Like I said in a recent trailer post, it kind of feels like summer has already started from a cinematic perspective. With the record-breaking success of Black Panther, the box office blunders of Red Sparrow and Pacific Rim Uprising, and the old-fashioned Spielberg magic of Ready Player One, the spring months haven't stopped Hollywood from unleashing a plethora of big-ticket movies. That being said, even with such a strong start to 2018's parade of blockbusters, this year's annual Summer Movie Season looks to be a whole different beast altogether. Avengers, dinosaurs, Ethan Hunt, Han Solo, and more- we're in for a non-stop blitz of franchise content over the next four months.
Just like everyone else, I'm excited to see how Thanos takes on Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and I can't wait to watch Deadpool assemble the X-Force. However, this summer also looks pretty strong from an indie point-of-view. With acclaimed new titles from Paul Schrader and Boots Riley, as well as hotly-anticipated projects from auteurs like Spike Lee and David Robert Mitchell, Summer 2018 is shaping up to be a diverse, exciting time at the movies. Here are my 10 most anticipated titles of this upcoming season, along with five additional honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
FIRST REFORMED- Despite becoming something of a laughingstock in recent years, director Paul Schrader seems to be back with a vengeance with First Reformed, a haunting thriller about a tortured chaplain. The A24 film earned praise after playing at last year's Venice, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals, with many critics comparing it to Schrader's own Taxi Driver (Scorsese directed, but the screenplay was all Schrader). Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried lead the cast. MAY 18
FAHRENHEIT 451- As the line between television, TV movies, and theatrical releases blurs even further, HBO Films is beginning to realize that their brand can produce high-profile original films on the level of Netflix and Amazon. For their biggest film yet, 99 Homes and Chop Shop director Ramin Bahrani will be tackling a new adaptation of Ray Bradbury's iconic novel Fahrenheit 451. With an all-star cast led by Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon, big-budget special effects, and an especially timely subject, this one is sure to start some conversations. MAY 19
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU- One of the most controversial and buzzed-about movies of this year's surprisingly quiet Sundance Film Festival, Boots Riley's directorial debut Sorry to Bother You is practically guaranteed to be the summer's most wildly original film. A comedy/sci-fi hybrid about race and class in corporate America, the trailer for this Annapurna release looks certifiably bonkers, and I've heard that it barely scratches the surface of what we're in for. The cast is full of rising stars, including Lakeith Stanfield, Armie Hammer, and Tessa Thompson. I'm not sure how I'll respond to this unique journey, but I can't wait to see what Riley has created. JULY 6
BLACKkKLANSMAN- You never exactly know what you're going to get with a new Spike Lee joint, but the newly-titled BlacKkKlansman is perhaps the most eagerly-awaited film from the iconic director in a very long time. Produced by Get Out maestro Jordan Peele, this is the story of how an African-American police officer managed to infiltrate a division of the Ku Klux Klan and become the head of the chapter. John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Laura Harrier, and Corey Hawkins headline the Focus Features release, which could possibly be headed to this year's Cannes Film Festival. AUGUST 10
THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS- We've seen very little from The Happytime Murders, but I've been on board with this film ever since I first heard the concept. The puppet stars of a children's TV show are murdered one-by-one, so a puppet detective takes on the case. Most people likely think this idea is massively stupid, but I am not most people. If it lives up to the Watchmen/Sausage Party/Muppets hybrid that it has the potential to be, the sky is the limit for The Happytime Murders. Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Joel McHale, Maya Rudolph, and Jimmy O. Yang star; Muppet legend Brian Henson is behind the camera. AUGUST 17
10. SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO- June 29
Image courtesy of Sony
Even with some pointed comments from critics and commentators who think the trailers for this film betray the spirit of Denis Villeneuve's modern classic, Sicario: Day of the Soldado could end up being the most unexpected hit of this summer. Villeneuve and star Emily Blunt won't be returning for this sequel, but many of the people who made Sicario such a critical and commercial success are back. Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin take the center stage this time around, but for me, the most crucial factor is Taylor Sheridan. The writer/director burst onto the scene with his script for the drug thriller in 2015, later writing the Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water and taking on directorial duties for the acclaimed Wind River. He's penning Day of the Soldado as well, which gives me hope that this isn't just a cash-in. Buzz is very good on the Stefano Sollima-directed film, and there's even talk of a Cannes berth.
