Star-studded sci-fi, thrillers to hit local theaters in June

From left, posters for the film “Wonderland," “Drive," and "Inside Out 2" / Courtesy of Ace Maker Movie Works, Merry Christmas and Walt Disney Company Korea

Local theaters are gearing up to showcase a diverse range of films ranging from sci-fi to thriller genres, including the highly anticipated ensemble film "Wonderland."

Led by director Kim Tae-yong, who previously helmed romance films "All for Love" (2005) and "Late Autumn" (2010), “Wonderland” is finally getting its release after a long COVID-induced delay.

The upcoming sci-fi drama film, slated to premiere June 5, will follow a group of people using a video chat service called Wonderland, which virtually recreates a deceased person through artificial intelligence. A young woman (Bae Suzy) requests the service to reunite with her boyfriend (Park Bo-gum) who fell into a coma and a deceased mother (Tang Wei) uses the service to hide her death from her young daughter, communicating with them through video calls.

Actors Choi Woo-shik and Jung Yu-mi will play the planners of the service and Gong Yoo will make a guest appearance as the husband of Tang’s character.

Two thriller crime films, “Hijack 1971” and “Drive,” are also set for release next month.

Helmed by filmmaker Kim Sung-han, who was the assistant director of “Ashfall” (2019), “Hijack 1971” revolves around a former Air Force fighter pilot, Tae-in, who is now working as a co-pilot of a private airline.

What’s supposed to be an easy domestic flight bound to Gimpo from Sokcho turns into a nightmare when one of the passengers, Yong-dae (Yeo Jin-goo), hijacks the plane after a bomb goes off and demands to to change the flight’s route to North Korea. With the captain (Sung Dong-il) losing eyesight from the bombing, Tae-in takes over the flight, fighting to save the lives of the passengers.

The film is inspired by a real-life incident from 1971, where a South Korean man in his 20s hijacked a plane in an attempt to cross the border into North Korea.

A poster for the action thriller film "Hijack 1971" / Courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment Korea

Scheduled for release later in June, the thriller action film "Drive" centers around a renowned YouTuber, Yu-na (played by Park Ju-hyun), who gained fame through her vlogs. One day, she is abducted by a mysterious individual and confined to the trunk of her car. With her life on the line, she must put on a live show for an hour, raising 650 million won ($479,500) to secure her survival.

This marks the directorial debut for filmmaker Park Dong-hee, who previously penned the script for the action crime film "Special Delivery" (2022). "Drive" has garnered attention internationally, receiving invitations to prestigious film festivals such as the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and Chicago Asian Pop-up Cinema.

Two Hollywood sequels, Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and the action franchise “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” are also ready to hit theaters.

The animated film "Inside Out 2," set for release on June 12, arrives approximately nine years after the original installment. In the first film, we follow 11-year-old Riley as she navigates a major life change, accompanied by her five core emotions—Fear, Anger, Joy, Disgust, and Sadness—as she relocates to a new city.

In the second sequel, Riley, now 13, navigates the challenges of her teenage years. Alongside her core emotions—Fear, Anger, Joy, Disgust, and Sadness—she encounters a new emotion, Anxiety, as she grapples with the complexities of adolescence.

The new film is led by director Kelsey Mann, whose previous works include the 2015 animation film “The Good Dinosaur.”

The comedy action franchise “Bad Boys” is releasing its fourth installment later in June. The film series follows a cop duo in the Miami Police Department, Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), combating crimes.

The latest sequel will chronicle the duo's perilous mission to uncover the truth behind the death of their police captain. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they discover connections to powerful drug cartels and are determined to clear their captain's name.

The film is co-directed by filmmaker duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who previously led the film series' third installment “Bad Boys for Life.”