The Ten Most Promising Summer Blockbusters of 2014

By Isaac Handelman

10. Transformers: Age of Extinction - June 27

The original Transformers trilogy wasn’t exactly hailed as a series of cinematic masterpieces, but they did excel in one area: delivering huge, exciting, giant-robot-versus-giant-robot battles on the big screen. Age of Extinction, a quasi-reboot, looks to retain this strength while dropping Shia LaBeouf in favor of venerable action star Mark Wahlberg; if all goes as planned, the result will be a Transformers movie that retains audience interest even when its titular robots aren’t smashing each other to bits.

9. 22 Jump Street - June 13

Comedy sequels don’t typically hold up to a high quality standard, but if 22 Jump Street’s hilarious trailers are anything to go by, this continuation of the 2012 hit could just be the exception to the rule. The jump from high school to college should allow for plenty of lewd shenanigans, and, if nothing else, we’ll at least get to see Jonah Hill talk in a ridiculous Mexican accent.

8. How To Train Your Dragon 2 - June 13

It’s been four years since lovable viking Hiccup rode atop his mythical steed, Toothless, which means fans of the original have grown up a little. Thankfully, so have the characters in this sequel, which promises plenty of sky-high fun. Time will tell if it’s able to capture the thrilling sense of adventurous wonder that the original conjured up in spades.

7. Neighbors - May 9

Starring the alluringly mismatched pair of crass comedian Seth Rogen and hunk Zac Efron, Neighbors is an original comedy focusing on a suburban clash between a family man (Rogen) and a college fraternity led by a rebellious Efron. The setup alone seems like a recipe manufactured for a hilariously crude ride, and, coupled with the fact that the creators of Neighbors were deeply involved with last year’s uproarious This Is The End, Neighbors is shaping up to be an A-class summer comedy.

6. A Million Ways to Die in the West - May 30

With 2012’s Ted, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane proved that his comedy muscle extends beyond the television realm. For his sophomore cinematic effort, MacFarlane is not only writing and directing, but also starring alongside a star-studded supporting lineup that includes the likes of Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried. The film’s gaudy trailers promise much of what you’d expect out of a comedic western from the mind of MacFarlane -- and, for fans of laughter, that’s almost certainly a good sign.

5. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - July 11

Positioned as a sequel to the 2011 sleeper hit prequel Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn focuses on the simian takeover of modern society led by mo-capped ape Caesar, played once again by the much-loved Andy Serkis. The alluringly bleak setup should make for some unconventional blockbuster entertainment, and if the quality and success of its predecessor is anything to go by, Dawn could just prove to be another surprise hit.

4. Jupiter Ascending - July 18

Straight out of the creative minds of the Wachowski brothers, who brought us the Matrix Trilogy as well as 2012’s Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending stars Mila Kunis as the titular heroine who’s swept into a galaxy-spanning adventure by an intergalactic warrior played by Channing Tatum. The setup is bizarre in just the sort of way that could turn out to be absolutely wonderful. Though critical acclaim and huge box office receipts haven’t been in the Wachowskis’ wheelhouse as of late, here’s to hoping that Jupiter Ascending propels the talented duo back to astronomical heights.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy - August 1

In Marvel Studios’ riskiest move since the original Iron Man, a little-known group of space-traversing vigilantes is the focus of the studio’s newest attempt at spawning a sub-Avengers franchise. The team includes a talking raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper and a sentient tree voiced by Vin Diesel, who fight alongside leader Star Lord (Chris Pratt), green alien-lady Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and a guy named Drax the Destroyer (David Bautista). Whether or not the risk pays dividends for Marvel Studios, this is shaping up to be an enormously fun, offbeat cinematic treat for those with the good sense to give it a go.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past - May 23

Riding on the successes of both the original X-Men film trilogy and 2011’s prequel, First Class, Days of Future Past is an incredibly ambitious effort that ties together the younger and older versions of the universe’s most popular characters (non-aging Wolverine excluded) into a sweeping, time-travel-focused narrative. The sheer volume of characters on hand could prove a liability, but all worries aside, it’s difficult not to get amped up for such a grand experiment. This could prove an incredibly memorable cinematic team-up, perhaps second only to the Avengers themselves.

1. Godzilla - May 16

The lingering shadow of 1998’s monstrosity (so to speak) does nothing to quell excitement for this second swing at an American remake of the classic, cautionary Japanese monster movie. This new Godzilla continues to look more and more promising the more we learn about it. If the film is half as good as its trailers, then audiences will be treated to worthy summer entertainment; if it manages to live up to the huge hype surrounding it, we may find ourselves in the presence of a masterwork of blockbuster filmmaking that’s as heartfelt and intelligent as it is entertaining and action-packed. Oh, and it’s got Bryan Cranston, fresh off of Breaking Bad...so, extra points.