Even though Avengers: Infinity War was long thought to be a May release, its move to April certainly seems to be paying off. The film is still in its opening weekend as of this writing and is already riding a wave of positive buzz and impressive box office forecasts. Still, the Marvel juggernaut was far from the only smash hit to come out last month, as director/star John Krasinski’s horror-thriller A Quiet Place struck a chord with audiences. Likewise, Dwayne Johnson’s giant monster movie Rampage and R-rated comedy Blockers both look likely to turn a tidy profit.

This month is a bit lighter on the blockbuster, though it does feature a pair of the summer’s biggest heavy-hitters. Nevertheless, moviegoers of all kinds should find something worthwhile in the weeks ahead, as the summer movie season proper finally falls upon us. Without further delay, here are the 10 films we’re looking forward to in May 2018.

10. DARK CRIMES (RELEASE DATE: MAY 18)



Jim Carrey made a career out of playing silly characters like Ace Ventura and The Mask, but the actor has demonstrated in the past that he has a lot more to him than just a funny bone. In the new thriller Dark Crimes (which receives a limited theatrical release this month), Carrey seems determined to remind audiences just how serious he can be.

Based on a 2008 article in The New Yorker titled True Crime: A Postmodern Murder Mystery, Dark Crimes follows a detective (Carrey) who discovers a sinister secret behind a murder case. The actor is exceptionally melancholy and somber in the film, which makes director Alexandros Avranas’ latest an off-the-beaten-path selection for moviegoers on the hunt for a small-scale mystery.

9. LIFE OF THE PARTY (RELEASE DATE: MAY 11)



For obvious reasons, filmmaker Ben Falcone and real-life wife Melissa McCarthy just can’t stop working together. After collaborating on comedies like Tammy and The Boss (both starring McCarthy and directed by Falcone), the pair is at it again with Life of the Party, co-writing this story of a middle-aged mother who returns to college after her husband asks for a divorce.

McCarthy’s track record at the box office has been a bit spotty in recent years, with 2015 hit Spy her last bonafide hit. Perhaps Life of the Party can be something of a course-correction then. Supporting turns from talented people like Molly Gordon, Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph and Jacki Weaver certainly offers an additional incentive to check out McCarthy’s latest film.

8. MARY SHELLEY (RELEASE DATE: MAY 25)



Biopics are all the rage these days, especially if they also wind up being period pieces. In that case, Mary Shelley is already ahead of the curve. Haifaa al-Mansour directs the film, which explores the romantic life of the titular author. Mary Shelley also chronicles the experiences that inspired her to write Frankenstein as well as her struggles to get the book published.

Elle Fanning stars as Shelley in her latest effort to illustrate her range, following films like The Neon Demon and The Beguiled. Mary Shelley features a supporting cast that includes Douglas Booth, Bel Powley, Ben Hardy and Maisie Williams. The film arrives in select theaters this month after debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall.

7. OVERBOARD (RELEASE DATE: MAY 4)



Given the original’s cult classic status, we suppose a remake of the 1987 Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell comedy Overboard was inevitable. The setup — which sees a blue-collar worker convince a spoiled heiress that she is his wife — has that broad appeal that translates easily to a crowd-pleasing comedy, and both roles really present the opportunity to showcase two gifted performers.

While no one would have pegged Eugenio Derbez and Anna Faris as the right stars to bring Overboard into the new millennium, we have to give director Rob Greenberg’s film credit for gender-flipping the two leads. The original film played too easily on sexist stereotypes, and while some similar problems might be present in this new version, at least it’s attempting something different with its approach of the material.