Spring brings not only showers, flowers and warm weather, but also a fresh influx of films. This season’s box office has everything covered, from superhero adventures to crime dramas to musical comedies. Here are five of the most anticipated movies of the spring and summer.
“True Story”
Mystery/Drama
April 30
Jonah Hill (“22 Jump Street”) and James Franco (“The Interview”) take a break from their typical comedic fare to star in this mystery drama. Franco plays the unsettling accused murderer Christian Longo, who has claimed reporter Michael Finkel’s (Hill) identity. As Finkel delves deeper into the convict’s story, the truth only becomes more twisted.
Like the title suggests, the film is based on the true story of Finkel and Longo’s intertwined lives as documented by Finkel’s book, “True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa.” Whether due to the thrilling plot or simply to the bizarre experience of Franco and Hill in serious roles, this movie is worth a watch.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron”
Science Fiction
May 1
Marvel fans anxiously await for the Avengers to reunite in the next installment of the series. Expect a slightly darker vibe from this superhero flick as the team works to battle Ultron, a Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr, “Iron Man 3”) project that goes south. In addition to the previous Avenger lineup, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, “Kick-Ass 2”) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen, “Godzilla”) join in, which fans saw in the “Captain America: Winter Soldier” post-credits scene.
Keeping in line with Marvel’s string of successes, “Age of Ultron” is already getting rave reviews after its first screening, so be sure to check out this season’s biggest action adventure.
“Pitch Perfect 2”
Musical/Comedy
May 15
The highly anticipated sequel of the hit a capella movie, “Pitch Perfect,” hits theaters mid-May. This time, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition never won by an American group. Much of the original cast is back, including Anna Kendrick (“The Last Five Years”), Rebel Wilson (“Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”), Brittany Snow (“Always Woodstock”) and Skylar Astin (“Cavemen”). Hailee Steinfeld (“True Grit,” “Begin Again”) is a new face in the Bellas for the latest installment.
Audiences can count on another Riff Off and an amusing relationship for Fat Amy (Wilson) and Bumper (Adam DeVine, “Break Point”). For a night of catchy songs and absurd jokes, grab a ticket to this musical comedy.
“Inside Out”
Animation/Comedy
June 19
This animated adventure is the most recent Disney Pixar collaboration in which the emotions of a young girl, Riley (Kaitlyn Dias, “The Shifting”), are thrown out of whack when her family moves to San Francisco. The twist: her emotions are personified and contest for control of her brain.
The voices of the emotions include comedic stars Mindy Kaling (“The Mindy Project”) as Disgust, Amy Poehler (“Parks and Recreation”) as Joy and Bill Hader (“Bob’s Burgers”) as Fear. This not-just-for-kids movie is bound to be hilarious for the whole family.
“Paper Towns”
Teen Mystery
July 24
For fans of “The Fault in Our Stars,” another John Green novel-turned-movie is coming to theaters this July. This high school tale follows Quentin (Nat Wolff, “The Fault in Our Stars”) and his friends’ mission to find human enigma Margo (Cara Delevingne, “Anna Karenina”) when she goes missing.
The film comes from the same screenwriters as “The Fault in Our Stars,” promising a unique and quirky glimpse of teenage life combined with John Green’s signature metaphorical themes.
While counting down the days until summer, be sure to stop by the closest movie theater for the premieres, or maybe even a midnight showing, of these upcoming films.
