Worst2First: My Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2018
Worst2First:
My Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2018
There are 38 films on this list, and I will count them down from the films I'm least interested in seeing all the way to my most anticipated movie of the summer.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS
Also, dates of films are subject to change**
#38
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
July 27
Last summer, I pegged "The Emoji Movie" as the worst film of the summer, and I was more right than I even imagined (the film even "won" several Razzie Awards), and this year it looks like another animated film will be the worst of the summer. The original "Teen Titans" series was amazing with adult-themed topics, intense action, and strong character development. Then the series did a reboot and catered to younger kids, and all of a sudden the Titans were acting like children, and lost any sense of realism or intelligence. Unfortunately, this is the Titans that will grace the big screen, and with a summer of exciting children's movies, this will easily fall by the wayside.
#37
Show Dogs
May 18
Last year there was a film called "Nine Lives" about a talking cat, and it did about as well as you'd expect (not very well at all). Not wanting to be left out, it's now the dog's turn to be featured in a family-friendly animal talking film that absolutely no one will see because they have standards, unlike the makers of this crap. Ludacris voices Max, a Rottweiler police dog who goes undercover at a dog show to prevent a major crime. The real crime is the film in itself.
#36
Uncle Drew
June 29
In 2012, Kyrie Irving invented the character of Uncle Drew for a series of Pepsi commercials, and someone somewhere thought that this shtick could become a feature-length film. Whoever thought this should be fired immediately. Starring basketball greats Irving, Shaquille O'Neal, Reggie Miller, Chris Webber and Nate Robinson, this looks like an absolute disaster from start to finish, with unfunny jokes and tired humor as old as the basketball greats themselves.
#35
Overboard
May 4
Remember that classic comedy in the 80s with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, where Hawn's character was a self-serving rich snob who gets amnesia and finds herself as a working-class mother? Apparently, someone did, and decided it would be great to not just remake it, but change the genders. Now it's Eugenio Derbez who plays the rich snob who gets amnesia and works as a lower-class worker for Anna Faris, who has him believing he's her husband. Not even Faris's comedic timing can save this film from turning into a shipwreck.
#34
Book Club
May 18
Did you ever wonder who the heck would buy the "Fifty Shades of Grey" book? Did you ever wonder whatever happened to former leading actresses Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen? Well, "Book Club" sets to answer both those questions you've never thought to ask as the film revolves around a group of elderly women who get turned on by the antics of Christian Grey, and set out to spice up their love lives. Viagra jokes will abound no doubt, but very little laughs will be had.
#33
Gotti
June 15
John Travolta plays the notorious mob boss John Gotti in a film that was supposed to be released earlier this year, but was pushed back to the summer when absolutely no one will be interested to see a biopic.
#32
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
July 20
The first "Mamma Mia!" was a surprise hit thanks in no small part to the elegant Meryl Streep, but now that she's not involved in the sequel, it looks like it'll fall on poor footing. Not to mention the film is basically a flashback as to how Streep's character became pregnant and her tumultuous love life seems to set the title as a bit misleading: they're not going again, they're going in the past. Still, when the title includes "here we go again," you already know it's not going to be great.
#31
Slender Man
August 24
Once a Creepypasta meme, Slender Man has become an icon of terror and horror on the Internet, so much so that two girls actually tried to sacrifice their friend to the mythical monster. Known for his long slender body and blank face, the monster finally gets the big screen treatment in basically what looks like a "Ring" ripoff, a film that will probably rely on jump scares than any actual real horror.
#30
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
July 13
The first two "Hotel Transylvania" films were huge hits in the theater, so maybe I'm a bit jaded on the third outing, but coming after the heels of "The Incredibles 2" will be no small task. Still, when you've got a brand as popular as "Hotel," there's always hope. This time around, our favorite ghouls and monsters decide to leave the hotel and take a summer vacation on a cruise - or, as Dracula puts it, a hotel on the water. Yes, it looks funny, and this is pretty much the only type of film that gives Adam Sandler any sort of hit, so maybe it'll be better than I think.
