From Spider-Man to Shaft to The Dead Don't Die: the best movies to watch this summer

Summer is almost here — time to hit the beach, haul out the barbecue, and catch up on some summer flicks. 

Whether you're into films by critically acclaimed writers and directors (including one that opened Cannes this year), the latest Pixar adventures or big-action blockbusters, here are some of the movies that made out summer list. What are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments below.  

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (June 2)
The buzz hasn't exactly been feverish when it comes to X-Men: Dark Phoenix, but Game of Thrones fans are eagerly awaiting the chance to see GoT star Sophie Turner in her first leading role. Turner plays Jean Grey, who, during a dangerous mission in space, is transformed into one of the most powerful mutants of all time, the Dark Phoenix. Also featuring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence — whose character is (potential SPOILER alert) expected to bite the dust this time around — the film follows the veteran league of mutant heroes as Grey spirals out of control and threatens earth. But will it have a big impact at the box office? That story's ending is tougher to predict.

Late Night (June 7)
In Amazon Studios' latest comedy, Emma Thompson plays Katharine Newbury, a tough-as-nails late-night talk show host whose ratings are falling to the point where she risks losing her plum gig. She also has a reputation for being a "woman who hates women," so she recruits Molly, a chemical plant worker who is determined to break into comedy, to be her writer. (Interestingly, Molly is played by Mindy Kaling, whose real-life experience as the only female writer on The Office inspired the Late Night screenplay, which she also wrote.) So how does the pair navigate the male-dominated field in the diversity-minded, #MeToo era? It may not have the tack-sharp cleverness of 30 Rock, but it will no doubt win some breezy summer laughs. Directed by Vancouver's Nisha Ganatra.

The Dead Don't Die (June 14)
Time to sharpen your best zombie-fighting moves, because legendary indie director Jim Jarmusch has returned with the hilarious zombie comedy The Dead Don't Die. In it, residents of the small, peaceful town of Centerville are suddenly terrorized by zombies, and hapless local police officers, along with an odd mortician, must fight to stop the throngs of undead. The film features top actors including Adam Driver and Bill Murray as the local cops; Tilda Swinton as the quirky Scottish morgue worker; Carole Kane, Iggy Pop and Sara Driver as zombies; and other stars from Selena Gomez to Rosie Perez to GZA. Tom Waits and Steve Buscemi, who have appeared in several Jarmusch films, also play roles. The Dead Don't Die opened this year's Cannes Film Festival, and is about to invade theatres across North America. 

Shaft (June 14)
"He thinks he's a black James Bond," says Shaft's son John Shaft Jr. — played by Usher — in the trailer for the latest instalment of the classic '70s franchise. "If that dude was real," retorts Samuel L. Jackson, reprising the role he played in 2000, "he would think he was me." Some things never change, but others have clearly shifted in this modern-day film, in which John Shaft Jr. is a cyber security expert and MIT grad looking to solve the mystery of his best friend's death. And even though his dad wasn't around when he was a kid, Shaft Jr. needs his help, and Shaft agrees to navigate him through Harlem's crime-riddled underbelly — even though his trademark leather duster may clash with JJ's own FBI analyst's badge. Besides, Shaft's got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that's both professional and personal.

Toy Story 4 (June 21)
Keenu Reeves is the voice behind Canadian motorcycle stuntman Duke Caboom — think '70s legend Evel Knievel — as he gets his big debut in Toy Story 4, the latest addition to the wildly popular Pixar franchise. In the film, little Bonnie transforms a plastic spork (spoon and fork combo) into a toy in arts and crafts, but Forky has an existential crisis and escapes the family's camper. Woody makes the leap to save him, and adventure and hilarity ensue — thanks to stars including Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Joan Cusack, Michael Keaton, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, the late Don Rickles and many more. It may be a well-worn formula, but it's one that never fails to keep both kids and parents wide-eyed and entertained. The film also marks the directorial debut for Josh Cooley, who began his career as an intern at Pixar, where he worked as a storyboard artist. 

Yesterday (June 28)
Imagine a world where The Beatles never existed — no Beatlemania, no famous crosswalks, nobody humming She Loves You, no significance to the names John, Paul, George and Ringo. That's exactly what happens in Danny Boyle's latest music-heavy comedy, in which a struggling musician gets hit by a bus, then mysteriously wakes up to a world where nobody has heard of the Beatles. So when he starts singing their songs, he transforms from total flop to Fab Four-level superstar. Written by romantic comedy legend Richard Curtis — who penned screenplays for Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones' Diary and Love Actually, to name a few — the film, which closed this year's Tribeca film fest, features EastEnders star Himesh Patel, Lily James (Downton Abbey, Cinderella), SNL star Kate McKinnon and famed singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who suggests a lyric change from "Hey Jude" to "Hey Dude."

Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2)
It's one thing to have to battle evil forces in your own universe, but when they're coming from a whole other dimension, that's a serious problem. The latest blockbuster to come from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: Far From Home picks up where Avengers: Endgame left off — with Peter Parker mourning the death of his mentor Tony Stark, and heading on a European school trip. But instead of seeing the sights, Parker finds himself fighting The Elementals, an evil bunch that can manipulate nature. Along the way, Parker also fights some internal battles: "Peter's ready for a vacation at the beginning of this movie, to say the least," director Jon Watts said in an interview. "This film is about the world telling him, 'It's time for you to step up and grow up, kid,' and he's saying, 'But I still want to be a kid and go on vacation.'"

The Lion King (July 19)
Aladdin may be cleaning up at the box office, but there's another Disney flick that many tiny tots are awaiting just as eagerly: the Jon Favreau "live action" (most of it is CGI) remake of the beloved classic, The Lion King. Set in the African savannah, the film follows the young Simba, who idolizes his father King Mufasa, and has to learn to follow in his footsteps — but not everybody is happy with the new heir's arrival, which leads to Simba's exile. (Read: big adventure.) Early reviews are glowing for the flick, which stars entertainment giants including Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and James Earl Jones as Mufasa. "While others search for what they can take," says the wise Mufasa, "a true king searches for what he can give."

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (July 26)
Quentin Tarantino returns with his latest star-studded crime film, which centres around actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they try to make their mark at the end of Hollywood's golden era. But like every Tarantino film, it's not that simple: the film also delves into the story of Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), the young actress married to director Roman Polanski who was murdered by followers of Charles Manson. The cast includes a host of Hollywood heavyweights, among them Al Pacino, Dakota Fanning, Mike Moh, Damian Lewis, Bruce Dern and Emile Hirsh. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood also marks the last feature film for Luke Perry, who died of a stroke earlier this year. "I've been working on this script for five years, as well as living in Los Angeles county most of my life, including in 1969, when I was seven years old," Tarantino told the Hollywood Reporter. "I'm very excited to tell this story of an LA and a Hollywood that don't exist anymore." 

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (August 2) 
A cyber-enhanced international terrorist Brixton Lore (Idris Elba) creates a deadly virus that could wipe out the entire human race, and two men who can't stand each other — DSS federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and former elite military operative Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) — are forced to team up and stop him. In the process, they hurtle themselves around the globe, from the towers of Los Angeles to the nuclear wasteland of Chernobyl. So will the sworn enemies save the day? Only one thing is certain: the eight-film Fast and the Furious franchise has already raked in almost $5 billion worldwide, and this action-packed flick will keep that furious box office haul flowing.