Sizzlin’ Summer Movie Preview

Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road. Courtesy Warner Bros. Entertainment

Take a look at some of the bigger movies coming to theaters this summer.

MAY

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Starring: Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron
Directed by: George Miller
Rated: R
In theaters: May 15
Tom Hardy is a man’s man. When he acts, he does so with an unmatched charisma, stealing every movie in which he stars. Put him together with a reimagining of one of action’s most revered characters, Mad Max, and you have a recipe for brilliance.

TOMORROWLAND

Starring: George Clooney and Britt Robertson
Directed by: Brad Bird
Rated: PG
In theaters: May 22
Tomorrowland centers on an optimistic, curious teen who finds a pin that transports her to a land somewhere between time and space. There’s a Spielberg-ian vibe to the trailers, which isn’t a bad thing There’s no such thing as too much George Clooney, either.

Fun fact: Brad Bird turned down the new Star Wars to do Tomorrowland.

JUNE

SPY

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham and Jude Law
Directed by: Paul Feig
Rated: R
In theaters: June 5
Melissa McCarthy re-teams with Bridesmaids and The Heat director Paul Feig for an action farce. Early reviews are calling this a return to form for McCarthy; they also credit action star Jason Statham for some of the movie’s biggest laughs.

JURASSIC WORLD

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Vincent D’Onofrio
Directed by: Colin Treverrow
Rated: PG-13
In theaters: June 12
“The park is open,” according to the tagline for the fourth film in the Jurassic Park series. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) will try to save guests of the theme park from a new dinosaur. Universal is gambling big on little-known director Colin Treverrow, who impressed critics with the indie sci-fi/comedy Safety Not Guaranteed.

Fun fact: Jurassic World was shot nearby in New Orleans.

JULY

MAGIC MIKE XXL

Starring: Channing Tatum and Joe Manganiello
Directed by: Gregory Jacobs
Rated: R
In theaters: July 1
The hottest month of the year deserves the hottest film of the year. Channing Tatum returns for Magic Mike XXL, a sequel to the 2012 hit drama/comedy. It really doesn’t matter what the plot is, right? All you’re worried about is if Tatum takes off his shirt and dances. And yes, he will.

TRAINWRECK

Starring: Amy Schumer and Bill Hader
Directed by: Judd Apatow
Rated: R
In theaters: July 17
Comedian Amy Schumer stars as a career woman who has trouble committing until she meets good guy Bill Hader. If Apatow can keep his self-referential self out of the way of Schumer, this could be the summer’s funniest film.

AUGUST

MASTERMINDS

Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis
Directed by: Jared Hess
Rating: Not yet rated
In theaters: Aug. 7
This crime comedy is based on the true story of one of the biggest bank heists in America. Jody Hill and Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down) are co-writers on the script. All signs point to this being a reminder of how good these actors can be.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Starring: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Keith Stanfield and Paul Giamatti
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Rating: Not yet rated
In theaters: Aug. 14
The time was the ’80s. The sound was something the world hadn’t heard. The group was N.W.A., and toward the end of this summer, they will be the focus of a biopic that feels oddly relevant for modern times.

SEQUELS AND TENTPOLES

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America are back for the sequel to 2012’s biggest film. Here, the Marvel supergroup goes up against the villain Ultron (voiced by James Spader). PG-13. May 1.

TED 2
Oh great, here’s another Seth MacFarlane film about that foul-mouthed teddy bear. You guys did it to yourselves! Not yet rated. June 26.

TERMINATOR: GENISYS
Ahnuld returns for the fifth Terminator film, which features more people trying to stop “Judgment Day.” Not yet rated. July 1.

ANT-MAN
One of the more interesting projects on Marvel’s radar is this flick starring Paul Rudd as the hero who can shrink in size but increase in strength. Not yet rated. July 17.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION
Tom Cruise will be 70 years old and still doing Mission: Impossible movies, which are now nothing more than extra-long chase scenes. Not yet rated. July 31.

FANTASTIC FOUR
Josh Trank (Chronicle) shot and directed this Marvel comics reboot in Baton Rouge. We’re seriously hoping this is good. Please be good! No pressure. Not yet rated. Aug. 7.

OFF THE RADAR

These non-blockbusters are already generating buzz. Don’t sleep on them.

GOOD KILL
Ethan Hawke stars as a drone pilot in Andrew Niccol’s latest political thriller. Early reviews are calling this an unsettling, timely drama. R. May 15.

MAGGIE
In this horror drama, Abigail Breslin stars as a young girl who turns into a zombie. Her father is played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in a rare, dramatic turn. This looks promising. PG-13. May 22.

LOVE & MERCY
John Cusack and Paul Dano star as Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson. PG-13. June 5.

SOUTHPAW
Jake Gyllenhall, the most underrated actor out there right now, plays a boxer in this drama. Not yet rated. July 31.