#29
Tully
May 4
Charlize Theron is a genius. While other actors get typecast into a specific role (such as Daniel Radcliffe always being Harry Potter, Will Smith always being the action star), Charlize Theron has been able to jump from genre to genre with rousing success. Be it an action blockbuster ("Mad Max: Fury Road"), intense drama ("Monster," which she won the Academy Award), or comedy ("Young Adult"), she can hold her own in any category. Here she plays a mother of three who is facing an existential crisis, and befriends her babysitter and begins to find herself again. Looks like another compelling Theron performance.
#28
Bad Samaritan
May 4
A poor valet robs the homes of the rich people he drives for, and during one robbery comes upon a captive woman. He calls the police, and draws the attention of the psychotic home owner ("Dr. Who" star David Tennant), and a dangerous cat-and-mouse game ensues. Looks to be a promising horror-thriller.
#27
Adrift
June 1
At first I thought this would be just another cheesy romantic comedy, but then the drama hits hard and the film turns into a thrilling true-life story of survival. Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin star as a couple who go sailing and come upon the biggest storm in the Pacific, and their harrowing journey of survival.
#26
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
June 8
Fred Rogers transformed television with his groundbreaking show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," a small-budget show focused on children that included surprisingly adult themes including divorce and racial diversity. Rogers' success stemmed from the fact that he never looked down on children, but related to them, and gave the world something to hope for. This documentary showcases his rise to popularity and how his show revolutionized the television landscape for decades to follow.
#25
Life of the Party
May 11
Melissa McCarthy is one of the best comedians out there today, even if she tends to stay to her generic stereotype of the middle-aged woman who wants to be a better person, she manages to play it off for laughs and pretty much succeeds every time. Here she plays a mother who decides to go back to college with her daughter, and hilarity ensues.
#24
Breaking In
May 11
Sure, it seems as generic as possible (if the ending is anything other than what I'm thinking, I'd be pleasantly shocked), but this still looks like a nail-biting thriller about a single mother who takes on a gang of robbers in order to save her kids. Gabrielle Union steps into a more adult-themed film as she showcases her action prowess as she uses all her wits and physicality to take down a group of bad guys, and looks very exciting.
#23
Skyscraper
July 13
Dwayne Johnson is this generation's big action star, and he definitely plays to his strengths - which are basically his huge rippling muscles. He did it once this year with "Rampage," and now he's set to take the summer by storm in "Skyscraper," which - to me - is reminiscent of "Die Hard." Here, he plays a security man who must stop a gang of bad guys who are planning on taking over the biggest building in the world - that just so happens to also be the place his family lives. Expect fun over-the-top action, cheesy one-liners, and Dwayne Johnson doing what Dwayne Johnson does best.
#22
Action Point
June 1
It will be interesting to see if the antics of the "Jackass" crew can be maintained sixteen years after the series ended. "Bad Grandpa" was a surprise hit, so this could also draw in a crowd who likes seeing people hurting themselves in insane, over-the-top antics. Johnny Knoxville (who is now nearing 50) stars as a man who tries to keep his amusement park open despite its many, many flaws, and is surprisingly based off an actual amusement park. The stunts are all real, with no help from CGI, which will definitely generate the realness they want to express, and it looks like an absolute hilarious hit.
#21
Tag
June 15
Based off a surprising true story, "Tag" focuses on a group of friends who play Tag every May, and one friend - played by Jeremy Renner - plans to retire after having never been tagged. So his friends set out to tag the untaggable, with hilarious results. Co-starring Jon Hamm, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Isla Fisher and Annabelle Wallis, "Tag" looks to be one of the better comedies of the summer.
#20
The Meg
August 10
I've been hearing about this movie since 2015, and it never bodes well when a movie has been in production for so long. The film centers on Jason Statham, who goes in search of the Megaldon - the world's largest shark. The shark itself looks impressive and makes Jaws appear as a guppy by comparison, and I still have hopes that the film will be decent.
