THE GREAT GATSBY
The Skinny: An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby’s nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke
The Buzz: This big-budget adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel finally arrives six months after its initial release date. Can the film withstand the momentum of Hurricane Marvel and it’s huge Iron Man 3 storm? If not, Gatsby may capture most of its audience in DVD.
Opening: May 10
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AFTER EARTH
The Skinny: A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.
Starring: Will and Jaden Smith
Buzz: Smith returns to his sci-fi roots with this M. Night Shyamalan-directed tale. Despite moving the film up a week, something tells us that sandwiched between the hugely-anticipated films, Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III and Man of Steel, After Earth is going to open strong to maintain any momentum.
Opening: May 31
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WORLD WAR Z
The Skinny: As a zombie pandemic traverses the globe, United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) travels the world trying to find a way to stop the pandemic that is defeating armies and collapsing governments.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale and Matthew Fox
The Buzz: The trailer for this film gives the impression that this will either be a highly entertaining film or potentially an expensive disappointment. Opening a week after Man of Steel is not comforting, either; may earn it’s cash overseas and on DVD.
Opening: June 21
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WHITE HOUSE DOWN
The Skinny: When a paramilitary group led by Stenz (Jason Clarke) take over the White House, Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum), a rejected applicant to the Secret Service, must rescue the President of the United States James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) while trying to keep his daughter Emily (Joey King) out of danger.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Buzz: Olympus Has Fallen redux as this story is quite similar to the earlier Die Hard-esque tale. This time around Channing and Foxx replace Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart fighting terrorist who seek to take over the White House. Olympus grossed over $90 million, can White House take it down?
Opening: June 28
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THE LONE RANGER
The Skinny: The Lone Ranger is an action film in which the masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. A Native American spirit warrior, Tonto (Johnny Depp), recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice. The two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption.
Starring: Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp
The Buzz: Last year, Depp and Burton’s comedy, Dark Shadows fell flat with audiences. You’re only as good as your last film and this off-beat drama feels like a hit-or-miss proposition. Movie audiences love Depp but will they support him in this role that many are unfamiliar?
Opening: July 3
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PACIFIC RIM
The Skinny: When an alien attack threatens the Earth’s existence, giant robots piloted by humans are deployed to fight off the menace.
Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba and Rinko Kikuchi
The Buzz: Can’t help thinking that this is the prototypical summer popcorn film. Robots fighting aliens in huge scale led by hunky Idris Elba channeling the imagination of Guillermo del Toro. You smell that? It’s smells like a HIT!!!
Opening: July 12
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R.I.P.D.
The Skinny: After a young cop is shot dead in the line of duty, he joins a team of undead police officers working for the Rest In Peace Department and tries to find the man who killed him.
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Bacon, Jeff Bridges and Mary-Louise Parker
The Buzz: Just when you thought the Men in Black franchise was over, now it’s morphed from aliens to the undead. The film also looks to blend several looks including Bridges’ Tombstone-look while Reynolds does his best Big Willie impersonation.
Opening: July 19
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2 GUNS
The Skinny: An elaborate scam has a DEA agent and a Naval Intelligence Officer investigating one another in belief they are stealing money from the mob. But when they realize that they were set up by the CIA, they must work together to return the money and stay alive.
Starring: Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg
The Buzz: This Denzel first buddy comedy since . . . The Devil in the Blue Dress. While it wasn’t quite a comedy, Don Cheadle’s Mouse had plenty of funny lines that made us laugh. Wahlberg is more experienced in this genre, pairing up with another muscular actor after The Rock earlier this year.
Opening: August 2
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ELYSIUM
The Skinny: Set in the year 2154, where the very wealthy live on a man-made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth, a man takes on a mission that could bring equality to the polarized worlds.
Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Wagner Moura and Alice Braga
The Buzz: This film looks like a mash-up of two earlier releases, Upside Down and Tom Cruise’s Oblivion. Director Neill Blomkamp’s follow-up to his highly-successful, District 9 is yet another film that clearly proves that Earth’s future is not looking bright!
Opening: August 9
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