By IGN
The studios save all their fanciest motion pictures for the end of the year, but the summer is when the fun ones come out. Giant blockbusters and exciting independents are all vying for your attention (and your cash) this year, and there are so danged many that it might be hard to keep track of them all.
That’s what we’re here for, of course. We’ve got a look at all the exciting action epics, the super sequels, the wacky comedies, the shocking horror movies and mind-blowing sci-fi films that are on the way, from the beginning of May to the end of August. Mark your calendars and start saving your allowance, because you’re going to want to see these genre films in theaters.
Note: Release dates are subject to change.
Release Date: Apr. 27 (US), Apr. 26 (UK), Apr. 25 (AU)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has all been building to this. All the heroes, from every single one of Marvel’s superhero movie series, will team up to face their most powerful foe, Thanos (Josh Brolin), as he assembles the all-powerful Infinity Stones. We still don’t know everything Thanos plans to do with the Infinity Gauntlet, because the plot of Avengers: Infinity War has still (impressively) been mostly kept secret, but the promise of every character we know and love meeting, quipping, and fighting bad guys makes this film a “must see” for every MCU fan.
Release Date: May 4 (US/UK), May 10 (AU)
From the writing/directing team that brought you Juno and Young Adult comes a new dramedy starring Charlize Theron as an overwhelmed mother of three, and Mackenzie Davis (Halt and Catch Fire) as Tully, a night nurse who helps ease those burdens. Jason Reitman’s film, written by Diablo Cody, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, and now audiences everywhere will get to see what all the hubbub is about.
Release Date: May 4 (US), TBD (UK/AU)
The original Overboard starred Goldie Hawn as a wealthy but terrible person who gets amnesia, and Kurt Russell as a workaday single parent who tricks her into thinking she’s his housewife. It’s considered a comedy classic, but it’s pretty creepy if you think about it, so hopefully this new remake – which stars Eugenio Derbez as the rich amnesiac, and Anna Faris as the single mom – will find a way to make the premise work for a new generation. The cast also features Eva Longoria, Cecilia Suárez, Mariana Treviño and John Hannah.
Release Date: May 11 (US/UK), TBD (AU)
Breaking In is a home invasion thriller with a twist. Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane) plays a mother whose children are kidnapped and held in a high-security house while the criminals search for hidden money. So this time, the hero has to find a way to break in to save the day. It’s a clever twist on a familiar premise, Gabrielle Union is a fantastic actor, and director James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) knows how to make solid thrillers. Plus, it comes out Mother’s Day weekend, which is practically perfect synergy. Breaking In has the potential to be a break out success.
Release Date: May 11 (US/UK), May 10 (AU)
Melissa McCarthy gives up her domestic life and goes back to college at the same time as her daughter, played by Molly Gordon (Animal Kingdom). Hijinks, embarrassment and naughtiness ensue. If it sounds a lot like the classic Rodney Dangerfield comedy Back to School, that’s probably not a coincidence. But a good idea is a good idea, and putting Melissa McCarthy in wild situations and letting her be her hilarious self is usually a good idea for a movie.
Release Date: May 11 (US), TBD (UK/AU)
Margot Robbie and Simon Pegg star in a stylish, twisty-turny crime saga about assassins on a mission, and the femme fatale who makes their assignment more complicated. If the plot is amazing then Terminal could be a real winner, but either way the big draw here is Robbie, hot off an Oscar nomination for I, Tonya and – if the trailer can be believed – giving a performance just about as wild as Harley Quinn.
Release Date: May 18 (US), May 15 (UK), May 17 (AU)
Deadpool is back, and this time he’s facing off against a time traveler named Cable (Josh Brolin), who’s hunting for a young mutant named Russell (Julian Dennison). Along the way, Deadpool will assemble his own team of mercenaries and heroes, and break the fourth wall the way only Deadpool can. As a bonus, Deadpool 2 is directed by David Leitch, who gave us unforgettable action sequences in Atomic Blonde and John Wick. It will be exciting to see what he can do with more money, more visual effects, and – in true Deadpool fashion – no rules.
Release Date: May 25 (US), May 24 (UK/AU)
Alden Ehrenreich plays a young Han Solo in the latest Star Wars anthology film, which shows us how a roguish pilot became the most lovable smuggler in the galaxy. Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The LEGO Movie) started the production, and Ron Howard (Willow) finished it, but what really matters is whether the finished film captures that old Star Wars magic. And with a trailer full of entertaining action and several intriguing characters – particularly a young Lando Calrissian, played by Donald Glover – it looks like that’s what we’re going to get.