#19
Hotel Artemis
June 8
With an all-star cast including Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Charlie Day, Jeff Goldblum and Dave Bautista, "Hotel Artemis" has a premise reminiscent of the Continental from "John Wick" - a hospital disguised as a hotel where the biggest criminals come to get healed using the most modern techniques imaginable. Yet, like the Continental, there are rules to follow, including no guns, and no killing of patients. This looks like a sleek, stylish thriller with an amazing pedigree of cast and interesting concept.
#18
The Spy Who Dumped Me
August 3
With a title that spoofs James Bond, expect "The Spy Who Dumped Me" to be an action-packed comedy with two of today's leading comediennes. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon star as two women on the run after Kunis's ex-boyfriend turns up again and reveals he's a CIA agent, and they have something the bad guys want. Looks to be a laugh riot with some great slapstick moments.
#17
The Equalizer 2
July 20
Denzel Washington is one of today's most powerful stars, a man who's big screen presence is something that cannot be denied - and yet he's never done a sequel. "The Equalizer 2" is the first sequel he appears in, and this time the trained killer returns to the field after the death of a longtime friend, and sets out to avenge her demise. Much like the first, expect a lot of action and another terrific performance by Washington.
#16
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
June 29
The first "Sicario" was a huge hit both commercially and critically, and made a name for Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the script. Now he returns for "Day of the Soldado," where he re-unites with Benicio del Toro as an undercover operative sent to incite a war between Mexican drug cartels with the help of CIA agent Matt Graver, played by Josh Brolin. Like the original, this looks to be an action-packed adventure with top-notch acting and storytelling, one that will probably be praised by critics and audiences alike.
#15
The First Purge
July 4
"The Purge" franchise has been a huge hit due mostly to its premise - for twelve hours once a year, all crime - including murder - is legal. It's supposed to help decrease the population and give the marginalized a way to express their anger, but it turned into a way for the wealthy to take advantage of them. Now the series goes full circle, centering on the first ever Purge, and how this social experiment was doomed from the start as a ragtag group of individuals band together to protect others. With today's political climate, it's no surprise they would focus on the first Purge, and releasing it on July 4th is a stroke of marketing genius.
#14
Christopher Robin
August 3
Growing up with "Winnie the Pooh," it's no surprise I'm extremely excited for this film. Christopher Robin has grown up and lost all sense of wonder and imagination, so it's up to his childhood friends to remind him of the important things in life. Pooh looks amazing (and also closer to his original iteration), and the effects look practical and believable. Jim Cummings even returns to voice the lovable bear, an extra nice touch that will help bring out the imagination of those who grew up with Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood pals.
#13
Under the Silver Lake
June 22
In a world populated by remakes, sequels, and films based off novels, it's always refreshing to find a wholly original piece, and that's "Under the Silver Lake" The A24 production company is one of the best out there, and it looks like they're producing another big hit. Andrew Garfield stars as a man who investigates the disappearance of his neighbor, and finds something even more deadly than he could've imagined. The trailer doesn't give a lot away, and it makes me want to see it all the more.
#12
Sorry to Bother You
July 6
Another bold original piece, "Sorry to Bother You" takes place in an alternate Oakland, where a young man (played by Lakeith Stanfield) finds a job in telemarketing and learns to adopt a "new voice" to propel him to the top. Co-starring Tessa Thompson, Danny Glover and Terry Crews, this looks to be an insightful, dark comedy with biting social commentary and a strong lead actor.
#11
Hot Summer Nights
July 27
Timothee Chalamet burst into the big screen with last year's "Call Me By Your Name," earning the young actor his first Academy Award nomination. Now he returns for "Hot Summer Nights," where he plays a kid who gets involved in selling weed in a small sleepy town. Combining Chalamet's natural talent with A24 production company, and you've got a surefire hit that will hit on all cylinders, giving a deeply emotional performance and raising the bar for summer drama films.
#10
The Darkest Minds
August 3
After a worldwide plague killed nearly all the teenagers, those that survived acquired superhuman abilities, and were hunted by the government. Now they band together to survive, and their leader is none other than Amandla Stenberg, who rose to fame as Rue from "The Hunger Games." Although this looks like an "X-Men" knockoff, I'm still excited to see it due to Stenberg's presence, which is a solid mixture of innocence and power, and looks to be an action-filled spectacle.
