Summer blockbusters ready to hit the big screen | Cover Story

As the waves crash against the shore, so do blockbusters come crashing into the theaters. It’s summertime and that means there’s plenty of time to play in the sun and just as much free time to indulge in movies.

June kicked summer off with a comedy, Popstar, and a suspenseful story to chill you, The Conjuring 2. The month continues marching on with anticipated sequels like Finding Dory and Independence Day: Resurgence. In July, you’ll see fireworks with The Purge: Election Year and the Ghostbusters reboot, then an even more elaborate lightshow in Star Trek Beyond.

August starts with laughter, either from the Joker in Suicide Squad, or the adult animated comedy, Sausage Party. The Friday before summer comes to a close with Labor Day will see the release of Morgan, a heart-pounding movie with a being not quite human.

Please keep in mind, not all movies on this list are guaranteed to come to Myrtle Beach so be sure to check all local movie listings before making plans. Some movies have not been announced and won’t have a release date until a few weeks in advance rather than a few months, therefore this list is far from all inclusive. Release dates are also subject to change.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Release Date | June 3

Director | Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone

Starring | Andy Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Bill Hader

Rating | R

A mockumentary in classic Lonely Island style, Andy Samberg plays a former boy band member who just released a solo album that ends up being a complete flop. Now he has to do whatever it takes to stay a relevant and loved popstar.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Release Date | June 3

Director | Dave Green

Starring | Stephen Amell, Megan Fox, Alan Ritchson

Rating | PG-13

The heroes that prowl the sewers are back in action when their enemy returns, this time with a formula that could change their entire lives, for better or worse. The ninja team’s infighting may be the end of them – and the end of the world as we know it.

The Conjuring 2

Release Date | June 10

Director | James Wan

Starring | Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga

Rating | R

The husband and wife paranormal investigation duo return to the big screen for big scares in this sequel. In this movie loosely based off a real-life recorded haunting, the couple journeys to the United Kingdom to help a family violently plagued by a ghoulish apparition out for blood.

Now You See Me 2

Release Date | June 10

Director | Jon M. Chu

Starring | Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe

Rating | PG-13

The team of world-renowned magicians returns to the world of vigilantism when approached by a tech mogul. But this time, it’s the tricksters’ turn to be tricked and The Four Horsemen will have to use every trick up their sleeve if they want to prove themselves innocent.

Warcraft

Release Date | June 10

Director | Duncan Jones

Starring | Travies Fimmel, Ben Foster, Toby Kebbell

Rating | PG-13

The critically acclaimed video game finally has been turned into a long-awaited movie adaptation that follows a few familiar characters in a number of locations from the game. Orcs are invading the land of Azeroth to find a new home while the humans must defend theirs.

Finding Dory

Release Date | June 17

Director | Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane

Starring | Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Idris Elba

Rating | PG

A cross-current adventure that made these fish famous has now escalated to a cross-ocean expedition, and this time it’s all about Dory. Join this lovably forgetful blue fish and her friends in a journey of self-discovery and the meaning of family.

Central Intelligence

Release Date | June 17

Director | Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring | Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart

Rating | PG-13

The coolest kid in school became an accountant, and the nerdiest kid became an agent for the CIA. These two meet up as adults and reminisce about high school, but enemies of the state have other plans and it’s up to this mismatched duo to save the country.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Release Date | June 24

Director | Rolan Emmerich

Starring | Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman

Rating | N/A

Two decades have passed since the earth fought for its independence from invading alien forces. In that time, humanity has worked to become stronger and better defended. However, when extraterrestrial forces return with updates of their own, all that work may still not be enough.

The Shallows

Release Date | June 29

Director | Jaume Collet-Serra

Starring | Blake Lively, Óscar Jaenada

Rating | N/A

A young surfer is enjoying a vacation by herself on a mostly secluded beach. Her time with the waves becomes much more teeth-filled when a great white shark begins hunting in the shallows about 200 meters from shore. Stranded on a small rock, she has to figure out a way to survive.

