Summer is about to heat up on the movie screen
Summer is finally here, and that means it’s time for blockbusters to hit the big screen, giving us plenty of excuse to sit inside the cool air conditioned rooms. As always, there is a decent array of genres, from sequels to reboots, from biographies to fantasies.
June will welcome some much anticipated sequels, like Finding Dory, where Pixar returns us to the lovely ocean. July starts strong with Tarzan swinging into theaters, later followed by the Ghostbusters reboot.
August remains warm and fuzzy with feel good movies like Florence Foster Jenkins and Pete’s Dragon. Then summer vacation ends with the first Friday before Labor day, with the heart- wrenching story, The Light Between Oceans.
Please keep in mind, not all movies on this list are guaranteed to come to Myrtle Beach, so be sure to check all local movie listings before making plans. Some movies have not been announced and won’t have a release date until a few weeks in advance rather than a few months, therefore this list is far from all inclusive. Release dates are also subject to change.
Me Before You
Release Date | June 3
Director | Thea Sharrock
Starring | Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin
Rating | PG-13
A cynical man who lost his love for living when he lost the ability to move. A woman without direction but stubbornly optimistic. The two are bound to clash and never expected their differences to become a source of mutual inspiration and eventual love.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Release Date | June 3
Director | Dave Green
Starring | Stephen Amell, Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson
Rating | PG-13
With a new enemy threatening humankind, everyone’s favorite turtles are ready to fight from the shadows once more. But this time, the weapon being used by the bag guys may also be a boon to the ninjas, if their own in-fighting doesn’t destroy them first.
Now You See Me 2
Release Date | June 10
Director | Jon M. Chu
Starring | Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenburg
Rating | PG-13
The tricksters find themselves being tricked when they attempt to pull of their biggest and most dangerous heist yet. All of the magic tricks and illusions in the world might not be enough to protect the Four Horsemen this time.
Genius
Release Date | June 10
Director | Michael Grandage
Starring | Jude Law, Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman
Rating | PG-13
Publishing books has always been a harrowing experience and none more so than Thomas Wolfe’s frenzied and lengthy work. Wolfe may have been called a genius, but his editor Max Perkins proved to be a genius too by working with the author and forming a friendship.
Finding Dory
Release Date | June 17
Director | Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane
Starring | Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Kaitlin Olson
Rating | PG
The fish that changed the way we look at aquariums forever are back, and this time they just keep swimming farther than ever before. Marlin promises to help Dory find her family who she can barely remember and along the way they learn what family really means.
Central Intelligence
Release Date | June 17
Director | Rawson Marshall Thurber
Starring | Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart
Rating | PG-13
Two acquaintances from high school meet up as adults, the former jock now an accountant, and the once bullied nerd now an unrecognizable CIA agent. Their reminiscing is interrupted by international espionage that leads to a hilarious, unofficial, and mismatched team of the CIA.
Independence Day: Resurgence
Release Date | June 24
Director | Rolan Emmerich
Starring | Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman
Rating | N/A
It’s been two decades since planet earth fought an otherworldly invasion, and since then humans have advanced with the intentions of not being caught off guard again. However, when the aliens return with advances of their own, the world’s Independence Day may just be their last.
Free State of Jones
Release Date | June 24
Director | Gary Ross
Starring | Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali, Keri Russell
Rating | N/A
The complicated and controversial story of Jones County in Mississippi is a little known but important part of United States history. Follow Newt Knight and his small band of deserters as they fight against the Confederacy to keep their homes free and without chain.
The BFG
Release Date | July 1
Director | Steven Spielberg
Starring | Rebecca Hall, Mark Rylance
Rating | PG
With a giant heart to match his giant stature, the Big Friendly Giant is ready to capture the hearts of children and adults once more. Luckily this BFG won’t eat the humans he captures, like 10-year old Sophie who despite her small size begins to make big changes in the giant world.
The Legend of Tarzan
Release Date | July 1
Director | David Yates
Starring | Margot Robbie, Alexander Skarsgård, Christoph Waltz
Rating | PG-13
More of a sequel to Tarzan’s life after he leaves the jungle, this movie just goes to show that you can’t quite take the jungle out of the man. Tarzan has become used to a civilized life in London, but he returns to the Congo as an emissary only to discover a malicious plot threatening his home.
The Secret Life of Pets
Release Date | July 8
Director | Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney
Starring | Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart
Rating | PG
It’s time to figure out exactly what our pets are up to when we leave the house. Join Max and Duke, two dogs as different as can be, on an adventure to return home. Along the way, they and other pets learn how to work together in order to protect all the pet owners of the city.
Ghostbusters
Release Date | July 15
Director | Paul Feig
Starring | Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon
Rating | N/A
This reboot of the wildly popular movie from three decades ago is ready to win over a new generation with laughter and quirkiness and above all – ghosts. Join the new team of Ghostbusters as they use their brains and sheer determination to save New York City.
The Infiltrator
Release Date | July 15
Director | Brad Furman
Starring | Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Diane Kruger
Rating | N/A
One of the largest sting operations in U.S. history and based on the true story, The Infiltrator follows Federal agents Robert Mazur and Emir Abreu deep undercover. Their work took years to bring to fruition through the late 1980s, and no one is coming out unscathed.
