It’s looking like we’ll have a Summer Blockbuster Movie Season. “A Quiet Place Part II” and “Cruella” will be christening theaters this Memorial Day weekend, and several more blockbusters will be rolling out all summer long. But over the past 20 years or so, almost every big summer movie has been a sequel or birthed one, so be sure to do your homework before hitting the theater.
Today sees the origin story of notorious Disney villain Cruella De Vil hitting the big screen, in “Cruella,” with Emma Stone taking on the legendary role. Catch her predecessor, Glenn Close, as Cruella in the 1996 live-action version of “101 Dalmatians,” streaming on Disney+ or rentable on iTunes or Amazon for $3.99. Also in theaters this weekend, the monster movie “A Quiet Place Part II.” Better give the 2018 film “A Quiet Place” a rewatch prior to seeing it, as the film just drops you right into the action without much explanation. It’s on FX Now, or rent it for $2.99 on Amazon or YouTube.
June 4 brings another horror sequel with “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” based on the true story of a 1981 murder case in which the defendant claimed demonic possession. This is the eighth film in Conjuring Cinematic Universe, but a third sequel to the films about real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, “The Conjuring” and “The Conjuring 2.” Both films are streaming on Netflix and are two of the best ghost movies of the past decade.
The Fast family vrooms back into theaters June 25 with “Fast 9: The Fast Saga.” Now, it’s a bit challenging to cobble together a Fast marathon, but it is doable: “The Fast and the Furious” (1), “2 Fast 2 Furious” (2) and “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbes & Shaw” (optional) are all on HBO Max. “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” (3) and “Fast & Furious” (4) are a $3.99 rental on all platforms, or on AMC+, “Fast Five” (5) and “The Fate of the Furious” (8) are available on all platforms for a $3.99 rental, “Fast & Furious 6” (6) is on Peacock or rentable for $3.99 elsewhere. “Furious 7” is on FX Now or rentable for $3.99 on all platforms.