9. HEREDITARY- June 8
Image courtesy of A24
The horror sensation that took Sundance 2018 by storm, Hereditary is A24's yearly indie horror release meant to terrify audiences in the most unsettling way possible. In the last few months, there's been no shortage of praise for director Ari Aster's debut feature, which has been touted as one of the scariest films ever made by those lucky enough to have seen it already. As always, with such extravagant festival chatter comes the weight of high expectations, and there's certainly a chance that the final product could pale in comparison to the lofty praise. But the buzz has been fairly steady even after Sundance, and A24 released a killer trailer that felt genuinely unnerving and Kubrickian in form. I'm trying not to get too excited, but Hereditary is certainly one of the summer's must-watch indies.
8. OCEAN'S 8- June 8
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
It's been a decade since Steven Soderbergh wrapped up his acclaimed heist trilogy with Ocean's Thirteen, but this year, we're getting a different spin on the series. With Soderbergh off making Logan Lucky and the experimental Unsane, director Gary Ross is taking the reigns for this hotly-anticipated sequel, which finds a team of badass women taking the place of George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt. Led by Sandra Bullock (playing Danny Ocean's sister Debbie), Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina, and Sarah Paulson, Ocean's 8 has one of the strongest ensembles of the year. The first trailer sold a sharp and effortlessly cool vibe, and I'm excited to see how another director handles this franchise. In a season full of bombast and extravagance, I'm looking forward to a little old-school charm.
7. JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM- June 22
Image: Universal/IMDb
Jurassic World was basically "Jurassic Park but bigger," and while I know that film has plenty of detractors, I'm not one of them. I loved the theme park energy that director Colin Trevorrow brought to the 2015 breakout hit/soft reboot, and I was hopeful that the Jurassic universe would expand in new and fascinating ways from there. The trailers for Fallen Kingdom have yet to convince me that this story is the perfect continuation of what Trevorrow and company started, but there are a number of reasons to be excited for what's to come. First, there's the man in the director's chair- J.A. Bayona, the young Spanish filmmaker who has proven to be adept at both emotional poignancy and visceral thrills. If you're unfamiliar with his name, go watch The Impossible and A Monster Calls and prepare to be hit with all kinds of emotions. In addition to that, the second trailer emphasized that Fallen Kingdom is going to incorporate more horror along with its blockbuster thrills, so that could be good news for a franchise that has felt increasingly kid-friendly in recent years. I'm not 100% sold yet, but will I be there opening night? Of course.
6. INCREDIBLES 2- June 15
Image: Pixar/IMDb
Here's another movie suffering from a case of mediocre trailers. If you had asked me just a few months ago, this would have probably been much, much higher on this list, maybe even at the #2 slot. A sequel to one of Pixar's best movies? A sequel that fans have been waiting to see for 14 years? Of course I can't wait. And yet for whatever reason, each new look at Incredibles 2 has made me progressively less and less excited to see Brad Bird's belated sequel. The first teaser was understandably short, but the second one seemed to rely more on the humor of Craig T. Nelson's Mr. Incredible being a parent than any actual story beats. Throw in the fact that it's picking up right after the ending of the original, and maybe there's a reason it took them over a decade to make a sequel? I'm not ready to go into full doom and gloom mode just yet, but my anticipation has certainly dropped a few pegs. Chalk me up as cautiously optimistic.
5. DEADPOOL 2- May 18
Image: Fox/IMDb
Deadpool was a surprise smash when it was released in early 2016, defying all expectations to become one of the biggest hits of the year. And remember, this was a movie that required leaked test footage to go viral for 20th Century Fox to give it the green light. We give Fox a lot of credit for creating a new brand of R-rated superhero movies, but they really did kind of stumble into this whole franchise. Anyways, Deadpool 2 (once labeled as the Untitled Deadpool Sequel) is basically being sold as a bigger, louder follow-up to the original, making it a traditional sequel in many ways. Even with the looming Fox-Disney merger, the Merc with a Mouth's second adventure will be responsible for setting up X-Force, a project that Drew Goddard should be taking on down the line. There's a lot of franchise-building here, but there are also plenty of reasons to be thrilled about this movie itself. With Atomic Blonde and John Wick director David Leitch crafting the action, Josh Brolin and Zazie Beetz joining the cast, and more inspired lunacy from Ryan Reynolds, I'm all in on another round of juvenile superhero madness.
4. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY- May 25
Image: Lucasfilm/IMDb
There's been a lot of noise around the latest Star Wars Story, and it's not the kind of chatter you want if you're a major studio preparing to release a $200 million+ blockbuster. First, there was the shocking dismissal of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller halfway through production, a move that came after the pair clashed with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy over their filmmaking process. Then there were the rumors that Alden Ehrenreich was in trouble as the young Han Solo, struggling to mimic the performance of the legendary Harrison Ford. Finally, there was a recent Vulture article that addressed these rumors and even more, citing an anonymous source purported to be involved with the production.
But let's put aside all of this for a second. Once the dust settles, it seems like replacement director Ron Howard was really able to come in and make his own film. So far, the trailers have sold a movie that seems genuinely fun, touting the kind of relaxed vibe that most fans likely want from this genre hybrid. From the additions of Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson to the Star Wars universe to Bradford Young's cinematography, there's a lot to be excited about here. And plus- who isn't thrilled to see a new Star Wars movie in the heart of the summer? It's been a bumpy road, but I'm beginning to think that Solo could turn out nicely.
3. UNDER THE SILVER LAKE- June 22
Image courtesy of A24
Unlike most cinephiles, I'm not the biggest fan of David Robert Mitchell's It Follows. It's certainly a good movie, but it's neither as innovative nor as frightening as I had originally hoped when I first heard the ecstatic buzz. Nonetheless, the horror film demonstrated Mitchell's undeniable talent behind the camera, and he'll be putting those skills to work next in Under the Silver Lake, a neo-noir comedy/mystery that seems to be right up my alley. Drawing comparisons to the work of David Lynch, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Joel and Ethan Coen from just a brief trailer alone, this Andrew Garfield-led detective story looks truly wild, a conspiracy thriller with just enough absurdist comedy and unsettling surrealism to make it all feel distinct. With a supporting crew led by Riley Keough, Topher Grace, and Jimmi Simpson, distribution from A24, and a possible Cannes berth, Under the Silver Lake is the must-see indie movie of the summer.
2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT- July 27
Image: Paramount/IMDb
As MGM and the folks at Eon Productions struggle to figure out what story they want to tell in the 25th Bond film, Ethan Hunt is back to fill the espionage void in the realm of Hollywood blockbusters. In this sixth Mission: Impossible adventure, Tom Cruise is back as the daring IMF agent, who will stop at nothing to save the world. And this time, Cruise actually broke his ankle for our entertainment, leading some to wonder if this could be his last outing as the character. But no matter what happens in the next few years, Fallout still looks like one of the most wildly enjoyable movies of the summer. As Hunt reckons with his past actions, he'll be getting most of the band (sorry, Jeremy Renner) back together for another intense journey into his own personal past. Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Michelle Monaghan, and even Sean Harris' chilly villain are back for round six, with Angela Bassett, Henry Cavill, and Henry Cavill's mustache joining the fun. Rogue Nation director Christopher McQuarrie returns for another saga of insane stunts, and the movie has the benefit of what might be the best trailer in ages. As a huge fan of the last two outings, I'm happy to say that this is shaping up to be another thrilling chapter.
1. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR- April 27
Image: Marvel/IMDb
It's a basic pick, but does anything else really stand a chance? As the marketing has emphasized over and over again, Avengers: Infinity War is the culmination of a decade of films, from the original Iron Man to this year's sensational Black Panther. Captain America: Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo are bringing together characters from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and various solo projects within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all to stop Josh Brolin's Thanos from wielding the Infinity Gauntlet and destroying the planet.
Not every Marvel film works for me. Sometimes I find their style to be tedious and overly manufactured, and I don't think all of the criticisms aimed at the studio are totally unfounded. But when you step back and look at it all, what Kevin Feige and his team of filmmakers have accomplished is genuinely astonishing. There has never been anything like this in Hollywood history, and I have a feeling the box office receipts will reflect that. It's likely to be an emotional journey as well. While the MCU will inevitably continue for as long as audiences crave superhero movies, the Russos have emphasized that not everybody will make it out of this alive. This fact alone makes Infinity War one of the most unpredictable blockbusters in ages, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. Bring on the finale.
