Summer Movie Calendar 2017

Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax, and Baby Groot are back in the second installment of Marvel’s space saga, in which the gang faces off against a dangerous new enemy they’ve swindled and forge some new bonds with unlikely friends. Expect plenty of irreverent laughs and explosive action.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista

Directed By: James Gunn

Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law star in Guy Ritchie’s take on the famous myth, which finds the once and future king facing off against his uncle, who has seized the throne from Arthur’s father. Hunnam continues to shore up his post-Sons of Anarchy resume, and fans of Ritchie’s highly stylized action will likely find plenty to enjoy here, so this should make for a fun popcorn flick.

Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou

Directed By: Guy Ritchie

It’s got hot cars, beautiful women, and plenty of machismo, but don’t expect a lot of fast and furious action in this LA-based drama about a graffiti artist trying to pull away from his family’s history of violence. Theo Rossi (Marvel’s Luke Cage), Melissa Benoist (Supergirl), and Demian Bichir (The Hateful Eight) co-star.

Starring: Gabriel Chavarria, Theo Rossi, Demián Bichir, Eva Longoria

Directed By: Ricardo de Montreuil

Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn star in Jonathan Levine’s comedy about a woman who invites her mother on an exotic vacation, where they promptly get lost in the jungle together. Levine’s last two films, Warm Bodies and 50/50, were critical hits, so this film should succeed with a similar mix of humor and pathos.

Starring: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Wanda Sykes, Joan Cusack

Directed By: Jonathan Levine

Michael Fassbender and Katherine Waterston star in Ridley Scott’s follow-up to Prometheus, the latest in the Alien franchise. This time, a new crew of space travelers land on a remote planet that looks at first like a paradise, only to face a familiar threat. The impressive supporting cast includes Billy Crudup, Demian Bichir, and Danny McBride, among others.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride

Directed By: Ridley Scott

The fourth installment of this adaptation of author Jeff Kinney’s popular books follows young Greg and Rodrick Heffley, who convince their family to celebrate their grandmother’s 90th birthday with a road trip, but secretly plan to attend a video game convention instead. The original cast aged out of their roles, and fans have been upset about that, but it should provide some family-friendly counterprogramming.

Starring: Jason Drucker, Alicia Silverstone, Tom Everett Scott, Charlie Wright

Directed By: David Bowers

Based on a young adult novel by Nicola Yoon, this drama centers on a young woman living with severe combined immunodeficiency who is unable to leave her house, but begins to fall in love with the boy next door. Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games) and Nick Robinson (Jurassic World) star in what’s sure to be the next teen weepie, so bring some tissues.

Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Ana de la Reguera

Directed By: Stella Meghie

Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron star in this comedy that takes its cue from the Jump Street movies and revives the titular lifeguard drama for the big screen with a wink and a dick joke. If you’re looking for a potent dose of adult humor, this is going to be one of your best bets.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alexandra Daddario

Directed By: Seth Gordon

Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow in the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which pits him against a ghost captain (Javier Bardem) intent on killing all pirates. You know what you’re getting into here: Plenty of shivered timbers, buckled swashes, and flamboyant speechifying from a sashaying Johnny Depp.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites

Directed By: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

Dave Pilkey’s popular children’s novel series comes to animated life in this lively adventure, featuring the voice of Ed Helms as a grumpy elementary school principal who is hypnotized into becoming a superhero. The comedy pedigree is strong here — Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch, and Jordan Peele, among others — so this could be a treat for adults and kids alike.

Starring: Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll, Thomas Middleditch

Directed By: David Soren

After a fan-favorite appearance in Batman v. Superman, Gal Gadot looks to rescue the DCEU from its critical doldrums. She stars as Diana Prince, headlining the first big screen outing ever for the Amazonian princess, who leaves her island home of Themyscira to help an American pilot (Chris Pine) bring an end to World War I. Suffice it to say that anticipation for this film is sky high, so get your tickets early.

