Summer Movies 2015: What You Need to Know

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“Avengers: Age of Ultron”

Ages: Tweens and up

Plot: The Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow) are back! They’re trying to save Earth from the evil robot Ultron.

What to know: This is the first of three superhero movies out this spring and summer. It has a number of loud, gory battle scenes that may be too intense for sensitive kids. Some children with attention issues may also find it tough to sit through the whole two hours.

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“Tomorrowland”

Ages: Tweens and up (and maybe mature grade-schoolers)

Plot: A curious teen and a quirky inventor travel to Tomorrowland.

What to know: Yes, that’s the Tomorrowland of the Disney theme parks. But that doesn’t mean it’s a safe bet for all kids, especially if they’re young or tend to be anxious. Rocketing off to this dreamy otherworld may be overstimulating for some. The film includes fighting, lasers, explosions and other intense experiences that may be challenging for kids with sensory processing issues.

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“When Marnie Was There”

Ages: Grade-schoolers and up

Plot: A lonely girl sent off to spend summer with relatives is happy to befriend a mysterious neighbor.

What to know: This tender, suspenseful Japanese cartoon is a quieter option than summer blockbusters. Kids who liked animé classics Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are likely to enjoy this film. It’s created by the same team.

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“Jurassic World”

Ages: Tweens and up

Plot: Scientists have created a new enormous, super-scary dinosaur. And they’ve added it to a dino theme park for families. Two brothers have to figure out how to escape its clutches.

What to know: There’s lots of action and adventure in this fourth installment of the Jurassic Park series. That may be great for high-energy, thrill-seeking kids. But it may be too intense for others. (Whether or not you see it, you may want to let your child know that executive producer Steven Spielberg has dyslexia.)

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“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”

Ages: Teens and up

Plot: A high school filmmaker sets out to create a gift for a new friend with leukemia.

What to know: This clever film is heavy on emotional motives: friendship and dedication, among others. That can be tricky for kids who have a hard time picking up on social cues. But if your teen liked The Fault in Our Stars, this book-turned-movie is a safe, entertaining summer bet.

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“Inside Out”

Ages: Preschoolers and up

Plot: A young girl named Riley is settling into a new school and neighborhood. We get to peek inside her head to meet her sometimes funny, always entertaining emotions: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness.

What to know: Pixar has created a fun way for families to talk about feelings. Kids who have trouble identifying emotions may find that some of the humor goes over their heads. But there are a lot of laughs that all kids will appreciate.

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“Max”

Ages: Mature grade-schoolers and up

Plot: Max is a military dog whose trainer is killed in Afghanistan. He is adopted by his Marine’s family and helps them recover from their grief.

What to know: This isn’t a cute puppy movie. Yes, it’s heartwarming at times. But Max contains some violent war scenes that could be upsetting for sensitive children.

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“Minions”

Ages: Grade-schoolers and up

Plot: This is the eagerly awaited spin-off from Despicable Me 2. This time, the zany Minions get tangled up with a super-villain.

What to know: Minions don’t actually speak English. (Other characters in this cartoon do, though.) Viewers need to rely on the Minions’ body language and voice pitch to understand what’s happening. For some kids with trouble reading social cues, that can make things tough. But watching with your child may create “teachable moments.”

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“Ant-Man”

Ages: Tweens and up

Plot: Tiny but mighty, Ant-Man is a lesser-known Marvel superhero—and a thief! In this film, he’s asked by his mentor to use the powers of the Ant-Man suit to pull off a heist that can save the world.

What to know: Based on previews, Ant-Man looks less violent than Avengers: Age of Ultron, for instance. But it may have a trickier plot for kids who have trouble following story lines. (Note: Michael Douglas, who plays Ant-Man’s mentor in the film, has a son with dyslexia. Watch him discuss how much he admires his son’s confidence and talents.)

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“Mr. Holmes”

Ages: Teens and up

Plot: Now an elderly man, Sherlock Holmes must solve one final mystery from his youth as a detective.

What to know: Mr. Holmes contains some heavy adult themes, including nuclear warfare and young love. But if you watched the hit TV show Sherlock with your child, this may be a fun family movie to see together.

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“Paper Towns”

Ages: Teens and up

Plot: Margo is an old friend—and major crush—of Quentin. When she goes missing, he embarks on a road trip to solve the mystery of her disappearance.

What to know: Paper Towns is based on a popular young adult novel with the same name. It also contains references to other classic books. If your child didn’t (or couldn’t) read these, he may feel as though he’s missing certain parts of this film.

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“Pixels”

Ages: Mature tweens and up

Plot: Aliens have sent real-life video game villains to attack Earth. A video game champion from the ’80s has to help save the planet.

What to know: Kids who know about classic video games (like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong) may find this action film funny. And since it’s fast-paced, it may be a good pick for kids with attention issues. But beware: There are loud explosions and violent scenes where city buildings are destroyed. So this may not be a good choice for sensitive kids or those with sensory processing issues.

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“Vacation”

Ages: Tweens and up

Plot: You may remember the Griswolds from the classic comedy National Lampoon’s Vacation. Now they’re all grown up. This new slapstick film follows Rusty as he drives his own young family cross-country. Their goal: the amusement park he visited with his parents and sister as a kid.

What to know: Your child doesn’t have to have seen the original Vacation to appreciate this silly movie. But kids with language processing issues might not “get” the long-winded humor.

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“Fantastic Four”

Ages: Teens and up

Plot: Four young scientists travel to a different dimension. When they return to the present, they have new superpowers that give them the ability save the world from a major new enemy.

What to know: It’s been a decade since the last Fantastic Four movie was released. This new version may be the most dramatic of the 2015 summer superhero movies. It’s a sci-fi film heavy on action, suspense and danger, so it may not be right for kids with sensory processing issues.