Grouping the kids together so they can watch a movie by themselves? Well, there’s no need to this holiday as these hotly anticipated releases will have you wanting to join the party. Summer’s blockbusters are here, and we’ll tell you what to watch and why before anyone else dare give you any spoilers.
Angry Birds 2
It sure seems like this summer is one for sequels, especially mega successful hits that have managed to win over the littlest of audiences. The mighty Angry Birds are still angry – furious, in fact. Yes, we’re talking about Red, Chuck, Bomb and Mighty Eagle. This time around, the flightless feathered characters in Angry Birds 2 are facing a new threat. Bird and Pig Islands are in danger, so it’s time to recruit Chuck’s sister Silver and team up with more animals.
Does it all go well? Of course it doesn’t. In the Sony Pictures animation, kids will follow the Birds as they try to escape Bad Piggies’ vengeance after they devastated their homeland in battle. The comic struggle ends when a mysterious purple creature makes an appearance, threatening everyone with her own plans for conquest after having been ostracised for long enough.
Whether they choose to join forces or still can’t handle working together against one, that’s one question little ones will get an answer to while watching Angry Birds 2. Let’s hope we never get on the grumpies’ bad side.
Release date: August 8
Director: Thurop Van Orman
Cast: Rachel Bloom, Josh Gad, Jason Sudeikis
Coconut the Little Dragon 2 – into the Jungle
Dragons are all the rage now after the Game of Thrones mania, and there’s a particular one that kids are going to love this summer.
Coconut and his two very aptly-named friends Gourmet Dragon Oscar and Porcupine Matilda (originally children’s book characters), will embark on yet another journey. The tiny fire-breather is excited about going to summer camp with his best friends, and they decide to take over the jungle islands.
Unfortunately, their ship snags a rock and sinks, and as everyone is abandoning it, Matilda gets lost. The group tries to reach the camp for safety, but there are evil plants waiting to get them – and soon enough they come face to face with some not-so-friendly dragons. We’re waiting to see what the English version of this 2018 German movie will have in store for Middle Eastern audiences.
Release date: June 13
Director: Tony Power
Cast: Max von der Groeben, Carolin Kebekus, Dustin Semmelrogge
Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire
This animated film, which debuted at number one at the Japanese box office, is set in Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands – the site of a murder case in the movie.
A large gem known as Blue Sapphire sank to the bottom of the ocean and the main character, karate master Makoto, tries to retrieve it from those who want to steal it, but how is it all connected to what has happened before? We’re eager to find out.
Detective Conan: The Fist of Blue Sapphire is the twenty-third instalment of the Case Closed film series based on the manga of the same name by Gosho Aoyama, following the 2018 film Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer.
Release date: June 13
Director: Tony Power
Cast: Rikiya Koyama, Minami Takayama, Arthur Hirai Wakana Yamazaki
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Peter Parker is back, and we’re happy to hear that. Spider-Man: Far From Home is the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series. The very friendly superhero will join his best friends for vacation in Europe (we’re very excited about seeing a more relaxed Peter to be honest).
He sort of wants to escape and leave them behind, but his plans are quickly altered when he agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of the creatures wreaking havoc all around the place.
The plot will thicken indeed, as Parker is seen to shake hands and make allies with his enemy Mysterio – we’re intrigued. Another interested development is that trailer shots show the villain wearing a wedding band, so you can expect more than a few surprises there. A quick note to Avengers fans, Far from Home takes place after Endgame.
Release date: August 8
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya
The Lion King
We’ve been waiting to see Mufasa once again since – well, forever basically, and he’s finally back in the remake that everyone has been anticipating. This time, however, The Lion King will appeal to audiences of all ages even more, so we’ll bid farewell to our beloved orange characters and try and be ready (emotionally) to meet them in flesh.
The all-new live action will take kids and parents on a journey to the African savanna where a future king is born. As we know, Simba idolises his father King Mufasa and aims to follow in his footsteps, but not everyone is as excited as he is.