Release Date: June 1 (US), Aug. 31 (UK), TBD (AU)
Johnny Knoxville runs the most accident prone amusement park in the world in Action Point, which – like many of his films – is basically just an excuse to do a whole bunch of crazy stunts. But Knoxville doesn’t hold back, and the torrent of dangerous sight gags – from getting firehosed in the crotch to getting catapulted into a wall – promise to be hilarious gags that you absolutely should not ever, ever try at home.
Release Date: June 1 (US), Sept. 7 (UK), TBD (AU)
From director Bart Layton (The Imposter) comes a based-on-a-true story about a group of childhood buddies who decide to steal the world’s most valuable book. Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer), Evan Peters (X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Blake Jenner (Supergirl) star in a heist movie that had critics raving out of the Sundance Film Festival, and which looks like it could be a Bottle Rocket for a new generation.
Release Date: June 1 (US), TBD (UK/AU)
Leigh Whannell co-created the Saw and Insidious franchises, and now he’s taking a stab at sci-fi with this futuristic thriller, starring Logan Marshall-Green (The Invitation) as a man on a mission of revenge against the people who killed his family, using a cybernetic implant that he doesn’t fully know how to control. Inventive violence and big ideas could make Upgrade, potentially, the next breakout thriller.
Release Date: June 8 (US), June 15 (UK), TBD (AU)
From the studio that brought you The Witch and It Comes At Night, comes another low budget thriller with lots of critical acclaim. Toni Colette (The Sixth Sense) stars as a woman whose mother’s death reveals unspeakable, inescapable truths about her family history. As of this writing, Hereditary has a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that its mysteries are well worth unlocking.
Release Date: June 8 (US), June 22 (UK), June 7 (AU)
The Ocean’s Eleven series continues with another all-star heist caper, this time with an all-female cast. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina and Anne Hathaway co-star, in a film directed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games), that promises to be just as slick and stylish as Steven Soderbergh’s original.
Release Date: June 15 (US), July 13 (UK), June 14 (AU)
The long-awaited sequel to The Incredibles is finally here, and it picks up right where the original left off. The superhero family has been assembled, villains are rising, but while Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) is out saving the day, it’s up to Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) to take care of the kids. The original film was a sendup of conventional family movies, using superheroics as an exciting filter, and the sequel appears to be continuing that theme. And since everyone loved it the first time, they’ll probably love it again now.
Release Date: June 15 (US), Sept. 14 (UK), TBD (AU)
One of the most culturally significant films of the 1970s, Super Fly, gets a slick and exciting new remake from acclaimed music video auteur Director X. The new film explores the alluring criminal underground in Atlanta, and stars Trevor Jackson (American Crime), Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton) and Lex Scott Davis (The First Purge). The movie could very well be better than the original, but the real question is, can it also live up to the legacy of Curtis Mayfield’s unforgettable original soundtrack?
Release Date: June 15 (US), July 6 (UK), TBD (AU)
A group of friends has been playing the same game of tag for decades, but now the game is ending, and everyone only has one chance to tag the champion, Jerry (Jeremy Renner). Jon Hamm, Hannibal Buress, Jake Johnson and Ed Helms co-star in a film about taking a schoolyard game way too far, combining action and humor in what could very well be an exciting way.
Release Date: June 22 (US), June 6 (UK), June 21 (AU)
Jurassic World didn’t just revive the dinosaurs, it revived the whole Jurassic Park franchise. After the most recent disaster, it’s up to Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) to return to the island and save the dinosaurs from a volcano, while also protecting them from a corporation with sinister plans for their deadly DNA. Jeff Goldblum makes his long-awaited comeback to the series, and acclaimed director J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls) takes over the director’s chair.
Release Date: June 29 (US/UK), June 28 (AU)
Denis Villeneuve’s crime thriller Sicario became a breakout critical success, with an uncompromising view of border politics and violent drug trade. The sequel promises even more action and ethical compromise, as Graver (Josh Brolin) re-teams with the mysterious Alejandro Gillick (Benicio Del Toro) for another clandestine operation, which does not go as expected. Original Sicario screenwriter Taylor Sheridan returns to keep telling the story, this time directed by Stefano Sollima (Gomorrah).
Release Date: July 4 (US), July 6 (UK), TBD (AU)
There have been three films already made about The Purge, a holiday in which all crime is legal for one night out of the year. But the question remains… how did a crazy idea like The Purge get started in the first place? The First Purge promises answers, lots of mayhem, and more of the political commentary that makes this series one of the most fascinating horror franchises of the decade.
Release Date: July 6 (US), Aug. 3 (UK), July 5 (AU)
The sequel to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s smallest superhero film stars Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as Ant-Man and the Wasp, as they team up to reveal new secrets and take on a dangerous enemy called the Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). It will be interesting to see where this series goes in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, with these heroes no longer on the sidelines of the MCU. But however it pans out, we can expect more clever size-changing action from director Peyton Reed.
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