#9
Ocean's 8
June 8
The "Ocean's" series were huge hits due to the stellar acting caliber, highly cerebral story, and exciting heist capers. Now it's time for the women to take center stage, as "Ocean's 8" centers on Danny Ocean's sister (Sandra Bullock), as she plans on pulling off a major heist at the Met Gala. Expect cons within cons to occur, with every inch of frame being scrutinized to see if you could see the long con. The film also has a strong pedigree of stars including Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kahling, Awkwafina and Rihanna.
#8
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
July 27
Tom Cruise returns to the franchise that pretty much proves to be the only series where he can still make some money. In "Fallout," Ethan Hunt and company return to prevent a global catastrophe while being hunted by both the good and bad guys. Expect another action-filled adventure in a franchise that's actually gotten better with time, with a cast so adept to working together they almost feel like family.
#7
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
June 22
Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return to Jurassic World, as they find themselves in a race against time to save the dinosaurs before they're turned extinct again after the island is about to be destroyed. Despite lackluster previews, I'm still holding out hope that this sequel will keep the same magic that gave "Jurassic World" a worldwide phenomena, making it one of the highest grossing movies of all time.
#6
Hereditary
June 8
Last summer, "It Comes at Night" proved to be one of the best horror films ("Annabelle: Creation" was the other), and this summer looks like it will belong to "Hereditary." Toni Collette stars as a woman who just lost her mother, and finds an evil presence lurking in her house and haunting her and her teenage daughter - which could be connected to her mother's death. The trailer doesn't give a lot away, and makes me all the more excited to see what first-time director Ari Aster has up his sleeve.
#5
Solo: A Star Wars Story
May 25
Disney sure knows how to milk a cash cow, and since they've acquired the "Star Wars" franchise, they haven't let up on it. This saga tells the story of cinema's favorite rogue pilot, as we find out what made Han Solo the man he was. Despite a strong cast including Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover, the brunt of the film falls on relative newcomer Alden Ehrenreich, and after hearing news that director Ron Howard had to hire an acting coach to teach him how to act like Harrison Ford, I have mild trepidations about the film - but still, it's "Star Wars!"
#4
The Incredibles 2
June 15
When the first "Incredibles" was released, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was something not even dreamed of, the cinema wasn't saturated with superhero films, and hardly anyone thought a film about a superhero family would work. Not only did it work, it served as the springboard for the superhero films that followed it, and it'll be interesting how they adapt to the new world they helped create. Pixar hardly does a bad film (looking your way "Cars 2"), so I have no doubt this will also be a massive hit that will blend the superhero genre with classic Bond-like vibes like the first film did.
#3
Ant-Man and the Wasp
July 6
The first "Ant-Man" was a huge hit for Marvel, due to the heist-movie feel and especially the charisma of lead actor Paul Rudd. At the end of the movie, Evangeline Lilly's Hope van Dyne finds the Wasp costume, and comments "it's about time." The time is now, and now we finally get to see a female superhero center stage for Marvel, as Ant-Man and the Wasp work together to stop the super-villain Ghost. It'll be interesting to see how this film ties in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole, since "Infinity War" came out before, and I'm very excited to see how they pull it off.
#2
Deadpool 2
May 18
Everyone's favorite anti-hero returns for a second outing, as Ryan Reynolds (who was practically born to wear that red spandex) returns as Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth who forms a task force to combat Cable - a time traveling jerk who comes to kill a kid. The first film was a surprise hit (mostly due to the first superhero movie to be rated R), and I don't expect this one to be any different - filled with over-the-top action, gratuitous humor, and Ryan Reynolds doing what he does best.
#1
Avengers: Infinity War
April 27
Summer comes early, and delivers quite possibly the biggest hit of the year with "Infinity War," a film ten years - and eighteen films - in the making. When the Mad Titan Thanos goes in search of the Infinity Stones that will help him eliminate half the universe, it takes the combined efforts of all the Avengers to stop him. Featuring an unprecedented cast and a budget out of this world, "Infinity War" will undoubtedly be the biggest undertaking in cinematic history.
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