World Cup Overload? Here’s Your Pop Culture Escape Plan
Are you indifferent to office sweepstakes and bored by endless stats? Fear not – there’s a bounty of film, TV and music being released this summer to take your mind off the on-pitch action.
For those with no interest in football, this period can feel like the most hellish, with every billboard, newspaper front page, and cola can devoted to the sport. But pop culture is here to save you. Over the next five-plus weeks, there is an abundance of great releases to completely blot out this bloated tournament.
Film: Blockbusters and Indie Gems
The cinema is a perfect escape from celebrating fans. Horror sensations Obsession and Backrooms are still screening, and Steven Spielberg’s latest blockbuster Disclosure Day arrives. Next Friday, Toy Story 5 hits theaters, generating positive early buzz for its screen addiction-themed storyline.
Jackass: Best and Last (June 26) is the final bone-crunching outing for Johnny Knoxville and friends. That same day, Jodie Foster makes her French-language debut in A Private Life. On July 1, Minions & Monsters arrives for family fun. Olivia Wilde’s buzzed-about The Invite and Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie debut on July 3. As the World Cup reaches its sharp end, Evil Dead Burn and the live-action Moana premiere on July 10. Finally, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (July 17) offers blockbuster counter-programming for the final.
Television: Must-Watch Series
The World Cup dominates primetime, but alternative viewing abounds. The finale of Apple TV’s comedy-horror sensation Widow’s Bay airs next Wednesday. The following day brings I Will Find You, a Harlan Coben thriller starring Britt Lower on Netflix. Major returning series include House of the Dragon season three (HBO Max, weekly from June 21) and The Bear final season (Disney+, June 26).
Larry David’s Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (HBO Max, June 26) offers a sideways look at US history. Silo season three (Apple TV, July 3) provides dystopian drama. Hannah Waddingham stars with Octavia Spencer in Ride Or Die (Prime Video, July 15). And before the World Cup final, Heartstopper Forever (Netflix, July 17) delivers a final feature-length episode.
Music: Festivals and New Albums
Festivals like Isle of Wight, Creamfields, and TRNSMT run during the World Cup. Major outdoor gigs feature Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, System of a Down, Wolf Alice, and Kneecap. New albums include The Strokes’ Reality Awaits (July 24), Madonna’s Confessions on a Dancefloor: Part II (July 3), The Rolling Stones’ Foreign Tongues (July 10), Gracie Abrams’ Daughter From Hell, and Steve Lacy’s Oh yeah? (both July 17). Also notable: Graham Coxon’s Castle Park (June 19), Parts & Labour’s Set of All Sets (July 10), and Show Me the Body’s Alone Together (July 10).
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