Films to catch before August ends

August is nearing its end, but there are still a few interesting titles to catch in cinemas and online. The lineup ranges from a new “PAW Patrol” adventure and an international sci-fi thriller to a Filipino film fresh from the festival circuit and a selection of Locarno shorts.

‘PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie’

The pups are back, and this time things are going full pre-historic. Directed by Cal Brunker, this new chapter packs a wild voice cast including Carter Young, Mckenna Grace, Terry Crews, Jennifer Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Bill Nye, Paris Hilton and Snoop Dogg.

When a mysterious storm crash-lands the team on a hidden tropical island, they discover a land packed with dinosaurs and meet Rex — a pup who’s spent years mastering the island’s secrets. But when their old rival Mayor Humdinger tries to harvest the island’s resources, he accidentally sets off a dormant volcano. Now, the team has to pull off their biggest rescue mission yet.

Catch it in Philippine theaters starting 26 August. For a family movie outing, the Opus Family Cinema at Opus Mall is a particularly fitting option: it is the Philippines’ first and only Family Cinema, with plush couches, colorful beanbags, ambient lighting, a child-friendly Dolby 7.1 sound system and a bubblegum scent. The space lets children move, play and enjoy the movie in a more relaxed environment while parents watch in comfort.

‘Hope’

Na Hong-jin — the mastermind behind The Chaser, The Yellow Sea, and The Wailing — is back with a high-stakes sci-fi thriller. The movie, which premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, boasts an incredible international lineup starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton.

Set in Hope Harbor, a remote town near the Korean DMZ, a routine police response turns upside down fast. When police chief Bum-seok and rookie Sung-ae arrive at a strange discovery on the edge of town, a localized incident escalates into a full-blown fight for survival against a mysterious threat. Fresh off its premiere in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Hope hits Philippine cinemas on 26 August.

‘Filipiñana’

Directed by Rafael Manuel and starring Jorrybell Agoto, the film has traveled through major international festivals, with screenings at the Berlinale and Sundance, before coming home to the Philippines as the closing film of Cinemalaya 2026. Now, it heads to local cinemas.

The story follows 17-year-old Isabel, who moves from the rural northern Philippines to work as a tee girl at an elite country club just outside Manila. As Isabel navigates the exclusive, hyper-controlled world of the club’s wealthy members, an attraction to the club’s director, Dr. Palanca, pulls her into the dark history hiding just beneath the resort’s glossy surface. After its Cinemalaya run, “Filipiñana” now gets its wide Philippine release on 26 August.

‘The Dog Stars’

Ridley Scott takes on Peter Heller’s hit post-apocalyptic novel with a stacked cast featuring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong and Allison Janney.

In a world devastated by a deadly virus, a young pilot named Hig and a tough military survivalist named Bangley hold down an isolated homestead, guarding their refuge against outside threats. But when Hig picks up a mysterious radio signal, he decides to risk everything and fly beyond their safe zone to see if anything better is left out there. The “Dog Stars” hits theaters on 26 August.

‘Locarno shorts’

If indie shorts are more your speed, you can stream selected films straight from the 79th Locarno Film Festival’s Pardi di Domani section without leaving home.

Running online from 17 August through 6 September, the Festival Scope program is free, with limited tickets and availability in selected countries. The lineup includes “And If Thuy Didn’t Exist” by Filipino filmmaker Carlo Francisco Manatad, alongside shorts from the festival’s International, National and Corti d’Autore competitions. Some titles are available only until 31 August, so availability varies by film.