【Show up Yukari Taguchi】

The Show up Yukari Taguchidays are getting longer, the sun is burning brighter, and the temperatures are getting higher. And you know what that means.

It's time to seclude yourself in a big, dark, air-conditioned room and let the magic of the movies whisk you away. In other words: welcome to summer movie season.

SEE ALSO: New 'Dunkirk' footage is a heart-pounding Christopher Nolan master class

All week, we'll be talking up our most highly anticipated films of the season – from mega-budget blockbusters to under-the-radar indies, from five-hankie tearjerkers to side-splitting comedies.

While there's no official start date, it unofficiallybegins when the first big, juicy blockbuster of the season arrives. Which, for our purposes, means summer kicks off this weekend with The Fate of the Furiousand runs through Labor Day weekend.

So sit down and buckle up. Today, we're kicking off our summer movie preview series with a selection of films to watch out for if you're an action connoisseur ...

… and the crazier, the better: The Fate of the Furious (April 14)

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Lots of action movies have fistfights and fast cars and giant explosions. Only The Fate of the Furioushas Dwayne Johnson steering a goddamn torpedo with his bare hands. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – expect submarines, tanks, and wrecking balls galore. If you like your action to be over-the-top ridiculous, Dom and his family are your best bet.

… with a soft spot for street magic: Sleight (April 28)

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Sleightmay not be an action movie per se, but if you’re as wowed by street-level sleight-of-hand as you are expensive CG wizardry, this one should be worth a look. The Sundance crowd-pleaser centers on a young magician who reluctantly uses his skills to deal drugs – and then, when he finds himself in too deep, uses those same skills to pull him back out of that world.

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… and so are your kids: Cars 3 (June 16)

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The first Cars 3teaser got Pixar fans buzzing about how shockingly darkit looked. But before Lightning McQueen gets wrecked in his latest bid for glory, there’s actually some impressive race car action on display here. Carsmight be no adult’s favorite Pixar movie. But it could just wind up being the one that sets your kid down the path to becoming a bonafide action aficionado.

… and you want an epic: War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14)

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The meticulous work of the past two Planet of the Apesprequels promises to pay off in War, which pits man against ape in a battle for the fate of the world. (Never mind that we already know where this is going – it's the getting there that's interesting.) With shades of Apocalypse Now, The Ten Commandments, and Unforgiven, this has the potential to be the franchise's darkest, deepest, and most epic entry ever.

… and a history buff: Dunkirk (July 21)

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Christopher Nolan’s taken us through Gotham City, out to space, and into Leonardo DiCaprio’s dreams. But his next new film is a much more grounded affair. Dunkirktells the true story of the evacuation of a French harbor during World War II, and it does so in gorgeous, glorious IMAX. Oh, and it stars One Direction alum Harry Styles, in case you’ve ever wanted to see his handsome mug on a really big screen. (Not the famous locks, though – he had to shave those off for the movie.)

… who adores John Wick: Atomic Blonde (July 28)

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If John Wickand John Wick: Chapter 2left you hungry for still more John Wick, allow Atomic Blondeto fill that void. Directed by David Leitch (who co-directed the original John Wick), this Cold War thriller boasts the same commitment to crisp, clear action and flattering neon lighting, while also serving as a showcase for Charlize Theron’s action chops.

All week, we'll be running our 2017 summer movie preview. Come back every day to find out what to watch if ...

Monday:... you're an action connoisseur

Tuesday:... you're in the mood to laugh

Wednesday:... you want to feel a chill down your spine

Thursday:... you're feeling nostalgic

Friday:... you just want to see the best of the best

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