Hey everyone! It’s hard to believe after last year but the summer movie season is upon us again, and we here at Reel Heels are beyond excited to be safely back at the movies! In honor of that and due to the fact we were deprived of that joy last year, we are putting out our super-sized top 10 most anticipated summer movies by making it a top 15! Our window is Memorial Day weekend through August, so here’s my list of the 15 movies I’m most looking forward to this summer!
15: Jungle Cruise
Disney struck it big with their first film adaptation of one of their theme park rides, Pirates of the Caribbean, and its subsequent sequels were box office treasure (if not as great as the first installment). Eddie Murphy’s Haunted Mansion is a cute movie, but not quite the success Disney hoped (which is probably why they are taking another crack at it). But before that comes, we will have The Rock and Emily Blunt taking us on an adventure on the Jungle Cruise. This looks like a fun family adventure, led by a pair of incredibly likable stars who can both do both action and comedy very well. Disney is obviously hoping for similar success to Pirates, and with these two at the helm, it has a chance. And if not, we will always have the back side of water.
14: Respect
When it comes to the great musical artists of the 20th century, particularly vocalists, there is a very short list of people who can compare to the voice of Aretha Franklin. If anyone is up to the challenge of playing the iconic diva in a movie adaptation, Jennifer Hudson is a perfect fit. Add in Forest Whitaker and the Broadway legend Audra McDonald, this one could be an early contender for next year’s Oscars. So like the title says, it’s time to show this movie some respect.
13: Zola
On paper, a movie adapted from a wild (and I mean, wild) Twitter thread seems like a bad idea. However, with A24 behind it, and a cast that features Taylor Paige (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Riley Keough (Logan Lucky), Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead, among many other roles), Nicholas Braun (Succession), and Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton), this tale of debauchery, strippers, violence, and more should promise to be one of the wildest movies of the summer.
12: Luca
As we all know, Pixar is a hit making machine that pulls at the heartstrings better than anyone. Their latest offering, Luca is about a pair of boys who split time between being mermaids (Mermen? Merboys?) and real boys. Featuring a voice cast of Jacob Tremblay as the titular Luca, Maya Rudolph, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Jim Gaffigan, I have no reason to doubt that Pixar will once again deliver a terrific movie that’s fun for all ages (and makes the adults cry more than they admit to).
11: Candyman
Produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, but directed and co-written by Nia DaCosta, Candyman may be the sleeper horror hit of the summer. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays the main character in this spooky remake/sequel, and considering the hot streak he has been on (Watchmen, The Trial of the Chicago 7), there is no reason to expect anything less than greatness. Throw in Teyonah Parris, a breakout star from WandaVision, and you have a recipe for one sweet movie. Just don’t say the title too much.
10: The Green Knight
Inspired by the Arthurian legends, The Green Knight looks to be another hit for A24, with a cast full of heavy hitters. Dev Patel plays the protagonist, and cast mates Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, and Sean Harris should all provide some power to this movie. This is a gorgeous looking movie, and if this trailer is any indication, I think this could end up one of my favorites of the year.
9: Cruella
I have generally been against the Disney live action reimaginings that have come out in the past few years. When this movie was announced, I was hesitant (especially considering we already got the live action 101 Dalmatians movie with Glenn Close as Cruella), but as we have seen more trailers, I’m more open minded about it then I was. Cruella is getting the Joker treatment, and while you can argue that we don’t need to humanize a villain whose primary motivation was puppy murder, I think Emma Stone and Emma Thompson will make this entertaining enough that I’m willing to give it a shot.
8: Gunpowder Milkshake
There are much worse premises for movies than “let’s have a bunch of badass women kick a whole bunch of ass,” and when that group of badass women includes Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Carla Gugino, and Michelle Yeoh (plus you have Paul Giamatti, who is always great), you know you are going to be in for one heck of a good time. This one will definitely be a lot of fun.