Swiss Army Man

Release Date | July 1

Director | Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Starring | Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano

Rating | R

Marooned on an island and losing hope, Hank suddenly finds a reason to live through an unlikely source – a corpse. In a surreal and darkly funny story, follow Hank as he tries to go home with the help of his new friend with useful powers, the corpse Manny.

The Legend of Tarzan

Release Date | July 1

Director | David Yates

Starring | Margot Robbie, Alexander Skarsgård, Christoph Waltz

Rating | PG-13

Everyone knows the story of the boy raised by gorillas and his eventual return to civilized life. As an adult his expertise of the jungles is needed, but Tarzan discovers corruption threatening his family and home, and he must return to the laws of nature to save them.

The Purge: Election Year

Release Date | July 1

Director | James DeMonaco

Starring | Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell

Rating | R

After her family was killed during one Purge many years earlier, Charlene Roan returns in this third instillation of the suspense movies to put an end to the Purge by becoming president. However, corruption runs deep and the senator might not make it to the election.

Our Kind of Traitor

Release Date | July 1

Director | Susanna White

Starring | Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris

Rating | N/A

A couple’s vacation turns into a dangerous foray between nations when a man they befriended turns out to be a kingpin in the Russian mafia. They become embroiled in the conflict and have no idea to trust, not the mafia, not even the secret services of their own nation.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

Release Date | July 8

Director | Jake Szymanski

Starring | Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick

Rating | R

Two brothers always get each other riled up and end up ruining many family events. Their family tells them they have to get respectable dates to rein them in for their sister’s wedding, so they meet two women to take but it turns out these two are just as much trouble as the brothers.

Captain Fantastic

Release Date | July 8

Director | Matt Ross

Starring | Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay

Rating | R

Two parents raising their six kids in remote woodlands are faced with circumstances that force them to move outside their comfort zone. Their excursion into the real world forces many realizations on the family, most of them unkind, and all of them challenging.

Ghostbusters

Release Date | July 15

Director | Paul Feig

Starring | Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon

Rating | N/A

New York City is once again threatened by evil ghostly apparitions and this time, we know who we’re gonna call. An all-female team of Ghostbusters is ready to take on their antagonists unapologetically and save the world.

The Infiltrator

Release Date | July 15

Director | Brad Furman

Starring | Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Dian Kruger

Rating | N/A

A gritty peek into an undercover operation that actually happened in the 80s, this movie follows three federal agents sneaking deep into a huge drug trafficking operation. It takes years for these agents to gain the trust of any drug lords, and the smallest mistake could cost them their lives.

Star Trek Beyond

Release Date | July 22

Director | Justin Lin

Starring | Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana

Rating | N/A

When an unknown alien force violently conquers The USS Enterprise, Captain Kirk makes a difficult decision to evacuate his crew. As it turns out, the planet they escape to may prove just as deadly, and this time The Federation is unable to help them.

Lights Out

Release Date | July 22

Director | David F. Sandberg

Starring | Teresa Palmer, Billy Burke, Gabriel Bateman

Rating | PG-13

As children, we’re all told there’s no reason to be scared of the dark. Unfortunately, Rebecca and her baby brother have good reason to. Their lives are on the line when a malevolent spirit from her past terrorizes them both, a specter that only appears in the dark.

Absolutely Fabulous

Release Date | July 22

Director | Mandie Fletcher

Starring | Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders

Rating | R

These hilariously bad ladies from the popular British television show of the same name are hitting the big screens and causing mayhem everywhere. This time, in an attempt to stay hip and relevant, Patsy and Edina accidentally become criminals hunted down by Britain.

Nerve

Release Date | July 27

Director | Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Starring | Dave Franco, Emma Roberts, Kimiko Glenn

Rating | N/A

Truth or dare is taken to the extreme in this adrenaline-filled story where only dares count and the stakes are higher than just momentary embarrassment. Two teens are thrust into being teammates and the consequences of the dares become steeper with each win.

