Summer Movies 2017: The 40 Most Anticipated Blockbusters, Horror Movies, and More

by Jesse Schedeen

Summer is fast approaching, and that means we all need an excuse to escape the heat and sunshine. Luckily, Hollywood is always there to give us excuses to sit in AC. From Baby Groot to "Wonder Woman," here are the movies that your eyes should feast on over the next few months.

'Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'

Release Date: May 5 Marvel Studios' trio of 2017 superhero flicks kicks off with a cosmic adventure. "Guardians Vol. 2" features the whole gang of A-holes, along with a couple new recruits like Pom Klementieff's Mantis. The big twist is that we'll finally meet Star-Lord's estranged father, Ego the Living Planet.

'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword'

Release Date: May 12 There's always room for another King Arthur movie, especially if it's one with Guy Ritchie behind the camera. Charlie Hunnam stars in this stylish origin story about a young Arthur learning to wield his magical weapon.

'Snatched'

Release Date: May 12 Even if "Snatched" were just the latest project from Amy Schumer, it would be worth keeping an eye on. But this mother/daughter comedy also features Goldie Hawn in her first film role in 15 years.

'The Wall'

Release Date: May 12 "The Wall" is a brutally efficient war movie about two American soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi sniper. It's not exactly the kind of movie we'd expect John Cena to star in, which is exactly why we're so intrigued.

'Alien: Covenant'

Release Date: May 19 Ridley Scott is back for his third "Alien" movie, one that serves as both a sequel to 2012's "Prometheus" and the start of a new trilogy. We're comfortable knowing that, at the very least, this can't possibly be the worst entry in the franchise.

'Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul'

Release Date: May 19 The latest "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is both a sequel to "Dog Days" and a fresh start for the franchise, as all of the old cast members have been replaced. It's unfortunate, but that's what happens when child stars age faster than their characters.

'Baywatch'

Release Date: May 26 Seeing a cast this pretty isn't doing much to make us feel better about our substandard beach bodies. But the good news is that this "Baywatch" reboot looks to offer (potentially) a lot of R-rated fun.

'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales'

Release Date: May 27 Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow has taken some time off, and he's ready to embark on a whole new wave of mischief in the fifth "Pirates" film. This time, Jack finds himself hunted by the relentless, pirate-loathing Salazar (Javier Bardem).

'Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie'

Release Date: June 2 Based on the popular series of children's novels, "Captain Underpants" revolves around two elementary schoolers who trick their principal into becoming the hero their city deserves.

'Wonder Woman'

Release Date: June 2 The DC Extended Universe had a rough go last year, raking in plenty of cash for WB but not exactly doing much to win over critics. Hopefully that will change on June 2, as Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman gets her first solo vehicle. "Wonder Woman" will unfold in World War I, as Diana Prince first ventures into the world of men.

'It Comes at Night'

Release Date: June 9 "It Comes at Night" might just be the most promising of the new horror films hitting theaters this summer. Joel Edgerton stars as a father committed to protecting his family at all costs as a mysterious disaster ravages the outside world.

'The Mummy'

Release Date: June 9 Universal is rebooting the "Mummy" again, this time with Tom Cruise as the face of the franchise. Sofia Boutella stars as the title character, a vengeful, reincarnated Egyptian princess. And Russell Crowe's Dr. Jekyll will help bridge the gap to Universal's larger shared universe of monsters.

'All Eyez On Me'

Release Date: June 16 With "Straight Outta Compton" becoming one of the biggest hits of 2015, it was inevitable that Hollywood would turn its eye to the legendary Tupac Shakur. Starring Demetrius Shipp, Jr. and Danai Gurira, this biopic covers the legendary rapper's meteoric career until his tragic death in 1996.

'The Book of Henry'

Release Date: June 16 Before he takes on a little project called "Star Wars: Episode IX," director Colin Trevorrow has this drama about two brothers who hatch a plot to rescue their neighbor from her abusive stepfather. Naomi Watts stars as the mother who decides to help her sons carry out their crazy scheme.

'Cars 3'

Release Date: June 16 Nothing like a "Cars" sequel to fill Disney's coffers to Scrooge McDuck-like levels. Surprisingly, though, this sequel looks to be pushing the franchise into darker territory, with Lightning McQueen dealing with a potentially career-ending accident. It looks to be the "Rocky III" of this particular franchise.

'Rough Night'

Release Date: June 16 While Hollywood has yet to reboot "Weekend at Bernie's," Sony is basically delivering the next best thing with this black comedy. Scarlett Johansson stars in a tale of five college friends whose bachelorette party goes horribly wrong after the death of a male stripper.

'47 Meters Down'

Release Date: June 16 If Hollywood hasn't already permanently scared you away from venturing into the ocean, this horror movie just might seal the deal. "47 Meters Down" combines the fear of man-eating sharks with the equally terrifying prospect of being trapped on the ocean floor with a dwindling oxygen supply.

'Transformers: The Last Knight'

Release Date: June 21 Director Michael Bay is reportedly (once again) taking his final bow with the "Transformers" franchise this summer. "The Last Knight" will feature a healthy mix of old and new faces as Optimus Prime returns to Earth to discover all-out war has broken out between humanity and Transformers.

'Baby Driver'

Release Date: June 28 We've been waiting for Edgar Wright's next film ever since the director dropped out of "Ant-Man." Ansel Elgort stars as a talented young getaway driver who struggles to make a clean break from the criminal lifestyle after falling in love with a waitress (Lily James).