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright

Directed By: Patty Jenkins

Understated horror is all the rage these days, and the next film looking to scare your socks off with is this eerie film about man whose isolated, reclusive family life is disturbed by the arrival of another desperate family. Director Trey Edward Shults proved his dramatic chops with last year’s Krisha, and his keen sense for slow burn tension should make this a worthy summer thriller.

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Christopher Abbott, Carmen Ejogo, Riley Keough

Directed By: Trey Edward Shults

In case you hadn’t heard, Universal is launching into its own cinematic universe with its classic monsters, and it all kicks off with this explosive reimagining of the Mummy. Tom Cruise lends his star power to this story of an ancient Egyptian princess (Sofia Boutella) who is woken from a centuries-old imprisonment and promptly embarks on a mission of vengeance. Movie screens were made for this kind of spectacle.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella

Directed By: Alex Kurtzman

Demetrius Shipp Jr. stars in this biopic focusing on the life of influential rapper Tupac Shakur. The story begins with his early days in New York, follows his rise to success, and chronicles the circumstances leading to his untimely death in 1996. Kat Graham, Lauren Cohan, and Danai Gurira co-star.

Starring: Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Dominic L. Santana

Directed By: Benny Boom

Children everywhere were traumatized by the image of Lightning McQueen crashing in the first Cars 3 teaser, but it’s a safe bet that won’t be the last we see of him. This time out, Lightning (once again voiced by Owen Wilson) returns to the track to defeat an up-and-coming young rival (Armie Hammer). It’s Pixar, and it’s Cars — if you’ve got kids (especially boys), you’re going to be seeing this.

Starring: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Chris Cooper

Directed By: Brian Fee

Scarlett Johansson and Kate McKinnon star in this raucous adult comedy about five college friends who reunite for a wild bachelorette party in Miami and inadvertently kill a male stripper. It’s like Bridesmaids meets Very Bad Things, with a touch of Weekend at Bernie’s. If that sounds like a good time to you, get ready for a Rough Night.

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Zoë Kravitz, Ilana Glazer

Directed By: Lucia Aniello

Mandy Moore and Claire Holt star in this aquatic survival thriller about a pair of sisters on vacation in Mexico who become trapped in an underwater shark cage. The similarly themed The Shallows was a sleeper hit last year, so there’s potential for a few good midsummer screams here.

Starring: Claire Holt, Mandy Moore, Chris Johnson, Yani Gellman

Directed By: Johannes Roberts

Mark Wahlberg returns for the fifth installment of Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise, which finds humans at war with the titular robot race. Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, and Josh Duhamel also reprise their roles from previous films, alongside newcomer Anthony Hopkins. Chances are you know what you’re getting here; expect the requisite explosions, car chases, and robot fights.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Stanley Tucci

Directed By: Michael Bay

Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bella Thorne attempt to resurrect the famed haunted house franchise as a new family moves into the cursed home and begins experiencing unexplained phenomena. This’ll be right up your alley if you’re hankering for a bit of supernatural horror.

Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bella Thorne, Cameron Monaghan, Thomas Mann

Directed By: Franck Khalfoun

Gru and his minions are back to face off against a new nemesis in the form of a former 1980s child star and deal with a long-lost twin brother. With Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Trey Parker headlining the voice cast, you can expect another round of colorful adventure and laughs for audiences of all ages.

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove

Directed By: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda

Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler star in this comedy about a pair of irresponsible parents who waste their daughter’s entire college fund and decide to open an illegal casino in their basement to earn the money back. The supporting cast includes comedy vets like Nick Kroll, Rob Huebel, Michaela Watkins, and Jason Mantzoukas, among others.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jason Mantzoukas, Ryan Simpkins

Directed By: Andrew Jay Cohen

Joey King and Ryan Phillippe star in this horror film about a bullied teen whose life improves when she’s gifted a wish-granting music box… until she discovers that someone dies when each wish is granted. As the saying — and the tagline — goes, be careful what you wish for.

