It’s poised to be a sizzling hot summer … especially at the box office.
Things kick off in theaters in May with big action adventure flicks like “The Fall Guy” (May 3), “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (May 10) and the Mad Max prequel “Furiosa” ( May 24) and continue through August with one exciting flick after the next. Here’s our round-up of must-see-movies this summer.
If
This family film about a girl (Cailey Fleming) and her upstairs neighbor (Ryan Reynolds) who can see all the imaginary friends (aka IFs) who have been left behind was written and directed by John Krasinski. IF voices include Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Maya Rudolph, Matt Damon and the late Louis Gossett Jr. Paramount, May 17.
Back To Black
Marisa Abela plays Amy Winehouse in this biographical drama about the “Rehab” singer who died at 27 in 2011. Sam Taylor-Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Grey”) directs. Focus, May 17
Babes
“Broad City’s” Ilana Glazer co-wrote and stars in this raucous comedy about an accidental pregnancy (and friendship) that got rave reviews out of SXSW. Neon, May 17
The Garfield Movie
Chris Pratt voices another classic character in this animated film about the feline lasagna enthusiast. Sony, May 24
Young Woman and the Sea
Daisy Ridley plays the first woman to swim across the English Channel, Trudy Ederle, who won gold at the Olympics in 1924 and who finished the 21-mile trek in 1926. The inspirational drama arrives just in time for the Summer Olympics. Disney, May 31
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
Will Smith, reunites with Martin Lawrence for the fourth installment in the “Bad Boys” franchise, which started in 1995. Sony, June 7
Inside Out 2
Riley is a teenager now and some new emotions are coming onto the scene to join Joy (Amy Poehler) and the gang, including Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser). Disney/ Pixar, June 14
A Quiet Place: Day One
“Pig” helmer Michael Sarnoski takes over directing duties for Krasinski in this prequel about the invasion, set in New York City. It stars Lupita Nyong’o and “Stranger Things’” Joseph Quinn. Paramount, June 28
Despicable Me 4
Gru and the minions are back, with a new baby in the mix. Universal, July 3
Fly Me to the Moon
Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in this romantic comedy from Greg Berlanti about a marketing executive hired by NASA to fake the moon landing…just in case. Sony/Apple TV+, July 12
Sing, Sing
Colman Domingo stars in this movie about a few incarcerated men who begin acting in a theater group. This fall festival breakout is based on “The Sing Sing Follies” by John H. Richardson and “Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code” by Brent Buell and co-stars Paul Raci as well as several former prisoners. A24, July 12
Twisters
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos lead a new band of storm chasers in this standalone sequel to the 1996 blockbuster directed by Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari,” “The Mandalorian”) and produced by Steven Spielberg. Universal, July 19
Deadpool & Wolverine
Ryan Reynolds and the previously dead X-Man (Hugh Jackman) find their way to one another at last and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in this Shawn Levy-directed film. There are more rumors than confirmations about what it’s even about, and who will be making a cameo, but two things are certain: It’s rated R and it’s going to be one of the summer’s biggest hits. Disney, July 26
Alien: Romulus
The director of “Don’t Breathe” helms this terrifying new installment in the Alien series, starring Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced and David Jonsson. 20th Century Studios, August 16
Blink Twice
Zoë Kravitz makes her directorial debut, with Channing Tatum starring as a tech billionaire who invites a waitress (Naomi Ackie) to his private island where odd things start happening. Amazon/MGM, August 23
