Summer Movies 2024! Inside Out 2, Furiosa, Stars, Comic Books, Sequels and Surprising Indies

Big stars, big budgets, big crashes and explosions, and big sequels! Summer movies 2024 are going to make audiences very happy. And, as always, what I look forward to most is the ones we don’t even know about yet, the ones that will surprise us, the stars we don’t know about yet.

Here are some I am especially looking forward to (note: release dates may shift):

Sequels, Prequels, and Remakes!

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24)

As its title makes clear, this is part of George Miller’s post-apocalyptic “Mad Max” series that began with 1979’s “Mad Max.” In 2015, “Mad Max: Fury Road” starred Charlize Theron as Furiosa, who rescued a group of captive women from a warlord. This chapter gives us Anya Taylor-Joy as the young Furiosa, so we can see how she became such a warrior.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (June 7)

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back for another action-comedy about the popular buddy cops. Expect quips combined with chases and shoot-outs.

A Quiet Place: Day One (June 28)

Writer/director John Kraskinski has scared us twice with his films about a post-apocalyptic time when blind creatures with extremely sensitive hearing are killing humans. In between covering your eyes and stifling your screams, did you ever wonder how this who thing began? Here’s your answer.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (July 3)

Get ready for Chapter 4 in the saga of the irrepressible cop from Detroit who shakes things up in LA. Eddie Murphy has owned that role since the 1984 original, and we’re looking forward to seeing him reunited with his friends played by Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. We’re also looking forward to the always-great Taylour Paige as Foley’s daughter. And as the bad guy: Kevin Bacon!

Twisters (July 19)

If you remember anything about the 1996 film about storm chasers, it’s probably the flying cow. This updated version is expected to factor in climate change as one aspect being studied by the scientists. The cast includes fast-rising star Glen Powell along with Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos, and we expect they will try to get an updated “Dorothy” mechanism inside the twister to provide new data.

Alien: Romulus (August 16)

Both a prequel and a sequel — this one is set between the 1979 original and the first sequel. “Priscilla’s” Cailee Spaeny and Isabela Merced star.

Family Fun

IF (May 17)

IF stands for Imaginary Friend. What happens to these creatures when the children who imagine them outgrow them? Writer/director John Krasinski’s second film this summer looks like a family charmer with the starriest cast of the year, including Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Jon Stewart, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Meloni, Richard Jenkins, Bobby Moynihan, and everyone’s favorite utility infielder for voice talent, Awkwafina.

Inside Out 2 (June 14)

The first “Inside Out” was one of those most insightful films about growing up and about emotions of any film, for any age. It helped us understand the necessity of embracing sadness, while so many movies seem to suggest that we should strive only to feel happiness. Well, buckle up, because central character Riley is getting older and will have to find a way to integrate some more uncomfortable emotions, including anxiety.

Despicable Me 4 (July 3)

It’s been a long time since Gru was despicable, but, hey, Nick Charles wasn’t really a thin man. Gru is now happily married with a new baby in addition to the three girls he adopted in the first film. But did the new baby inherit his despicability? And what about a new villain, voiced by Will Ferrell?

More family movies this summer: “My Spy 2” with Dave Bautista, “Johnny Puff: Secret Mission” with Johnny Depp as a puffin superhero, and “The Garfield Movie” with Chris Pratt as the lasagna-loving feline.

For Grown-Ups

Hit Man (May 24)

Rocketing-to-stardom Glen Powell (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Anyone But You”) continues his ascent in this romance from Richard Linklater (“Boyhood,” “Everybody Wants Some!!, also with Powell).

Summer Camp (May 31)

I’m not much of a fan of these “let’s get a bunch of Oscar-winners from the 70s to play some adorable old people” movies. But I’m still hoping this one, about a summer camp reunion, starring Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton, Alfre Woodard, and Eugene Levy, will be as much fun as s’mores around a campfire.

Thelma (June 26)

The delightful June Squibb plays the title character, an older woman who has been scammed and is determined to get revenge.

The Space Cadet (July 4)

Emma Roberts plays a young woman who “embellishes” her resume to get into the astronaut program. Co-stars including the always great Gabrielle Union and the adorable Poppy Liu.

Murder Company (July 5)

In the midst of the D-Day invasion, a group of US soldiers are given orders to smuggle a member of the French resistance behind enemy lines to assassinate a high-value Nazi target.

Fly Me to the Moon (July 12)

A romance set in the early days of the space race stars Scarlett Johansson as a marketing specialist hired by NASA to get the American people more excited about rockets. Channing Tatum plays the man in charge of the mission.

Sing Sing (July 12)

Colman Domingo stars in the fact-based story of a group of men in prison who put on a show. Many of the other members of the cast are men who have been in those programs, along with Paul Raci, who won an Oscar for “Coda.”

Deadpool & Wolverine (July 26)

The title says it all. Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool’s two movies have essentially been dis tracks for trashing fellow Marvel superhero Wolverine. And probably only Reynolds could persuade Hugh Jackman to suit up with the adamantine claws again. Expect this one to be outrageous, meta, and a lot of fun.

It Ends With Us (August 9)

Colleen Hoover’s monumental best-seller comes to the screen with Blake Lively as a young florist who falls for a handsome doctor.

Trap (August 9)

There are guaranteed twists in the latest from M. Night Shyamalan, featuring his daughter Saleka as a hugely successful pop star. Josh Hartnett plays a dad thrilled to be bringing his daughter to hear her favorite performer. But…well watch the trailer.

The Union (August 16)

Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry star as a one-time couple who find themselves on the same side when she asks him to help her with a spy mission.