Top 15 most anticipated summer movies of 2024

This summer promises an exciting array of films that cater to all tastes, from Marvel’s first R-rated superhero movie to a quiet family drama between a mother and daughter.

There’s a refreshing mix of dark psychological thrillers, family films and big studio action movies like George Miller’s “Furiosa,” a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road,” which hits theaters Friday.

June brings family-friendly Pixar sequel “Inside Out 2,” while July brings “Twisters” and the space race comedy “Fly Me to the Moon.” Here’s our list of the Top 15 most anticipated movies of the summer:

1. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”

George Miller’s “Furiosa,” which opened Friday, is a prequel that dives into the origins of Charlize Theron’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” character, now played by Anya Taylor-Joy.

“Furiosa” appears to showcase the same aesthetic and crazy action as “Fury Road” with a story that spans years, detailing how the heroine came to work for the tyrannical Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme).

2. “Kinds of Kindness”

Director Yorgos Lanthimos, the darkly comedic mind behind “Poor Things” has collaborated again with Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe for another film about various forms of cruelty, told through three distinct and loosely connected stories.

After debuting at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month, critics have called the new project “disturbing,” “weird,” and “Pure Sicko Yorgos Lanthimos,” but the star-power of the cast and momentum of the director will surely pack theaters. “Kinds of Kindness” is set for release on June 21.

3. “Blink Twice”

Zoë Kravitz makes her directorial debut with the suspense thriller “Blink Twice,” hitting theaters globally on Aug. 23, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.

The film, co-written by Kravitz and E.T. Feigenbaum, stars Kravitz’ fiancé Channing Tatum as tech billionaire Slater King, and Naomi Ackie as a cocktail waitress named Frida.

When Slater invites Frida to his private island for a dream vacation, the idyllic setting soon takes a dark turn as strange occurrences make Frida question her reality.

4. “Inside Out 2”

“Inside Out 2,” the long-awaited sequel to Pixar’s acclaimed 2015 film, hits theaters June 14. This time, Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) is a teenager, and her emotions, including new ones like Anxiety (Maya Hawke), face the challenges of adolescence.

Directed by Kelsey Mann, the film features returning voices like Amy Poehler as Joy and Lewis Black as Anger, and tracks Riley’s journey through puberty.

5. “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapters 1 & 2”

Kevin Costner’s epic western, “Horizon: An American Saga,” will release its first two chapters this summer, with Chapter 1 debuting on June 28, and Chapter 2 following on Aug. 16.

This ambitious project spans 15 years during the American Civil War. The ensemble cast includes Costner, Sienna Miller and Sam Worthington. The film received mixed reviews when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, with critics noting its slow pace and “washed-out performances.” Nonetheless, its epic scale warrants some hype.

6. “The Bikeriders”

“The Bikeriders,” directed by Jeff Nichols, is set for a theatrical release on June 21. Inspired by Danny Lyon’s iconic 1968 photo book, the film follows the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern biker club.

The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Mike Faist and Tom Hardy, with a story that centers around a woman whose relationship with her reckless biker husband Benny (Butler) is complicated by his complex loyalty to the club’s leader Johnny (Hardy).

7. “Fly Me to the Moon”

Set during the height of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, “Fly Me to the Moon” offers a comedic and dramatic glimpse into the 1960s space race.

Directed by Greg Berlanti, the film stars Scarlett Johansson as Kelly Jones, a savvy marketing expert, and Channing Tatum as Cole Davis, the mission’s launch director.

With comedic actors like Anna Garcia, Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson, the film brings a great deal of humor to the moon mission. The Apple Original Film premieres in theaters on July 12.

8. “Twisters”

“Twisters,” the upcoming sequel to the 1996 classic “Twister,” is slated for release July 19. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, it boasts a stacked cast with Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, and Maura Tierney, as well as an estimated budget of $200 million.

9. “Deadpool and Wolverine”

If there’s anything that can cure the public’s superhero fatigue, it just might be the combination of these iconic characters in Marvel Studio’s first ever R-rated superhero movie, which already set ticket pre-sale records.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” will hit theaters on July 26. Directed by Shawn Levy, this film stars Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, with a timeline-bending plot that involves an organization called the Time Variance Authority.

10. “Janet Planet”

“Janet Planet,” directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker, follows a daughter and mother in rural Western Massachusetts during the summer of 1991.

The heartfelt tale is told from the perspective of 11-year-old Lacy (Zoe Ziegler), who is captivated by her own imagination and the attention of her mother, Janet (Julianne Nicholson). The film comes to theaters on June 21.

11. “Despicable Me 4”

The fourth installment of the beloved animated franchise, coming July 3, follows Gru (still voiced by Steve Carell), Lucy (Kristen Wiig), and their daughters as they welcome a new family member, Gru Jr., who is fixed on causing problems for his father.

Directed by Chris Renaud, with a screenplay from “White Lotus” creator Mike White and Ken Daurio, and music from Pharrell Williams, “Despicable Me 4” aims to deliver its signature humor and charm that fans have come to love.

12. “Alien: Romulus”

“Alien: Romulus,” directed by Fede Álvarez, is set to release on August 16. This latest twist on the iconic sci-fi horror franchise is positioned between the events of “Alien” (1979) and “Aliens” (1986).

The plot follows a group of young space travelers who encounter creatures called ‘Xenomorphs’ while scavenging an old space station.

13. “Trap” & “The Watchers” from the Shyamalans

Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan and his daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, both have spooky films slated for release this summer.

“The Watchers,” Ishana’s feature directorial debut, will be released on June 7, and follows a young artist who becomes lost in a forest and finds herself trapped with three strangers, who are stalked by mysterious creatures.

Then “Trap,” M.’s latest project, is set to premiere on August 9. This psychological thriller focuses on a father who takes his teenage daughter to a pop concert, only to find themselves entangled in some kind of sinister plot.

14. Hit Man

“Hit Man,” directed by Richard Linklater, stars Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, a professor who moonlights as a fake hitman for the New Orleans Police Department.

The action rom-com is reportedly inspired by a true story, and is expected to have a limited theatrical release on May 24, before streaming on Netflix starting June 7.

15. “A Quiet Place: Day One”

“A Quiet Place: Day One” is a prequel to the original “A Quiet Place” films. The story takes place on the very first day of the alien invasion, offering a look at the chaos that ensued when the creatures first arrived on Earth.

Lupita Nyong’o stars as the lead character, stuck in a crumbling New York City. Joining her are Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou, who reprises his role from “A Quiet Place Part II.” The film is set to release on June 28.

With News Wire Services