7: Free Guy
Ryan Reynolds nearly had two movies on this list as The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard barely missed the cut (the first was fun, and the sequel looks solid), but this one earned a spot. Reynolds plays a background character in a video game world who discovers he’s in a video game and becomes an incredibly unlikely action hero. Throw in some great cast members like Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, and everyone’s sweetheart Taika Waititi, and this action comedy should be a very fun time at the movies.
6: A Quiet Place Part II
One of the longest delayed movies due to Covid, A Quiet Place Part II has been on the shelf for over a year, but that hasn’t lessened my excitement in the slightest. The first Quiet Place was one of the most exciting, thrilling horror movies in recent memory, and I think the sequel looks to live up to the lofty heights of the first one. Directed by John Krasinski, the cast of the first one (Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe) returns but also adds Cillian Murphy and Dijon Hounsou, a move that looks to pay major dividends. If this one is anywhere close to as good as the first, it should be one of the most exciting movies of the year.
5: Space Jam: A New Legacy
I’ll admit straight up, this movie very likely won’t be a “better” movie than several that it ranked ahead of on this list, but it’s not what I think the “best” movies of the summer will be, it’s my most anticipated. As someone who unashamedly loves the original Space Jam (and even has pitched my own idea for Space Jam 2), I am excited for this movie that will likely not be great. But, LeBron James is one of the most charismatic basketball players ever, and with Ryan Coogler producing, and Malcolm D. Lee (director of Girls Trip) behind the camera, I think this one has potential to surprise some people. Either way, it gives the MJ vs. LBJ people something else to debate.
4: In the Heights
Before Hamilton swept the globe as arguably the biggest phenomenon in Broadway history, Lin-Manuel Miranda had his first Tony award winning musical, In The Heights, the story of the people living in Washington Heights in NYC. While Lin originally played the lead Usnavi on Broadway, his Hamilton costar Anthony Ramos takes center stage on the big screen. With a cast full of talent (Melissa Barrera, Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smiths, Stephanie Beatriz, Olga Meredith, and cameos from Lin and fellow Heights/Hamilton alum Christopher Jackson) and a soundtrack full of hits, this movie should be one of the best of the year.
3: F9: The Fast Saga
There was a time when a Fast sequel coming out would make me roll my eyes and think “How are they still making these?” And then I gave the series a chance and watched them all, and I have become a full-fledged convert. These movies are utterly insane, with bigger and crazier stunts each time, characters coming back from the dead, secret family members, Academy Award winners with terrible haircuts, and I can’t look away. Watch this trailer. They have magnet planes, magnet cars, rocket cars, and while they haven’t 100% confirmed this yet, they are going to space!!!!! The Fast Family is here to stay, and I can’t wait.
2: The Suicide Squad
The first crack at the Suicide Squad was far from great, but I always felt there were salvageable pieces that could work. Obviously James Gunn and Warner Brothers agreed, because this movie looks awesome. There are carryovers from the first (Margot Robbie obviously returns as Harley Quinn, but Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, and Viola mother flipping Davis are all back), along with a plethora of new faces (Idris Elba, John Cena, Taika Waititi, Sylvester Stallone as a talking shark, Michael Rooker, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion, Alice Braga, Sean Gunn, David Dastmalchian, Peter Capaldi, Daniela Melchior). Just don’t get too attached.
1: Black Widow
My number one in most summers is whatever Marvel’s latest movie is, but considering this movie was supposed to come out a year ago, the anticipation for me is through the roof. Considering it’s the first solo movie for a character that has been in the MCU longer than Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, The Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, or basically anyone not named Iron Man or Hulk, it’s also great reason for excitement. Scarlett Johansson has been crushing it in this role for over a decade at this point, and I’m thrilled to see her finally lead her own story. Not to mention a cast that includes Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz, and this should be the latest blockbuster in the MCU.
So there you have it, my top 15 anticipated movies of the summer. What movies are you looking forward to? Make sure to let us know, and check out Jason’s list as well. And most of all, stay safe and enjoy your time at the movies! I know I will!