Top 6 Movies Not To Miss This Summer

by Helen Earnshaw | 12 May 2016

The summer film season is almost upon us and a whole host of great new movies will be heading our way over the coming months.

Jason Bourne

And there's going to be something for everyone as we will be treated to action, horror, sci-fi, animation, and comic book films.

We take a look at some of the movies that we are looking forward the most as we head into the blockbuster summer. Which movies are you excited to see?

- Jason Bourne - released 28th July.

When it comes to summer films, there is no movie that I am more excited about than Jason Bourne as I am a HUGE fan of the franchise.

I have always loved Matt Damon in the title role and I am thrilled to see him returning to this character after a nine-year hiatus. Yes, it really was 2007 when The Bourne Ultimatum hit the big screen and I can't wait to see what the new installment has in store for us.

The movie sees Damon reunite with filmmaker Paul Greengrass for their third Bourne movie together. For a time, it looks like Greengrass would not return to the director's chair but I am delighted to see him back. This is his first feature film since the success of Captain Phillips back in 2013.

While the plot for the film is still under wraps, we will see Bourne remembering more and more about who he truly was as he is drawn out of the shadows.

Damon is not the only familiar face on the cast list as Julia Stiles is also set to return as Nicky Parsons - who has been with the franchise from the start.

Damon and Stiles are joined on the cast list by Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel, and Riz Ahmed.

Bourne is already one of the biggest action franchises of all time and Jason Bourne could well be the biggest and most successful installment yet. Just how much will it gross at the box office? I guess we will have to wait and see.

- The Conjuring 2 - released 17th June.

It has been a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the horror genre so far this year... but The Conjuring 2 is one of the horror movies that I am really keen to see.

The Conjuring 2 marks the return of James Wan to the director's chair for his first feature film since the success of Fast & Furious 7 last year. It is also the first time that we have seen him work in the horror genre since Insidious 2.

For me, The Conjuring was one of the best films to hit the big screen back in 2013, as Wan created a tense and nerve-shredding movie without resorting to CGI and unnecessary torture scenes. There was something very old-fashioned and fantastic about what he delivered.

The Conjuring 2 sees Wan reunite with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, who are reprising the role of paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren.

David Thewlis, Franka Potente, Frances O'Connor Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Sterling Jerins complete an exciting cast list.

The Conjuring 2 follows Lorraine and Ed Warren, for one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations. The couple travels to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits. They visit Enfield, North London in 1977.

The Conjuring remains the second highest grossing horror film of all time - behind The Exorcist - and this highly anticipated sequel looks on course to be another big hit.

- Warcraft: The Beginning - released 30th May

Warcraft: The Beginning is a movie that has been talked about ever since it was announced that project was going into production... and now we are only a couple of weeks away from seeing the finished product.

In recent years, films based on computer games have not had huge success at the box office... but Warcraft: The Beginning could be about to change all of that.

The movie marks the return of Duncan Jones to the director's chair for what is the biggest film of his career to date. He has already brought us Moon and Source Code in recent years and I cannot wait to see this exciting filmmaker tackle a big budget project for the first time.

As well as being in the director's chair, Jones has also teamed up with Charles Leavitt to pen the film's screenplay. It really is promising to be a very epic ride and could be the start of a brand new franchise.

Travis Fimmel is set to take on the central role of Anduin Lothar, which is the biggest film role of his career to date. The actor is joined on the cast list by Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell, Ruth Negga, and Robert Kazinsky.

The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: Orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction.

From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people, and their home. So begins a spectacular saga of power and sacrifice in which war has many faces, and everyone fights for something.

The early trailers for the film really have been filled with promise and it will be interesting to see if the film goes on to live up to that promise.

- The BFG - released 22nd July

It is always exciting when a Steven Spielberg movie is on the horizon and he is back in the director's chair this summer with a highly anticipated adaptation The BFG.

The BFG is one of Roald Dahl's classic tales and this will be the first time that it has been adapted as a live-action feature film. Spielberg has brought us some wonderful family movies in the past - E.T. being the one that springs to mind - and I cannot wait to see him put his own stamp on a story that we all know so well.

In fact, The BFG sees Spielberg reunite with screenwriter Melissa Mathison, who penned the screenplay for E.T. back in 1982. That was a movie that was packed with charm and heart and she is the perfect choice to adapt The BFG into a new script.

The new film also sees the filmmaker work with actor Mark Rylance for a second time as he takes on the title role. The pair worked on Bridge of Spies last year and Rylance went on to scoop the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance.

We will be introduced to Ruby Barnhill as Sophie while Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, and Penelope Wilton are just some of the names that are also on board.

Spielberg is one of my favourite filmmakers and The BFG looks set to be another gem from him.

- Suicide Squad - released 5th August

2016 really has been the year of the comic book film with the likes of Captain America: Civil War, Deadpool, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice all performing well at the box office... this summer Suicide Squad is set to join the club as it blasts onto the big screen for the first time.

Suicide Squad is the latest movie offering from director David Ayer as he tackles the comic book genre for the first time. He has already brought us films such as Harsh Times and End of Watch his gritty filmmaking style seems to be a perfect with this story and these characters.

This is the first time that we have seen Ayer in the director's chair since Fury and he has also penned the script for Suicide Squad, which is based on the comic book by John Ostrander.

Another fantastic ensemble cast has been assembled as Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, and Viola Davis are just some of the names on board. We are also going to see Ben Affleck reprise his role as Batman for a cameo appearance.

It feels good to be bad... Assemble a team of the world's most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government's disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity.

U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren't picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it's every man for himself?

I am not sure if Suicide Squad will match some of the other comic books in terms of the money it grosses at the box office... but it looks like it is going to be an action-packed ride!!

- The Nice Guys - released 3rd June

This summer Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are set to join forces for new crime/comedy The Nice Guys as they team up with filmmaker Shane Black.

The Nice Guys is set to be the third feature film for Black and comes after the success of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3 in recent years. In fact, The Nice Guys does have a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang feel about it and I cannot wait to see it.

As well as being in the director's chair for the film, Black has also teamed up with Anthony Bagarozzi to pen the film's screenplay.

Crowe and Gosling are set to take on the central roles of enforcer Jackson Healy and private detective Holland March. They are joined on the cast list by Matt Bomer, Keith David, and Kim Basinger.

The Nice Guys takes place in 1970s Los Angeles, when down-on-his-luck private eye Holland March (Gosling) and hired enforcer Jackson Healy (Crowe) must work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star. During their investigation, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that reaches up to the highest circles of power.