Is it just us, or do you also detect a faint whiff of titanic kaiju in the air? Or maybe that fragrant bouquet on the breeze is some alchemical mixture of pheromones emanating from a vast horde of pocket monsters. It’s also possible that the atmosphere is tainted with the bloody mist from a certain assassin’s multiple kills. Whatever it is, it definitely smells like blockbuster season, and there weren’t many surprises in the results when we polled our social media fans about which movies they were most looking forward to this May. Read on for the full list of the most anticipated movies of the month, and be sure to stop and smell the Roselias.
1,105 Want-to-See Votes
#1 pick by our Facebook and Instagram fans, #2 pick by our Twitter fans
Opens May 17
Keanu Reeves is back as the titular assassin-for-hire, who’s now on the run from all of his colleagues, so to speak, after violating a no-kill clause on neutral ground. Director Chad Stahelski’s crisply photographed, intricately choreographed action sequences have made the franchise a genre standard-bearer, and it’s hard to beat Reeves’ likability and star power, so it’s no surprise to see this third installment top the list for May.
3,990 Want-to-See Votes
#1 pick by our Twitter fans, #2 pick by our Facebook fans, #3 pick by our Instagram fans
Opens May 31
If small-scale action isn’t what you’re in the mood for, then maybe a city-smashing brawl between ancient behemoths is more your speed. If so, you’ll get plenty of that in this follow-up to the 2014 Hollywood reboot of the Godzilla franchise. Much of the excitement surrounding the movie comes from the promise of appearances by several beloved characters, like Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah, the latter of which looks to be the primary nemesis for our giant lizard hero. Oh, and there are a few humans running around, too.
920 Want-to-See Votes
#2 pick by our Instagram fans, #3 pick by our Twitter fans, #4 pick by our Facebook fans
Opens May 10
It’s somewhat surprising we haven’t gotten a live-action Pokemon movie yet, considering the popularity of the brand, but maybe the wait was worth it. By all indications, this adaptation of the eponymous video game featuring Ryan Reynolds as the intelligible voice of Pikachu looks to be a fun, fairly self-aware romp. It’s likely to be packed with fan service and fun little easter eggs for those familiar with the original games and anime series, and you can expect longtime Pokemon fans to show up in droves for it.
275 Want-to-See Votes
#3 pick by our Facebook fans, #4 pick by our Instagram and Twitter fans
Opens May 24
What if the Superman origin story were twisted into something darker and more ominous? That’s essentially the log line for this supernatural horror film, which centers on an alien child who crash-lands on Earth, finds a home with two loving human parents, and eventually grows up to become an agent of terror. With Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn’s name in the credits (he’s one of the producers) and a unique spin on the traditional superhero tale, the movie has raised fan expectation higher than your run-of-the-mill horror flick.
459 Want-to-See Votes
#5 pick by our Twitter fans
Opens on May 24
Last up, we’ve got another one of those pesky ties, so we’ll start with the second of Disney’s three live-action reimaginings of classic animated films from their library — the first was Dumbo, which opened back in March. Folks have been a little skeptical of the remake ever since Will Smith was announced in the role of Genie, mostly because the late Robin Williams’ work in the role is so iconic. But that backlash seems to have died down a bit, leaving fans curious and even a little cautiously optimistic. We’ll just have to wait and see how it turns out.
288 Want-to-See Votes
#5 pick by our Facebook and Instagram fans
Opens on May 31
Lastly, we have the Elton John biopic starring Taron Egerton as the man himself. Many are already calling the film this year’s Bohemian Rhapsody, as it charts the rise of the celebrated musician from his days at the Royal Academy for Music to his fruitful partnership with songwriter Bernie Taupin. Though it’s difficult to say whether or not Rocketman will experience the kind of success that Bohemian Rhapsody did, it certainly appeals to the same audience, and it makes for a nice bit of counterprogramming for Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
