30+ movies we’re excited to see this summer, from ‘Barbie’ to ‘Spider-Man’
Plus: Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones, Jennifer Lawrence gets raunchy, and Wes Anderson meets aliens
By Odie Henderson Globe Staff, Updated May 19, 2023
Though summer hasn’t officially started, this month has already produced a couple of summer movie hits: “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3″ unofficially launched the season May 5, while the just-released “Fast X” is off to a running start.
Action star Vin Diesel’s latest ode to “fammmm’ly” is one of a number of sequels you can choose from between now and Labor Day. This summer brings, among other things, return appearances by sharks, Transformers, the unlucky couple from the “Insidious” horror series, Spider-Man, a CGI-altered Indiana Jones, and Denzel Washington’s super-violent Equalizer.
Not psyched about these sequels? Maybe a comedy will get you into the theater. Try a raunchy one, “No Hard Feelings,” featuring Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence taking a job to deflower a 19-year-old, soon-to-be college student. Or check out Robert De Niro in “About My Father,” meeting potential in-laws and embarrassing his onscreen adult son with his usual tough-guy act. If you miss Julia Louis-Dreyfus, you’ll find her in a new cringe comedy, “You Hurt My Feelings,” about the consequences of lying to one’s spouse.
Want a scary literary adaptation instead? Well, you’ve got new films based on works by Stephen King and Bram Stoker.
Disney fans, rejoice: There’s also a new Pixar film, “Elemental,” as well as a remake of “The Little Mermaid” featuring fresh songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
You know I’m a betting man, so I’m placing all my money on what I think will be the biggest movie of the summer: Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” Granted, we know very little about the plot, but Margot Robbie appears to be perfectly cast as Barbie. And how can one resist Ryan Gosling saying “hey girl, I’m Ken” with his eyes? You’ll have to wait until July 21 to see it. If it makes enough money, Hollywood might make my dream summer blockbuster, “Barbie vs. M3GAN.”
I reviewed the somewhat unsatisfying “Fast X,” which continues the franchise’s fusion of car chases and soap opera. I’ve also seen “The Little Mermaid,” “You Hurt My Feelings,” and the documentary “Being Mary Tyler Moore.”
Here’s what else is in store on screens large and small. Some dates are subject to change.
SEPT. 1
THE EQUALIZER 3 Denzel Washington is back for his third turn as avenger Robert McCall in Antoine Fuqua’s action series. Denzel plus extremely graphic violence equals box office success. Reunites Washington with Dakota Fanning, whom he defended with the same level of brutality in 2004′s “Man on Fire.”