This time of year is a dream for film fanatics as the cinemas start rolling out those crowd-pleasing summer blockbusters.

Whether it’s a fun-filled family animation, an exhilarating new thriller or an unmissable sequel that has been years in the making, some of the most anticipated films of the year will be hitting the big screen this summer. Here are 10 of our top picks…

Alien: Romulus

Since the first Alien film hit our screens in 1979, the heart-stopping sci-fi franchise has had audiences hooked. The seventh instalment, Alien: Romulus, is set between the first film and its successful sequel, Aliens, and follows a group of young space explorers who land at a derelict space station and come face-to-face with a terrifying life form.

Release date: Friday, August 16

The Bikeriders

With a glittering cast, including Killing Eve star Jodie Comer, Oscar nominee Austin Butler and Legend actor Tom Hardy, The Bikeriders is geared up to be a box office hit. The film is set in 1960s Chicago amidst the rise and fall of Vandals MC, an outlaw motorcycle club that goes from a haven for social outcasts to the centre of organised crime.

Release date: Friday, June 21

Deadpool and Wolverine

While it looked like Hugh Jackman had hung up his claws for good after 2017’s Logan, Ryan Reynolds seems to have convinced the Marvel movie star to grow out his sideburns one last time. He returns as Wolverine, a mutant with superhuman abilities who is paired up with everyone’s favourite wise-cracking antihero Deadpool for the third film in the franchise.

Release date: Thursday, July 25

Despicable Me 4

Former supervillain Gru, his wife Lucy and their kids - Margo, Edith, Agnes and Gru Jr - are back for another fun-filled adventure. The fourth instalment in the animated series sees ‘baddie’ Maxime Le Mal escape from prison and, with the help of his minions, Gru must up sticks to keep his family safe. It boasts a stellar cast, including Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Sofía Vergara and Steve Coogan.

Release date: Friday, July 12

Fly Me to the Moon

Magic Mike star Channing Tatum and BAFTA winner Scarlett Johansson appear in this retro rom-com. During the 1960s Space Race, Cole, the NASA director in charge of the Apollo 11 launch, is surprised when the company brings in marketing specialist Kelly, who suggests they set up a backup fake moon landing in case Cole fails in his mission.

Release date: Friday, July 12

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Based on the 1955 children’s book, Harold and the Purple Crayon sees live-action and animation collide. The film centres around Harold, a young boy who, with the power of his magical purple crayon, can create a world of his own simply by drawing it and watching his creations come to life.

Release date: Friday, August 2

Inside Out 2

The follow-up to 2015’s emotional rollercoaster Inside Out is here, and Riley is all grown up. As the Pixar protagonist becomes a teenager, it's up to the emotions in her head to help her navigate puberty, with Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) being joined by new feelings, including Anxiety and Envy.

Release date: Friday, June 14

A Quiet Place: Day One

Based on the gripping events of John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place, this prequel is a spin-off of the original horror story. The film follows Sam, a woman living in New York when predatory aliens with ultrasonic hearing invade the city. She must quickly learn to survive as the events leading up to the first film unfold.

Release date: Thursday, June 27

Trap

The king of plot twists, director M Night Shyamalan, is back with his latest psychological thriller. This time, audiences are introduced to Cooper, a serial killer who is lured by the police to a pop concert where he soon realises he has been trapped, leading to a race against time between the criminal and those trying to catch him.

Release date: Friday, August 9

Twisters

Those who remember the 1996 blockbuster Twister will enjoy this standalone sequel, which takes place almost 30 years after the original. The new adaptation sees storm chaser Kate Cooper join forces with social media superstar Tyler Owens to test a groundbreaking tracking technology, but the experiment comes with huge risks.

Release date: Friday, July 17