As summer looms, it’s almost time for blockbuster season. Typically, studios release some of their biggest films in the summer because school’s out and people are looking for something fun to do to beat the heat.
There’s a wide variety of films releasing this summer, so I’ve narrowed down my five most anticipated releases of the season:
“Jackass: Best and Last” — (June 26)
“Jackass: Best and Last” marks the fifth and final installment in the “Jackass” franchise. “Jackass” films compile extreme stunts and vulgar pranks from a crew of daredevils, which includes Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O. The new film will feature a mix of old and new footage, and will bring back some of the most iconic stunts and pranks from the franchise.
I binge-watched the entire film series last month, as I’d never seen any of the “Jackass” projects before. After worrying the humor would feel dated, I was not only surprised by how much I loved the franchise, but how timeless all the pranks remained. While this film may have fallen under my radar a few months ago, I would now place it near the top of my most anticipated films for the coming summer.
“Evil Dead Burn” — (July 10)
“Evil Dead Burn” follows the reunion of a mourning family after the death of the mother’s son, which quickly turns sour as the relatives gradually turn into Deadites. These are the demons in the “Evil Dead” universe that are known for their explicit language and impulsive behavior, two things that make for a highly entertaining watch.
This franchise has always held a special place in my heart. The original “Evil Dead” trilogy is what got me into film in the first place due to its physical humor and cartoonish gore. Since the trilogy, there have been several spin-off films, all produced by Sam Raimi, who wrote and directed the original movies.
Interestingly, Lee Cronin, director of “Evil Dead Rise,” recently confirmed that his “Evil Dead” movie is set in the same universe as his latest mummy movie, though I was much fonder of the former than the latter.
Nevertheless, I love everything that has come out of this franchise so far, so I have high expectations.
“The Odyssey” — (July 17)
My most anticipated film of this summer is Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious project yet, “The Odyssey.” The film is an adaptation of Homer’s epic of the same name and follows Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his difficult journey home after the Trojan War.
I read several excerpts of the epic in one of my high school English classes, which entailed some of Odysseus’ encounters with mythical creatures, and I am very excited to see how Nolan portrays such distinct characters on screen.
“The Odyssey” is the first feature film to be shot entirely with 70mm IMAX film cameras, which was previously difficult to achieve due to their loudness and limited mobility. But Nolan used new technology to conquer these challenges. These efforts clearly paid off, as the visuals from the trailers have been absolutely breathtaking.
Alongside the cinematography, this film features a stacked cast including Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Robert Pattinson as Antinous.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” — (July 31)
No summer lineup would be complete without a superhero film, and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” marks the return of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man after nearly five years.
Set four years after the events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Peter Parker (Holland) is now an adult living by himself after being erased from the memories of the people he loves to save his universe. As the pressure of full-time crime fighting in New York weighs Peter down, a shocking physical evolution occurs, threatening his life while he faces off against the most powerful threats he’s ever encountered.
The trailer leaves a lot to be said, and there are many fan theories going around, though none have been proven to be true yet.
Unlike the previous Spider-Man trilogy, this film is seemingly offering a more grounded perspective of Peter that we haven’t seen before. I’m looking forward to seeing how he navigates his newly isolated social life while also dealing with the large number of villains terrorizing New York.
“Coyote vs. ACME” — (Aug. 28)
A film eight years in the making, “Coyote vs. ACME” follows Looney Tunes’ Wile E. Coyote after he decides to sue the ACME Corporation after its products have failed him one too many times in his attempts to catch Road Runner.
This film has one of the craziest production stories in recent history. Warner Bros. originally shelved it as a tax write-off but sold it to Ketchup Entertainment after years of protests from angered fans.
Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner are two of my favorite characters in the Looney Tunes universe, so I was thrilled to hear that the film would be getting a theatrical release after all. Their physical comedy is iconic, and I can’t wait to see a new story with these characters on the big screen.
