After more than a year on the bench at its greatest spectacle, Hollywood is ready to dazzle again.
From “F9” and “In the Heights” to “The Suicide Squad” and “Black Widow” there will be a steady stream of blockbusters populating multiplexes across the country for the first time since March 2020. The promise of air conditioning, popcorn, Soda fountains, 60-foot screens, and cutting-edge sound could be a welcome change from living room and virtual clock parties. Not to mention the always romantic concept of shared experience.
It’s not a moment too early for crowded cinemas.
The modern summer movie season, which runs from May to Labor Day, regularly generates over $ 4 billion in revenue and accounts for around 40% of annual revenue. Last year, summer earnings were $ 176 million, down 96% from 2019. Although theaters have been ramping up for some time, this summer will prove to be the biggest litmus test yet to see whether habits have changed irrevocably during the pandemic.

This picture, published by Paramount Pictures, shows from left Millicent Simmonds, Emily Blunt and Noah Jupe in a scene from “A Quiet Place Part II”.
Paramount Pictures via AP Photo / Jonny Cournoyer
In a way, the calendar looks like a revision from last summer. Many of the most anticipated releases were due a year ago, including John Krasinski’s “A Quiet Place Part II,” which first came out on May 28th, the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning “In the Heights” (11th May). June), the ninth episode of the “Fast & Furious” series “F9” (June 25), Marvel’s “Black Widow” (July 9) with Scarlett Johansson, Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson action-adventure “Jungle Cruise” ( July 30th) and Nia DaCosta’s “Candyman” restart (August 27th).

This picture, published by Warner Bros. Entertainment, shows Dascha Polanco, from left, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Stephanie Beatriz in a scene from In the Heights.
Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP Photo / Macall Polay
In the Heights director Jon M. Chu had to convince Miranda that it was worth waiting for a theatrical release. Miranda wanted his joyous musical about a bodega owner, Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) and his friends in Washington Heights, to be immediately available to people. But Chu knows the importance of global release for films with underrepresented cast members. Like “Crazy Rich Asians”, “In the Heights” features strangers in key roles, ready for a breakout on the right platform.
“We had big dreams for it,” said Chu. “To be able to do this on the largest scale possible meant so much.”

This picture, published by Universal Pictures, shows Nathalie Emmanuel (left) and Vin Diesel in a scene from “F9”.
Universal images via AP Photo / Giles Keyte
And it’s not the only Blue Sky blockbuster in the bunch. The “Fast & Furious” series has always been about creating a fun theatrical experience, and “F9” not only brings back a fan favorite – Sung Kangs Han – it also literally sends cars into space. It is expected to be one of the biggest hits of the season.
“Whenever I get together with Vin (Diesel) and everyone to make these films, we don’t even talk about the plot or anything, we talk about the feeling. I remember when I was a kid I saved enough money in the summer to to go there.” the films to share that experience with a group of strangers, “said director Justin Lin.” When that moment comes and everyone laughs or cheers together, it’s magical. “
Before the pandemic, going to the cinema in the summer was a ritual. Audiences made up for last year by showing off summer retro hits at drive-ins. Now it is a wild question as to whether the promise of an “event film” will motivate audiences back to the cinemas, especially if there is something available to watch at home as well.

This image, published by Warner Bros. Pictures, shows an animated LeBron James in a scene from Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Warner Bros. images via AP Photo
“Space Jam: A New Legacy” Director Malcom D. Lee called his film “The Epitome of a Popcorn Movie”. In the sequel to the 1996 Michael Jordan picture, LeBron James now shares the screen with classic Looney Toons characters.
Those looking for a more R-rated experience can thank James Gunn for turning the once obscure Guardians of the Galaxy into movie stars and now doing the same for the misfit, Z-class villains “Want to do. The Suicide Squad.” He had a choice of DC characters and turned down Superman for Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, Idris Elba’s Bloodsport, and John Cena’s Peacemaker.
Gunn was inspired by one of his favorite genres: the 1960s war cap. Think “The Dirty Dozen” and “Where Eagles Dare”.
“Reviving this genre with just those fucking super villains as protagonists really appealed to me,” said Gunn.

This image, published by Searchlight Pictures, shows Sly Stone at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, which was featured in the documentary “Summer of Soul”.
Searchlight images via AP Photo
There are many other options as well, including a variety of well-known documentaries, from Morgan Neville’s “Roadrunner: A Movie About Anthony Bourdain” (July 16) to Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back” (August 27). There are family films like “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” (June 18) and “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” (July 23) and horror films like “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” (June 4) and ” Don “‘t Breathe 2” (August 13). You can see Matt Damon try to save his daughter in the drama “Stillwater” (July 30), or see Gael García Bernal in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old” (Jul 23) Ryan Reynolds has appeared in two major action films, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (June 16) and Free Guy (August 13), and there’s even an epic Dev Patel-directed version of one classic Arthurian legend. “The Green Knight” arrives on July 30th.

This picture, published by Sony Pictures, shows a scene from Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Sony Pictures via AP Photo
“I’m really glad our film is one of those films that has been withheld because I really want audiences to have the opportunity to see it on the big screen,” said David Lowery, director of The Green Knight . “It should obviously be seen that way, but it’s also a strange movie, and I think the idea of having that experience in a cinema with other people is going to be really, really exciting, especially after a year outside the big ones Canvas . “
Some studios, like Godzilla vs. Kong, have been cautiously releasing larger films lately in order to get decent results. But after seven weeks, even this monster is still reluctant to break the $ 100 million mark domestically. And it’s unclear what the new benchmarks for success will look like, or if a movie has the chance of achieving something that comes close to pre-pandemic expectations. The last “Fast” movie opened in 2017 for $ 98.8 million. “Black Widow” was once slated for a start of at least $ 90 million. The largest domestic opening so far this year was just over $ 30 million.
It has also become difficult for moviegoers to keep track of ever-changing dates, delays, and releases across multiple platforms. Some summer-ready titles like “Top Gun: Maverick” and the new James Bond “No Time To Die” are waiting for their debut until the end of the year. Jurassic World: Dominion has been postponed to 2022. And changes are still being made as some titles are being outsourced for streaming services. Sony sold its “Cinderella”, run by Camilla Cabello and Billy Porter, to Amazon Prime and its Kevin Hart as the single-dad picture “Fatherhood” to Netflix.
Even the big-screen films will have either unique hybrid release plans or shortened theatrical windows. All Warner Bros. titles, including In the Heights, The Suicide Squad and Space Jam, are available for free to HBO Max subscribers for 31 days and in theaters. Most Disney films, including “Cruella” (May 28), “Black Widow” and “Jungle Cruise”, open in both theaters and on Disney + as premium rentals for $ 29.99. Your Pixar title “Luca” will go direct to Disney + on June 17th, free for subscribers. And the Sundance outbreak “CODA” will be released in theaters and on Apple TV + at the same time.
There are many unknowns for theaters and studios. Are cinemas even on the priority lists for the reopening? Will there be a $ 100 million opening weekend soon? Will there ever be another $ 250 million opening weekend? The filmmakers are not trying to deal with it. But everyone is emotional that going to the movies could finally get back to normal.
“I think about it all the time,” said Gunn. “I can hardly wait to sit in a theater with a group of people and watch films again. It’s a real joy of life. It’s a magical space for me and has been since my childhood.”
Follow AP film writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr.