Anti-superhero/franchise summer movie preview

“Captain America: Civil War” kicks off the summer movie season this weekend. It will be followed by many, many other superheroes, sequels, reboots and franchise fare.

With millions of dollars spent on movie marketing, chances are good you’ll know exactly when you can see “Independence Day: Will Smith-less” or “X-Men: CGI Overload.” Instead of listing everything, here are some franchise-free titles that might serve as welcome alternatives to the usual glut of capes and explosions.

Sing Street (opens today in Spokane)

A Dublin teenager, circa 1985, starts a rock band in the energetic new film from “Once” writer/director John Carney.

Money Monster (May 13)

Jodie Foster directs George Clooney and Julia Roberts in a Wall Street thriller about a financial television show held hostage by a disgruntled investor.

The Nice Guys (May 20)

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are private detectives searching for a missing girl in 1970s Los Angeles. A terrific marketing campaign suggests a dark comedy with old throwback action from writer/director Shane Black (“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”).

The Lobster

(limited release)

Colin Farrell and other singles only have 45 days to find a partner or they turn into animals forever. A standout comedy from last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (June 3)

Comedian Andy Samberg and his “Lonely Island” cohorts present this music mockumentary featuring what seems like hundreds of celebrity cameos. If you don’t know or like the faux-hip-hop nonsense of the Lonely Island, then best to skip this recommendation.

Free State of Jones

(June 24)

Matthew McConaughey stars as Newt Knight, the real life Southerner who led farmers and slaves in a rebellion against the Confederacy during the Civil War. Directed by Gary Ross (“The Hunger Games,” “Seabiscuit”).

Swiss Army Man

(limited release)

Paul Dano plays a man stranded on a deserted island. Then he meets a talking corpse, played by “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe. It’s not related to “Weekend at Bernie’s,” so you can’t count it as a franchise.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (July 8)

Zac Efron and Adam Devine play brothers who hire two seemingly normal women to be their dates for a stuffy family wedding in Hawaii. The ladies, played by Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza, are actually spectacularly unhinged.

The Infiltrator (July 13)

Bryan Cranston plays a U.S. Customs agent working undercover to expose the Columbian drug cartel in this fact-based, 1980s-set thriller.

Captain Fantastic

(limited release)

Not a superhero movie. This Sundance Film Festival entry stars Viggo Mortensen as a Pacific Northwest outdoorsman and father of six forced to reintegrate into the civilized world.

The Neon Demon

(limited release)

Nicolas Winding Refn, the dynamic filmmaker of the Ryan Gosling-starrer “Drive,” hopes to rebound from his frustrating second effort (“Only God Forgives”) with this thriller about an aspiring model (Elle Fanning) facing down the horrors of the Los Angeles industry.

The Founder (Aug. 5)

Michael Keaton stars as Ray Kroc — the man behind those ubiquitous Golden Arches. I can’t be certain, but I don’t think the Coeur d’Alene fitness center makes it into the final cut.

Florence Foster Jenkins (Aug. 12)

Meryl Streep alert! Get your Oscars ready! She plays the title character — an opera singer in the early 1900s known for her lack of talent. Streep, without talent? Ha! It’s her greatest performance yet!

Sausage Party (Aug. 12)

A hard R-rated animated adventure about a sausage (Seth Rogen) trying to avoid human consumption.

War Dogs (Aug. 19)

Jonah Hill and “Whiplash” breakout Miles Teller play arms dealers supplying U.S. troops in Afghanistan in this fact-based comedy/drama hybrid from “The Hangover” director Todd Phillips.

The Space Between Us (Aug. 19)

Romance about a boy and girl who spark an online relationship. Oh, the boy lives on Mars, and the girl on Earth, so you know, long distance troubles.

Captain America: Civil War (out now)

With rave reviews and the cast the size of a typical “Avengers” adventure, this one might be the blockbuster to beat all summerlong.

Finding Dory (June 17)

“Finding Nemo” probably didn’t need a sequel, but Pixar rarely stumbles. Except “Cars 2.” Never forget.

The BFG (July 1)

Steven Spielberg directs a live-action version of the beloved Roald Dahl story about the friendship between a young girl and a Big Friendly Giant. The Giant is played (with special effects) by newly-minted Oscar winner Mark Rylance (Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies”).

Ghostbusters (July 15)

Stop hating. If we’re going to get another “Ghostbusters” this many years after the original, then it’s best to try something a bit different. The four ladies in the film are proven comedic talents, and it can’t possibly be much worse than “Ghostbusters II.”

Jason Bourne (July 29)

Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass return to their terrific, stunt-based action series. Who cares about the plot? Bourne is punching people on the big screen again.

Kickboxer: Vengeance (August)

This reboot won’t get a wide release, and that’s a shame. Jean Claude Van Damme is back, and he will definitely do the splits. Some things are just meant for the big screen.

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Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com.