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Still, analysts currently expect the movie to take in close to $200 million, which would put it ahead of Jurassic Park III’s haul of over $181 million in 2001. I, for one, will look to be adding to its total.

4. Terminator: Genisys

Speaking of franchises that should give me no reason for hope, the fifth chapter in the Terminator saga is also one of my most anticipated movies of the summer season. I suppose the reasons are self-evident: the franchise is among my favorites because of the futuristic/end of world dystopian world they inhabit, the time travel component, and the sharp directing by James Cameron of the early entries. The whole concept of avoiding the inevitable destruction of humankind is endlessly appealing.

This time around, however, it seems as if the filmmakers are rebooting the franchise with a new or alternative timeline that centers around Sarah Connor as a young woman. The risk that this strategy poses, of course, is that old fans will be turned off, and a new generation will simply be uninterested in a franchise that dates back to the 1980s. On the other hand, execs are likely counting on the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to revitalize the movie’s appeal.

Set to open over Fourth of July weekend on July 1st, analysts currently expect this movie to haul in just north of $100 million, well short of the $120 million that Terminator: Salvation took in back in 2009. Such a result would surely disappoint the studio, which is undoubtedly hoping to build more buzz around the project as the summer progresses. I, however, am already sold.

3. Inside Out Pixar’s latest movie, Inside Out, is my third most anticipated movie of the summer. As the makers explain, the movie features the story of a girl’s brain as told by different characters (emotions/thoughts inside her, so to speak). The movie is directed by the same guy who directed Pixar’s wildly successful Up and is set for a release date of June 19th.

What can I say? I am hopelessly biased in favor of the touching, light-hearted, brilliantly funny, and singularly imaginative projects that Pixar has to offer. Where the sappy pitfalls are plenty, the corny stereotypes abound, and the temptation to turn in facile, thoughtless fare abounds, Pixar has always proven itself adept at surprising audiences with new imaginative and refreshing themes, many of which live action films struggle to convey. From The Incredibles to Finding Nemo, Pixar/Disney collaborations are brilliant more often than not, and I have very high hopes for Inside Out.

The word on the street is that this movie will make around $150 million, but do not believe it. I’m betting (sight unseen, of course) on this one being one of the summer’s sleeper hits. And I’ll take all my friends to see it if I have to!

2. San Andreas

Well, I had to include a guilty pleasure on the list. Other than musicals, disaster films are the only genre for which I have done both best and worst of lists. Unsurprisingly, as musicals and disaster films are among my favorite movie styles.

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