Favorite First-Time Watches of June 2026
As everyone knows, my favorite thing to do is recommend movies. Bonus if it’s a movie you haven’t heard of. So, once a month, I recommend a handful of movies I watched last month that I recommend you check out.
Tuner (2026) – Daniel Roher
Niki works as a piano tuner with Henry. Niki has hyperacusis, a hyper-sensitivity to loud noises. One day on the job, a robbery is underway; the loud noises prompt Niki to offer to open the safe (because of his hyperacusis) to end the job. He then gets embroiled in the criminal world to help Henry get out from under debt.
Daniel is known for documentaries, and this was his first foray into fiction filmmaking. I thought this was a great first fiction feature film.
Leo Woodall gives a great anchoring performance. The ending could be perceived as contrived, but I think it’s an earned ending.
Viva Las Vegas (1964) – George Sidney
One of the Elvis-starring films that I really had no interest in watching. I thought it’d be stupid and silly; it is, but in the right way.
Elvis plays Lucky, a musician who wants enough money to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix. After meeting Rusty (Ann-Margret), he hopes to win the Grand Prix and her heart.
The movie plays “Viva Las Vegas” three times and ends with a race around Vegas. What more could I ask for? Great song, racing, and Vegas set; this could become a comfort watch for me.
Disclosure Day (2026) – Steven Spielberg
A meteorologist (Emily Blunt), from KC no less, though nothing in this movie was shot in KC. And a cybersecurity expert (Josh O’Connor) are in the middle of a movement to expose the government and their long-kept secret that Aliens may walk among us.
Five of my top ten Spielberg movies are alien-related. I love when he dabbles in his specific conspiracy interest.
It’s less about whether the government is hiding something and more about Spielberg’s interest in how we would handle this information.
Unfortunately, the boomer in him believes this knowledge would change the world; seeing what I have from humanity and our collective short attention spans, this would become old news as fast as it took for an alien to land on Earth.
Fast Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) – Russ Meyer
Three Go-Go Dancers leave their nightclub to leave a path of chaos behind them. After killing a karate expert, they take his girlfriend hostage and plan to steal a fortune from a nearby ranch. However, the old man and his large, brain-damaged son have something to say about this.
Russ Meyer is known for his sexploitation films; this is actually one of his more subdued films in that respect. I’d only seen one of his films before this one, but I’m definitely going to check out more.
Something I didn’t realize is the influence this film and Russ Meyer had on Quentin Tarantino. Especially on Death Proof. There was also a surprising amount of overlap with Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
The Furious (2026) – Kenji Tanigaki
I really don’t need three lines to explain the plot of Kenji’s new action film. It’s Hong Kong Taken. Interested? What if I said it’s one of the best action movies since The Raid? If that doesn’t get you, then this film is not for you.
This film puts its foot on the gas and never lets up for 114 minutes. When you think it’s over, there are 20 minutes left. Where is this going, you wonder? Then you realize there’s a whole subplot still dangling that culminates in a 20-minute-long 5-way fight. This movie rocks!
