The studios seem to save their biggest projects for summer, and we can't blame them. Theaters are a great way to stay cool, and maybe even enjoy and adult beverage with that tub of popcorn. Here are the summer flicks we're most excited to see.
Wonder Woman
June 2, PG-13
Don't let the garbage marketing campaign fool you—Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman was about the best part of Batman vs. Superman and we're expecting this will be a fun romp at the very least. Gadot plays Diana Prince, an Amazon princess who is good at kicking ass and presumably encounters a conflict of some kind.
All Eyez on Me
June 16, R
Finally! A biopic about the legendary Tupac Shakur who, as we know, spent time in prison, loved his momma and wound up at the center of the East/West rap feud. Newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. will take on the role of Shakur and we have even higher hopes than we did for that stellar NWA movie.
Spider-Man: Homecoming
July 7, PG-13
We're wary of the rash of comic book films, but by finally casting properly with young actor Tom Holland (who you may recall in the totally rad Captain America: Civil War movie from last year), Spidey might be back on track. Plus, Michael Keaton plays the villain, and that's just cool.
War for the Planet of the Apes
July 14, PG-13
Never have we been more excited to have been wrong about a franchise, and with actor/motion capture genius Andy Serkis returning as the super-smart ape Caesar, we're expecting some pretty fantastic footage of apes riding horses while firing machine guns at the bad guy, this time played by Woody Harrelson.
Dunkirk
July 21, R
Christopher Nolan finally steps out of the Batman shadow for what looks like quite the harrowing WWII movie. Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy join forces in this one, and Harry "One Direction" Styles makes an appearance as well. That's funny, but we bet Dunkirk will be anything but.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
July 21, PG-13
Did you love The Fifth Element? Do you continue to love director Luc Besson? Good start. In this sci-fi epic, a young peacekeeper winds up in a straight-crazy city that is home to thousands of alien species, and early trailers look absolutely stunning. Don't miss!
The Dark Tower
August 4, R
Stephen King's apocalyptic Western-esque saga finally hits the big screen with Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey taking the lead. Nikolaj Arcel (who wrote the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy) directs, and we're betting some heads will explode. Fingers crossed.
Polaroid
August 25
Some kid finds a Polaroid camera that seemingly means death for anyone whose photo is taken. Ruh-roh! Sounds spooky, or like an even more analog version of The Ring. We promise you've never heard of anyone in this movie, but we like to get spooked at summer movies.
Unlocked
September 1, R
Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) joins Orlando Bloom (who we totally forgot existed) in this CIA-guy-gets-wrapped-up-in-biological-attack-in-London tale. Michael Douglas is in this bad boy, too, as is John Malkovich. We bet there will be lots of screaming.
Santa Fe Reporter