Summer movie guide: New 'Avengers,' 'Deadpool,' 'Mamma Mia,' 'Jurassic World' and more
Chris Foran
Summer's no longer the only time of year that the movies are filled with superheroes.
But this summer, Hollywood seems determined to double down.
After starting 2018 with "Black Panther" — at two-thirds of a billion dollars, already the third-highest grossing movie of all time — Marvel sees the heroes of Wakanda and raises them with just about everybody else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for "Avengers: Infinity War," the first of two movies designed to ring out the first Marvel movie-verse and ring in a new one.
"Infinity War" is already set to meet or beat "Black Panther's" $200 million opening weekend when it hits theaters April 27.
While there are plenty of superheroes coming to the movies this summer — there are at least three more Marvel and DC movies on the way, as well as the costumed types in Pixar's "Incredibles" sequel — not all of them wear capes or masks.
There's also Ron Stallworth, the African-American detective who managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan in Spike Lee's based-on-an-incredible-true-story drama "BlacKkKlansman," opening Aug. 10. And Fred Rogers, whose inspirational story and still-valuable life lessons are the focus of a new documentary due in June, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
RELATED:Milwaukee Film will close the Oriental Theatre in July to add restrooms, better projection
Here's a calendar of the movies opening in theaters in Milwaukee between April 27 and Labor Day, with the dates they're debuting locally. Speaking of dates: They are subject to change, especially for anything that doesn't have a Happy Meal toy deal or an action figure.
April 27
"Avengers: Infinity War" Marvel's mightiest heroes — joined by the Black Panther, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and scores more — assemble to take on Thanos, a demigod out to wipe out half the universe.
"Kings" Amid the rioting after the Rodney King verdict, a no-nonsense foster mom (Halle Berry) seeks help from her white neighbor (Daniel Craig) in keeping her kids safe.
"Lean on Pete" A teenager bonds with an aging racehorse and, when, the latter is threatened, takes the animal on the road trip to freedom for them both. With Steve Buscemi, Charlie Plummer, Chloe Sevigny.
May 4
"Bad Samaritan" Breaking into a rich man's home, a thief finds a woman being held captive. Thriller with David Tennant.
"Disobedience" When her estranged rabbi father dies, a woman returns to the Orthodox Jewish community she grew up in and stirs up old feelings — and conflicts. With Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola, directed by Sebastián Lelio ("A Fantastic Woman").
"Overboard" A woman struggling to make ends meet poses as the wife of a spoiled man with amnesia. Remake of 1987 Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell comedy, with Anna Faris, Eugenio Derbez.
"Tully" An overwhelmed mother of three receives an unexpected gift — the services of a young nanny. From the writer-director team behind "Juno," with Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis.
May 11
"Breaking In" Gabrielle Union as a mother who will stop at nothing to rescue her two children, being held hostage in a house with excessive amounts of security.
"Life of the Party" When her husband dumps her, a housewife (Melissa McCarthy) goes back to college to finish her degree — and winds up in the same school with her daughter.
"The Rider" A rodeo rider tries to find his identity after a near-fatal head injury seemingly bars him from competition.
May 18
"Book Club" After reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" in their book club, four older women decide to spice up their love lives. With Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Don Johnson, Richard Dreyfuss, Andy Garcia, Craig T. Nelson.
"Deadpool 2" The foulmouthed, can't-be-killed antihero is back, this time squaring off against a killer from the future named Cable. Dark and dirty Marvel movie with Ryan Reynolds back as Deadpool, Josh Brolin as Cable.
"RBG" Documentary profiles increasingly candid Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
"Show Dogs" Live-action comedy about a police dog that goes undercover at a dog show (with reluctant help from his human handler, played by Will Arnett).
May 25
"Beast" A girl in a small English town falls hard for her protector, a weapon-toting loner suspected of being a serial killer.
"On Chesil Beach" A young couple's wedding night doesn't go as planned, and it has repercussions for the rest of their lives. Drama based on Ian McEwan's novel, with Saoirse Ronan, Billy Howle.
