Summer Movies 2010: 28 Films You Must See

Salt

Why You Should See It: Because it’s Angelina Jolie in an espionage actioner directed by vet helmer Phillip Noyce (the beard behind Tom Clancy adaps Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger).

MacGruber

Why You Should See It: Because this spy-spoof looks set to follow in the footsteps of The Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World and, uh, Coneheads, and become the next Saturday Night Live sketch to hit big as a feature film.

Streetdance 3D

Why You Should See It: Aside from the fact it’s the first British film to be shot in 3D it’s also as near as you’ll get to a movie adaptation of Simon Cowell’s brain – the film sees a group of street dancers trading tips and rehearsal space with a ballet group, and features bouncy Britain’s Got Talent stars Diversity. Oh, and Total Film are in it...

The Last Airbender

Why You Should See It: Because despite the fact the name is properly rubbish, there's enough in the trailer to get us excited (that kid looks hard as). And while director M. Night Shyamalan can be hit and miss, when he does hit it's usually hard.

Karate Kid

Why You Should See It: Because even if the idea of updating Ralph Macchio’s career highpoint feels a little like doing a graphic novel version the bible, this one does as least the dream casting of Jackie Chan as Mr Miagi 2010.

The Losers

Why You Should See It: Because it's based on the smart and well-regarded comic book series of the same name, and because it involves a special forces team betrayed by their CIA handlers. Yes, a bit like The A-Team.

Black Death

Why You Should See It: The reasons need go no further than the fact Sean Bean is wearing chainmail and waving a sword around, but we'll also throw in director Christopher Smith, the steady hand behind recent horror chillers Creep and Triangle.

Bad Lieutenant

Why You Should See It: Because whether it turns out to be genius or a disaster bigger than Hurricane Katrina (in the aftermath of which the film's plot unfolds) this will definitely be something , and something worth watching.

When You're Strange

Why You Should See It: Because Tom DiCillo's accomplished documentary on The Doors has been given the stamp of approval by the band's keyboardist Ray Manzarek (and he was there , man), plus DiCillo's much criticised deadpan voiceover has been redubbed by the very rock 'n' roll Johnny Depp.

The Killer Inside Me

Why You Should See It: Because the credentials all over are red hot: a searing Jim Thompson source novel, Casey Affleck as the intense Deputy Sheriff hiding what he calls a 'sickness', and directed by the always intelligent, always watchable Michael Winterbottom.

Cop Out

Why You Should See It: Because the script (originally called A Couple Of Dicks) is renowned as one of the funniest unmade movies. And now it's been made. Plus, Tracy Jordan would be funny giving the last rites to your grandma, and Bruce Willis began his career with a smirk and a gag in Moonlighting.

Prince Of Persia

Why You Should See It: Because even though videogame adaptations have a record bordering on criminal, this one has a top cast, a savvy director in Mike Newell (who did a fine job on Potter flick Goblet Of Fire) and is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who worked magic with much more dubious source material in Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Predators

Why You Should See It: Because the original Predator was awesome, and (also awesome) producer Robert Rodriguez is talking this up as a direct sequel, skipping the Danny Glover follow-up, and naming it Predators in homage to best-ever sci-fi sequel Aliens.

The A-Team

Why You Should See It: Because this elite commando unit were sent to prison for a crime they didn't commit ! Liam Neeson looks impossibly right as Hannibal Smith, and enough things explode in the trailer to convice us this'll be a winner.

Knight And Day

Why You Should See It: Because it's about time we all remembered what made recently troubled star Tom Cruise a household name in the first place - a million dollar smile and a world-class charm, both of which are all over the trailer for this breakneck spy comedy.

Get Him To The Greek

Why You Should See It: Because it's a spin-off from the smart and funny Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and gives flamboyant flouncer Russell Brand his first shot at leading a Hollywood movie.

A Nightmare On Elm Street

Why You Should See It: Freddy without Robert Englund? Sacrilege! But also a fresh start - this new Nightmare scaps the gags that softened the old series and gives the helming chair to David Fincher and Michael Bay contemporary Samuel Bayer, who's sure to bring a visual edge to the movie.

Clash Of The Titans

Why You Should See It: Because new Perseus Sam Worthingon is fast becoming Hollywood's much-watch action man, and because ace thesping duo Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes are playing big-gun gods Zeus and Hades.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Why You Should See It: Because Twilight is a juggernaut that can't be stopped at this point. You can either climb aboard or be crushed.

American: The Bill Hicks Story

Why You Should See It: Because it's an intimate documentary portrayal of legendarily searing comic Bill Hicks, told unconventially through the memories of the ten people who where closest to him before his death.

Robin Hood

Why You Should See It: Because even if you're not convinced about another Robin Hood retread, the last time director Ridley Scott and star Russell Crowe made a crunchingly violent historical actioner together the result was a little film called Gladiator.

The Expendables

Why You Should See It: Because Sylvester Stallone has assembled the meatiest, manliest crew of Hollywood muscle ever (Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin) and every image of the film released so far has a gun or explosion in it.

Toy Story 3

Why You Should See It: Because the first two are still the best CG films of all time and changed the face of animation forever. And, you know, because it's in 3D.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Why You Should See It: Mostly because it's a film about four guys who travel to 1986 using a hot tub, but also because it looks funny as hell (the initial question that proves they've moved through time: "What colour is Michael Jackson?") and has John Cusack in it.

Four Lions

Why You Should See It: Because director Chris Morris takes the unthinkable - a comedy about aspiring suicide bombers? JESUS - and not only thinks it, but writes it down and makes a dangerously funny film about it too. Truly biting, on-the-edge satire.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Why You Should See It: Because Edgar Wright (director) and Michael Cera (star) is a match made in geek heaven, and because the just-released trailer looks seven types of amazing. Love! Seven evil exes! Fighting!

Inception

Why You Should See It: Because even though the trailer leaves the film almost totally inexplicable, director Christopher Nolan is on the kind of hot streak Hollywood only sees every quarter century or so (Memento, Insomnia, Batman, The Prestige, Batman again) and after the megabucks of the Dark Knight he's been given free reign to simply make this amazing.

Iron Man 2

Why You Should See It: Because director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr combined to make the first Iron Man one of the freshest blockbusters in years, and this one has extra Mickey Rourke (playing villain Whiplash) and Scarlett Johansson (playing being really hot).