Summer’s just around the corner, and after getting postponed due to the pandemic, a slew of certified blockbusters are about to hit the silver screen. From legendary pilots and man-eating dinosaurs to pelvis-shaking rockstars, fan favorite superheroes, big-time adaptations, original horror and a healthy dose of comedic action-adventure, this list of new movies has something for everyone looking for some movie magic come May.
“Top Gun: Maverick”
Even if you’ve never seen the original, just try watching this trailer without getting some good old-fashioned goosebumps (real fans will get the pun). The highly anticipated sequel to 1986’s hit action drama Top Gun finally comes to theaters this Memorial Day weekend. To start summer off right, on May 27 Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise are back in their roles as Iceman and Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, still serving as a test pilot with a need for speed 30 years later — until he’s called to train a group of Top Gun grads before they undertake a very special mission. Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and Ed Harris co-star.
Relive the best and worst moments of the 1986 version of ‘Top Gun.’
“Jurassic World: Dominion”
The sixth installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, and the third and final film in the Jurassic World trilogy, comes to theaters June 10 with Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum returning as America’s favorite fictional paleontologists. The future of mankind is threatened, once again, as humans and dinosaurs struggle to coexist around earth in the wake of the Lockwood estate incident. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Omar Sy star in supporting roles, as they vie to remain the world’s top predators — even in the presence of bloodthirsty dinosaurs.
“Elvis”
Baz Luhrmann’s latest effort is an epic biographical musical drama, following the life and career of none other than The King of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. Played by Austin Butler, opposite Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, the film — due to come out June 24 — explores their complex relationship. It also covers Elvis’ rise to legend of the stage and screen over the course of the 50s and 60s. Luhrmann fans are in for a treat, thanks to the director’s signature eye for costumes, make-up, lighting and the kind of thrilling emotional energy that truly brings magic to the movies.
“Thor: Love and Thunder”
Marvel fans can hardly wait until July 8, when Thor: Love and Thunder hits theaters with an all-star cast of new and familiar faces in this beloved dimension of superheroes. Chris Hemsworth leads the way as Thor in this sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (and 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!), alongside Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher, Chris Pratt as Star-Lord and Taika Waititi as Korg — as well as returning director and first-time Marvel co-writer. Natalie Portman’s also back as Thor’s ex-girlfriend, astrophysicist Jane Foster, after a ten-year absence from the franchise.
“Where the Crawdads Sing”
Based on the bestselling 2018 novel of the same name, Where the Crawdads Sing comes to theaters July 15. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones (of “Normal People” fame) as Kya, the story follows her difficult life in the marshlands of North Carolina, as she fends for herself after being abandoned by her family at a young age. As vulnerable as she is resourceful, she takes up with the wrong guy (Harris Dickinson) and narrowly escapes his abuse — when suddenly, he ends up dead. With the evidence mounting against her, Kya becomes a prime suspect… but did she really do it? David Strathairn, Garret Dillahunt and Taylor John Smith co-star.
“Nope”
The next epic horror movie from Jordan Peele drops July 22,and is set to be one of the director’s most exciting (and terrifying) features yet. With a fear-inducing title alone, and huge suspense around what the film’s actually about, The Verge calls it “one of the rare modern movies with this much hype around it to make it this close to its release date.” And yet, it’s still shrouded in so much secrecy. What we do know, however, is that it looks like it’s going to be amazing. Peele wrote the script with Daniel Kaluuya in mind for the lead, and Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun and Barbie Ferreira star alongside.
“Bullet Train”
An action comedy starring Brad Pitt is always set to be a smash at the box office. This July 29, he teams up with Sandra Bullock, who plays the handler to his trained killer. But when his conscience starts to wear and he wants out of the game, she sends him on one last mission: to collect a briefcase from a Kyoto-bound bullet train that happens to have not one, not two but four other assassins on board that may or may not be on the same assignment. Adventure ensues in this star-studded romp that features Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Joey King, Logan Lerman and Zazie Beetz, alongside a host of big-name Japanese talent.
What other movies are looking forward to seeing this summer? Let us know @DIRECTV!
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