Summertime. It’s a time to head to AMC theaters while Nicole Kidman presents the latest blockbusters on the big screen and spend an entire paycheck on buttered popcorn. While summer is memorable for perfect beach days, it is also unforgettable for the films released during the season–often named as blockbusters. A blockbuster movie means that it’s expected to do well at the box office and entertain audiences because of its high publicity, and this blockbuster season has no shortage of them.
The blockbuster season kicked off with “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Released at the beginning of May, it banked $282.1 million at the global box office after only three days of being in theaters. This film brought a close to the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and many critics agree that James Gunn, the film’s director, and writer, has broken Marvel’s “threequel curse,” a long-standing preconception that the third film in a Marvel series is both a commercial and cult failure.
Sophomore Katelyn Sandvik of Manalapan spoke about her opinions of the blockbuster.
“I thought it was really good because some of the newer movies like “Eternals” didn’t feel like the old Marvel movies,” Sandvik said. “This one finally felt like they were returning to the old Marvel.”
One of the most anticipated movies of the summer is Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. With a diverse and star-studded cast for the film and soundtrack, fans are anticipating an immediate success. Gosling described Gerwig’s and her partner Noah Baumbach’s script as “the best script I’ve ever read.” “Barbie” is set to release on July 21st and has a budget of $100 million—most likely to cover all of Barbie’s wardrobe changes.
Director of the Drama Club’s Costumes Department, junior Kelly Meehan of Wall expresses her excitement for the upcoming movie.
“They’re so amazing, and I’m really excited to see what the symbolism is,” Meehan said. “I want to know if she ever stops wearing pink and it’s like a huge moment, that’s one of my predictions.”
It’s a common pattern that the biggest blockbusters are released in the summer —but why? It all started with a film called “Jaws.” Before this movie, studios hesitated to release their biggest films in the summer because they believed that people would rather stay outside. However, “Jaws’s” special effects and immense budget proved to be irresistible and the movie became a smash hit. Since then, studios have opted to release their biggest films in the summer. Digital Video teacher David Salowe spoke on what made “Jaws” so successful.
“It kind of had everything. It had action, it had suspense, it had laughs, there was drama, and it was incredibly well made” Salowe said.
Spanish teacher and Marvel superfan Monica Impaglia spoke on why she believes the summer is the best time to head to theaters.
“People go out more and spend more money in the summer,” Impaglia said. “The summer is a time when a lot more people are out on vacation.”
