10 Must-See Movies of the Summer

Jul 10, 2015

Heading to the movies is a great way to escape the summer heat! Whether you're planning a family movie matinee, a girls' night out, or a romantic date night, we've got a list of the top ten movies — old and new — of the summer here. We'll leave the popcorn up to you.

Minions

Starring everyone's favorite little yellow characters speaking in jumbled tongues, Minions is the highly-anticipated spin-off from the popular Despicable Me franchise. And it delivers the perfect dose of silly for the season. Minions stars Sandra Bullock as evil villainess Scarlet Overkill, and features the voice talents of Jon Hamm, Allison Janney, Michael Keaton and of course, Steve Carell, appealing to both adults and kids alike. Opens July 10, 2015. Rated PG

Self/Less

If you could live forever, would you? A date-night thriller, Self/Less is the story of a wealthy, selfish business man plagued by cancer who undergoes a radical scientific procedure to have his consciousness transferred to the body of a healthy young man in order to evade death. But when flashes of the young man's memories begin to seep into the old man's psyche, their lives become wildly entangled. Starring Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds. Opens July 10, 2015. Rated PG-13

Flight of the Navigator

Nearly 30 years ago (perhaps making this a vintage classic?!), Flight of the Navigator introduced us to out-of-the-world fun as a young boy discovers a spaceship that jets him to the future. The time traveling adventure is one that's worth relaunching and imagining together what it would be like if you lived in outer space and connected with new worlds. Consider making it a movie marathon with these sci-fi and fantasy flicks: E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Super 8, and The Neverending Story. Rated PG

Inside Out

Not surprisingly, Pixar's next installment is just as touching and poignant as its predecessors. Struggling to deal with the move to a new town and school, Riley's (personified) emotions band together to best determine a path to best acclimate her to her new surroundings. The film brings to the life those feelings we often can't articulate and the inner working of our brain in the most imaginative of animations. And it reminds us of the sweet magic of childhood — and that it's good to be expressive. Voiced by Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and Mindy Kaling. Now playing. Rated PG

Ant-Man

Lights, camera, action! The newest release in the Marvel franchise is about to descend upon us: Ant-Man. A master thief is given the opportunity to use his criminal talents to stop evil and save the world from imminent destruction. Outfitted with a technologically advanced super suit, Ant-Man can shrink to the size of, well, an ant, yet pack a punch that would make Floyd Mayweather cringe. Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily, and Corey Stoll. Comic heaven opens July 17, 2015. Rated PG-13

A Lego Brickumentary

Narrated by Jason Bateman, A Lego Brickumentary looks closely at the empire that Lego built, the creativity the toy bricks inspire, and the many walks of life who love Lego. In theaters, On-Demand, and iTunes on July 31, 2015. Rated G

Troop Beverly Hills

A campy adventure, the '80s favorite Troop Beverly Hills is full of silly antics as an unlikely local troop and their leader try to earn badges and ultimately survive the great outdoors. In the end, they discover together the value of teamwork, commitment, and going outside of their comfort zones. For more summer classics, check out The Parent Trap, A League of Their Own, and Goonies. Rated PG

Trainwreck

Comedy is queen during the summer. Happy, sunny days call for continuing the laughs into the evening. So, schedule a babysitter, head to your fave dinner spot, and end the night on this high note:

Unattached party girl and commitment-phobe Amy finds herself unexpectedly transfixed when she finally meets an upstanding guy. Trainwreck will surely deliver the perfect balance of outlandish humor and sentimentality we've come to expect from Judd Apatow, while packing a serious punch from the film's writer and star, unabashed comedian, Amy Schumer. Also starring Bill Hader, Colin Quinn, Tilda Swinton, and Vanessa Bayer. Opens July 17, 2015. Rated R

People Places Things

While the summer blockbuster reigns supreme, sometimes we crave a quieter film. A newly single father of twin girls attempts to make sense of his world: Balancing his teaching career, his daughters, and the prospect of meeting someone new, while trying to get over the wife that left him. An honest and candid performance from Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) will likely leave no dry eyes in the house. Also starring Regina Hall and Jessica Williams. Opens August 14, 2015. Rated R

Masterminds

The juxtaposition of the movie’s title and its dim-witted characters is spot on in this heist-comedy starring Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis and Zach Galafianakis. Directed by Josh Hess (Napolen Dynamite, Nacho Libre), Masterminds is sure to pack the same awkwardness and comedic punches with this dynamic cast. You’ll have to wait til just after summer to catch this flick, but it’s sure to be worth the wait. Masterminds opens Oct 9, 2015 Rated PG-13

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