'Amityville: The Awakening'

Release Date: June 30 Can you believe the "Amityville" franchise is up to 19 movies now? "The Awakening" stars Bella Thorne as a troubled teenager who discovers too late that her family has moved into the most infamous house in paranormal history.

'The Beguiled'

Release Date: June 30 This summer's lineup isn't all blockbusters and horror flicks. Acclaimed director Sofia Coppola is debuting her latest, based on both the book and the 1971 film about an injured Civil War soldier who is reluctantly taken in by the headmistress of an all-girls boarding school.

'Despicable Me 3'

Release Date: June 30 Steve Carell's Gru is back, this time he is dealing with multiple problems -- including the '80s-obsessed villain, Balthazar Bratt. Gru also reconnects with his long-lost brother, Dru.

'The House'

Release Date: June 30 "The House" features an impressive ensemble of comedians, including stars Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. The two play a married couple who resort to creating a casino in their basement after accidentally depleting their daughter's college fund. Hopefully lots of laughs ensue.

'A Ghost Story'

Release Date: July 7 Despite the name, "A Ghost Story" is less a horror movie and more of a romantic drama. Oscar-winner Casey Affleck stars as a dead man whose spirit is drawn back to his grieving wife (Rooney Mara). The film has been attracting rave reviews from the festival scene, and could easily wind up being a major player in the upcoming awards season.

'Spider-Man: Homecoming'

Release Date: July 7 2016's "Captain America: Civil War" introduced us to a brand new Spider-Man, and now Tom Holland's Spidey is flying solo (with a little help from Robert Downey, Jr.'s Tony Stark). "Homecoming" will force Peter Parker to confront both the pressures of high school and the threat posed by the Vulture (Michael Keaton).

'Bad Dads'

Release Date: July 14 The whole point of "Bad Moms" was that it was a raunchy comedy starring a group of ladies for a change, so we're not entirely sure what the point of this man-themed spinoff is. But we're always down to watch nice, clean-cut adults misbehaving.

'War for the Planet of the Apes'

Release Date: July 14 The rebooted "Planet of the Apes" franchise is getting a third entry. This time around, Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his growing band of apes struggle to defend themselves against a desperate military leader (Woody Harrelson) who believes that humanity faces imminent extinction.

'Wish Upon'

Release Date: July 14 Joey King stars in this promising horror flick about a girl who finds a magic box granting her seven wishes. Apparently no one warned her that nothing good has ever come from any wish-granting artifact in the history of cinema.

'Dunkirk'

Release Date: July 21 Director Christopher Nolan shot his first war movie in 70mm/IMAX format, which is enough to get plenty of butts in seats already. "Dunkirk" will chronicle the infamous 1940 evacuation, where thousands of Allied soldiers raced against time to escape an approaching German army.

'Girls Trip'

Release Date: July 21 Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith headline an impressive ensemble cast in this comedy about a group of old friends heading to the Big Easy to cut loose one more time.

'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'

Release Date: July 21 Fans of "The Fifth Element" will be thrilled to see director Luc Besson dabbling in science fiction again. "Valerian" stars Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan as two special agents tasked with tracking down a mysterious dark power hidden inside a massive city. This movie looks insane -- in a good way.

'Atomic Blonde'

Release Date: July 28 We're still waiting for a Furiosa movie, but in the meantime we think "Atomic Blonde" will quench our thirst for more Charlize Theron waging war on bad guys. "Atomic Blonde" is shaping up to be a very stylish, female-driven answer to "John Wick." Maybe a crossover is in order?

'The Emoji Movie'

Release Date: July 28 That's right. They're making a movie about emojis. But if "The LEGO Movie" can turn out to be one of the best things to happen to animation in years, maybe this one will defy expectations, too. At the very least, who doesn't want to hear Patrick Stewart voice the Poop Emoji?

'An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power'

Release Date: July 28 Former Vice-President Al Gore is back again with a sequel to his award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth." This follow-up explores how the fight against climate change has evolved over the past decade, and whether humanity is truly on the verge of an energy revolution.

'The Dark Tower'

Release Date: Aug. 4 Many thought Stephen King's "Dark Tower" books were unfilmable. We're about to find out if Hollywood can do justice to this dense fantasy/Western saga. But at least the casting is on point, with Idris Elba playing gunslinger Roland, and Matthew McConaughey as his nemesis, the Man in Black.

'Wind River'

Release Date: Aug 4 If you've enjoyed the dynamic between Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen in the "Avengers" movies, then we have good news. The two are reuniting for this hard-boiled thriller about a rookie FBI agent who hires a backwoods tracker to hep her solve a mysterious murder. It marks the directorial debut of the Oscar-nominated writer of "Hell or High Water."

'Annabelle: Creation'

Release Date: Aug 11 The "Conjuring" universe is getting even bigger this year, with a second spinoff film featuring cursed doll Annabelle. This one is a prequel to the first, exploring how that doll was created and began her long career of terrorizing children.

'The Hitman's Bodyguard'

Release Date: Aug. 18 Why does a hitman need a bodyguard? We're not sure, but we're eager to see what happens when Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson join forces on the big screen. It's almost like having a Deadpool/Nick Fury crossover.

'Polaroid'

Release Date: Aug. 25 Essentially a mashup of "The Ring" and "Final Destination," "Polaroid" revolves around a cursed camera that dooms anyone who has their picture taken to a horrible, violent death.

'Terminator 2 3D'

Release Date: Aug. 25 It didn't quite make the film's 25th anniversary, but the 3D re-release of "Terminator 2" finally hits theaters this summer. We'd much rather pay to re-watch this classic than suffer through another pointless sequel.