Marcus Theatres Movie Biz Blog: Summer Blockbusters Roll Out in May

Not many people think of May as Summer, but for the movie biz it is the kickoff to the hottest season of the year. Time was when Hollywood waited until school was out and people were on vacation before releasing the high concept escapist fare and family movies that dominate the summer slate. A few years ago Universal broke that mold by releasing The Mummy in early May, a move that paid off with huge rewards. They proved that studios didn’t have to wait for Memorial Day for sell-out crowds to embrace “summer” movies.

The impressive opening of Iron Man 3 proves once again that audiences will come to see a good movie just about any time of the year. The first weeks of May used to be pretty thin with releases but this year the heavy hitters strike all month long.

While he might rule the box-office roost, Iron Man 3 is not the only game in town this May. Jay Gatsby takes on Tony Stark when The Great Gatsby opens in sumptuous 3D on May 10^th. Director Baz Luhrman, who brought Moulin Rouge to the big screen, interprets F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classic, adding contemporary songs and dazzling sets to showcase Leonardo DiCaprio’s turn as the mysterious Gatsby.

A week later Captain James T Kirk and the crew of the enterprise go where no one has gone before (unless you count the 11 previous Star Trek movies) in Star Trek Into Darkness. The Trek franchise rebooted in 2009, presenting moviegoers with an appealing new cast portraying the original TV show characters in a high-octane style. J.J. Abrams, who recently signed on to direct new Star Wars movies, brings back Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty and Uhura for more interstellar action, thrills and even a little romance, this time in 3D.

Forget taking the family out for a cookout on Memorial Day weekend; take ‘em to the movies instead! The family friendly animated adventure Epic is perfect for younger audiences while slightly more mature audiences will wake up feeling great after Hangover 3 or be totally pumped after watching Fast and Furious 6. Epic, in 3D, is the story of a teenage girl, voiced by Amanda Seyfried, who saves the world. Hangover 3 returns to Las Vegas after 2011’s detour to Thailand. Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper is back, along with non-Oscar nominees Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms.  Milwaukee born Heather Graham is back as Jade, the stripper Ed Helms married in the first Hangover.  Vin Diesel and Paul Walker return in Fast & Furious 6, an adrenaline rush that adds Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the high-speed mix.  Michelle Rodriguez’ Letty returns to the series to add some female appeal to the action.

May ends with Will Smith and his son Jaden crash landing on a deserted Earth in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest sci-fi epic, After Earth. Smith is injured and relies on Jaden to trek through danger just to signal for help.

No matter what your taste, there is something for all moviegoers in May. And it is just the beginning of a red-hot summer of movies that includes Man of Steel, Monsters University, World War Z, The Heat and many more movies to escape to.

 

About Marcus Theatres

Follow the Marcus Theatres® Movie Biz Blog to receive the most up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes scoop about the movies you can’t wait to see on the big screen. As the sixth largest theatre circuit in the United States, Marcus Theatres wants to hear your thoughts about the latest in the entertainment world. Visit www.marcustheatres.com and follow the company on Facebook andTwitter (@Marcus_Theatres).