Summer Movie Preview: 35 Films You Shouldn't Miss

Thanks to Marvel and the ‘Avengers’ films, summer blockbuster season starts in April now, so technically, our summer movie preview is late. That’s ok. This summer is stacked, as usual, and that does not even account for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival which will have plenty of arthouse blockbusters premieres and mainstream movies like the new Quentin Tarantino film. Yes, summer 2019 is jam-packed. There are all kinds of blockbusters, indies, arthouse films, horror movies—many of which we’ve already covered here— and more. So let’s just get to it already, right?

Here’s our guide to the movies of summer 2019 we think you should give your attention to.

MAY

“Detective Pikachu” – In Theaters Now
Perhaps the biggest surprise when the first trailer dropped for “Detective Pikachu” is that the movie didn’t look completely terrible (the initial reactions, for instance, were short on the scorched-earth hatred that greeted the first footage for “Sonic the Hedgehog”). For one, Detective Pikachu himself is undeniably adorable. Voiced with equal parts smarm and cuteness by the inimitable Ryan Reynolds, this Pokemon is a wisecracking, caffeine-addicted sleuth: a far cry from the fan-favorite original iteration of the pint-sized yellow critter. Another thing is that the film’s hook is actually kind of neat. “Detective Pikachu” unfolds in the neon metropolis of Ryme City, where Pokemon and their human trainers coexist in relative harmony. There’s also some real talent both in front of and behind the camera here. Director Rob Letterman is the man responsible for the animated cult item “Shark Tale” and the surprisingly decent “Goosebumps” movie, while human lead Justice Smith was probably the best thing about the otherwise dire “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” Add in a supporting cast that includes “Booksmart’s” Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, and Bill Nighy, and you’ve got all the requisite ingredients for a family-friendly summer hit. – (NL)

“The Biggest Little Farm” – In Theaters Now
Who doesn’t love farm animals? Former cinematographer John Chester’s “constantly beautiful,” documentary, “The Biggest Little Farm,” sounds a little like “Charlotte’s Web” meets “We Bought A Zoo,” but, you know, takes place in reality. The film follows John and Molly Chester’s admirable attempt to live out their dream of raising a collective of all creatures great and small out in the countryside. Word is – like author E.B. White’s classic book – a pig, named Emma, steals the movie and supposedly Emma is “some pig” and might be a threat to strut up to the SAG podium with her star-making performance. In all seriousness, the pig is pregnant and irresistible, adding a layer of both levity and drama to the rural proceedings. If you like movies featuring adorable animals, that also cares about the ecosystem, “The Biggest Little Farm,” is likely right in your wheelhouse. A charming little documentary about hard-working humanism, the director’s “previous work as a cinematographer [shines] through as he displays wonderful montages of [the] stunning farm,” our review wrote. Sadly, there is no magic spider spinning words into webs, though. Sorry to disappoint. – AB

“Pasolini” – In Theaters Now
Abel Ferrara is considered something of a treasure over here at The Playlist, having directed sleazeball classics like “Bad Lieutenant” and “King of New York,” as well as lesser-seen, but equally compelling, works like “The Addiction” and “The Funeral.” It makes sense that Ferrara, ever the rule-breaker, would consider Pier Paolo Pasolini a kind of kindred spirit. Like Ferrara, Pasolini made films about filth, faith, sin, and salvation. He was also the man responsible for “Salo: 120 Days of Sodom,” widely considered to be one of the most shocking films ever made. Ferrara’s biopic of the revered and provocative director made the festival rounds way back in 2014, enjoying a (mostly) favorable critical reaction. And now, thanks to the good folks at Kino Lorber, “Pasolini” is finally seeing the light of day in American cinemas, followed by a VOD rollout in the fall. What should make the prospect all the more exciting is that Ferrara has recruited his friend and frequent collaborator Willem Dafoe to play the titular filmmaker, adding yet another entry to the actor’s increasingly impressive roster of late-career performances. – NL [our review]

“John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” – May 17
There’s a scene in the trailer for the upcoming “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” where the title hero (played with regal cool by the ever-magnificent Keanu Reeves) chases a motorcycle rider on horseback while shooting his unnamed pursuer square in the head. If there’s a more accurate distillation of this enduring franchise’s appeal be found in this two-minute clip, we’ve yet to unearth it. “John Wick” has become the most exciting action franchise that isn’t “Mission: Impossible,” and “Parabellum” certainly looks like the “John Wick”-iest “John Wick” movie to date. This go-round, Wick has to escape the Big Apple after a $14 million bounty is put on his head. This, naturally, means lots of bad guys have to die – and we couldn’t be happier about that particular prospect. We’re here for every second of this movie’s balletic, immaculately choreographed mayhem, which will be delivered courtesy of returning franchise helmer Chad Stahelski. Reeves will be joined this time around by returning players Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne, as well as new faces like Halle Berry and Jason Mantzoukas as the wonderfully-named “Tick-Tock Man.” Count us in, baby. – NL

“The Souvenir” – May 17
Joanna Hogg has been making waves in the UK for almost three decades now, but it’s only recently that she’s become something of an indie-household name here in the states. Following a slew of emotionally muted human dramas (“Exhibition” and “Archipelago” are both wonderful), Hogg might finally be on the verge of a breakthrough with “The Souvenir.” Starring Tilda Swinton and her daughter Honor Swinton Byrne, this A24-produced character piece was one of the biggest hits at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it picked up the World Cinema Dramatic Jury Prize. Hogg is no stranger to the world of the British upper crust, having dedicated her last few films to that insular and often cringingly uncomfortable milieu. That said, “The Souvenir” appears to be more of a love story than some of her earlier, more severe efforts. The younger Swinton stars as a shy film student from an affluent family (Swinton playing her difficult mother), with Tom Burke co-starring as her troubled lover. If you’re new to the Criterion Channel, you can stream Hogg’s earlier films there before you head out to theaters for her latest. In the meantime, check out our review out of Sundance. – NL [Our review]

“Aladdin” – May 24
At this point, Disney’s live-action retelling of “Aladdin” is probably more famous for the slew of Will-Smith-as-a-genie memes that popped up in the wake of its first trailer than for anything that the film itself might actually offer. To be fair, the initial sight of a gigantic, berry-blue Fresh Prince was… a surprising one. Still, there’s reason to hold out hope for this big, splashy summer blockbuster. For one, the “Sherlock Holmes” movies proved that “Aladdin” director Guy Ritchie is someone who knows how to inject pre-existing cultural properties with his own irreverent and energized directorial touch (although I’m sure we all wish we could forget about his testosterone-addled reimagining of “King Arthur”). Secondly, Mena Massoud – who stars here as the movie’s nominal street thief – is an up-and-comer worth keeping an eye on (he was one of the only memorable things about the recent Amazon Prime version of “Jack Ryan”). Let’s face it, “Aladdin” probably won’t break the mold and we’re hoping Ritchie doesn’t go all “A Game of Shadows” on us (sheesh, remember that movie?), but it doesn’t change the fact that the film nevertheless looks like harmless, colorful summer fun. – NL