec. 12), and genre entries like HIM (Sept. 19) and Cold Storage (2026). Festival premieres and streaming windows figure heavily; the slate balances auteur-driven projects, star vehicles, and genre fare.
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