Star Trek Beyond
Release Date | July 22
Director | Justin Lin
Starring | Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana
Rating | N/A
The USS Enterprise has always had it hard, but the third installation in the Star Trek reboot finds the ship and her crew in their most dire situation yet. Captain Kirk’s team is viciously attacked and the ruthlessness from their new enemy might be the end of the crew and the Federation itself.
Ice Age: Collision Course
Release Date | July 22
Director | Mike Thurmeier, Galen T. Chu
Starring | John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Ray Romano
Rating | PG
When the love of an acorn sets of a series of events that threaten the entire world, it’s up to our favorite ragtag team of ice age mammals to save it. The animals are no strangers to catastrophic events changing the planet, although this one might be too much for their paws to handle.
Jason Bourne
Release Date | July 29
Director | Paul Greengrass
Starring | Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Alicia Vikander
Rating | PG-13
The former CIA assassin Jason Bourne had not disappeared at the end of The Bourne Ultimatium and instead resurfaces a few years later. Although he finally knows who and what he is, there is not one person who knows the purpose of his mysterious reappearance.
Equity
Release Date | July 29
Director | Meera Menon
Starring | Anna Gunn, James Purefoy
Rating | R
In a male dominated work force, senior investment banker Naomi Bishop walks with confidence and mercilessness that makes her a force to be reckoned with. When she’s slighted, she works harder than ever and ends up uncovering corruption that could ruin her career…or her company.
Café Society
Release Date | July 29
Director | Woody Allen
Starring | Blake Lively, Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart
Rating | PG-13
A hopeful young man moves to Hollywood in the 1930s with the intentions to work in the booming film industry. There, everything he knew about working gets flipped on its head as he’s drawn further into the flippant, colorful, and warped café society.
The Founder
Release Date | August 5
Director | John Lee Hancock
Starring | Michael Keaton, Patrick Wilson, Nick Offerman
Rating | PG-13
Inspired by the true story that began a fast food chain giant, The Founder follows Ray Kroc and his gradual takeover of a restaurant started by two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald. He went from Illinois salesman to multi-million dollar CEO all by taking someone else’s idea.
Nine Lives
Release Date | August 5
Director | Barry Sonnenfeld
Starring | Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Walken
Rating | PG
A business-minded CEO has no time for his family, only for the company he runs. But soon, he is going to be forced to spend time with his family and discover what he’s been missing out on when a bizarre and mystical accident turns him into a cat.
Florence Foster Jenkins
Release Date | August 12
Director | Stephen Frears
Starring | Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg
Rating | N/A
A New York heiress has everything she could ever want in the world – except a singing career. Despite being told throughout her life that her singing talent is nonexistent, she works against the opposition to grant her greatest desire and prove you’re never too old to chase your dreams.
Pete’s Dragon
Release Date | August 12
Director | David Lowery
Starring | Oakes Fegley, Bryce Dallas Howard, Robert Redford
Rating | PG
Go back to the woods in this retelling of a classic children’s story that brings imaginary dragon guardians to life. Pete has lived for roughly six years in the forest before being found by a park ranger who doesn’t believe the boy’s explanation of a local legend taking care of him.
Ben-Hur
Release Date | August 19
Director | Timur Bekmambetov
Starring | Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman
Rating | N/A
This historical epic returns to the big screen more vibrant and violent than ever. His family betrayed, himself sold into slavery, Ben-Hur lives only with the thought of revenge. The best chance he has to get close to the Roman officer he once called brother is through the arena.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Release Date | August 19
Director | Travis Knight
Starring | Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, Matthew McConaughey
Rating | N/A
What was once a simplistic and happy life for young Kubo turns into a nightmare when he is caught up in a vendetta began by his ancestors. Follow Kubo and his guardian in this beautiful stop-animation movie as he tries to survive not only enemies but his own growing power.
Mechanic: Resurrection
Release Date | August 26
Director | Dennis Gansel
Starring | Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones
Rating | R
The partner who betrayed him is dead and Arthur Bishop wants nothing more than to settle down with the woman he loves. However, his retirement is cut short when she is kidnapped and the contract killer must complete three more jobs to get her back safely.
Hands of Stone
Release Date | August 26
Director | Jonathan Jakubowicz
Starring | Robert DeNiro, Edgar Ramirez, Usher Raymond IV
Rating | N/A
Robert Duran and Ray Arcel are two men known as legends today in the boxing world. Robert Duran began boxing at 16 years old in 1968 and Ray Arcel became his trainer, and from there the two went on to change each other’s lives and the sport itself.
The Light Between Oceans
Release Date | September 2
Director | Derek Cianfrance
Starring | Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, Rachel Weisz
Rating | PG-13
After failed attempts, a couple’s dearest wish comes in the form of a baby rescued from a rowboat with a dead man inside. Despite the husband’s confliction, the two raise the child as their own instead of reporting the incident, an action that will cause ripples in their future.
This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Summer is about to heat up on the movie screen."