Starring: Joey King, Ryan Phillippe, Ki Hong Lee, Mitchell Slaggert

Directed By: John R. Leonetti

Director Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) returns with a high-octane action film about a skilled getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) who finds himself in deep trouble when he agrees to join a doomed heist ordered by a crime boss (Kevin Spacey). The impressive supporting cast includes Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, and Jon Bernthal, and early reviews have all been raves, so this could be one of the summer’s big hits.

Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal

Directed By: Edgar Wright

Tom Holland suits up for Sony’s revamped — and Marvel-sanctioned — reboot of the Spider-Man franchise. In this version, Avengers recruit Peter Parker learns to balance his high school life and his heroic side gig under the mentorship of Iron Man, who helps him take on a new villain. Michael Keaton, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr. round out the supporting cast in what Marvel hopes will be a successful new iteration of the famous webcrawler.

Starring: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei

Directed By: Jon Watts

Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger star in this adaptation of a Japanese drama about a teen who is hypersensitive to sunlight who begins a romance with her high school crush… but doesn’t let him in on her debilitating condition. This should make for perfectly romantic counterprogramming to all the spandex actioners and raunchy comedies.

Starring: Bella Thorne, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rob Riggle, Quinn Shephard

Directed By: Scott Speer

In the third chapter of the successfully rebooted Apes saga, Caesar (Andy Serkis) leads his apes into an epic battle with a human colonel (Woody Harrelson) and begins to rethink his philosophy as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Both previous films have been Certified Fresh, and it’s reasonable to expect this one will be equally thrilling.

Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Karin Konoval

Directed By: Matt Reeves

Christopher Nolan directs this historical war film about the incredible evacuation of surrounded Allied forces from the beaches of Dunkirk, France during World War II. Nolan knows his way around a big-budget film and he’s both a critical darling and a fan favorite. Throw in a cast that includes Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, and Kenneth Branagh, among others, and it’s almost a sure thing.

Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah star in this comedy about four friends who reunite for a trip to the Essence Festival in New Orleans, where they reconnect and engage in some bawdy extracurricular activities. Director Malcolm D. Lee has had success with the Best Man movies, and this looks like an equally good time with female leads.

Starring: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish

Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee

Luc Besson directs this adaptation of a classic French comic series about two operatives in the far-flung future who are tasked with locating and eliminating an evil force threatening a central metropolis where citizens from across the universe live in harmony. The comics have a devoted following, and Besson’s The Fifth Element is a cult favorite, so until Star Wars opens later this year, this is probably your best bet for an outer space adventure.

Starring: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, Rihanna

Directed By: Luc Besson

Charlize Theron stars in this thriller as an MI6 spy who travels to Berlin to take down an espionage ring. Director David Leitch was one half of the duo behind John Wick, so if you were on board for that visceral brand of action, this will feel like a warm, familiar — and bloody — blanket. James McAvoy and John Goodman co-star.

Starring: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Eddie Marsan, John Goodman

Directed By: David Leitch

First it was Legos, then it was Trolls, and now we have an animated film all about emojis. T.J. Miller and James Corden lend their voices to this colorful tale about an emoji who’s distraught about the fact that he’s able to make multiple facial expressions, unlike his friends. You can probably expect a lot of snappy pop-culture jokes and a feelgood message for the little ones.

Starring: T.J. Miller, James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph

Directed By: Anthony Leondis

In 2006, Al Gore’s cautionary documentary about global warming brought the climate change debate to the forefront. This year, Gore returns with this follow-up, which chronicles the progress made since the previous film and the continuing efforts being made to raise the issue with governmental leaders. The influential first film was Certified Fresh and won two Oscars, and early reviews for this sequel are fairly positive.

Starring: Al Gore, Cory Booker, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton

Directed By: Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk

Jason Clarke and Blake Lively star in Marc Forster’s drama about a blind woman who miraculously regains her sight and begins to notice disturbing details about her marriage. Though early reviews have been mixed, Forster’s dramas have been his strongest work, so this slow burn mystery may be worth a watch.

