Upcoming Summer Movie Releases

Going to the movies isn't just a fun activity for me, it's a weekly occurrence. I love movies so much -- the escape they can provide, connecting with characters, being surprised by a plot, and more. As a film major, I feel it's only my duty to stay up to date with the latest releases, whether they are indie or blockbuster. This summer has actually had quite a few hit releases, but here are some that I'm looking forward to seeing that are either recently released or coming soon.

The Diary of A Teenage Girl. San Francisco in the 70s? Kristin Wiig in a non-comedy role (although this is a dramedy)? I'm sold. This indie hit tells the story of Minnie, a fifteen year old who has an affair with her mother's boyfriend. It's gotten quite a lot of buzz and unfortunately is such a limited release that it isn't playing anywhere near me. I'll have to find it online. Rotten Tomatoes describes it as, "Boldly unconventional and refreshingly honest, Diary of a Teenage Girl is a frank coming-of-age story that addresses its themes -- and its protagonist -- without judgment."

The Gift. I remember seeing the trailer for this a while ago and completely forgot it came out this past weekend! I'm a huge fan of psychological thrillers and fans of Jason Bateman should enjoy seeing him perform in a role a bit out of his comfort zone. Him and his wife experience distress when an old friend (turned stalker) shows up and creates chaos in their seemingly ideal life. Rotten Tomatoes and critics are giving it good reviews, and I saw it Friday. It's quite good -- each character is cast perfectly and it's a subtle kind of creepy that will leave you thinking.

The End of the Tour. It seems like a story you wouldn't care about -- a reporter (Jesse Eisenberg) goes along with famous author David Wallace (Jason Segel) for the end of his tour. I was hooked from the commercial. Jason Segel is in a more dramatic role, while Eisnberg plays his usual awkward-yet-engaging-kindof-strange character. Their chemistry seems riveting and makes what could be a mundane story into something interesting. Critics rave about the script, which can really make a movie, and I'll definitely be seeing this soon.

Fantastic Four. I'm a sucker for super hero movies, especially Marvel ones. The studio does a great job of combining action films with realistic characters that you relate and root for, with a pinch of comedy and drama. This film doesn't get the best reviews, but should still be entertaining. Even just looking at the cast should keep you entertained for a while--hellooo Miles Teller and Smash Williams from Friday Night Lights.

Have you seen any of these movies? What movies are you looking forward to? Share below!