That's all for now, folks. Look for more reviews, box office predictions, and Cannes talk in the coming days.
Just like everyone else, I'm excited to see how Thanos takes on Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and I can't wait to watch Deadpool assemble the X-Force. However, this summer also looks pretty strong from an indie point-of-view. With acclaimed new titles from Paul Schrader and Boots Riley, as well as hotly-anticipated projects from auteurs like Spike Lee and David Robert Mitchell, Summer 2018 is shaping up to be a diverse, exciting time at the movies. Here are my 10 most anticipated titles of this upcoming season, along with five additional honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
FIRST REFORMED- Despite becoming something of a laughingstock in recent years, director Paul Schrader seems to be back with a vengeance with First Reformed, a haunting thriller about a tortured chaplain. The A24 film earned praise after playing at last year's Venice, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals, with many critics comparing it to Schrader's own Taxi Driver (Scorsese directed, but the screenplay was all Schrader). Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried lead the cast. MAY 18
FAHRENHEIT 451- As the line between television, TV movies, and theatrical releases blurs even further, HBO Films is beginning to realize that their brand can produce high-profile original films on the level of Netflix and Amazon. For their biggest film yet, 99 Homes and Chop Shop director Ramin Bahrani will be tackling a new adaptation of Ray Bradbury's iconic novel Fahrenheit 451. With an all-star cast led by Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon, big-budget special effects, and an especially timely subject, this one is sure to start some conversations. MAY 19
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU- One of the most controversial and buzzed-about movies of this year's surprisingly quiet Sundance Film Festival, Boots Riley's directorial debut Sorry to Bother You is practically guaranteed to be the summer's most wildly original film. A comedy/sci-fi hybrid about race and class in corporate America, the trailer for this Annapurna release looks certifiably bonkers, and I've heard that it barely scratches the surface of what we're in for. The cast is full of rising stars, including Lakeith Stanfield, Armie Hammer, and Tessa Thompson. I'm not sure how I'll respond to this unique journey, but I can't wait to see what Riley has created. JULY 6
BLACKkKLANSMAN- You never exactly know what you're going to get with a new Spike Lee joint, but the newly-titled BlacKkKlansman is perhaps the most eagerly-awaited film from the iconic director in a very long time. Produced by Get Out maestro Jordan Peele, this is the story of how an African-American police officer managed to infiltrate a division of the Ku Klux Klan and become the head of the chapter. John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Laura Harrier, and Corey Hawkins headline the Focus Features release, which could possibly be headed to this year's Cannes Film Festival. AUGUST 10
THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS- We've seen very little from The Happytime Murders, but I've been on board with this film ever since I first heard the concept. The puppet stars of a children's TV show are murdered one-by-one, so a puppet detective takes on the case. Most people likely think this idea is massively stupid, but I am not most people. If it lives up to the Watchmen/Sausage Party/Muppets hybrid that it has the potential to be, the sky is the limit for The Happytime Murders. Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Joel McHale, Maya Rudolph, and Jimmy O. Yang star; Muppet legend Brian Henson is behind the camera. AUGUST 17
10. SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO- June 29
Image courtesy of Sony
Even with some pointed comments from critics and commentators who think the trailers for this film betray the spirit of Denis Villeneuve's modern classic, Sicario: Day of the Soldado could end up being the most unexpected hit of this summer. Villeneuve and star Emily Blunt won't be returning for this sequel, but many of the people who made Sicario such a critical and commercial success are back. Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin take the center stage this time around, but for me, the most crucial factor is Taylor Sheridan. The writer/director burst onto the scene with his script for the drug thriller in 2015, later writing the Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water and taking on directorial duties for the acclaimed Wind River. He's penning Day of the Soldado as well, which gives me hope that this isn't just a cash-in. Buzz is very good on the Stefano Sollima-directed film, and there's even talk of a Cannes berth.