"Solo: A Star Wars Story" A portrait of the action hero as a young hustler, in a standalone prequel with Alden Ehrenreich as young Han Solo, Donald Glover as young Lando Calrissian, Woody Harrelson as Han's criminal mentor.
June 1
"Action Point" When a fancy new theme park threatens his business, the owner of a rickety amusement park (Johnny Knoxville) turns his place into a no-rules, no-safety-requirements attraction.
"Adrift" A young couple land a sweet gig, piloting a sailboat across the ocean, only to get caught up in a mega-hurricane. Survival drama based on a true story, with Shailene Woodley.
June 8
"Hereditary" Horror movie about a family haunted by unseen forces that might be rooted in their ancestors. With Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro.
"Hotel Artemis" In 2028 Los Angeles, a hospital that caters only to criminals finds itself under siege when thieves make off with the wrong prize. Sci-fi/action with Sterling K. Brown, Jodie Foster, Dave Bautista, Jeff Goldblum.
"Ocean’s 8" Danny Ocean's heist-minded sister, played by Sandra Bullock, sets her sights on some jewels at the Met Gala, with help from a seven-woman team including Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling and more in this reboot of the crime-crew franchise.
"The Seagull" An adaptation of Chekhov's drama of romance and tragedy, with Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Annette Bening, Corey Stoll.
June 15
"Hearts Beat Loud" In the summer before she heads off to college, a daughter forms an unlikely songwriting team with her father. Indie music drama with Nick Offerman, Kiersey Clemons.
"The Incredibles 2" Long-awaited sequel to the 2004 Pixar hit about a family of superheroes.
"Superfly" Reboot of the 1972 blaxploitation classic, relocated from Harlem to Atlanta.
"Tag" A group of longtime friends engages in a game of tag that spans decades. Comedy (allegedly based on a true story) with Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson, Hannibal Buress.
June 22
"Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard go back to the special-effects-filled island — this time, to save the remaining dinosaurs there from being wiped out by a volcano.
June 29
"The Hustle" Remake of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," with Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson as con artists competing for a victim.
"Sicario: Day of the Soldado" As the drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border intensifies, a federal agent (Josh Brolin) reunites with a ruthless lawman (Benicio Del Toro) to get it done by any means necessary.
"Uncle Drew" To win New York's Rucker Classic street basketball tournament, a hustler recruits an aging legendary player, who brings his old teammates to the court. Comedy starring pro greats Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson and Lisa Leslie — all playing senior citizens.
July 4
"The First Purge" Horror prequel sets out to explain how we got to the Purge in the first place. (Spoiler: It wasn't pretty.)
"Under the Silver Lake" After the girl next door disappears, an aimless guy becomes obsessed with unraveling what he's convinced is a conspiracy. Thriller with Andrew Garfield, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell ("It Follows").
July 6
"Ant-Man and the Wasp" Paul Rudd is back as Marvel's tiniest superhero, this time teaming up with Evangeline Lilly, who dons a superhero costume of her own as the Wasp. Michael Douglas returns as her father and the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym.
July 13
"Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" Drac and friends and family go on a cruise in this animated sequel.
"Skyscraper" Dwayne Johnson saves the world again, this time as a war veteran and security expert framed for a fire in the world's tallest building.
July 20
"Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot" Biopic of cartoonist John Callahan, a quadriplegic whose challenging and dark work reflected his difficult road to sobriety and acceptance. Directed by Gus Van Sant, with Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black.
"The Equalizer 2" Denzel Washington is back as Robert McCall, an agent of vengeance for hire.
"Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" In the sequel/prequel to the hit musical, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) learns about her mother's past (Meryl Streep, played in flashbacks by Lily James). With most of the original cast plus Cher, as Streep's mother.
July 27
"Mission: Impossible — Fallout" After a mission goes bad, Ethan (Tom Cruise) and friends are on the run to stop it from getting even worse. With "Rogue Nation" director Christopher McQuarrie and the rest of the cast returning, joined by Henry Cavill and Angela Bassett as agents out to stop them.
