-By Noah Gittell
The summer movie season is not what it once was.
Historically it was a vessel for big-budget, slam-bang blockbusters, but last year we got prestige with our popcorn. “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” were the biggest hits of the summer and major players during awards season. Those of us who complained that all the best movies were squeezed into the final months of the year could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
This year, we’ll see a little more of the same. There is both pure escapism and serious filmmaking on the menu for this sum- mer, and sometimes in the same film. Here are the biggest, buzziest titles to watch.
“The Fall Guy” (May 3)
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt presented on stunts at this year’s Academy Awards, an early bit of sponsored content for their big action-romance about a profes- sional stuntman who falls in love with his assistant director in the midst of some major off-camera action. The film premiered to raves at March’s South by Southwest Festival, with many critics pegging “The Fall Guy” as the kind of original star-driven blockbuster we don’t get much of anymore.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (May 24)
It’s too much to ask for “Furiosa” to be as good as “Mad Max: Fury Road,” widely considered one of the best films of this century. Still, expectations are high for this prequel, which returns visionary director George Miller to his place behind the camera and casts the sizzling Anya Taylor-Joy in the role previously played by Charlize Theron. I’m more concerned about Chris Hemsworth standing in for Tom Hardy, but we’ll give Miller and his incredible team of craftspeople the benefit of the doubt.
“Horizon: An American Saga” (June 28 and Aug. 16)
Kevin Costner has been single-handedly keeping the western alive for his whole career, starting with 1985’s “Silverado” and continuing through his late-career renaissance in TV’s “Yellowstone.” He won an Oscar for directing “Dances with Wolves,” and he’s back behind the camera for “Horizon: An American Saga,” a two-part film experience that could dominate the summer.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”
The saga begins with a feature-length film in June and concludes with another in August. Given the dearth of film westerns these days, and Costner’s dexterity with the genre, “Horizon” promises to be a rare big-screen experience.
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (July 3)
Eddie Murphy has been teasing a proper comeback for several decades now, but it could finally come to fruition if his return to his most successful franchise is a hit. Taking its title structure from “Top Gun: Maverick,” the new “Beverly Hills Cop” movie reunites Murphy with old friends played by John Ashton, Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronston Pinchot, along with newcomers Kevin Bacon and
Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Will it be terrible? Possibly. But as a believer in Murphy’s talent, I’ll be there on opening night to find out.
“Twisters” (July 19)
This long-gestating sequel falls into the category of “sure, why not.” The original “Twister” is a TBS staple, and there’s no reason its pleasures aren’t replicable. Yes, I’ll watch some good-looking people fall in love while chasing tornados again. Ascendant stars Glen Powell and Daisy-Edgar Jones take over for the late Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, and with any luck, the twisters will look at least as terrifying as they did in 1996.
“Alien: Romulus” (August 16) The thing about the “Alien” movies is they’re never bad. Even the mediocre ones — “Alien 3,” I’m looking in your direction — are still worthwhile. The core concept of a space crew battling a smart, bloodthirsty alien just never gets old. Accomplished horror director Fede Alvarez takes the reins for this ninth Alien movie (if you count the two “Alien vs. Predator” entries), with Cailee Spaeny, who recently shined as Priscilla Presley in “Priscilla,” as the latest leading lady to battle with a xenomorph.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”
(September 6)
I can already guess what the third movie will be called. What might seem another blatant IP-driven cash grab is a little more intriguing due to the dual returns of Tim Burton behind the camera and Michael Keaton, who has never phoned in a performance, as the “ghost with the most.” The original “Beetlejuice” was as original as movies get. It’s impossible that the sequel will match it, but Keaton has been championing this film for a long time. And, unlike Burton, who has been stuck in Disney hell for many years now, Keaton has earned the benefit of the doubt.
