Summer is the best time of year to catch a great movie or two. There is nothing quite like going into a cool theater on a hot summer day and escaping from all your troubles, if only for a couple of hours. Here are some of the hottest summer movies that we can’t wait to watch including action, horror, comedy, and family flicks.
1 Alien: Covenant – May 19
In what may be the scariest sci-fi film of the summer movie season, Alien: Covenant takes us along with the crew of a colony ship who are traveling to a remote plant to discover a new, livable paradise for humans. The only thing is that there is a threat to that planet that goes far beyond their imagination and they must attempt an unlikely escape. The Ridley Scott film stars Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride.
2. Baywatch – May 25
Are you ready to head back to the beach? When news first broke that we were getting a movie based on the popular 80s/90s TV show, many people didn’t take it seriously. And when we found out that the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) would be starring in the movie, we all knew we were in for a completely different Baywatch. This movie is sure to have plenty of laughs and throwback references to everyone’s guilty pleasure TV show. Along with The Rock, Baywatch stars Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario, and Kelly Rohrbach.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell no Tales – May 26
Exactly ten years after Capt. Will Turner returned to sea, we get the release of the latest in the POTC series, and the return of the Turner family, or most of them at least. This installment of the Pirate franchise finds Captain Jack Sparrow faced with ill-fortune when he meets up with ghost pirates led by an old enemy, Captain Salazar. Jack’s only hope for survival is seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon. The movie stars Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Javier Bardem and Keira Knightly.
4. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie – June 2
Based on the popular children’s book series, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie is a film that devoted fans have looked forward to for years. The story follows the adventures of two young pranksters named George and Harold, as they hypnotize their principal into thinking he is a dimwitted superhero named, Captain Underpants. The movie features the voices of Jordan Peele, Kevin Hart, Nick Kroll, and Ed Helms.
5. Wonder Woman – June 2
DC fans have been anxiously waiting for their heroine to star in her own feature film for many years. The Wonder Woman movie starring Gal Gadot as Diana Prince is sure to deliver what the fans have been hoping to see. The movie follows Diana, the princess of the Amazons, as she meets up with a pilot after a plane crash who tells her of conflict in the outside world. She leaves her home to fight in a war that will end all wars. Wonder Woman also stars Chris Pine, Robin Wright, David Thewlis and Elena Anaya.
6. The Mummy – June 9
Could the highly-anticipated Mummy reboot be the film that jump starts Tom Cruise’s career? After watching the trailer, we certainly hope so. The action-packed movie breathes new life into the classic tale of an ancient princess who is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert. The movie stars Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, Russell Crowe, and Courtney B. Vance.
7. It Comes at Night – June 9
This horror/mystery movie is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seat. When an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, a man has his family secured in a desolate home. They are safe until a desperate young family seeking refuge puts their trust to the test while the horrors that await them on the outside creep even closer. It Comes at Night stars Joel Edgerton, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Carmen Ejogo and Christopher Abbott.
8. All Eyez on Me – June 16
This biography film tells the true and untold story of the rapper, actor, and poet, Tupac Shakur. The drama has a celebrated cast of actors including Demetrius Shipp Jr. who plays Shakur, along with Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Annie Ilonzeh, Dominic L. Santana and Jamal Woolard.
9. Disney/Pixar Cars 3 – June 16
Gentlemen, start your engines! We’re about to go on another wild ride with Disney/Pixar’s cast of memorable characters with Cars 3. In this film, Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of viewers that he is the best race car in the world. The film will introduce several new blazing fast cars to the group while also bringing back favorites such as Flo, Mater, Sarge and Sally. Cars 3 features the voices of Armie Hammer, Nathan Fillion, Owen Wilson and Bonnie Hunt.
10. Transformers: The Last Knight – June 21
Continuing the franchise about robots in disguise, Mark Wahlberg takes on the role of Cade Yeager once again in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil. The humans and Transformers are at war and Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving humanity lies buried in the secrets of the past. This film will take fans on a trip throughout the history of these massive robots and where they came from. The movie also stars Laura Haddock, Gemma Chan, and Anthony Hopkins.
11. The Bad Batch (Limited) – June 23
The romance/Sci-fi film is scheduled for limited release in the US. It features a dystopian love story in a Texas wasteland that is set inside a community filled with cannibals. The gory film stars Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, and Giovanni Ribisi.
12. Baby Driver – June 28
This action/crime/thriller follows the story of a young getaway driver who finds himself taking part in a heist that is doomed to fail after he is coerced into working for a crime boss. The movie stars Lilly James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal and Ansel Elgort.
13. Amityville: The Awakening – June 30
Prepare to return to the town of Amityville for this horror/thriller film that gives us another gruesome tale that will keep us awake at night. In this installment A single mom moves into the house with her three children, one being a comatose little boy. When strange phenomena begin to occur, the oldest daughter Belle starts to suspect that their mother isn’t telling the children everything about their new house. This film stars Bella Thorne, Cameron Monaghan, McKenna Grace, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
14. Despicable Me 3 – June 30
Fans of the original film, both young and old, are sure to be first in line for this highly anticipated sequel. In Despicable Me 3, Gru meets his twin brother Dru, that he never knew about. Hijinks are sure to ensue in this hilarious animated adventure. The movie features the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan, Miranda Cosgrove, and Trey Parker.
