Anything being released until Labor Day is fair game. Here we go.
Avengers: Endgame - There's no question that this is going to be an event. We've been promised that this is the end of an era for the MCU, bolstered by the fact that we don't know much about Marvel's plans for the series going forward. It's undoubtedly going to be the last hurrah for at least one major character, and potentially the last time we're going to see several of the characters doing anything meaningful for while.
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu - As the small wave of anime adaptations starts hitting, there's no denying that "Pokémon" remains the most popular anime franchise that ever invaded American shores. And I'm betting that this new adaptation is going to do way better than people are expecting. Kids love the franchise. Nostalgic Millennials love the franchise. This could easily end up being the big family film of the summer.
Hobbs and Shaw - There are more "The Fast and the Furious" sequels on their way, but this spinoff should be close enough to the real deal that action fans should be satisfied. Personally, I view a teamup movie between the Rock and Jason Statham to be a far more appealing prospect anyway. I don't care about the dodgy continuity or the lack of Vin Diesel. And I can only hope Helen Mirren drops by for another cameo a Shaw's mum.
The Lion King - Here's where the cynical side of me is weighing in. I don't see the appeal of a new "Lion King" adaptation that doesn't appear to be doing anything differently aside form using CGI graphics. However, the original "Lion King" is by far the most popular animated film of the '90s and families are sure to flock to it. If anything, I'm being too conservative with this pick considering the performance of "The Jungle Book" in 2016.
Spider-man: Far From Home - It's never wise to bet against Spider-man or the MCU, and everyone's favorite web-slinger is more popular than ever after last year's well-received PS4 game and animated film. "Spider-man: Homecoming" did well enough for third place in 2017. I'm betting with the stronger competition that the sequel will slip a spot or two. A lot is going to depend on how well the next couple of entries in the list perform.
Toy Story 4 - "Toy Story" is one of the most beloved animated film franchises ever made, and the crown jewel of PIXAR. There's sure to be an audience for the further adventures of Sheriff Woody and the gang. On the other hand, did we really need a fourth "Toy Story" movie? Nine years after the last installment, and all the recent scandal, this feels a little desperate. None of the previews have been much to talk about either.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 - Another Illumination Studios movie. I didn't think much of the first "Secret Life of Pets," but it made a lot of money so logically the sequel will too. The question is how much it's going to make with all of the competition for family audiences this year. My guess is that it'll do well enough to justify more sequels, but not as well as the original. Younger kids will probably be more interested in this than the Disney options.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters - I love a good kaiju brawl, but sadly not everyone does. Still, I think there's enough inherent spectacle in watching Godzilla face down some of his most famous foes on the big screen that it'll draw some of the crowd that likes disaster movies. The teaser trailer is bloody gorgeous too, with its peeks at the modern versions of Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidora. I can't be the only one who can't wait for this.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum - This is probably the riskiest pick on the list, because though "John Wick" fans are very vocal, they're fairly limited. Neither of the previous "John Wick" films made over 100 million domestically. On the other hand, neither of them opened during the summer, the sequel doubled the box office of the original, and we're pretty light on R-rated action counterprogramming. This one could break through.
Aladdin - This is looking more and more like a trainwreck, but I'm not going to underestimate the power of Disney's marketing machine. This is one of the only potential blockbusters this year that I'm really curious about, because it's going to deviate from the Disney version in some pretty significant ways - not just replacing Robin Williams with Will Smith. It also has the advantage of opening several weeks ahead of "The Lion King" and other heavy hitters.
Wild Cards (for extra points if one of them does make it into the top ten)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Men in Black: International
Rocketman
There are a dearth of films for grown-ups in my top ten this year. I expect that the most likely ones to do well will be Quentin Tarantino's latest, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," and the Elton John biopic "Rocketman," due the recent popularity of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "A Star is Born." I'm also missing comedies, but I highly doubt that any of the original ones are going to be able to compete this year. I think the two "X-men" films, "Dark Phoenix" and "New Mutants" are also out of luck. On the other hand, the new "Men in Black" may very well be a flop, but I'm guessing that Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson might give it the appearance of being MCU-adjacent enough to draw more interest.
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