This won’t be a shot-for-shot remake, but rather a new take on the famous Pride Rock battle with stronger undertones of betrayal, tragedy and drama revealed, ultimately leading to Simba’s exile and search for meaning – and all that’s been lost.
The movie’s all-star cast will keep you hooked throughout and we have very high hopes for this one – especially after watching Aladdin last month. Of course, we’re worried about that Mufasa master-scene, although it may affect us more than the kids. Grab some tissues just in case and remember – it’s just a cartoon.
Release date: July 18
Director: Jon Favreau
Cast: Donald Glover, Hugh Jackman, Beyoncé Knowles
The Queen’s Corgi
It seems like pet movies are trending, as The Secret Life of Pets isn’t the only film with a canine star. This time, Rex takes centre stage – he’s the Queen’s favourite Corgi and lives a life of luxury with three other companions.
Things soon change for the dog who finds himself in a situation where he has to marry someone he doesn’t like, angering the Queen. This is when Charlie comes in, who’s jealous of Rex, and lures him outside the palace after taking advantage of the situation.
Now it’s up to Rex to make friends outside of the home he’s used to, and he finds himself – not only doing that – but also falling in love. The romance doesn’t come easy, however, as it sparks anger among other dogs, paving the way for battles he wasn’t exactly ready for. The Queen’s Corgi is a story of friendship, love, connection and everything in between.
Most of all, however, it’s a movie with tonnes of cute characters that the kids are bound to enjoy watching.
Release date: June 6
Director: Vincent Kesteloot, Ben Stassen
Cast: Sheridan Smith, Julie Walters, Jack Whitehall
The Secret Life of Pets 2
A new animated feature from Illumination has arrived, and kiddies will be meeting their much-loved furry friends from the first movie in the sequel, The Secret Life of Pets 2. The new chapter explores the lives of the mischievous pets, who always seem to be hiding in plain sight from their owners – simply because they’re always up to know good.
Packed with humour and lots of good times, the movie will still answer the question: what are your pets really doing when you’re not home? In similar fashion to the 2016 comedic blockbuster, The Secret Life of Pets 2 will give families a glimpse into the ever-exciting life of pets. Terrier Max’s owner is now married and has a toddler, which is seemingly too much to handle for him.
On a family trip to a farm, Max and Duke the mutt meet all sorts of scary animals – including some rather hostile turkeys, cows and foxes – which veteran farm dog rooster tries to help Max deal with.
Meanwhile, the Max-obsessed Pomeranian Gidget tries to rescue her crush’s favourite toy from being destroyed by the cats with a little help from her feline friend Chloe who’s all about the catnip.
The crazy (but sort of cute) bunny Snowball gets even more of an ego boost after his owner Milly starts dressing him up in superhero pyjamas, but his real skills will be put to the test when Daisy, a courageous Shih Tzu, asks for his help.
Will the pets be brave enough to face their fears? That’s what we’ll find out in The Secret Life of Pets 2, which will teach kids all about channelling their inner superheroes – while they have a good chuckle over the mishaps of Max, Gidget, Snowball and more.
Release date: June 6
Directors: Chris Renaud, Jonathan del Val
Cast: Kevin Hart, Patton Oswalt, Eric Stonestreet
Toy Story 4
Toy Story hero Woody has always exuded the sort of confidence that has kept fans sure of his loyalty towards his kid owners, whether it be Andy or Bonnie.
When the latter adds reluctant toy Forky to the mix, things get interesting as the cowboy goes on a road trip adventure with old and new friends, proving just how big the world can be for them. Everything is made a hundred times more difficult because of Forky’s existential crisis – who claims to be a spork-turned-craft project.
Possibly one of the deepest movies of the saga, Toy Story 4 will let kids into the toy universe one more time, although this time it isn’t quite about what the bunch will do when their owners grow up. The movie will delve deeper into why toys have a consciousness (the ones in Toy Story that is) and ask questions that will prompt kids to think about child’s play in ways like never before.
Release date: June 20
Director: Josh Cooley
Cast: Tom Hanks, Christina Hendricks
