10 Essential Summer Blockbusters That Aren't Part Of A Franchise

7. San Andreas

While he€™s made a name for himself as the saviour of movie franchises, or €˜franchise viagra€™ as it has been termed, Dwayne Johnson has struggled somewhat when it€™s come to launching movies of his own. The newfound success of the Fast And Furious movies is unprecedented, and the large upturn in their fortunes was partly thanks to the addition of The Rock back in Fast Five. Even G.I. Joe: Retaliation did enough to warrant another sequel, but it probably wouldn€™t have if it hadn€™t been for The People€™s Champ. He€™ll no doubt be saving DC in a few years, when he appears as Black Adam in Shazam, and it wouldn€™t surprise you if they brought his appearance forward should Batman v Superman or Justice League fail to perform as well as expected. Contrast that with his own standalone movies, and it€™s clear to see why he€™s made a reputation for saving franchises, rather than starting them. It€™s not difficult to imagine plans were had for sequels to last year€™s Hercules, but that didn€™t really take off, and the same could be said for the likes of Snitch and Faster. Not one to back down from a fight though, he€™s back again this year with disaster action flick San Andreas. This sees Johnson as a helicopter pilot who, after a massive earthquake hits California, makes the dangerous journey across the Golden State with his ex-wife to attempt to save their daughter, and promises plenty of big-scale action. The Rock vs an earthquake? Surely only one winner in that fight, and it won't be Mother Nature. Brad Peyton is directing, with the film out on May 29.
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.