Worst2First: My Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2022

 

Worst2First:
My Most Anticipated Films of Summer 2022

As it happens every year, summer brings out the blockbusters and the family-friendly films in droves, with numerous franchise-continuing movies, Marvel products, horror, and even some interesting smaller films hitting the big screen, and here are the ten I'm most excited to see.

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
**DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

#10

The Black Phone

June 24

One of those films that was moved a few times due to the pandemic and then other unknown reasons, "The Black Phone" will finally hit theaters in June, and looks to be a thrilling kidnapping adventure from the director of "Sinister," which was scientifically proven to be the scariest movie ever made (although I disagree greatly). The film stars Ethan Hawke as a man who's kidnapped and murdered children. The latest child he's kidnapped, however, has some help to escape - the ghosts of the kids that Hawke's character killed before, who give him the information he needs to escape. On top of that, the child's sister has psychic dreams of the location of the home, which makes it look like a very predictable, and almost all-too-easily solved horror film where you probably see everything you need to in the trailer to devoid the chance of any shocks or surprises.

#9

Firestarter

May 13
Also Streaming on Peacock

Based off one of Stephen King's novels, "Firestarter" was a film released in 1984 and starred a young Drew Barrymore as Charlie McGee, a young girl who develops pyrokinesis (allowing her to control and create fire with her mind) and who is sought by a dark government agency to use for their own nefarious purposes. No one asked for a remake, but Blumhouse (which has a less-than-stellar rapport with horror) decided to make a remake anyway, and honestly it doesn't seem all that appealing, especially after the memorable original. This one features Zac Efron as the father of Charlie (played by newcomer Ryan Kiera Armstrong), who discovers she can manipulate and create fire with her mind. While trying to harness her power, she's hunted by a dark government agency to use for their own nefarious purposes...as it is with most remakes, the original will probably be better, but maybe this one will surprise me.

#8

Minions: The Rise of Gru

July 1

The "Despicable Me" and "Minions" franchise has garnered millions of dollars worldwide, and made household names of the lovably evil yellow Minions, especially the trio of Kevin, Stuart, and Bob - despite their language not making a lick of sense, their nonsensical words are matched only by their hilarious slapstick comedy. "The Rise of Gru" is the second "Minions" movie taking place before the "Despicable Me" films, and finds a young Gru (voiced again by the amazing Steve Carell) wanting to be a part of his favorite villainous team, the Vicious 6. Having bombed the interview, he tries to prove he's the baddest baddie around by stealing their stone, enlisting the help of his Minions to escape, but ultimately getting nabbed by the bad guys, leaving his rescue in the hands of his bumbling Minions. Featuring an amazing voice cast including Carell, Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh, RZA, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Lucy Lawless, Dolph Lundren, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews and Alan Arkin, this looks to be another laugh-out-loud animated film that kids and adults alike can enjoy.

#7

Top Gun: Maverick

May 27

Proving the need for speed is never quenched, Tom Cruise climbs back in the pilots' chair over thirty years after the success of the iconic "Top Gun." Returning to train a new crew of Top Gun graduates - including the son of his former friend Goose - Maverick has to learn to be a leader and shape and mold the new recruits as they face a deadly threat. Another film that was delayed time and again, "Maverick" looks to be a thrilling action-in-the-sky movie featuring Tom Cruise (once again doing his own stunts) flying real planes, relying more on stunt flying than weak computer generated effects with exciting dogfits in the sky.

#6

The Bob's Burgers Movie

May 27

"Bob's Burgers" is one of the most hilarious, smartly written adult animated television series out there, led by the impeccable voice acting of the great H. Jon Benjamin, and it was only a matter of time before the iconic series found its way to the big screen. Other adult animated series that have made their way to the big screen have been met with huge success - "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut" was Oscar-nominated, and "The Simpsons Movie" grossed over $536 million dollars worldwide. "The Bob's Burgers Movie" finds the lovable Belcher family facing hardships as their home could be foreclosed on, while a water main break in front of their store prevents the foot traffic needed to get the funds. The younger Belcher children also embark on their own adventure to save the restaurant, and the whole thing looks to be a comedic tour-de-force filled with the humor and heart the series is best known for.

#5

Men

May 20

From Alex Garland - the writer and director of acclaimed science-fiction films "Ex Machina" and "Annihilation" - seems to take his turn at psychological horror with "Men," starring recent Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley. Not a lot is known about the film, even with its unique trailer, and that's what makes me want to see it more. From the looks of things, Buckley's character goes on a vacation following the suicide of her husband, and finds that the men of the town are stalking her for some reason. Of course I could be completely off base, but I love it when a trailer doesn't give away every detail (see "The Black Phone") and makes you wonder what you're about to go into - but for sure, it looks to be a scary good time.

#4

Nope

July 22

Jordan Peele has proven he has a knack for delivering unique, fascinating horror films with just two under his belt - "Get Out" (which earned Peele an Academy Award for Original Screenplay) and "Us," already cementing him as one of the best horror directors of our time. "Nope" is his long-awaited follow-up, and looks to be centering around an alien invasion of some sort, but with Peele there's always something more under the surface. Co-starring Daniel Kaluuya (reuniting with Peele after his Oscar-nominated performance in "Get Out"), Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun, "Nope" - a possible acronym for "Not Of Planet Earth" - looks to be a thoughtfully terrifying tale featuring Peele's underlying social commentary.

#3

Jurassic World: Dominion

June 10

The long-running "Jurassic Park/Word" franchise has served up major blockbusters and memorable films, all culminating in the conclusion to the Jurassic Era - "Dominion." Set four years after dinosaurs have been able to roam the world freely, the film focuses on who is really the dominant species - humans, or the towering dinos that could easily devour them. 2022 is the year of Legacy films, and "Dominion" is no different, as it not only features returning "Jurassic World" stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, but also the original "Jurassic Park" trio of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum as their iconic characters who return to help solve the ultimate question: can dinosaurs and humans co-exist in the same world? It's already looking like a big "no."

#2

Thor: Love and Thunder

July 8

Chris Hemsworth returns for his fourth solo film (the first of any Avenger) in "Thor: Love and Thunder," once again directed by "Ragnarok" director Taika Waititi. This time around, Thor decides to turn in Stormbreaker for a life of peace, but of course things never go according to plan. Christian Bale joins the MCU as the villainous Gorr the God Butcher who, living up to his name, sets out to kill all the gods. Thor reunites with Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie and Waititi's Korg - along with the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, who has now become the Mighty Thor - to stop him. This looks about as great as "Ragnarok" with Waititi's unique blend of cinematic storytelling with his humor, and will easily be a huge massive success due to the franchise's record.

#1

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

May 6

There hasn't been a film since "Spider-Man: No Way Home" that's been more anticipated than "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," and with good reason. Benedict Cumberbatch returns as the titular Doctor who must save the universe - and multiple universes - from a threat that could destroy everything. This time he's not alone, as he's enlisted the help of Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch and Benedict Wong's Wong - along with newcomer Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez as they traverse the multiverse and run into numerous cameos of other characters along the way. Looking to be more than just fan service, Sam Raimi's "Multiverse of Madness" is the MCU's first soiree into horror cinema, and looks to be another Marvel action spectacle set on a multiversal level.