“Avengers: Endgame” has come and snapped its way to the top of the box office, raking more than $1.2 billion worldwide. But, now, the time has come for the textbooks and schedules to go away and for the bonfires, summer jobs and beach tans to come out. With the summer fun comes the summer movie season. For what feels like the first time in years, an interesting panel of movies is lined up, both blockbusters and more hits from acclaimed directors.
1. “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”
The ninth feature film from critically-acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino turns to a favorite time period of the director’s 1969 Hollywood. Focusing on an aging actor and his respective stunt man, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, the film will take the two of them on a journey through Hollywood. The film will include a colorful cast of characters and an even larger supporting cast, including Kurt Russell, Al Pacino, Damon Herriman as Charles Manson and rounded out by Margot Robbie as the infamous Sharon Tate, as the film will chronicle the brutal Manson murders.
2. “The Lion King”
Jon Favreau returns to Disney yet again to direct the next “live action” stop motion green screen recreation of arguably Disney’s best animated effort to date, “The Lion King.” Featuring another ensemble cast, with the likes of Donald Glover, Beyonce Knowles, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogen and rounded out by James Earl Jones returning to voice the epic Mufasa, Simba’s father. Slated for a July 19 release, here is hoping the film ends up adding something new to this familiar story the way Favreau was able to do with his previous effort “The Jungle Book.”
3. “Spider-Man: Far From Home”
“Avengers: Endgame” has come and gone, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe is far from being over, with “Spider-Man: Far from Home” set to pick up from where the character left off after the cosmic craziness of “Endgame.” The film is set to kick off the new phase that Marvel will enter in 2020. The film will see Peter Parker, portrayed again by Tom Holland, attempting to take a break from the costume by going on a school vacation to Europe, only to get forcibly recruited by Nick Fury in order to deal with a new emerging threat. Samuel L. Jackson returns as the eye-patch-wearing Director of something now that Shield is gone. Jake Gyllenhaal comes in to portray main villain Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio. Other returning players include Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes, Jacob Batalon as Ned, Tony Revolori as Flash Thompson and Zendaya as Michelle or M.J. The film opens July 2.
4. “John Wick 3: Parabellum”
After two forced first attempts, this new R-rated addition to the action franchise is not to be messed with John Wick 3: Parabellum” seeks to end this crazy, globe-trotting, gun-toting franchise with the explosive climax it deserves. Fresh off his continental kill from the previous entry, Wick (Keanu Reeves) and his new pup are now on the run, having to outwit every assassin belonging to the mysterious global organization. Ian Mcshane, John Leguizamo and Laurence Fishburne return respectively as Winston, Aurelio and the Bowery King, while newcomers Anjelica Huston, Asia Kate Dillon and Halle Berry help fill out the screen as well as this crazy insane, stylish world. Wick will have to quite literally escape from New York and hopefully go on a globe-trotting adventure in order to give audiences one last amazing action thrill ride. The film opens May 17.
5. “Rocket Man”
Music Biopics have certainly become something studios have been lusting after for certain box office hits, and while “Bohemian Rhapsody” had many negative things, the one thing that can be said about it is that it currently sits as the highest grossing film of its genre at $902 million. So it was a safe bet to say that, when Disney bought Fox and started canceling half the releases, for the rest of the year, they had set one of the movies they kept, which is “Rocket Man,” the next music biopic surrounding an icon, the one and only Elton John, who will be portrayed by Taron Egerton. This movie exists because of how much fun Elton John had filming with Egerton on “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.” Dexter Fletcher will fully handle the reins this time around, with the film slated for a May 31 release date.
6. “Detective Pikachu”
It only took 22 years, but for the first time in recorded history, Nintendo and Sony are officially releasing their first live-action film in the form of “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.” The film will feature Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds, as the eponymous talking striped electric mouse pokémon, and team him up with Justice Smith’s Tim Goodman in a quest to find Goodman’s father who disappears in a mysterious fashion. The film, besides the talent, looks to be utilizing the Pokémon lore in an interesting and new way, with Pokémon being utilized in every facet of recreational life through colorful CGI and stop motion. The film is set for a May 10 release date.
7. “Aladdin”
For the land of Disney, there is just one thing they will not stop doing, and that is live action remakes of former master works. While “The Lion King” looks to rival “The Jungle Book” in terms of which one has the prettier, more realistic-looking animals and setting, “Aladdin” looks to be competing directly with 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake to see which one can quickly embarrass the legacy of the previous effort. Will Smith, the Fresh Prince himself, will be doing his best to fulfill the legacy the late great Robin Williams left behind, while Guy Ritchie takes the reins to direct his next big budget adventure, following up his previous effort, another 2017 dud, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” The film is set for a May 24 release.
8. “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”
It truly does feel like it has been forever, but people forget that Godzilla is technically a part of a working, still running cinematic universe, connected by the only other entry in its saga so far, “Kong: Skull Island.” It may have taken a while, but Legendary and Warner Bros. are taking the next step with the former Toho titan, putting him up against three of his most famous and recognizable foes: Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah, along with 13 new monsters. Featuring another massive ensemble cast with the likes of Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Sally Hawkins and Shang Ziyi. It will be helmed this time by “Krampus” director Michael Dougherty, who looks to be bringing his signature style of bright colors and creature feature effects to deliver a whole new look to this legendary monster.
9. “Brightburn”
When he is not directing big budget affair or getting fired from directing big budget affair over 10-year-old tweets, James Gunn is off producing projects with his family. This resulted in 2017’s “The Belko Experiment” and will continue this year with “Brighburn,” a film written by his brother, Brian, and cousin, Mark, and directed by David Yarovesky. The film looks to be a direct satire of 2013’s “Man of Steel” with a dark twist, as the young alien boy in question looks to be turning into a killing machine due to bullying, pulling influence from 2012’s “Chronicle.” The film looks to be another installment in the rows of incredible horror thrillers that have been gifting us these past few years and is set to open with “King of the Monsters” on May 31.
10. “Toy Story 4”
With the end of the decade hopefully comes the end of the age of Pixar sequels, as almost every one of them has been a disappointment. The middle of the summer, however, will hopefully bring audiences something different with the much anticipated “Toy Story 4.” In this film, viewers will see Woody and the gang go on a new adventure when their new owner Bonny brings home a new toy she made at daycare, Forky. The film looks to be a soft reboot of sorts, as we will now be following Woody’s crew as the old toys potentially to give way to a new generation of toys, with new additions to this installment including Tony Hale, Keegan Michael-Key, Jordan Peele and Keanu Reeves. The film opens on June 21.
Image from Walt Disney Studios via YouTube