Starring: Blake Lively, Jason Clarke, Ahna O'Reilly, Yvonne Strahovski

Directed By: Marc Forster

After languishing in development for years, Stephen King’s genre-defying novel series comes to the big screen with Danish director Nikolaj Arcel behind the camera and Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey starring as gunslinger Roland Deschain and the evil Man in Black, respectively. Fans have been waiting for this adaptation for a long time, so expectations are high; with this pedigree, the film could be a big success.

Starring: Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim

Directed By: Nikolaj Arcel

In this period prequel to the first Annabelle film, a married couple and their adopted children are terrorized by an evil spirit that has taken up residence within a doll. Director David F. Sandberg’s first film, Lights Out, was a hit, and he looks to do the same for this spinoff franchise.

Starring: Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Lulu Wilson, Philippa Coulthard

Directed By: David F. Sandberg

Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson star in this action comedy about a bodyguard who is assigned to protect his former enemy, a hitman tasked with taking out a dictator at The Hague. If the trailers are any indication, Reynolds and Jackson make a fun duo, and there should be lots of laughs. Gary Oldman and Salma Hayek co-star.

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman, Salma Hayek

Directed By: Patrick Hughes

Will Arnett and Katherine Heigl return to voice rascally squirrels Surly and Andie in this sequel to the surprise hit animated film from 2014. While the first movie found Surly scheming to steal other people’s peanuts, Nutty by Nature pits him and his gang against an evil mayor who wants to raze the park and build an amusement park in its place. The supporting cast includes Maya Rudolph and Jackie Chan.

Starring: Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph, Jackie Chan

Directed By: Cal Brunker

This supernatural horror film follows a teen who stumbles upon a vintage Polaroid camera, only to discover that the people she photographs turn up dead in grisly ways. Can she figure out what’s going on? Probably, but you may think twice before snapping your next selfie.

Starring: Kathryn Prescott, Mitch Pileggi, Grace Zabriskie, Tyler Young

Directed By: Lars Klevberg

Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, and Christoph Waltz star in this period romance about a Dutch orphan forced to marry a wealthy merchant who begins an affair with the young artist who paints her portrait. Jack O’Connell, Judi Dench, Cara Delevingne, and Tom Hollander help round out the impressive supporting cast.

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Christoph Waltz, Holliday Grainger

Directed By: Justin Chadwick

Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones star in this action comedy about a former FBI agent and former attorney — both in the witness protection program after testifying against the Mafia — who forego their comfortable new lives to stop an impending mob hit. Freeman and Jones are reliable veterans who have proven they can excel at comedy, which makes this a promising odd-couple pairing.

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, Rene Russo, Joe Pantoliano

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, this drama tells the gripping story of one of the darkest moments during the civil unrest that rocked Detroit in the summer of ’67.

Starring: John Boyega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jacob Latimore

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow

In this tense, action-fueled thriller, directed by Luis Prieto, a mother tries to take back her kidnapped son. How far will she go to save her child?

Starring: Halle Berry, Sage Correa, Chris McGinn, Lew Temple

Directed By: Luis Prieto

From Jeannette Walls’s best-selling memoir, The Glass Castle tells the story of a young woman (Brie Larson) who finds the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Max Greenfield, Sarah Snook

Directed By: Destin Daniel Cretton

Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Farrah Mackenzie, Riley Keough

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Set in 1960s San Francisco, Birth of the Dragon portraits a young Bruce Lee trying to make a name for himself while working as a martial arts instructor.

Starring: Philip Ng, Yu Xia, Billy Magnussen, Jingjing Qu

Directed By: George Nolfi

An orphaned girl arrives in Paris with no money but one big, passionate dream: to become a dancer.

Starring: Elle Fanning, Nat Wolff, Carly Rae Jepsen, Maddie Ziegler

Directed By: Eric Summer, Éric Warin