Despite ticket sales being down 16% from last summer, there were plenty of quality movies in theaters this summer. From high-budget blockbusters like “Wonder Woman” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” to critically-acclaimed low-budget fare like “It Comes at Night” and “A Ghost Story”, there was a little something for everyone at the movies this summer. Below are my five favorite films released this summer, followed by some other notable movies:

“Baby Driver”: A crime comedy movie, this one follows Baby, a getaway driver who falls in love with a waitress and tries to escape his life of crime, but not without some obstacles. It got great reviews from critics and was very well received by audiences, doing much better at the box office than expected. I really enjoyed the film from start to finish, and it was one of the more enjoyable theater experiences I’ve had this year.

“It Comes at Night”: A psychological horror film, this movie takes place in a post-apocalyptic world and portrays the strange, horrific happenings when one family, led by a father determined to keep his family safe, decides to take another desperate family into their home. It received very good reviews from critics, but was rejected by mainstream audiences, who likely expected something more traditionally scary and less slow-paced and ambiguous. Those elements are precisely why I liked it so much though, as I was gripped by the film throughout; also, despite the lack of jump scares and supernatural elements, this is still a pretty darn creepy flick.

“Logan Lucky”: A heist comedy film, this movie is about two brothers living in West Virginia who enlist the help of their sister and a local demolitions expert to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It garnered very good reviews from critics, but received a lukewarm response from audiences. I dug the film though; its relaxed vibe and pace were a real treat, I found all the characters very endearing, and it has an emotional undercurrent that snuck up on me in a way I wasn’t expecting.

“The Big Sick”: This is a romantic comedy-drama film that portrays both the difficulties of navigating

different cultural expectations while in an interracial relationship, but also the stress of caring for a loved one when they are faced with a shocking illness. Garnering great reviews from critics and grossing

much more at the box office than expected, it proved to be one of the surprise hits of the summer. Like many others, I loved it; it’s an endlessly sweet, moving, and thoughtful film, and one I highly recommend

.

“Dunkirk”: Not only my favorite movie of the summer, but also of the year, this war film chronicles the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk through three intersecting, nonlinear storylines: one on land, one on sea, and one in the air. The reviews were spectacular and audiences were very impressed, which is no surprise. This is an endlessly exhilarating action movie, filled with constant suspense. I don’t think I moved once during the 107-minute runtime, and there were several times I forgot to breathe regularly because of how captivated I was.

Some other notable summer movies:

“Spider-Man: Homecoming”: The newest Marvel superhero flick, this one follows the adventures of teenaged Spider-Man as he tries to thwart a local arms dealer, with the occasional help of Iron Man. The film got a very good reception from critics and audiences and made a ton of money, to no surprise. I’m

not usually a big fan of superhero movies, but I enjoyed this more than expected; perhaps because at times it feels as much like a teenage comedy as an action movie.

“War for the Planet of the Apes”: The third installment in the new “Planet of the Apes” trilogy, this one follows Caesar and his band of apes as they battle a rogue military group of humans determined to kill off the primates once and for all. The film got great reviews from critics and was well-liked by audiences. Personally, I thought it was incredibly well-made and also pretty boring, but I’m clearly in the minority.

“Wonder Woman”: The biggest box office hit of the summer, this superhero origin story follows Wonder Woman on an adventure through World War I. It got very good reviews from critics was loved by audiences. It also got a lot of attention for featuring a female superhero in the lead role, which is very rare these days. I still haven’t seen it, but I definitely want to check it out.