7 international movies hit Chinese cinemas June 5-26: The Garfield Movie, Toy Story 5, Supergirl, and Spielberg's Disclosure Day. Full list with release dates.
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June arrives carrying a strange mix of comfort and chaos.
Childhood icons return to the big screen, old heroes seek new relevance, sharks circle once again, and somewhere in the middle of it all, Steven Spielberg is back asking whether we're truly alone in the universe.
The Garfield Movie
June 5
Lasagna-loving Garfield, loyal Odie, and their delightfully dysfunctional family are back on the big screen, ready to awaken childhood memories across multiple generations.
The story explores Garfield's early years, tracing his journey from a vulnerable stray kitten to a pampered house cat after meeting his adoptive owner Jon.
Just as life seems perfect, the sudden appearance of his biological father Vic throws everything into chaos.
Originally released on June 1, 2024, the film proved a box office and audience favorite thanks to its lighthearted humor, lovable characters, and easygoing adventure.
Beneath the laughs sits a surprisingly warm story about family, belonging, and companionship.
If you missed Children's Day with your little ones, or simply want to start summer with something cheerful and comforting, Garfield remains a perfect choice.
Masters of the Universe
June 5
If you're under 30, there's a decent chance you've never even heard of He-Man.
Prince Adam of Eternia, friend of Battle Cat, and the most powerful man in the universe.
For many children of the 1980s, however, He-Man wasn't just a cartoon hero—he was a symbol of courage, imagination, and larger-than-life adventure.
This live-action adaptation aims to give the beloved franchise a modern renaissance.
Directed by Travis Knight, the filmmaker behind Bumblebee, the film promises to balance emotional character work with blockbuster-scale action and visual effects.
The biggest challenge will be finding a way to update He-Man without reducing him to just another generic superhero.
If it succeeds, a whole new generation may discover why so many fans still remember the famous words:
"By the power of Grayskull... I HAVE THE POWER!"
Dangerous Animals
June 5
Just weeks after the successful return of Jaws to Chinese cinemas, another shark movie arrives.
But Dangerous Animals has a clever twist: the shark isn't the real monster.
One of the trailer's most unsettling images features an entire wall of carefully organized fishing hooks.
Instead of feathers or bait, each hook carries something far more disturbing: locks of women's hair.
You guessed it.
These are trophies collected by a serial killer whose horrifying hobby is luring women onto his boat before feeding them to sharks.
Isolated waters, limited escape routes, and a relentless predator create a simple but brutally effective survival thriller.
Sharks may be on the poster, but the true danger here has always been human nature.
If you're looking for this month's pure adrenaline rush, Dangerous Animals looks ready to deliver.
Pressure
June 6
Everyone knows D-Day.
Few remember the weather forecast.
Yet one may not have happened without the other.
Set during the final 72 hours before the Normandy landings, Pressure tells the remarkable true story of meteorologist James Stagg (played by Andrew Scott) whose forecast would help determine the fate of one of history's most important military operations.
If he gets it wrong, the invasion fails.
Thousands die.
History changes.
What follows is not a traditional war movie but a pressure-cooker drama about science, uncertainty, and impossible responsibility.
While generals demand answers and colleagues question his judgment, Stagg searches desperately for a tiny window of opportunity hidden within chaotic weather data.
With performances from Brendan Fraser, Kerry Condon, and Damian Lewis, the film offers a fresh perspective on a story many thought they already knew.
Disclosure Day
June 12
Steven Spielberg is going back to aliens.
Again.
And honestly, nobody is complaining.
Margaret, a weather presenter played by Emily Blunt, and Daniel, a scientist portrayed by Josh O'Connor, both experienced contact with extraterrestrials during childhood.
Years later, strange events suggest those visitors may have returned.
As they attempt to reveal the truth, mysterious forces begin hunting them down.
The film is being described as a return to Spielberg's classic science-fiction style, with many comparisons already being made to Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
It explores UFO phenomena, public reaction, and humanity's endless fascination with life beyond Earth.
Spielberg has long been fascinated by the subject.
In one interview, he even proposed a provocative theory: perhaps they aren't aliens at all, but future humans returning to observe their own history.
Whether that's the secret hiding at the center of the film remains to be seen.
In an era overflowing with information and skepticism, Disclosure Day seems less interested in asking whether the truth exists—and more interested in what happens when everyone suddenly learns it.
Toy Story 5
June 19
Seven years later, they're back.
And somehow, Pixar keeps finding new reasons to make us care about toys.
This time, Bonnie becomes obsessed with a new frog-shaped smart tablet called Lilypad, leaving Woody, Buzz, and the rest of her toys struggling for attention.
Sound familiar?
If you're a parent, you may already be laughing—or nervously looking at the nearest screen in your home.
But, like the best Toy Story films, the real conflict goes far beyond traditional toys versus modern technology.
Toy Story 5 asks a much bigger question: what happens when the world simply moves on?
That may sound surprisingly philosophical for a family film, but Toy Story has always been at its best when asking big questions through small plastic characters.
When children no longer need their toys, where do those toys belong?
And, perhaps more importantly, how do we cope when the things that once defined us are no longer needed?
Leave it to Pixar to turn an animated adventure about talking toys into an existential crisis.
Supergirl
June 26
For years, Supergirl lived in Superman's shadow.
This time, she wants nothing to do with it.
The new version of Kara Zor-El abandons the cheerful, optimistic image audiences traditionally associate with the character.
Instead, she's rebellious, rough around the edges, and unapologetically herself.
Unsurprisingly, the internet is already divided.
Some love the idea of a rough-edged Supergirl who rejects the character's traditional image, while others see it as yet another example of modern superhero films trying too hard to be different.
James Gunn's DC Universe reboot began with a divisive Superman. While it avoided disaster, it didn't quite become the home run many hoped for.
Now, Supergirl arrives carrying a different energy altogether—less classic superhero, more cosmic outlaw.
Underneath the attitude, however, remains a deeply compassionate character driven by loyalty and a desire to protect others.
Whether this version can help push the DC Universe into a brighter future remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain:
Nobody will mistake her for Superman.
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[Cover image by That's]
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