9. HEREDITARY- June 8
Image courtesy of A24
The horror sensation that took Sundance 2018 by storm, Hereditary is A24's yearly indie horror release meant to terrify audiences in the most unsettling way possible. In the last few months, there's been no shortage of praise for director Ari Aster's debut feature, which has been touted as one of the scariest films ever made by those lucky enough to have seen it already. As always, with such extravagant festival chatter comes the weight of high expectations, and there's certainly a chance that the final product could pale in comparison to the lofty praise. But the buzz has been fairly steady even after Sundance, and A24 released a killer trailer that felt genuinely unnerving and Kubrickian in form. I'm trying not to get too excited, but Hereditary is certainly one of the summer's must-watch indies.
8. OCEAN'S 8- June 8
Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
It's been a decade since Steven Soderbergh wrapped up his acclaimed heist trilogy with Ocean's Thirteen, but this year, we're getting a different spin on the series. With Soderbergh off making Logan Lucky and the experimental Unsane, director Gary Ross is taking the reigns for this hotly-anticipated sequel, which finds a team of badass women taking the place of George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt. Led by Sandra Bullock (playing Danny Ocean's sister Debbie), Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina, and Sarah Paulson, Ocean's 8 has one of the strongest ensembles of the year. The first trailer sold a sharp and effortlessly cool vibe, and I'm excited to see how another director handles this franchise. In a season full of bombast and extravagance, I'm looking forward to a little old-school charm.
7. JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM- June 22
Image: Universal/IMDb
Jurassic World was basically "Jurassic Park but bigger," and while I know that film has plenty of detractors, I'm not one of them. I loved the theme park energy that director Colin Trevorrow brought to the 2015 breakout hit/soft reboot, and I was hopeful that the Jurassic universe would expand in new and fascinating ways from there. The trailers for Fallen Kingdom have yet to convince me that this story is the perfect continuation of what Trevorrow and company started, but there are a number of reasons to be excited for what's to come. First, there's the man in the director's chair- J.A. Bayona, the young Spanish filmmaker who has proven to be adept at both emotional poignancy and visceral thrills. If you're unfamiliar with his name, go watch The Impossible and A Monster Calls and prepare to be hit with all kinds of emotions. In addition to that, the second trailer emphasized that Fallen Kingdom is going to incorporate more horror along with its blockbuster thrills, so that could be good news for a franchise that has felt increasingly kid-friendly in recent years. I'm not 100% sold yet, but will I be there opening night? Of course.
6. INCREDIBLES 2- June 15
Image: Pixar/IMDb
Here's another movie suffering from a case of mediocre trailers. If you had asked me just a few months ago, this would have probably been much, much higher on this list, maybe even at the #2 slot. A sequel to one of Pixar's best movies? A sequel that fans have been waiting to see for 14 years? Of course I can't wait. And yet for whatever reason, each new look at Incredibles 2 has made me progressively less and less excited to see Brad Bird's belated sequel. The first teaser was understandably short, but the second one seemed to rely more on the humor of Craig T. Nelson's Mr. Incredible being a parent than any actual story beats. Throw in the fact that it's picking up right after the ending of the original, and maybe there's a reason it took them over a decade to make a sequel? I'm not ready to go into full doom and gloom mode just yet, but my anticipation has certainly dropped a few pegs. Chalk me up as cautiously optimistic.
5. DEADPOOL 2- May 18
Image: Fox/IMDb
Deadpool was a surprise smash when it was released in early 2016, defying all expectations to become one of the biggest hits of the year. And remember, this was a movie that required leaked test footage to go viral for 20th Century Fox to give it the green light. We give Fox a lot of credit for creating a new brand of R-rated superhero movies, but they really did kind of stumble into this whole franchise. Anyways, Deadpool 2 (once labeled as the Untitled Deadpool Sequel) is basically being sold as a bigger, louder follow-up to the original, making it a traditional sequel in many ways. Even with the looming Fox-Disney merger, the Merc with a Mouth's second adventure will be responsible for setting up X-Force, a project that Drew Goddard should be taking on down the line. There's a lot of franchise-building here, but there are also plenty of reasons to be thrilled about this movie itself. With Atomic Blonde and John Wick director David Leitch crafting the action, Josh Brolin and Zazie Beetz joining the cast, and more inspired lunacy from Ryan Reynolds, I'm all in on another round of juvenile superhero madness.
4. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY- May 25
Image: Lucasfilm/IMDb
There's been a lot of noise around the latest Star Wars Story, and it's not the kind of chatter you want if you're a major studio preparing to release a $200 million+ blockbuster. First, there was the shocking dismissal of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller halfway through production, a move that came after the pair clashed with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy over their filmmaking process. Then there were the rumors that Alden Ehrenreich was in trouble as the young Han Solo, struggling to mimic the performance of the legendary Harrison Ford. Finally, there was a recent Vulture article that addressed these rumors and even more, citing an anonymous source purported to be involved with the production.
But let's put aside all of this for a second. Once the dust settles, it seems like replacement director Ron Howard was really able to come in and make his own film. So far, the trailers have sold a movie that seems genuinely fun, touting the kind of relaxed vibe that most fans likely want from this genre hybrid. From the additions of Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson to the Star Wars universe to Bradford Young's cinematography, there's a lot to be excited about here. And plus- who isn't thrilled to see a new Star Wars movie in the heart of the summer? It's been a bumpy road, but I'm beginning to think that Solo could turn out nicely.
3. UNDER THE SILVER LAKE- June 22
Image courtesy of A24
Unlike most cinephiles, I'm not the biggest fan of David Robert Mitchell's It Follows. It's certainly a good movie, but it's neither as innovative nor as frightening as I had originally hoped when I first heard the ecstatic buzz. Nonetheless, the horror film demonstrated Mitchell's undeniable talent behind the camera, and he'll be putting those skills to work next in Under the Silver Lake, a neo-noir comedy/mystery that seems to be right up my alley. Drawing comparisons to the work of David Lynch, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Joel and Ethan Coen from just a brief trailer alone, this Andrew Garfield-led detective story looks truly wild, a conspiracy thriller with just enough absurdist comedy and unsettling surrealism to make it all feel distinct. With a supporting crew led by Riley Keough, Topher Grace, and Jimmi Simpson, distribution from A24, and a possible Cannes berth, Under the Silver Lake is the must-see indie movie of the summer.
2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT- July 27
Image: Paramount/IMDb
As MGM and the folks at Eon Productions struggle to figure out what story they want to tell in the 25th Bond film, Ethan Hunt is back to fill the espionage void in the realm of Hollywood blockbusters. In this sixth Mission: Impossible adventure, Tom Cruise is back as the daring IMF agent, who will stop at nothing to save the world. And this time, Cruise actually broke his ankle for our entertainment, leading some to wonder if this could be his last outing as the character. But no matter what happens in the next few years, Fallout still looks like one of the most wildly enjoyable movies of the summer. As Hunt reckons with his past actions, he'll be getting most of the band (sorry, Jeremy Renner) back together for another intense journey into his own personal past. Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Michelle Monaghan, and even Sean Harris' chilly villain are back for round six, with Angela Bassett, Henry Cavill, and Henry Cavill's mustache joining the fun. Rogue Nation director Christopher McQuarrie returns for another saga of insane stunts, and the movie has the benefit of what might be the best trailer in ages. As a huge fan of the last two outings, I'm happy to say that this is shaping up to be another thrilling chapter.
1. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR- April 27
Image: Marvel/IMDb
It's a basic pick, but does anything else really stand a chance? As the marketing has emphasized over and over again, Avengers: Infinity War is the culmination of a decade of films, from the original Iron Man to this year's sensational Black Panther. Captain America: Civil War directors Joe and Anthony Russo are bringing together characters from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and various solo projects within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all to stop Josh Brolin's Thanos from wielding the Infinity Gauntlet and destroying the planet.
Not every Marvel film works for me. Sometimes I find their style to be tedious and overly manufactured, and I don't think all of the criticisms aimed at the studio are totally unfounded. But when you step back and look at it all, what Kevin Feige and his team of filmmakers have accomplished is genuinely astonishing. There has never been anything like this in Hollywood history, and I have a feeling the box office receipts will reflect that. It's likely to be an emotional journey as well. While the MCU will inevitably continue for as long as audiences crave superhero movies, the Russos have emphasized that not everybody will make it out of this alive. This fact alone makes Infinity War one of the most unpredictable blockbusters in ages, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. Bring on the finale.
That's all for now, folks. Look for more reviews, box office predictions, and Cannes talk in the coming days.
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