2016 Summer Blockbuster Report

With summer officially in full swing, our thoughts turn to one of this season’s most captivating draws: the big summer blockbuster. We selected a few of the biggest features from the pack, and we’ve highlighted some of the major technical players behind these massive productions.

Independence Day: Resurgence
This highly anticipated sequel from 20^th Century Fox has some big blockbuster shoes to fill. Helmed by the original film’s director, Roland Emmerich (2012, The Patriot), and lens’d by Markus Förderer (Stonewall), this sequel also features the original film’s production VFX supervisor, Volker Engel (Hugo, White House Down), and production sound mixing from David Brownlow (The Avengers). Production took place mainly in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Independence Day: Resurgence invaded theaters on June 24^th.

Finding Dory
Finding Dory, Pixar and Disney’s follow-up to 2003’s hit Finding Nemo, sees the return of director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL·E). One of the few movies this summer that’s a certifiable safe-bet for big box-office numbers, Finding Dory will likely break earnings records both at home and abroad. This family-friendly tale features dialogue mixing from the renowned Doc Kane (Frozen, Fight Club), as well as picture editing by Axel Geddes (Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc.). Finding Dory was released in theaters on June 16th.

The BFG
The live-action adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel The BFG promises to have plenty of eye and ear candy to complement its heartwarming adventure story. Steven Spielberg directs this visually intensive Disney film with Kevin Andrew Smith (Avatar, The Lord of the Rings trilogy) of Weta Digital as VFX Supervisor and cinematography by Janusz Kaminski (Saving Private Ryan, Munich). Picture editing credit goes to Michael Kahn (Jurassic Park, The Goonies), and Ryan Cole (Star Wars VII, Bridge of Spies) serves as the production sound mixer. Filmed in the U.K. and Canada, The BFG hits theaters July 1st.

Ghostbusters
Helmed by director Paul Feig (Spy, The Bridesmaids), Ghostbusters, the oft-discussed action/comedy reboot, has Robert D. Yeoman (The Heat, The Life Aquatic) as cinematographer and Peter G. Travers (Guardians of the Galaxy, What Dreams May Come) as its production VFX supervisor. The film features editing by Melissa Bretherton (The Heat, This Is 40) and production sound mixing by Steve Cantamessa (Gone Girl, Tropic Thunder). Production took place around Massachusetts, including in Boston. Columbia will release Ghostbusters on July 15^th.

Suicide Squad
Filmed mostly in Toronto and directed by David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch), Suicide Squad brings a team of DC Comics anti-superheroes to the big screen. This one comes out on August 5^th and has already been getting a ton of buzz. Lens’d by Roman Vasyanov (Fury, Charlie Countryman) and edited by John Gilroy (Nightcrawler, Pacific Rim), this dark and gritty Warner Bros. flick also includes production sound mixing from Lisa Pinero (Fury, Café Society).