2016 Summer Movie Preview

With all the hysteria surrounding Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it’s a reminder that Summer movie season is upon us. It’s tough sometimes to decide which films are worth your hard earned dollars. Maybe you have your mind made up, perhaps you don’t even know what’s coming for you when the mercury rises. Here’s a little look at some summer movies that will sink, soar, or surprise audiences:

Five Movies That Will Soar at the Summer Box-Office:

1.The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book is the type of Disney movie that will appeal to all ages. Jon Favreau has a tremendous directorial record. His films have already amassed $963 million in ticket revenue at the box-office, and that track record will continue this summer as The Jungle Book hit theaters. The special effects and an A-list cast that includes the voices of Bill Murray and Idris Elba make The Jungle Book’s an easy call. It (unofficially) kicks off the summer movie season April 15th.

2. Captain America: Civil War

Marvel is adapting one of the most infamous stories in the Marvel Universe. With promises of a surprising ending and captivating fight sequences, this movie should make a bajillion bucks this summer. On name recognition alone, people will be drawn to this film, and seeing two iconic comic book characters leading teams into battle will make this a hot ticket item. Captain America: Civil War opens up May 6th.

3. Finding Dory

People cannot fully grasp how big a deal Finding Dory is going to be this summer. Remember, Finding Nemo made $936 million in ticket revenue worldwide. Plus, Ellen Degeneres will more than likely use her TV Show to help push the film, which will certainly draw an even wider audience to the theater. Nemo brought in plenty of families to the cinema, and there’s no doubt the forgettable blue fish will do so the same. Finding Dory opens up June 17th.

4. Jason Bourne

Matt Damon returns with Paul Greengrass directing. I’m in, and most of America will be in as well. Matt Damon has mass appeal and generates ticket sales. According to Box-Office Mojo, the three Bourne movies with Matt Damon have made a whopping $623 million in ticket sales. Once it was evident The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner taking over the lead had no mass appeal, it was only a matter of time before Matt Damon would return to the role and with it the promise of box-office success. Jason Bourne returns to theaters on July 29th.

5. Suicide Squad

While the world is still taking its shots at Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, waiting in the wings is the truly “original” adaptation of Suicide Squad. David Ayer is in the driver’s seat of a picture that focuses on a group of supervillains assembled in the hopes of saving the world. The cast – Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, and Viola Davis (to name a few) are ready to introduce the world to a different type of superhero. Suicide Squad opens August 5th.

Five Movies That Will Suffer At The Summer Box-Office

1. The Legend Of Tarzan

No one will argue that The Legend Of Tarzan doesn’t look cool. I’m just not sure where the audience for this movie is going to come from. Is there a massive groundswell of people who want to see another attempt at making Tarzan? It’s also slated to go up against the BFG and The Secret Life Of Pets the week of its release, which means it’s either going to be a three-film race for #1 that week at the box-office, or one will is going to perform poorly. And I’m betting it’s the one that kids won’t be clamoring to see. The Legend Of Tarzan opens on July 1st.

2. Star Trek Beyond

With word that this movie is undergoing reshoots and adding cast members, Star Trek Beyond has all the potential of being quite an epic failure for this franchise. Maybe J.J. backed away because he knew that Star Trek could only go so far? Star Trek Beyond opens up July 22nd.

3. X-Men: Apocalypse

X-Men: Apocalypse will continue the growing trend of X-Men films underperforming at the box-office. While 20th Century Fox has visions of a repeat of Deadpool’s ticket sales, they really will be lucky if they are in the top 10 this summer. X-Men: Apocalypse will be released weeks after Captain America: Civil War and to be honest the hysteria from Captain America will be still in high gear thus taking away from X-Men Apocalypses bottom line. It opens up May 27th. 

4. Alice Through The Looking Glass

While I understand why this movie was made (Alice In Wonderland made almost a billion dollars domestically), people won’t be drawn to this film the same way the were with the first one. This movie will be proof that when you go to particular source material too much, eventually you get burned. Plus it’s being released the same weekend as X-Men: Apocalypse and mere weeks after Captain America: Civil War. This log-jam at the box-office will certainly benefit some films and not others. Plus, society is collectively tired of Johnny Depp, right?

5. Sausage Party

I can’t see a scenario where this movie will make money. The market for this film is too narrow. This film is destined for DVD sooner rather than later, where it will most certainly find a cult following. Sausage Party will be released August 12th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBdeE7mzED4

Five Movies That Will Exceed Expectations At The Summer Box-Office

1. Money Monster

George Clooney and Julia Roberts star in a movie that deals with how corrupt our financial institutions are. Jodi Foster is a great director and with this type of cast and thrillers with political leanings; it’s destined for success. Don’t let the May 17th release date fool you; this film has the potential to have staying power throughout the summer.

2. Free State Of Jones

Matthew McConaughey in a film that involves explosions and dramatic speeches (Cha-Ching). He’s a box-office draw period. This film opens up June 24th.

3. Ghostbusters

For all the negativity this film is drawing, one thing people have to remember is that Paul Feig knows how to write comedy. According to boxofficemojo.com, Paul Feig movies have grossed $498 million in ticket sales and have averaged $124 million domestically. There will be a core group of people who see this film for nostalgia reasons as well as a nucleus of individuals who will see it supporting the idea of an all-female cast. Sony wouldn’t have trusted this beloved franchise with someone who they didn’t have faith in or hasn’t produced results. Paul Feig, Leslie Jones, and the rest of the cast will be laughing when this film far exceeds the diminished expectations it currently has. Ghostbusters opens up July 15th.

4. BFG

Every child from about third grade on has read the BFG. Kids will be drawn to this film and their parents as well. It’s got the Disney behind it and to enhance matters, it has one of the greatest directors of all time in Steven Speilberg.

5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows – While the idea of a second TMNT movie certainly makes me want to punch a wall, there is no denying how popular these films are. The reboot of TMNT made $194 million at the box-office. In the sequel, we not only can confirm The Shredder is back, but we know that Bebop and Rocksteady along with Krang are joining in the fray. This film hits theaters June 3rd.

Five predictions about the summer box-office

1.Money Monster will finish in the top ten for box-office ticket sales this summer.

2.Independence Day 2: Resurgence will prove how big a draw Will Smith was to Independence Day as the sequel will fail to finish in the Top 10 this summer.

3.The biggest flop this summer will be Star Trek Beyond.

4.Ghostbusters will finish in the Top 10 of box-office ticket sales this summer.

5.The #1 movie this summer will be Finding Dory.