If you didn't already know, summer blockbuster season is finally upon us. We've already seen some terrific films released so far in 2023, from underdog dramas like Air to charming fantasy tales like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish - not to mention massive blockbusters such as John Wick: Chapter 4 and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
The good news is that there's still plenty for us to look forward to as we approach May, with a range of films from different genres to keep everyone happy. Everyone's favourite ragtag family are saving the Galaxy one last time in Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, Vin Diesel is back behind the wheel for the tenth time in Fast X and there's a new horror from A24 and Ari Aster, Beau is Afraid, to look forward to.
Can't decide what to watch? Fear not as to help you pick out the best of the bunch, I've put together a selection of some of the best films you can catch this month, so have a read and let me know how many you'll be catching at the cinema through my socials.
So without further ado, here is what to look forward to in... MAY.
MAY 4TH
Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3, 12A, 150 mins
Director: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Will Poulter
Look who's back. The first of many blockbusters kicking off the summer of movies in style, everyone's favourite dysfunctional family are back. With new foes in the form of The High Evolutionary and Adam Warlock, the Guardians certainly have their work out to save the Galaxy again.
Guardians of the Galaxy, Disney
New DC boss James Gunn is back for the third and final instalment, with Starlord, Drax, Rocket, Groot, Nebula all returning. Also let's not forget Gamora, who as we know from Avengers Endgame, is back from the dead like she's never been away!
Roll on the Awesome Mix of tunes for the third time but if you're an avid MCU fan, tissues may be required as we approach the final chapter of the Guardians saga.
Not a bad way to kick off May.
Return To Seoul, 15, 119 mins
Director: Davy Chou
Starring: Park Ji-min, Oh Gwang-rok, Guka Han, Kim Sun-young
Cannes favourite, Return to Seoul which is made by Cambodian-French filmmaker Davy Chou, set in South Korea and spoken partly in French, highlighting Chou's background.
Return to Seoul, MUBI
The film follows Freddie (Park Ji-min) returning to South Korea for the first time, where she was born, before being raised in France. On a mission to search for her biological parents in a country she knows so little about, her life unsurprisingly starts to take some new directions. If you can't catch it in cinemas then fear not, as it is confirmed to be arriving on MUBI this summer.
MAY 12TH
Book Club: The Next Chapter, 12A, 108 mins
Director: Bill Holderman
Starring: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen
If you told me that Book Club from 2018 would be getting a sequel... I would probably believe you. All be it, I'm not the target audience for this film but you can't help but admit there's something charmingly funny about these older women wanting to read Fifty Shades of Grey together. Now after reading that, you must be wanting to see the sequel like me.
Book Club, Universal
This time out Keaton, Fonda, Bergen and Steenburgen take their book club to Italy for the fun girls' trip they've always wanted. If there was ever a film you would take your Mum to see, this would be it.
MAY 19TH
FAST X, 12A, 132 mins
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Vin Diesel, Jason Momoa, Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham
Family, family and more family. Remarkably for the tenth time, we get to see Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto defying physics and logic with his street racing crew. From the films humble origins focusing on street racing to now having insanely over the top heists every film. From flying to space in a race car last time out, the Vatican is now out threat of being blown up. Perfect popcorn fun, right?
FAST X, Universal
Dom and his crew have a new villain to face this time out, with Jason Momoa's Dante Reyes' out for revenge after being wronged by the crew in the past. Buckle your seatbelts and get ready to start your engines with the tenth entry coming to cinemas on May 19th.
If you're looking for some fun, bring a bottle of your preferred booze to the screening and take a shot every time 'family' is mentioned. I can almost guarantee you'll be needing another bottle, which may be what's required to watch the same silly unbelievable stunts for the tenth time.
Beau Is Afraid, 15, 180 mins
Director: Ari Aster
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Nathan Lane.
‘Hereditary’ and ‘Midsommar’ director Ari Aster is back. Beau is Afraid is the Director's third film and seems to be straying away from his traditional horror roots. With Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix leading the line, this film strays away from Aster's horror roots and it seems to be a look beyond the immediate personal experience, emphasising the relationship between Beau and the world at large.
Beau Is Afraid, A24.
With a three hour runtime it'll be interesting to see how it does at the box office, especially after receiving mixed reviews following its early US release but Aster has described it as a ‘Jewish Lord of the Rings’ about a middle-aged man going to his mum’s house so you can count me in.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. PG, 106 mins
Director: Kelly Fremon Craig
Starring: Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Benny Safdie
This film is adapted from the groundbreaking novel with the same title. Admittedly, I've never read Judy Burne's classic but it's clear to see from the love shown towards this film already, it has impacted generations with a fresh look on a coming-of-age tale with candid humour and asking big life questions, which is all centred around an 11-year old girl who tries to cope with moving to New York City.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Lionsgate
With a stellar cast including Rachel McAdams and Kathy Bates, this film could easily be one of the most charming and underrated films of the summer -maybe even the year.
MAY 26TH
The Little Mermaid, PG, 135 mins
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Jacob Tremblay
*Please be good, please be good, please be good* Following every Disney live action-ish film being nowhere near as good as the original, except maybe Guy Ritchie's Aladdin, and most recently the dismal Peter Pan & Wendy and Pinocchio, a lot is riding on Rob Marshall's take on the iconic tale.
The Little Mermaid, Disney
With the internet reacting to Flounder and Sebastian's new CGI look, people have their doubts but with Halle Bailey belting out her take on the legendary 'Part of that world' I'm still hopeful this can be one of the better adaptations. I'm also looking forward to Melissa McCarthy making her mark as queer-icon Ursula, one of the most ruthless Disney villains.
It will almost certainly make a splash at the box-office but keep your fingers crossed that this under water musical extravaganza lives up to the hype.
Sisu, 15, 91 mins
Director: Jalmari Helander
Starring: Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie, Jack Doolan, Onni Tommila
Bursting into UK cinemas is Finnish film, Sisu, which finds Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) deep in the wilderness of Lapland as a gold prospector. He's a soldier not to be messed with as a Nazi patrol soon find out, resulting in a violent gold-hungry chase through the mined Lapland wilderness.
Sisu, Lionsgate
Director, Jalmari Helander, looks set to bring a beautifully brutal flick which should excite any man over the age of 30 across the country. Imagine John Wick meets The Lone Survivor whilst fighting off Nazis for gold. How could you say no?
It's certainly a hidden gem and one not to be missed.
How many films do you think you'll be seeing at the cinema this month? Let me know on all my socials!
If you'd like to know what I think about any of these films, then don't forget you can follow me on Letterboxd below for all my reviews and ratings!
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