Summer has always brought an abundance of potential for the film industry. Nothing beats sitting in a comfy chair in an air-conditioned theater and watching the latest film. This summer has been a treat, as many box-office hits such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, Obsession, and Backrooms have drawn in audiences worldwide. From returning franchises to independent films, these are the most notable movies of the summer.
Longtime Marvel fans anticipated the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day as Tom Holland returned as Peter Parker, fighting to protect his friends and loved ones in a world that has forgotten him. The film has garnered praise, with a rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
“This is my favorite Spider-Man movie so far. I have seen it three times and everyone I have taken has loved it,” said Ernest R. in a Fandango review. David Griffiths, a film critic for Subculture Entertainment, wrote, “the introduction of a more character-driven film shows that just like Holland as an actor, the franchise itself has matured, bringing with it some powerful elements that promise an exciting future.”
Independent films have also grown in popularity among Gen Z audiences. YouTubers Kane Parsons and Curry Barker gained recognition in the horror genre for their films, Obsession and Backrooms.
“At 26 years old, Barker is speaking directly to his own generation, the moviegoing Zoomers, by making a meal out of their most pressing interpersonal crises,” wrote Emma Stefansky of The Atlantic. Nicholas Bell of Fish Jelly Films wrote,
“Backrooms is an interesting visualization of a corporeal approach to what feels like psychological exposure therapy conjured exclusively within the confines of an analogue world, an exercise heightened by compelling lead performances.”
Audiences were swept away by Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, based on the ancient Greek epic. With a star-studded cast featuring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, and Robert Pattinson, The Odyssey holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In one scene, Pattinson’s character insults Odysseus and his men, shouting “somebody get these beggars out of here!” which later became a meme.
Film critic Cate Young said, “Nolan’s “Odyssey” does precisely what myths are meant to use the stories of our past to weave truths about the fabric of our present-day lives.”
Not only have these films brought in box-office revenue from ticket sales, they have also influenced and amazed audiences while offering insight into the future of the film industry. Through social media, moviegoers have shared their own perspectives, reactions, and takeaways from the movies, extending their influence beyond the big screen. This summer has shown the connection between audiences and the movies that shape us.
Sylvia-Novella Underwood is a senior BFA Acting Major and Arts & Culture reporter for The Retriever.
Contact Sylvia at kb56931@umbc.edu