"Teen Titans Go! To the Movies" The anime-styled DC animated series gets the big-screen treatment — joined by Nicolas Cage as the voice of Superman.
Aug. 3
"The Darkest Minds" When people under age 18 begin developing special powers and are rounded up, some escape, resist and rebel. Sci-fi thriller based on a young-adult novel, from the producers of "Stranger Things."
"Christopher Robin" Ewen McGregor plays a grown-up Christopher Robin, who when he finds himself at the end of his rope gets help from an unlikely source — his childhood friend, Winnie-the-Pooh. Directed by Marc Forster.
"Mile 22" Mark Wahlberg plays an intelligence officer trying to smuggle an officer with sensitive information out of the country.
"Searching" When his teenage daughter disappears, a father breaks into her laptop looking for clues. John Cho plays the father in this thriller, shown solely on computer screens.
"The Spy Who Dumped Me" After her boyfriend leaves her, a woman (Mila Kunis) finds out her ex is in the CIA — and his enemies are after her and her best friend (Kate McKinnon) — in this action comedy.
Aug. 10
"A.X.L." A boy's life is changed when he's exposed to some pretty high-tech tech.
"BlacKkKlansman" Spike Lee's drama, based on the true story of an African-American police officer who not only infiltrated a Ku Klux Klan chapter but became the head of it. With John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace.
"Dog Days" A group of people in Los Angeles crosses paths thanks to their pets.
"The Meg" An oceanographic crew runs into a giant prehistoric shark. Luckily, they have Jason Statham on their side.
Aug. 17
"Alpha" In a story set 20,000 years ago, a young warrior-to-be left for dead survives with help from an unlikely ally — a wolf.
"Captive State" Sci-fi thriller about life in Chicago a decade after occupation by extraterrestrials.
"Crazy Rich Asians" Adaptation of the acclaimed novel about a big Chinese wedding, with Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh.
"The Happytime Murders" In a world where puppets co-exist with humans (though not on equal terms), a puppet detective investigates the murders of members of the cast of a popular 1980s puppet TV show. With a voice cast including Elizabeth Banks, Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta.
"Three Seconds" An ex-convict now working as an undercover cop returns to prison to infiltrate the mob. With Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike.
Aug. 24
"Papillon" Remake of the 1973 movie about an unlikely friendship between two escape-obsessed prisoners on Devil's Island. With Charlie Hunnam, Rami Malek.
"Replicas" A scientist (Keanu Reeves) will do anything to bring back to the life family he lost in a car crash.
"Slender Man" Horror movie inspired by the internet boogeyman, not the Waukesha County Slenderman stabbing case (although it's clearly designed to capitalize on the latter).
Aug. 31
"Kin" A vengeful criminal has a pair of brothers on the run. Dystopian thriller with James Franco, Zoe Kravitz, Carrie Coon, Dennis Quaid.
Coming soon to a theater near you (we hope)
Some of this summer's most anticipated movies still don't have specific Milwaukee release dates, but they should be here before the leaves fall. Among them:
"Pope Francis — A Man of His Word" Documentary on the charismatic leader of the Catholic Church. (May)
"First Reformed" Ethan Hawke as a new priest, facing temptation and challenges to his faith in a drama directed by Paul Schrader. (May)
"Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" The life and continuing relevancy of Fred Rogers, TV's Mister Rogers, is the focus of a new documentary by Oscar winner Morgan Neville ("Twenty Feet From Stardom"). (June)
"Sorry to Bother You" Writer-director Boots Riley's comedy about an African-American telemarketer (Lakeith Stanfield) who makes it big by sounding white. With Tessa Thompson, Armie Hammer. (July)
"Eighth Grade" An eighth-grade girl tries to survive the slings and arrows of middle school in a coming-of-age Sundance hit written and directed by stand-up comic Bo Burnham (July)
"Blindspotting" Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal co-wrote and star in a comedy about race and class set in a gentrifying Oakland, Calif. (August)
