18 must-see blockbusters

Popcorn at the ready as we unveil the films coming to a cinema near you that’ll keep you busy during the year’s hottest months.

Byzantium
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan.

Just when you thought Hollywood would’ve had enough of vampire movies along comes another one. Local residents learn, with deadly consequences, the secret shared by two mysterious women when they seek refuge in their run-down coastal resort. Clara (Arterton) meets lonely Noel, who provides shelter in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Schoolgirl Eleanor (Ronan) befriends a chap called Frank and tells him their lethal secret: both women were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood. Once the cat is out of the bag, chaos, naturally, isn’t too far behind.
Release date: July 4.

The Bling Ring
Starring: Emma Watson, Kate Chang, Israel Broussard.

Inspired by actual events, a group of fame-obsessed teenagers use the internet to track celebrities’ whereabouts in order to rob their homes. Writer and director (not to mention Oscar winner) Sofia Coppola takes us inside the world of these teens, fuelled by today’s culture of celebrity and luxury brand obsession. What starts out as youthful fun inevitably spins out of control, revealing a sobering view of our modern culture.
Release date: July 4.

Despicable Me 2
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, Steve Coogan.

The first Despicable Me was great fun for kids and adults alike grossing in the region of US$540million. If the trailer is anything to go by the second instalment should be a pile of fun too. Gru (Steve Carell) is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to save the world from another nasty villain. Expect plenty of hilarity from the minions. And the kids are back, too!
Release date: August 8.

Pacific Rim
Starring: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam.

This story is a bit of a doozy, so here goes: when legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. On the verge of defeat, humanity turns to two unlikely heroes: a washed-up former pilot and an untested trainee who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they’re mankind’s only hope. Got that?
Release date: August 8.

The Smurfs 2
Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Brendan Gleeson, Sofia Vergara, Katy Perry.

The Smurfs team up with their human friends to rescue Smurfette (Katy Perry), who has been kidnapped by that nasty wizard chap Gargamel (Hank Azaria) because she knows a secret spell that can turn the evil sorcerer’s newest creation – some horrid little things called the Naughties – into real Smurfs.
Release date: August 8.

The Lone Ranger
Starring: Johnny Depp, Arnie Hammer.

Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice. Expect epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption in the Old West.
Release date: August 8.

Red 2
Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren.

Retired black ops CIA agent Frank Moses (Willis) returns to reunite his unlikely team of elite operatives from the original movie for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. To succeed, they’ll need to survive an army of relentless assassins, ruthless terrorists and power-crazed government officials, all eager to get their hands on the next-generation weapon. The mission takes Frank and his motley crew to Paris, London and Moscow. Outgunned and outmanned, they have only their cunning wits, their old-school skills and each other to rely on as they try to save the world and stay alive in the process. Think The Expendables but even older.
Release date: August 8.

Disney’s planes
Starring: Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, John Cleese.

The story centres on Dusty’s dream of competing at a high-flying air race. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing, so he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps him qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar.
Release date: August 9

The Wolverine
Starring: Hugh Jackman.

Taking its inspiration from the Chris Claremont/Frank Miller Marvel miniseries The Wolverine finds our hero in Japan and out of his depth in an unknown world as he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he faces not only lethal ninjas but also his inner struggle against his own immortality. Word is the fact that Wolverine is constantly surrounded by death but can’t die himself will play a big role.
Release date: August 15.

Kick-Ass 2
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey.

They’re back for more super-violent, high kicking, bad guy-beating action. This time around the crime fighting duo of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl team up with a group of citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Keep an eye out for the bizarre turn of Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. No crime fighting superhero caper would be complete without a villain to do battle with and on this outing that role is taken by Christopher Mintz-Plasse who returns to avenge the death of his father in the first movie by building an army of minions to help him out.
Release date: August 15.

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
Starring: Logan Lerman, Alexandria Daddario, Sean Bean.

Following on from the success of Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief in 2010 comes the sequel. Based on the books of the same name this film sees Percy, the son of Poseidon, continue his epic journey to fulfil his destiny, as he teams up with some demigod friends to retrieve the Golden Fleece, which has the power to save their home and training ground, Camp Half-Blood.
Release date: August 22.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Starring: Lily Collins, Lena Headey, Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Another book that’s been turned into a movie and yet another action adventure fantasy romp. When her mum is attacked and taken from their home in New York City by a demon, Clary Fray finds out truths about
her past and bloodline (basically that she’s a demon-slayer) on her quest to get her back, that change her entire life.
Release date: August 22.

You’re Next
Starring: Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen, Nicholas Tucci.

There’s always room for a good psychological thriller/horror as far as we’re concerned and You’re Next looks like a fairly creepy affair. The story follows the Davison family as they come under attack from some masked, axe-wielding lunatics during a family reunion and wedding anniversary getaway. The gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of their victims harbours a secret talent for fighting back and turns out to be the deadliest killer of them all.
Release date: August 22.

2 Guns
Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Bill Paxton, Paula Patton.

High octane action thriller starring two of Hollywood’s most bankable stars at the moment. A DEA agent (Washington) and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer (Wahlberg) who have been tasked with investigating one another find they have been set up by the mob – the very organisation the two men believe they have been stealing money from. This one is sure to be packed full of guns (hence the title), car chases and witty one liners from director Baltasar Kormákur (Contraband, A Little Trip To Heaven). Looks great but maybe
not an ideal date night movie.
Release date: August 29.

The World’s End
Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Rosamund Pike.

The third instalment in the ‘Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy’ (Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz being the others) from director Edgar Wright. The World’s End tells the tale of five childhood friends who reunite 20 years after attempting a big night of partying that should have finished with them reaching the fabled pub – The World’s End. They are convinced to take on the challenge again by Gary King (Simon Pegg). As they set off on their journey though it quickly becomes apparent that their real struggle is actually for the future of the human race in a town run by aliens.
Release date: August 29.

Grown ups 2
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Salma Hayek

Lenny Feder has relocated his family back to the small town where he and his friends grew up. This time around, the grown ups are the ones learning lessons from their kids on a day notoriously full of surprises: the last day of school.
Release date: August 29

Turbo
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Michael Penna, Luis Guzman, Bill Hayder, Richard Jenkins

The story follows an underdog snail who kicks into overdrive when he miraculously attains the power of super-speed. But after making fast friends with a crew of streetwise, tricked-out es-car-goes, Turbo learns that no one succeeds on their own. So he puts his heart and shell on the line to help his pals achieve their dreams, before Turbo-charging his own impossible dream: winning the Indy 500.
Release date: August 29

One Direction: This Is Us
Starring: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson

One for the teens and tweens, a 3D behind-the-scenes film showcasing the London-based, global music sensation that is One Direction.