While May belonged to Marvel – thanks to Iron Man 3’s billion dollar box office – there is no question that June belongs to DC. In the past, it has been Batman that represents the DC Comics brand, but this year that task befalls a more colorful superhero. Man of Steel is arguably June’s most anticipated release, and its success could help pave the way for an entirely different cinematic universe. No pressure.
Superman aside, June is surprisingly heavy with comedies, but there’s a nice variety even within that genre. There’s the annual Pixar release for the families, two R-rated comedies for the adults, and an “inbetweener” comedy featuring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. In other words, it’s a great time to go to the movies.
Here are the 7 Movies We’re Looking Forward to in June 2013.
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson have worked together on numerous occasions. Their last (true) collaboration, Wedding Crashers, was a big hit, and the two presumably hope to hit a similar note with The Internship. The concept is fairly simple – two unemployed 40-somethings land internships at Google and upset the status quo – and lends itself well to a comedy.
That being said, both Wilson and Vaughn’s appeal has tapered off in recent years. In fact, one could argue that Wedding Crashers was the pinnacle of both actors’ careers. Perhaps when reunited, and with a topical concept, the two can get back in their groove.
Check out the trailer for The Internship.
Seth Rogen the writer has delivered some genuinely funny and oftentimes raunchy comedies in the form of Superbad and Pineapple Express. Seth Rogen (alongside frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg) the writer/director hopes to duplicate that success with This is the End. Luckily, the actor has brought along some of his closest friends – James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, and a whole wealth of others – to get the job done.
This is the End features Rogen and Co. as exaggerated versions of themselves, and puts them smackdab in the middle of the apocalypse. The promise of seeing celebrities parody themselves is enough to make this film worth checking out, but early buzz claims it’s genuinely funny. Could this be the R-rated comedy that wins the summer?
Check out the trailer for This is the End.
This is it. The film DC Comics fans have been waiting for. When Warner Bros. first announced Zack Snyder was directing Man of Steel, the response was mixed, to say the least. Since then, however, Snyder and producer Christopher Nolan have proven they are more than capable of handling one of the most iconic characters of all time. Yes, this particular adaptation features some significant changes, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Even so, there’s a lot of pressure on Man of Steel both in terms of the Superman property and the DC Comics Cinematic Universe. If the film is successful it will presumably pave the way for the highly anticipated Justice League film. In fact, it may even feature a post-credits teaser for that DC Comics team-up movie.
Check out the trailer for Man of Steel.
Monsters University turns the clock back on Mike and Sully (of Monsters, Inc. fame) to their initial meeting in… monster college. We know that the two eventually become partners in scares, but we don’t know how they got there. As one might guess, Mike and Sully didn’t start out as friends, but were actually rivals within the same fraternity.
The timing on Pixar’s latest sequel couldn’t be more perfect, with a lot of the kids who first viewed Monsters, Inc. in 2001 now in or heading of to college. The obvious draw here is getting to reconnect with these characters, but hopefully Pixar can justify this sequel with a compelling story and a worthwhile message. Either way, it should make a ton of box office dough.
Check out the trailer for Monsters University.
Max Brooks’ novel World War Z is a realistic depiction of a worldwide zombie outbreak, and how humanity would respond to such an event. World War Z the movie is a much more focused affair. While the novel is a sprawling ensemble piece, the film adaptation appears to keep things focused on one character’s experiences. In essence, the film has turned the story into a Brad Pitt vehicle.
The red flags (inflated budget, reshoots, rewrites) have been waving since the very beginning of production on World War Z, and they continue to appear to this day. Even so, there’s something about a zombie film of this scope and scale that has us intrigued. It could easily be a total train wreck – although early reviews say it’s not – but sometimes you have to stop and look.
Check out the trailer for World War Z.
Most moviegoers will be sold on The Heat based purely on its premise and stars. Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock play two somewhat aloof police officers that are on the trail of a Russian mobster. In essence, the film is a buddy cop comedy featuring two females as its leads – once a risky proposition, but not anymore.
McCarthy proved she’s capable of headlining a film with Identity Thief, and she’s currently one of the most bankable stars in the comedy genre. The fact that she’s acting against an Oscar-winner like Bullock is only icing on the cake. Bridesmaids proved that audiences are dying for a R-rated comedy with strong female leads, and The Heat will likely prove just how viable that market is. And ironically, it’s director Paul Feig who is responsible for both films.
Check out the trailer for The Heat.
If there’s one thing director Roland Emmerich knows how to do well, it’s destroy the White House. But rather than keep the Presidential residence in the periphery, he has put it front and center for White House Down. There still appears to be plenty of global destruction for Emmerich fans to sink their teeth into – but at the same time, there’s a more focused story going on. A paramilitary group has attacked the White House and it’s up to Channing Tatum to rescue the President (Jamie Foxx).
Obviously, it’s hard to talk about White House Down without mentioning Olympus Has Fallen, which was surprisingly enjoyable. While the two do bear some similarities, White House Down appears to be much larger in scope, and had a bigger budget to work with. Olympus laid claim to the conceit first, but will White House Down be able to do it better?
Check out the trailer for White House Down.
Although May set a high benchmark at the box office, June is no slouch either. Obviously, our eyes are trained on the 14th, but there are plenty of films worth checking out throughout the entire month. June might even be a more well rounded month than May, with plenty of films to satisfy almost any taste.
Which movies are you most looking forward to seeing this month? Do you think Man of Steel can top Iron Man 3?
Once again, here are the 7 movies we’re looking forward to in June:
- June 7th: The Internship
- June 12th: This is the End
- June 14th: Man of Steel
- June 21st: Monsters University, World War Z
- June 28th: The Heat, White House Down
