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We’ve made it to May, and the better weather is trying valiantly to break through – but there’s something else exciting glinting on the horizon.
The lengthening days help usher summer blockbuster season into cinemas.
Traditionally, film fans have always juggled enjoying the increasing sunshine outside with the call to spend longer indoors in a darkened room, munching popcorn and watching impressive spectacle and action sequences unfold as part of multi-million-dollar movies.
We’re just a few weeks away from the first Star Wars film since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, thanks to The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22) – which boasts Sigourney Weaver in the cast alongside Pedro Pascal – followed by a double dose of superhero in June with Masters of the Universe (June 5) and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (June 26).
Disney unsurprisingly have a few sure-fire bets up their cinematic sleeve too, including the live-action remake of Moana (July 10) with Dwayne Johnson reprising his beloved role as strutting demi-god Maui.
But, from spider webs to swords and sandals and sci-fi, here are the five blockbuster movies that I don’t think you should miss this summer.
5. Scary Movie
The sixth instalment in this horror parody franchise, which has grossed almost $900million (£664m) in total, this sequel comes 13 years after the last one.
Not only does it herald the return of its original creators, the Wayans family, for the first time in 25 years, but the movie – technically just called Scary Movie (again) – also welcomes back stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall, as well as Marlo Wayans and Shawn Wayans in acting roles, Cheri Oteri, Lochlyn Munro and Dave Sheridan.
Faris’s Cindy Campbell is reunited with her old friends for mayhem once again when the same masked killer from 2000’s Scary Movie resurfaces, forcing them to face monsters, killers and supernatural threats once again.
With the full crew back on board, the signs are promising for a return to classic spoof form.
Scary Movie hits cinemas on June 5.
4. Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Tom Holland is back for his seventh outing as Spider-Man/Peter Parker and fourth solo movie since first playing the webslinger in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.
But this time he’s entirely alone, four years on from the events of No Way Home after Dr Stephen Strange’s spell erased him from the lives and memories of those he loves, including girlfriend MJ (Zendaya).
As he devotes himself entirely to protecting New York City, though, the pressures of his crime-fighting spark surprising mutations – and Peter is forced to seek the help of Dr Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) – while a powerful new threat develops.
Holland has had a consistent run as an endearing version of both Peter and his superhero alter-ego over the past decade, and even in a world still over-saturated with big-screen comic book adaptations, this latest film suggests a bit of uncharted territory.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is due for release on July 31.
3. Toy Story 5
The Disney film to be most excited for this summer is Pixar’s continuation of its original franchise of over 30 years’ standing, starring the voice talents of Tom Hanks as cowboy Woody and Tim Allen as space ranger Buzz Lightyear.
This time, hi-tech tablet Lilypad (Greta Lee) threatens the toys’ peaceful existence under owner Bonnie’s care, with Jessie (Joan Cusack) in charge since Woody opted to continue helping lost toys find their owners.
Other characters making a return include Bullseye, Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Slinky Dog (Blake Clark), Mr. Potato Head (Jeff Bergman), Forky (Tony Hale) and Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves).
One of the most reliably high-quality movie series out there, Toy Story 5 tackles the ‘existential problem’ that ‘nobody’s really playing with toys anymore’, says director Andrew Stanton.
It also features an army of 50 high-tech Buzz Lightyear units stuck in ‘demo mode’ called the ‘Multi-Buzz’ which I’ve already had a sneak peek at and make for hilarious entertainment.
Toy Story 5 comes out in cinemas on June 19.
2. Disclosure Day
Steven Spielberg is the king of the summer blockbuster, having invented them over 50 years ago with the release of Jaws in 1975 – and this year he’s returning with an original alien-focused sci-fi.
The filmmaker who brought us E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has already generated a lot of buzz with the trailer for Disclosure Day and its mysterious sounds – not to mention a cast including Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo.
The movie has remained pretty mysterious, revolving around the central premise: If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?
I’d never bet against a Spielberg film – his last movie The Fabelmans received seven Oscar nominations – but the fact it’s from an original stand-alone idea makes it an even more thrilling prospect.
Disclosure Day is scheduled for release on June 10 in the UK, and June 12 in the US.
1. The Odyssey
Likely the only filmmaker and film to beat the hype of Spielberg is Sir Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey this summer.
Tackling one of the biggest stories in human culture – and a bedrock of Ancient Greek mythology – the Oppenheimer director is tackling sirens, gods, whirlpools, monsters and a cyclops, and likely relying heavily on practical in-camera effects.
He’s also assembled a truly star-studded cast with Matt Damon as the wily Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as his loyal wife Penelope, waiting 20 years at home for his return, and Tom Holland as their son Telemachus, alongside Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal and Mia Goth.
While the most recent trailer may have provoked a little wobble in confidence with its American accents and overly modern language, I continue to trust in Nolan that he can deliver a movie to wow us all, classicist and casual fan alike.
It will also be fascinating to see up on the screen how he’s spent a rumoured $250m (£184.5m) budget.
The Odyssey hits cinemas on July 17.
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