Summer again, blockbusters again, Sequels AGAIN.

So, the clocks went forward and summer’s on its way. It’ll soon be time for the blockbusters. And, as a cinema insider, it is not our job to save cinema but to make you feel like an idiot for bringing a puffer jacket to an inside venue in the heatwave. Much like last year, we’ll have some movies many people are excited about—here are my recommendations and also a thought or two about what to expect.

WHAT’S COMING IN APRIL

SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (in cinemas 1^st April)

There must be a German word that perfectly describes the feeling of complete surprise. Whatever that word is, I can heavily apply it to the first Mario movie. We all thought that Nintendo had made their bed and had to sleep in it with a controversial cocktail of production choices. First, choosing Illumination, the new leads in animation for children and champions of oversimplified characters, silly jokes and Minions. Then there was the cast, in tandem with being cast as Garfield, Chris Pratt was also now Mario. A non-Italian cast, one cursed with overexposure, and Jack Black as Bowser. And finally, Nintendo’s first try at adapting the franchise to something larger than a Gameboy screen had the potential to leave a sour taste reminiscent of a 90s fever dream.

But then it grossed over a billion dollars, and it was good.  A second was inevitably commissioned. What do I expect? Maybe a couple laughs and enough colours on the screen to justify an Easter Sunday post-roast lie down.

MICHAEL (in cinemas 22^nd April)

Ah. Hmm. Okay…

Did we actually need it? But hold on—did we, though?

It felt like the major distributors’ response to Marvel blockbusters was music biopics, and, after the Academy Award win of Jamie Foxx in ‘Ray’ and Reece Witherspoon in ‘Walk the Line’, music biographies crossed over to critical acclaim too—something Marvel is yet to achieve.

So, then came the tsunami worthy of more than a brief paragraph, because the formula was simple. A beloved celebrity, an actor worthy of transformation, and some big tunes to get everyone excited with the combination the censored behind-the-scenes content to let fans feel ever closer to the singers. And for every mediocre ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ there was a wonderful ‘Love and Mercy’, for every ‘A Complete Unknown’ there was a ‘I’m Not There’.

The genre is tied between indie semi-experimental productions trying to explain creative processes and highlight reels of fan favourites.

So, now it’s Jaafar Jackson and Micheal Jackson’s turn. Which side will it fall on? When you realise just how big Jackson is globally, it will clearly turn one way. Then there is the controversial character at the centre—do enough people care to boycott it? The trailer promises “Magic”, there’s no doubt it will make its money back, but will it cast a spell?

WHAT’S COMING IN MAY

DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 (in cinemas 1^st May)

And we’re back. Another meh for me, and as someone that works in a cinema, a sense of dread for the bartenders I work with. I can’t quite figure out where this film is going, will it comment on the slow death of print media? Will it deal with the problematic treatment of models? How about a deep drama about a certain company unionising?

I think we’ll get a lot of beautiful dresses, some tasteful jabs and the return of the queen to the big screen. We’ve missed you, Meryl.

MANDALORIAN & GROGU  (in cinemas 22^nd May)

It’s strange but it’s become the new norm—a streaming TV show making it to the big screen. This seems to be Disney’s new tactic—affect them at home and bring them out to the cinemas.

The lingering question for me is has Baby Yoda been forgotten? The last ‘Mandalorian’ series was anything but loved and the Star Wars franchise needs a new voice and direction after the ‘Sequel Series’. Is this the direction—the classic naïve youngster and the old and grumpy man—that will take them back on top?

Also, as he is masked throughout the film, do you think Pedro did his lines with his feet up at home?

WHAT’S COMING IN JUNE

SCARY MOVIE 6 (in cinemas 5^th June)

Worried? A little. It’ll be a laugh and a good time, enough to justify the increasing prices of tickets and it’s about time we saw more good parody films, or comedy films, in the cinemas. It’s been a while since we saw the Wayans. Do they have any new takes on mainstream horror apart from screaming and pulling funny faces and first-thought punchlines?

DISCLOSURE DAY  (in cinemas 12^th June)

He’s back. Sci-Fi, Monsters and Summer. It’s his comfort zone and it’s Spielberg’s first in six years.

From what we know, the little we do, it’s an exciting alien invasion film about a media cover up. Gimme a large coke and popcorn, front row seats and I’ll be happy.

TOY STORY 5 (in cinemas 19^th June)

Five. Two more than was needed. I just get more and more frustrated with these films, Toy Story 3 is praised as one of the best ends of a trilogy ever and we had a cute, light existential fourth and now a fifth. This time focussing on perhaps the end of toys all together as Pixar takes on screen parenting. Just… I always have such a good time with the group but at the end of the day, I need a new circle of friends.

SUPERGIRL (in cinemas 26^th June)

LOOK OUT.

We all, deep down inside, wanted ‘Superman’ to be good, right? The endlessly rebooted DC version of a cinematic universe kicked off with a heartwarming and simple film—a back to basics for a surprisingly misunderstood superhero.

It was Superman’s fourth iteration on screen, but this is Supergirl, his cousin’s debut solo film and the tag line? LOOK OUT.

My question is, though I am excited for this and always have a blast with James Gunn as writer/director, is the superhero genre at its eleventh hour? As all the good faith Marvel has gathered up over the decade slowly fades, do audiences—the non-comic book fans— have enough stamina or will power to invest in a second expanding cinematic universe?

Has the success of Superman last year given James Gunn enough clout to take more risks in HIS universe? If this is a success, what about the next couple of films? Careful, James, there are snakes waiting on your failure—both Marvel and DC fans.

WHAT’S COMING IN JULY

THE ODYSSEY  (in cinemas 17^th July)

Right. Could this be Nolan’s first falter? Strange casting, costuming and story choice could produce a trifecta of trouble for the most consistent director at the moment. I will be excited, only because I love when Nolan goes big—which is always—always big, all the time. He detonated a nuke in his previous outing and left my ear drums as fallout. I am curious how loud he can make siren’s scream.

Then there is the subject of the film, a poem, fantastical and, due to the nature of old stories where every new teller would add anything they wanted, it’s told very much like an ongoing thought—which cause movie going audiences to tire.

Like always, Nolan’s films are a star-studded, wide-screen classic Hollywood. But less people are excited than the usual Nolan-inspired feverish dedication.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (in cinemas 31^st July)

“Rebirth”, the last word of the trailer to the first film of the second trilogy of the third casting of the same old Spider-Man. Tom Holland’s first spidey trilogy was ran by Jon Watts and, what started as a reclaiming of the Friendly Neighbourhood nickname soon turned into the Multiverse in the third. Now, we’re back on the ground in New York.

Typical Marvel, little is known about what’s going to happen, or how much this ties into Marvel’s biggest ever project in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which is due in winter of this year.

I exited the trailer feeling a little numb, not excited, not disappointed just—yes, that is a Spider-Man film. Peter Parker is struggling financially and mentally, Spider-Man is struggling physically and now hormonally.

Can a Spider-Man movie afford to tell a condensed, low-level story again after opening the multiverse to geekdom heaven last film? How much will his second trilogy be affected by the ongoing MCU? Will Sony try and nick him back again?

Get to the cinema and let me know what you think.