AVENGERS: ENDGAME has finally been released and as evident from the record breaking numbers and social media hot topics, everyone has seen it in the first two weeks. Now that the MCU’s historic movie event has come and gone, what do audiences have to look forward to at the cineplex? Thankfully, I’ve got some answers for you. As always, my ten goes to eleven.

11. GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS (May 31) – ​I wouldn’t say I’m excited for GODZILLA, but there is a kid inside me who perks up a little at the idea of the giant Kaiju lizard reeking havoc and fighting unearthly monsters.

10. LION KING (July 19) – ​I am solidly in the camp that has not loved these live action Disney movies. I don’t really get the point other than a cash grab. So far you’re still better off watching the original. However, with that said my kids love THE LION KING, so I’m rooting for this to be a fun one the family can enjoy. Director Jon Favreau might have the right touch for the family friendly fun necessary to bring the classic back to the big screen. Just take my money and keep my kids happy.

9. THE DEAD DON’T DIE (June 14) – ​Bill Murray and Adam Driver are couple of small town officers fighting zombies in this strange comedy written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. Also starring Chloe Sevigny, Tilda Swinton, Steve Bucemi, Danny Glover, Carol Cane, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Rosie Perez, RZA, Selena Gomez, Caleb Landry Jones and probably a slew of others, I don’t understand how this wacky film can’t at least be somewhat entertaining. Am I right?

8. X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (June 7) – ​My love for the X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and the return of James McAvoy as Professor Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Magneto is what keeps my interest peaked. In fact, I’ve really enjoyed most of the X-MEN movies and LOGAN! However, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE was painful. Let’s hope Sophie Turner can hold her own as the lead among a strong supporting cast in something not called Game of Thrones. By the way, I love GAME OF THRONES so much, that I’ll watch any movie that has any cast member from the show. So I should probably put DOMINO (May 31) starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Carice van Houten on this list as well.

7. MEN IN BLACK INTERNATIONAL (June 14) – ​After their great comedic chemistry from THOR RAGNAROK, sign me up for any movie that reteams Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth. MEN IN BLACK is an entertaining brand name but not one that piques my interest without these two powerhouse names. It’s strange to think that it’s been twenty-two years since Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones first led one of these films. Will we see any cameos?

6. WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? (August 16) – ​Cate Blanchett is one of our greatest living actresses. Couple that with one of our greatest and most underrated directors, Richard Linklater, I think this is a must-see. A light-hearted dramedy about a father and daughter in search of their wife and mother, Bernadette, after she’s unexpectedly goes missing, doesn’t jump off the page. But from the writer and director who brought us BOYHOOD, THE BEFORE TRILOGY, and DAZED AND CONFUSED means it doesn’t matter what the film is about, it’s worth seeing.

5. YESTERDAY (June 28) – ​It’s hard to find originality in the summer must-see list. The sequels and superhero movies comprise a large portion because well, there wouldn’t be a sequel if they weren’t at least somewhat successful to begin with. But YESTERDAY is definity a fresh face in the bunch. Following a struggling musician who is the only person in the world who has any recollection of the Beatles, YESTERDAY looks to be a sweet, fresh, funny summer movie that might be the surprise hit for all demographics. With the direction of Danny Boyle (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, 28 DAYS LATER) to boot, YESTERDAY should “come together” nicely.

4. SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (July 2) – ​Easily the best Peter Parker we’ve seen on screen (although the animated SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE contains a few who would be a close second), Tom Holland inhabits an innocent and awkward teenager better than any of his predecessors. He has also been the overwhelming heart in his brief run as an Avenger. After the mass appeal of INFINITY WAR and ENDGAME, who isn’t at least curious to see the young webslinger in FAR FROM HOME?

3. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM (May 17) – ​Bourne, Bond, Max, Hunt, Liam Neeson, and Wick. John Wick is the most recent name added to a long line of super cool, butt-kicking, protagonists that can take down any bad guy that comes his way. Enjoyed the first chapter fine, but it wasn’t until Chapter 2 that I felt fully captured the absurd, macho, destroying fun that John Wick was meant to inhabit. Is it odd that Keanu Reeves seems to become more respected with age and has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most consistently charismatic and reliable leading men? You just better not kill his dog.

2. TOY STORY 4 (June 21) – ​If Pixar has a film, then I’m putting it on an anticipation list. They are the one studio studio that you can always rely. Each Toy Story film seems to get a little bit better, with a little more heart. And while they​ ​rank somewhere in the middle in the list of all-time Pixar films, that still means they are head and shoulders above nearly every other movie that comes out in any given year. Woody, Buzz, Jesse and the rest of the gang are back in play promoting friendship and kindness. Plus, it looks like they are re-adding Little Bo Peep and finally giving her a more interesting female representation that was sorely missing from the original TOY STORY.

1. ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD (July 26) – ​Oh Quentin Tarantino, how I love thee. Let me count the ways: RESEVOIR DOGS, PULP FICTION, JACKIE BROWN, KILL BILL, DEATH PROOF, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, DJANGO UNCHAINED, THE HATEFUL EIGHT. Tarantino is easily the most influential director of my generation. He is who I have grown up with and he has never ceased to amaze me with his style and dialogue. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt along with a dozen other actors, I CAN’T WAIT for whatever unusual exciting cleverness will pour out of the mind of Tarantino in ONCE UPON A TIME HOLLYWOOD.

Honorable Mention: ​There are always a few horror films and independent films that I’m definitely curious about. Here are some that look interesting: ​BRIGHTBURN (May 24), MIDSOMMAR (July 3), SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK (August 9), 47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED (August 16), THE ART OF SELF DEFENSE (July 12), BOOKSMART (May 24), STUBER (July 12)

Uninterested: ROCKET MAN (May 31) – ​I have lost all faith in musical biographies. Perhaps it’s because people seem to give these film’s unreasonable credit simply because they like the artist and music from which the film is being portrayed. Hey, I hope I’m wrong, I think Elton John is great! But until I’m proven otherwise, I have no faith that this won’t be another overrated basic storytelling process similar to last year’s overhyped A STAR IS BORN and BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. You can add these to the list as well: ​ALADDIN (May 24), FAST AND FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW (August 2)

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