8 family-friendly summer movies

Another summer, another wide selection of blockbuster films to choose from.

Whether your family loves caped crusaders, fantasy creatures or just a simple, heartfelt animated adventure, the summer of 2013 is chock-full of movies for everyone in your family.

Here are some of the ones we are most excited to watch.

Distributor & Studio: Warner Bros. & Legendary Pictures, DC Entertainment
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane
Release date: June 14, 2013
 
In this action-packed reboot of the Superman film series, we see young Clark Kent (Cavill) discover his unique and powerful abilities, come to terms with his Kryptonian origins, and eventually transform into our favourite flying superhero when the world is attacked by General Zod (Shannon). Get ready for seamless special effects and a classic, exhilarating good-versus-evil battle that will have you at the edge of your seat.
 
Watch the trailer here.

Distributor & Studio: Walt Disney Pictures & Pixar Animation Studios
Featuring the voices of: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Nathan Fillion, John Krasinski, Steve Buscemi
Release date: June 21, 2013
 
Mike and Sulley (Crystal and Goodman) weren’t always the best of friends. In this prequel to Monsters, Inc., these incompatible monsters start butting heads from the moment they meet. Their wild college adventures and mutual passion to become legendary scarers are what ultimate bring these two Oozma Kappa brothers together.
 
Watch the trailer here

Distributor & Studio:
Featuring the voices of: Steve Carell, Ken Jeong, Kristen Wiig
Release date: July 3, 2013
 
After saving his three little munchkins from the evil Vector in Despicable Me, Gru (Carell) is finally settling into fatherhood. But things are shaken up when he is plucked from his quiet life by Lucy Wilde (Wiig) and Silas Ramsbottom of the Anti-Villain League, and taken to their headquarters. The League is determined to take down the newest bad guy in town, Eduardo, and they need the help of a former villain to get inside his head. With the help of Margo, Edith, Agnes, and his minions, it’s time for Gru to be the hero all over again.
 
Watch the trailer here.

Distributor & Studio: 20th Century Fox & DreamWorks Animation
Featuring the voices of: Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Maya Rudolph, Samuel L. Jackson
Release date: July 17, 2013
 
Tired of his miserable, slow-paced existence, Turbo (Reynolds) longs for thrill, excitement, and most of all, speed. In a freak accident involving nitrous oxide, his wishes finally come true: he is granted the powers that most snails can only fantasize about. With his new race car-like abilities and relentless perseverance, nothing can get in the way of Turbo’s lifelong dream: to win the Indy 500.
 
Watch the trailer here.

Distributor & Studio: Columbia Pictures & Sony Pictures Animation
Featuring the voices of: Neil Patrick Harris, Sofia Vergara, Katy Perry, Christina Ricci, Jayma Mays
Release date: July 31, 2013
 
In this sequel to The Smurfs, the evil wizard Gargamel creates Smurf-like Naughties in order to kidnap Smurfette and use her secret spell to extract Smurf essence and harness its power. Smurfette — entranced by the wild, exciting life that the Naughties open her eyes to — finds herself finally fitting in and forming a connection with the mischievous creatures. Find out if Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy, and Vanity will rescue her before it’s too late, and show her the importance of her true family and friends.
 
Watch the trailer here.

Distributor & Studio: 20 Century Fox & 1492 Pictures, Dune Entertainment
Featuring: Logan Lerman, Sean Bean, Alexandra Daddario, Nathan Fillion
Release date: August 7, 2013
 
Demigod Percy Jackson (Lerman) is back and must save his and his fellow half-bloods’ home by journeying with his friends, Grover and Annabeth, to the Sea of Monsters, where they must retrieve the Golden Fleece that will heal their dying magical tree and protect Camp Half-Blood from enemies. The trio encounters many challenges along the way, and Percy learns the true meaning of being the son of Poseidon.
 
Watch the trailer here.

Distributor & Studio: DisneyToon Studios & Walt Disney Pictures
Featuring the voices of: Dane Cook, Val Kilmer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Teri Hatcher, Priyanka Chopra
Release date: August 9, 2013
 
From the world of Cars comes the story of Dusty Crophopper (Cook), an acrophobic crop duster plane who dreams of competing in a high-flying aerial race against the sleekest, fastest flyers in the business. With the help of his friends and mentor, Skipper Riley (Kilmer), Dusty must find the courage to soar to new heights and prove that he has what it takes to achieve his dream.
 
Watch the trailer here.

Distributor & Studio: Sony Pictures & Syco Entertainment
Featuring: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne 
Release date: August 30, 2013
 
Ever wondered what it’s like to hang out with Harry, Zayn, Niall, Louis, and Liam — all the time? Interspersed with exciting concert footage, this hour-and-a-half all-access backstage pass gives us diehard 1D fans an intimate look at how these British pop sensations skyrocketed to fame, their life on the road, their relationships with their families and with each other, and the meaning of “living while we’re young”.
 
Watch the trailer here.

It's that time of the year again when big-budget movies hit the big screens. Here are the most-anticipated family-friendly films.