Summer Movie Preview – Zombies, dinos, super-heroes and John Wick persevere

Lights, Camera, Summer!

As the days get longer and the temperatures climb, the box office is heating up with an explosive lineup of films guaranteed to thrill, chill, and everything in between. Whether you’re in the mood for high-octane action, laugh-out-loud comedies, heartwarming family adventures, or spine-tingling horror, this summer’s movie slate is serving up something for every kind of film fan. Here are highlights (release dates and titles are subject to change):

JUNE 6

“From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” – This super-stabby “John Wick” spin-off follows an assassin (Ana de Armas, Oscar nominee for “Blonde”), trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organization, who seeks revenge after her father’s death. Why is there always so much revenge? Keanu Reeves, Anjelica Huston and Ian McShane cross over from the “John Wick” universe to collect a paycheck – er, lend support.

“Dangerous Animals” – A shark-obsessed serial killer (literally!) holds a rebellious surfer captive on his boat. Racing against time, she must figure out a way to escape before the killer carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below. The buffet is (almost) open!

“The Ritual” – Speaking of rituals, two priests – one in crisis with his faith and the other confronting a turbulent past – must overcome their differences to perform a risky exorcism. Al Pacino (really?) and Dan Stevens star in this horror tale based on a true story.

“The Phoenician Scheme” – A wealthy businessman (Benicio Del Toro) appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As they embark on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins. Directed and co-written by Wes Anderson (“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Oscar winner for the short film “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”). Also starring Michael Cera, Willem Dafoe, and F. Murray Abraham.

JUNE 13

“How to Train Your Dragon” – This “live-action” take (because dragons are real, right?) of the animated classic has the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becoming the key to their species forging a new future together. And box office success, hopefully.

“Materialists” – This romantic comedy from writer/director Celine Song (Oscar nominee for “Past Lives”) follows a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. Starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal.

“The Unholy Trinity” – Buried secrets of an 1870s Montana town spark violence when a young man returns to reclaim his legacy and is caught between a sheriff determined to maintain order and a mysterious stranger hell-bent on destroying it. Starring Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson.

JUNE 20

“28 Years Later” – Taking place, well, 28 years later after “28 Weeks Later,” the zombie series catches up with a group of survivors of the virus that live on a small island. When one of them leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers dark secrets (like, will this ever end? I mean, seriously?) Original director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland return. Ralph Fiennes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Jack O’Connell star.

“Elio” – Pixar’s big summer outing follows 11-year-old Elio, who accidentally becomes the intergalactic ambassador for planet Earth after making contact with aliens. He must form new bonds with these eccentric lifeforms and navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions. That’s all. And probably before supper.

“Bride Hard” – This action comedy stars Rebel Wilson as a secret agent who serves as the maid of honor at her childhood best friend’s lavish wedding, which is taken hostage by mercenaries. Also starring Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”) and Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Leftovers”).

JUNE 27

“F1: The Movie” – A Formula One driver comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with a younger driver. Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) directs stars Brad Pitt, Kerry Condon and Javier Bardem. This is sure to be a flop (not!).

“M3GAN 2.0” – Two years after overly clingy humanoid robot doll M3GAN’s rampage, her creator rebuilds her to take down a military-grade weapon built by a defense contractor who stole M3GAN’s underlying tech. Doll fight!

JULY 2

“Jurassic World: Rebirth” – These dinosaurs just won’t become extinct! Five years after “Jurassic World: Dominion,” an expedition group braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough. Do they never learn? Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Friend and Mahershala Ali star.

JULY 11

“Superman” – Director James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) tackles the Man of Steel mythos, as Superman (relative newcomer David Corenswet) must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way, he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned. Also starring Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

“Eddington” – Creepily atmospheric writer/director Ari Aster (“Hereditary,” “Midsommer”) brings this tale set in May 2020, where a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico. It’s got quite the pedigreed cast with Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler.

“Smurfs” – When Papa Smurf is taken by evil wizards, Smurfette leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. You know, blue people problems.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer” – The third film in the series (following 1997’s original and its 1998 sequel, “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” – Wouldn’t that be two summers ago?) follows a group of friends who are terrorized by a stalker who knows about a gruesome incident from their past. Rumor is original stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt will return, probably looking exactly the same.

JULY 25

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” – Poor Fantastic Four, they just can’t seem to get the movie treatment they deserve, but they try again, to defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Joseph Quinn star.

AUG. 1

“The Bad Guys 2” – This animated sequel finds the Bad Guys struggling to find trust and acceptance in their newly minted lives as Good Guys, when they are pulled out of retirement and forced to do one last job by an all-female squad of criminals. (Again, why is it always one last job?)

“The Naked Gun” – Liam Neeson takes over for Leslie Nielsen as a hapless, bumbling police officer in this continuation of the spoofy series, picking up after 1994’s “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” (there they go, throwing around that “final” word around like it meant anything).

AUG. 8

“Weapons” – The actual plot of this horror tale is pretty vague, but it seems to be an interrelated, multistory epic about the disappearance of high school students in a small town, from actor/director Zach Cregger (“The Barbarian,” TV’s “The Whitest Kids U’Know”). Starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin.

“Freakier Friday” – Mother/daughter Tess and Anna discover that lightning may indeed strike twice as they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge (not to mention bodies). Original stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return

AUG. 15

“Nobody 2” – Bob Odenkirk returns as suburban dad Hutch Mansell, a former lethal assassin who is pulled back into his violent past after thwarting a home invasion, which sets off a chain of events that unravels secrets about his wife’s past and his own.

“Honey Don’t!” – Director/co-writer Ethan Coen brings this dark comedy about a small-town private investigator who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. The sprawling cast includes Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans.

AUG. 29

“The Roses” – A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the facade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. This is based on the 1981 novel by Warren Adler and is a remake of the bitter 1989 film “The War of the Roses.”