From ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ to Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’ Here Is Your 2022 Summer Movie Preview

Summer doesn’t officially start until June 21, but don’t tell that to Doctor Strange and Tom Cruise.

The MCU’s spellcaster extraordinaire and America’s last real movie star already rocked the season’s box office in May with their respective hits: “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”

“Maverick” has the edge as it’ll have a larger impact on the cultural conversation.

The duo will be followed by the usual array of popcorn fare, family-friendly animation and, of course, documentaries posing as progressive op-eds (Hello, “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down.”)

Here’s a look at other films heading our way. Let’s see if any are worth marking down on your calendar.

“Hustle” (June 8)

Adam Sandler never stops working, be it on goofy man-child comedies or more sobering tales like his 2020 film “Uncut Gems.” This Netflix original leans in the latter direction, casting him as a sports scout who stumbles upon an unlikely athlete who could be a star, assuming he can escape his closet’s skeletons.

“Jurassic World Dominion” (June 10)

The third film in the second “Jurassic” trilogy reunites the new cast (Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard) with the original trio (Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern and Sam Neill). Nostalgia, along with the enduring spectacle of CGI raptors screeching across the screen, should make this movie a safe bet for a worthy summer escape.

One caveat: Early marketing for the film promotes the sequel’s woke bona fides. Will that be obvious to movie goers, or is that a figment of the progressive stars’ imagination? We’ll soon find out.

“Terror on the Prairie” (June 14)

Gina Carano is officially uncanceled this Summer. The MMA star and “Mandalorian” alum leads a powerful cast in this old-school western from Daily Wire. Carano plays a frontier woman in the cross hairs of an outlaw mob featuring Nick Searcy and rising comic star Tyler Fischer.

The Daily Wire original offers another example of a strong female character unburdened by woke theatrics.

“Official Competition” (June 17)

This Spanish language farce follows elitist filmmakers vying for festival glory with less than grand intentions. Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas star in a film cutting the artistic community down to size. How welcome.

“Lightyear” (June 17)

It’s hard not to notice Disney kicking original Buzz Lightyear voice artist Tim Allen to the curb for this prequel. Still, the Pixar magic is strong, and the “Toy Story” franchise remains one of Hollywood’s enduring treats. Chris Evans steps in for Allen, voicing the heroic astronaut who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy seen in the “Toy” series. Since this is a Disney production, audiences can expect a same-sex kiss in between the CGI wonders.

“Elvis” (June 24)

He’s ba-ack, but are today’s audiences interested in the King of Rock anymore? We’ll soon find out via director Baz Luhrmann’s take on the musical legend, played by newcomer Austin Butler. Tom Hanks is on board as the enigmatic Colonel Tom Parker, but the spotlight belongs to the King. Early reviews suggest Luhrmann’s razzle dazzle style (think “Moulin Rouge” and “The Great Gatsby”) is a perfect match for the material. Plus, the story connects Presley’s formative years with the black musicians who helped pave his way to superstardom.

“Minions: The Rise of Gru” (July 1)

Remember the lovable yellow critters who stole 2010’s “Despicable Me?” They’re back, even though they’ve long since worn out their creative welcome. The second film to focus on the babbling creatures incorporates a young, wannabe evil Gru (Steve Carell) into the mix. It’s the furthest thing from Oscar bait, but it will do if parents need to employ an A/C-controlled babysitter.

“Thor: Love and Thunder” (July 8)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe ain’t what it used to be, but the mind behind “Thor: Ragnarok” could deliver a welcome course correction. Writer/director Taika Waititi is back, and his second “Thor” film introduces Natalie Portman as a new superhero alongside Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder. Will Waititi submit to the woke prime directive now guiding the MCU? Or can he set aside feminist lectures to do what he does best, deliver deliriously silly stories with plenty of panache? Christian Bale could be the game changer as a reportedly ferocious villain, Gorr the God Butcher.

“Nope” (July 22)

Comic turned auteur Jordan Peele’s third film comes with plenty of mystery and few details. “Get Out” returnee Daniel Kaluuya stars in a tale set at a horse ranch where mysterious forces threaten the locals. Peele is like a progressive M. Night Shyamalan, a director whose work evokes plenty of interest, sight unseen. His 2017 breakout “Get Out” leavened the messaging with sharp thrills and intrigue. Can he repeat that formula with “Nope?”

“Bullet Train” (August 5)

Oscar-winner Brad Pitt plays one of five assassins traveling aboard a Japanese train, each unaware that their missions will overlap in surprising fashion. Director David Leitch of “Deadpool 2” can corral an action scene better than most of his peers, and the film’s

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