‘The Life of Chuck’: Tom Hiddleston headlines Stephen King movie
Based on a Stephen King novella, “The Life of Chuck” chronicles the life of accountant Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) in three acts told in reverse.
It turns out Disney isn’t the only Hollywood studio that can figure out how to turn one of its animated hits into a live-action movie.
Here’s what’s new in Milwaukee-area theaters starting June 6, as well as some of the new movies available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’
Short version: DreamWorks/Universal’s hit animated franchise gets real in this live-action remake of the 2010 original, in which a boy Viking (Mason Thames) befriends a young dragon, despite the historic animosity between man and beast personified by his Viking chief father (Gerard Butler, reprising the voice character he played in the original). Nico Parker, Nick Frost and Julian Dennison co-star.
Where you can see it: ACX Cinema/Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema (only through June 15; the Brookfield multiplex is closing after nearly six years in operation).
‘Materialists’
Short version: Dakota Johnson plays a devoted-to-her-work matchmaker who finds herself torn between a suave, rich and handsome guy (Pedro Pascal) and her not-so-suave, definitely not-rich and handsome ex (Chris Evans). Celine Song, who was nominated for a screenplay Oscar for her previous movie, the 2023 masterpiece “Past Lives,” wrote and directed this buzzy romantic comedy.
Where you can see it: ACX Cinema/Bayshore; AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas; Oriental Theatre.
‘The Life of Chuck’
Short version: The story of a seemingly ordinary man (Tom Hiddleston) is told in three parts — and in reverse — in this adaptation of a Stephen King novella by filmmaker Mike Flanagan, who did a good job adapting King’s “Doctor Sleep” in 2019. Karen Gillan, Carl Lumbly, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mia Sara, Jacob Tremblay and Mark Hamill co-star in this sci-fi drama, which received good reviews at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Downer Theatre; Marcus Theatres’ Majestic, North Shore, Ridge, South Shore cinemas.
‘Prime Minister’
Short version: This documentary chronicling Jacinda Ardern’s groundbreaking tenure as prime minister of New Zealand took home the audience award for world documentary feature at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall.
‘The Unholy Trinity’
Short version: In 1870s Montana, a young man (Brandon Lessard) out to kill the person who framed his estranged father for a crime he didn’t commit finds himself caught between a new sheriff (Pierce Brosnan) and an outlaw who calls himself St. Christopher (Samuel L. Jackson). Tim Daly, Veronica Ferres, David Arquette and Q’orianka Kilcher co-star in this dark Western.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Ridge cinemas.
Oriental Theatre’s ‘Summer CAMP’
Milwaukee Film celebrates the returns of both summer and Pride Month with a series of movies that (mostly) embrace the spirit of camp. Showing this week: “Grease 2,” 9:30 p.m. June 13; and “Showgirls,” 9 p.m. June 19. Tickets are $13. Info: mkefilm.org.
‘Real Genius’ at Avalon Theater
“Real Genius,” the 1985 Val Kilmer teen comedy directed by Martha Coolidge, is showing at 7 p.m. June 18 at the Avalon Theater. Tickets are $11.50. Info: ntg-wi.com.
What’s showing at Milky Way Drive-In
The Milky Way Drive-In — the outdoor theater in the parking lot at Franklin’s Ballpark Commons, 7035 S. Ballpark Drive — is showing: June 13, a double feature of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Top Gun” at 6:30 p.m.; June 14, “The Wild Robot” at 5 p.m., “A Minecraft Movie” at 7:30 p.m. and “Drop” at 10 p.m.; June 15, a double feature of “Despicable Me 4” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” at 5 p.m. Admission is $35 per carload. Info: milkywaydrivein.com.
Free outdoor movies in the Milwaukee area
Glendale/Bayshore: The Glendale retail complex at 5800 N. Bayshore Drive continues its Family Flicks series with “Moana 2,” showing at 5:30 p.m. June 18 in The Yard, the center’s outdoor expanse. Info: thebayshorelife.com/events.
Greenfield: The city’s Movies in the Park program continues with “Migration,” showing at dusk on June 14 at The Amp in Konkel Park, 5151 W. Layton Ave. Info: ci.greenfield.wi.us.
Milwaukee/Veterans Park: The Summer Night Movies series returns to the park on Lake Michigan, at 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, starting with “Inside Out 2” at dusk on June 14. Info: giftofwingslandings.com.
Oak Creek: Fare in the Square — held in Drexel Town Square, 361 W. Town Square Way — includes movies as well as a parade of food trucks. The first movie showing: the 2002 animated “Lilo & Stitch,” showing at dusk on June 18. Info: oakcreekwi.gov.
Port Washington: The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has its first Friday Night Flicks offering showing at dusk on June 13 in Veteran’s Memorial Park, 410 N. Lake St. The title hasn’t been announced. Info: Port Washington Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Facebook page.
Waukesha: The city’s Monday Nights at the Movies program starts June 16 with “Moana 2” showing in Cutler Park’s Les Paul Performance Center, 321 Wisconsin Ave. Pre-movie activities start at 6 p.m.; the movie starts at 7:15 p.m. Info: waukesha-wi.gov.
West Allis/LaFollette Park: The Friends of LaFollette Park host their annual Movie Night in the Park in the West Allis park, 9418 W. Washington St., at dusk on June 13. They’re not releasing the name of the family-friendly movie, but there are hints on Facebook. Info: Movie Night at the Park Facebook event page.
Marcus Theatres’ Kids Dream series
Marcus Theatres continues its Kids Dream summer series — $3 screenings of family-friendly movies at all eight area Marcus theaters — June 15-19 with “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Info: marcustheatres.com.
New movies on demand
“Bonjour Tristesse”: In a French seaside town, an 18-year-old girl spending the summer with her father and his lover finds her world threatened when the arrival of her late mother’s friend causes complications — and leads to tragedy. Lily McInerny, Claes Bang, Naïlia Harzoune and Chloë Sevigny star in this new adaptation of Françoise Sagan’s coming-of-age novel. Available June 13.
“Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible”: This documentary profiles the Scottish alt-rock band best known for their 1985 earworm “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” Available June 13.
New movies on streaming services
“Echo Valley”: Julianne Moore plays a mother who will do anything to save her daughter (Sydney Sweeney) when the latter shows up hysterical and covered in someone else’s blood in this new thriller. On Apple TV+ June 13.
“Sally”: Milwaukee filmmaker Cristina Costantini’s documentary presents the life of Sally Ride, the groundbreaking astronaut who, as the first American woman to go to space, felt compelled to hide that she was gay. Before it landed on streaming services, “Sally” was the opening-night movie at the 2025 Milwaukee Film Festival. On Disney+ and Hulu+ June 16.
Recent releases newly available on streaming services: “Cleaner,” Max June 13; “Absolution,” Hulu June 13; “The Chosen: Last Supper” (Season 5), Prime Video June 15; “Skincare,” Hulu June 17; “The Quiet Ones,” Hulu June 19.