Jason Bourne

Release Date | July 29

Director | Paul Greengrass

Starring | Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Alicia Vikander

Rating | PG-13

Still on the run, still trying to put pieces of his life together, Jason Bourne mysteriously resurfaces in time to help a woman on the run from the government who made him who he is. They have no idea what his goals are…or how to stop him.

Bad Moms

Release Date | July 29

Director | Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Starring | Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn

Rating | N/A

Motherhood may be rewarding, but it is also stressful and tiring. Combined with the expectation to be the perfect mom with a great career can easily lead to a snapping point. Join this small army of moms tired of trying to be perfect and who instead choose to be…bad.

Indignation

Release Date | July 29

Director | James Schamus

Starring | Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, Tracy Letts

Rating | N/A

The son of a Jewish butcher, Marcus is granted a scholarship to a college in Ohio in 1955. Already a difficult time with the Korean War, Marcus now finds himself in the midst of social injustices like anti-Semitism, personal repression, and the condemnation of mental illness.

Suicide Squade

Release Date | August 5

Director | David Ayer

Starring | Margot Robbie, Will Smith, Jared Leto

Rating | R

A group of incarcerated Gotham villains may never again see the light of day, until approached by a government official. She wants to create a team who doesn’t play nice and will be willing to accomplish gritty, not-so-legal missions in exchange for clemency.

Sausage Party

Release Date | August 12

Director | Greg Tiernan, Conrad Vernon

Starring | Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill

Rating | R

A hilariously raunchy journey into the life of food, Sausage Party follows Frank (a hotdog) and his friends as they try to discover the meaning of their existence. Everything they know flipped on their heads when they realize being “chosen” from the store means being consumed.

The Space Between Us

Release Date | August 19

Director | Peter Chelsom

Starring | Asa Butterfield, Britt Robertson, Gary Oldman

Rating | PG-13

Mankind’s first attempt to colonize Mars becomes an even more groundbreaking historical event when one of the astronauts ends up giving birth on the red planet. Roughly 16 years later, the boy born a Martian finally journeys to Earth to experience a life he’d only read about.

War Dogs

Release Date | August 19

Director | Todd Phillips

Starring | Jonah Hill, Miles Teller

Rating | R

Two young and relatively unknown men from Miami startle the world when they become gunrunners for the U.S. government. Riding on the highs of their success, this dark comedy inspired by true events follows the two all the way to Afghanistan, where trouble finds them.

Ben-Hur

Release Date | August 19

Director | Timur Bekmambetov

Starring | Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman

Rating | N/A

Betrayed by a man his called brother, Ben-Hur survives years of slavery and abuse by feeding on his hatred. The chance to extract vengeance on the Roman officer who killed his family comes in the form of the deadly chariot arena, where “the first to finish is the last to die.”

Mechanic: Resurrection

Release Date | August 26

Director | Dennis Gansel

Starring | Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones

Rating | R

When his desire to retire in peace is destroyed by the kidnapping of his girlfriend, The Mechanic is forced back into business. He has to accomplish three more contract killings if he wants to save his love’s life, each one requiring all of his skills and knowledge to accomplish.

Don’t Breathe

Release Date | August 26

Director | Fede Alvarez

Starring | Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang

Rating | N/A

Despite misgivings about robbing a blind man living along, the temptation of the rumored money he possesses is too much to pass up. However, their expectations for an easy robbery are blown to pieces when the blind man ends up trapping and hunting them down.

The Hollars

Release Date | August 26

Director | John Krasinski

Starring | John Krasinski, Anna Kendrick, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Rating | PG-13

After his mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor, an aspiring artist leaves his home in New York, pregnant girlfriend in tow, to spend some time with his family. Once there, he is immediately swept up in the drama of the world he left behind.

Morgan

Release Date | September 2

Director | Luke Scott

Starring | Kate Mara, Rose Leslie, Anya Taylor-Joy

Rating | R

Created in a lab and growing at an exponential rate, Morgan is considered at first to be a great success. But when she begins acting unexpectedly, in ways no human could, the scientists are forced to come to terms with the being they created but no longer understand.

This story was originally published June 14, 2016, 5:00 AM.