Days are getting longer and the temperature is rising. Summer is coming, and so too is a slate of blockbuster movies. Since Jaws and Star Wars started the trend in the mid-1970s summer has traditionally been home to a year’s biggest and most action-packed movies.
After two years of movie release schedules being severely disrupted by coronavirus, some normality is beginning to return and there is plenty to look forward to in summer 2022, with a big movie practically every week through June and July.
From established franchises to long-awaited sequels and even some new properties, let’s take a look at the movies you’ll be wanting to see this summer…
Top Gun: Maverick
Release date: May 25
If you’re a regular cinema-goer you will be sick of this trailer, it’s been doing the rounds for over two years given the movie’s original 2019 release date. But here it is again, just for you…
But what’s a two-year delay when you’ve been waiting 25 years or so for a sequel. Tom Cruise is back as Maverick, joined once again by Val Kilmer as Iceman with Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and Ed Harris joining an all-star cast.
Jurassic World Dominion
Release date: June 10
Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Satler (Laura Dern) and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). Supposedly three of the smartest people on the planet. Yet apparently they can’t resist a dinosaur adventure. Or a paycheck. The worlds collide as the three stars of the original Jurassic Park movie are back in the franchise, alongside Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. With Isla Nublar destroyed dinosaurs are roaming the world and no doubt it will be up to the stars to stop them.
Check out our look at Jurassic World Dominion Lego!
Lightyear
Release Date: June 17
During the pandemic, Pixar movies Soul, Luca and Turning Red have premiered on Disney+ or had a very limited theatrical release. Not Lightyear though, as the Toy Story franchise resumes with a sort of prequel, Pixar returns to cinemas. Lightyear tells the fictional origin story of Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Chris Evans, the character who inspired the action figure seen in the Toy Story movies. Keke Palmer and Taikia Waiti are also amongst the cast.
Elvis
Release Date: June 24
The recent trend of musical biopics continues. After Freddie Mercury (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Elton John (Rocketman) got the treatment, now it’s the turn of Elvis Presley. Directed by Baz Luhrman and starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, the movie is sure to get you swinging your heaps and doing your best Elvis voice.
Minions: The Rise Of Gru
Release Date: July 1
No, you probably don’t want to see it. Yes, it will make an absolute ton of money.
Thor Love and Thunder
Release Date: July 8
Thor, one of the original big 4 Avengers in the MCU, is the first hero to reach four solo movies. After the success of Thor: Ragnarok Taikia Waititi is back to direct what should be one of the highlights of the summer. Since Ragnarok, Thor has had a rough old time. Losing his brother Loki, rescued by the Guardians, thought he’d killed Thanos, got fat, and then did kill Thanos. Natalie Portman is back as Thor’s Earth-based love interest, Christian Bale is the villain and Thor is hanging out with the Guardians Of The Galaxy, meaning viewers will get to see Chris’s Hemsworth and Pratt bouncing off each other. It should be a riot, play Guns N Roses…
The Gray Man
Release Date: July 15
Trying to launch a new franchise with Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas in the leading roles? The Russo brothers directing? Sold! At $200m it is the most expensive movie produced by Netflix. Based on a novel by Mark Greaney, it follows a current CIA agent trying to catch a CIA mercenary. Expect a lot of chases and action! The movie will only have a small theatrical release before arriving on Netflix.
Nope
Release Date: July 22
Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) is becoming one of those directors whose name alone is enough to sell a movie. Here he is reunited with Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya, who leads the cast with Keke Palmer and The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun. The premise is succinct – residents of an isolated California town witness a mysterious and abnormal event.
Bullet Train
Release Date: August 5
Brad Pitt stars in this adaptation of a Japanese novel by Kotaro Isaka. He plays an assassin called Ladybug, who wants to give up that life but is drawn back. Onboard a Bullet Train he must compete with rival assassins to complete a mission, only to find the objectives are connected. Sandra Bullock and Michael Shannon are also in the cast.
What blockbuster summer movie are you most looking forward to?
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