The June Movie Preview

Summer time at the movies is always a big event – or it used to be before every season of the calendar year became another “blockbuster movie season.” Regardless, the summer months are still where movie studios prefer to release a lineup of big blockbuster releases – and it’s clear from the June lineup that it’s going to be a big month, indeed.

Read on for a look at the movies coming to theaters this month, including a highly-anticipated superhero movie (Wonder Woman), the obligatory franchise sequel (Transformers 5) and franchise reboot, and a few things for the kids (like Cars 3). There are also a couple of smaller genre picks, worth noting.

So, how many of the films in our June Movie Preview will you end up watching? Take another look at the options…

Wonder Woman

Release Date: June 2nd

The first major modern female superhero movie is arriving in theaters with a ton of hype and even more fan pressure weighing on its shoulders. After the divisive releases of DC Comics films Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad last year, fans are understandably jaded about how Wonder Woman turned out. 

The good news is Wonder Woman is a pretty awesome movie experience. That’s not just our opinion – as of now, it is the highest rated superhero movie in Rotten Tomatoes history. You can watch the video above for a quick review of the film, or read the full review by clicking the link, below. 

Wonder Woman also has nice user composite score – so be sure to Rate the film yourself by going HERE. 

READ: Full Wonder Woman Review

It Comes At Night

Release Date: June 9th

SYNOPSIS: Secure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, the tenuous domestic order he has established with his wife and son is put to the ultimate test with the arrival of a desperate young family seeking refuge. Despite the best intentions of both families, paranoia and mistrust boil over as the horrors outside creep ever-closer, awakening something hidden and monstrous within him as he learns that the protection of his family comes at the cost of his soul.

This horror film from Trey Edward Shults is gaining major buzz for its atmospheric tension – as well as its mysterious ominous threat. In many ways the film feels like the 2014 independent horror breakout, It Follows, which is plenty fine by us. 

For those looking for a good summer horror flick, this is a solid choice. 

The Mummy

Release Date: June 9th

Tom Cruise is usually good for a fun summer movie, and with The Mummy, he’s actually helping to kick off an entire Dark Universe of Universal monsters. 

A lot of movie fans are skeptical about this Mummy reboot, but it looks fun and frightening enough to be a pretty entertaining action/adventure experience. Helping sell the film is Russell Crowe, who will play another iconic monster: Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. 

With summer 2017 not offering much in the way of blockbuster horror, The Mummy and It Comes At Night will offer blockbuster and indie choices for fans, as they both hit theaters the same weekend. 

WATCH: The Mummy Trailer

Cars 3

Release Date: June 16th

SYNOPSIS: Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves. To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician with her own plan to win, inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet, and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

This third chapter of the Cars franchise seems especially dark, as it features a story about sports, aging, and how age effects both the performance and mentality of a pro athlete.

However, that’s a disturbing set of themes for the adults to contemplate in the theater; for the kids, it’s all about seeing those colorful fast cars go vroom! 

WATCH: Cars 3 Trailer

Transformers: The Last Knight

Release Date: June 23rd

SYNOPSIS: Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager, Bumblebee, an English Lord, and an Oxford Professor.

This is the fifty installment of Michael Bay’s Transformers movie franchise; by now, you know how you feel about the franchise, love it or hate it. There’s not much that will sway you about this fifth film, so see it if you want to….

WATCH: Latest Transformers 5 Trailer 

Okja

Release Date: June 28th (on Netflix)

SYNOPSIS: For 10 idyllic years, young Mija (An Seo Hyun) has been caretaker and constant companion to Okja-a massive animal and an even bigger friend-at her home in the mountains of South Korea. But that changes when a family-owned multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation takes Okja for themselves and transports her to New York, where image obsessed and self-promoting CEO Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton) has big plans for Mija’s dearest friend.

With no particular plan but single-minded in intent, Mija sets out on a rescue mission, but her already daunting journey quickly becomes more complicated when she crosses paths with disparate groups of capitalists, demonstrators and consumers, each battling to control the fate of Okja…while all Mija wants to do is bring her friend home. Deftly blending genres, humor, poignancy and drama, Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer, The Host) begins with the gentlest of premises-the bond between man and animal – and ultimately creates a distinct and layered vision of the world that addresses the animal inside us all.

This is the Netflix film that caused a lot of controversy when it was booed at the Cannes Film Festival, simply for being a Netflix production. For that reason, some viewers will be curious, and a sweet revenge against haughty film snobs would be actually viewing it. 

Despicable Me 3

Release Date: June 30th

SYNOPSIS: Gru meets his twin brother, Dru, who he never knew about.

The Despicable Me franchise has blown up to become one of the biggest animated feature franchises out there – and certainly a big game-changer for Illumination Entertainment. 

With the cash-cow Minions in tow, and a double helping of Steve Carell, this is pretty much everything that viewers loved about the first two Despicable Me films, kicked up a notch. Should be an easy win. 

NEXT: The Full Summer Movie Preview

Photo Credit: Warner Brothers