15. The House – June 30
A man decides to convince his friends to start an illegal casino inside his basement when he and his wife spend all their daughter’s college fund. This hysterical comedy stars former SNL cast members Will Ferrel and Amy Poehler as the parents trying to gain back their daughter’s trust and her money. The film also stars Allison Tolman and Jason Mantzoukas.
16. Spider-Man: Homecoming – July 7
Fans have been eagerly awaiting this reboot of the Spiderman franchise ever since they heard that Spidey was picked back up by Marvel Studios. It is great to have Peter Parker where he belongs with the Avengers, but can the teen take on the responsibility of being a superhero while juggling high school life at the same time? The movie stars Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr., and Marisa Tomei.
17. Hickock (Limited) – July 7
This western, opening for limited release in the US, tells the story of a legendary lawman and gunslinger, Wild Bill Hickok. As he delivers his own style of western justice, the gunslinger’s reputation as the fastest draw in the West is put to the test. The movie stars Luke Hemsworth, Trace Adkins, Kris Kristofferson, and Bruce Dern.
18. War for the Planet of the Apes – July 14
This continuation of the Planet of the Apes film by director Matt Reeves shows how the apes cope with their unimaginable losses. Caesar wrestles with his dark animal instincts and starts his own quest to avenge his kind. This installment of the popular franchise stars Woody Harrelson, Judy Greer, Andy Serkis and Steve Zahn.
19. Wish Upon – July 14Th
This fantasy/horror/thriller directed by John R. Leonetti tells the story of a young teenage girl who finds a box that consists of magical powers, however, there is a deadly price to pay for using them. The movie stars Elisabeth Rohm, Sherilyn Fenn, Joey King, and Ryan Phillippe.
20. Lady Macbeth (Limited) – July 14
The adaptation of Nikolai Leskov’s novella “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk” tells the story of a 19th-century young bride as she is sold into marriage to a middle-aged man. The film is to be released in the US in limited areas. It stars Florence Pugh, Christopher Fairbank, Cosmo Jarvis, and Naomi Ackle.
21. Dunkirk – July 21
The historical war drama shows how allied soldiers from the British Empire, Canada, Belgium, and France were surrounded by the German army and worked together to escape during an intense bathe in WWII. The film is written and directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh and Harry Styles.
22. Girls Trip – July 21
This comedy about four lifelong friends who travel to New Orleans for the Essence Festival is the ideal movie for a girl’s night out. There are plenty of dancing and romancing as well as old friendships being rekindled to make this a memorable film It stars Kate Walsh, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Larenz Tate.
23. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets – July 21
This Action/Adventure Sci-fi film is directed by Luc Beason, and takes place in a vast metropolis that is home to species from a thousand planets. There is a dark force that threatens the area and special operatives Valerian and Laureline must find out more about their enemy and safeguard the future of the universe. This visually striking film stars Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, Ethan Hawke, Rihanna and John Goodman.
24. The Emoji Movie – July 28
This animation comedy movie is set around the real-life story of emojis, those little images that we use each day have now come to life and they have problems of their own. Gene, a multi-expressional emoji is ready to set out on a journey to become a normal emoji. The film has a colorful cast including Anna Faris, Sofia Vergara, T.J. Miller Patrick Stewart, James Corden, Maya Rudolph, and Jennifer Coolidge.
25. The Dark Tower – August 4
In this action/adventure fantasy film, a man is known as The Gunslinger, Roland Deschain roams throughout a landscape similar to the Old West. The world moved on and The Gunslinger is in pursuit of the man in black while also looking for the fabled Dark Tower. He hopes that by finding the tower, he will be able to restore humanity in his dying world. This movie stars Katheryn Winnick, Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, and Abbey Lee.
26. Annabelle: Creation – August 11
In the next chapter of The Conjuring series, this movie is set several years after the tragic death of the dollmaker’s little girl. He and his wife decide to welcome a nun and girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home. The young girls soon become the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creature, Annabelle.
27. The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature – August 11
This sequel to the original film followers Surly and his friends as they must stop Oakton City’s mayor from destroying their home to make way for a new amusement park. This is sure to be another great film for the entire family to enjoy. It features the voices of Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, and Jackie Chan.
28. The Hitman’s Bodyguard – August 18
This action/comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson is sure to be one of the best comedies of the summer. The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, who is a hit man that must testify at the International Court of Justice. The pair must put their differences aside and learn to work together to make it to the trial on time.
29. It – September 8
Based on Stephen King’s iconic novel, this feature film breathes new life into the legend of Pennywise. In Derry, Maine, seven young friends come face-to-face with a shapeshifter who takes on the form of an evil clown that targets children. This movie is predicted to have more chills than the original made-for-TV movie. It stars Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Javier Botet, and Wyatt Oleff.
30. Kingsman: The Golden Circle – September 22
After their headquarters are destroyed and the entire world is held hostage, the Kingsman’s journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the United States. These two elite secret organizations now must come together to defeat their common enemy.
