2015 summer movie preview: ‘Mad Max,’ ‘Pitch Perfect,’ ‘Jurassic World’ and more

The summer movie season is officially in full swing as the Avengers take the world by storm with a little movie called “Age of Ultron.”

You could say that this is the age of the blockbuster, too, and summer certainly has lots in store. Here, then, are a dozen of the biggest, boldest (and hopefully best) blockbusters headed our way (as always, release dates are subject to change):

“Mad Max: Fury Road” — Original series creator George Miller reboots his post-apocalyptic franchise with Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stepping into the sandy shoes worn by Mel Gibson 30 years ago. This time, Max joins a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) and her band who are trying to escape a savage warlord. (May 15)

“Pitch Perfect 2” — This will be an epic of a capella proportions! The team of singing college women return for more vocal showdowns, romantic entanglements with ridiculously attractive boys and a trip across the big pond to Copenhagen. Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson return. And actress Elizabeth Banks (Effie in “The Hunger Games” movies) makes her feature directing debut. (May 15)

“Poltergeist” — It’s heeeere! The 1982 horror classic produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper about a suburban haunted house gets an update starring Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt. (May 22)

“Tomorrowland” — Eventually Disney’s just going to make a movie based on all of its amusement park rides (“It’s a Small World, After All” can’t be far behind). The story here follows a jaded genius (George Clooney) and a teenager (Britt Robertson) who go in search of a mysterious place that exists only in their collective memory. (May 22)

“San Andreas” — Dwayne Johnson stars as a rescue-chopper pilot who tries to rescue his estranged daughter (why are they always estranged?) after a devastating earthquake devours California. (May 29)

“Jurassic World” — Did no one learn anything from the first three “Jurassic” movies? Apparently not, as we get a reboot with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as human appetizers for dinosaurs running amok (just guessing that will happen, what are the odds?). (June 12)

“Inside Out” — Pixar’s latest will probably be the biggest animated film of the summer, about the ever conflicting emotions that live inside a young girl. With the voices of Amy Poehler as Joy, Bill Hader as Fear and Mindy Kaling as Disgust. Perfect! (June 19)

“Magic Mike XXL” — The only special effects in this blockbuster are overly ripped biceps, as we continue the exploits of male stripper Magic Mike (Channing Tatum) and his studly buds. (July 1)

“Terminator: Genisys” — Whaddya know? He will be back, after all! Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the franchise, as John Connor (Jason Clarke) sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 (the year the first film came out) to end a futuristic war with machines. (July 1)

“Ant-Man” — The latest Marvel comic book to be adapted for the big screen stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, a master thief who becomes a superhero – albeit a teensy tiny one. (July 17)

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” — We pretty much know by now that nothing is impossible, as Tom Cruise returns as agent Ethan Hunt, who must eradicate the Syndicate, an international rogue organization. (July 31)

“Fantastic Four” — We’re just going to pretend that those first two “Fantastic Four” movies don’t exist as we get this reboot. The casting looks promising, with Miles Teller as Mister Fantastic, Kate Mara as the Invisible Woman, Michael B. Jordan as the Human Torch and Jamie Bell as the Thing. Here’s hoping that this time, it is indeed fantastic. (Aug. 7)

This story was originally published May 1, 2015 at 2:38 PM with the headline "2015 summer movie preview: ‘Mad Max,’ ‘Pitch Perfect,’ ‘Jurassic World’ and more."