If it’s beginning to feel like every major movie this summer is made up of superhero tights and hand-held weapons: a) you are correct; and b) we have the solution.
Although the summer is jam-packed with explosions and CGI, plenty of counterprogramming is coming soon, albeit on fewer screens.
Here are our picks for the top 10 must-see indie gems this summer.
‘Chef’
Release date: May 9
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “Neighbors”
Why we care: Lovable teddy bear Jon Favreau (originally of “Swingers” fame) directed, wrote and starred in this charming tale of a chef who quits his job over the integrity of his menu and goes on to start over with a humble food truck.
The story’s great, but the real reason to go is the decadent food porn.
‘Cold in July’
Release date: May 23
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
Why we care: Do you miss seeing Michael C. Hall kill people on “Dexter”? Relive the glory days with this crime flick, in which Hall kills a man robbing his home.
When the dead man’s vengeful dad comes a-knockin’, things get real complicated for the guilt-stricken Hall.
‘Obvious Child’
Release date: June 6
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “The Fault in Our Stars”
Why we care: This one’s about everyone’s favorite comedy topic: abortion!
Jenny Slate, the woman who accidentally said the F-word on her first episode of “SNL,” takes on the role of a Brooklyn comedian who gets pregnant during a one-night stand and decides to abort the baby. Hilarity ensues!
And also sadness, definitely some sadness.
‘The Rover’
Release date: June 13
The blockbusters everyone else will be seeing that day: “22 Jump Street” or “How To Train Your Dragon 2”
Why we care: We’ve been wondering what Robert Pattinson’s been up to now that his vampire days are over. Turns out he’s been running around the Australian desert with Guy Pearce for this crime drama.
Set in the dystopian future, the film follows a loner (Pearce) who has his car stolen by a gang. As he attempts to track them down, he finds himself teaming up with one of their own, who was left behind (Pattinson).
It’s directed by David Michôd of the pretty great “Animal Kingdom.”
‘They Came Together’
Release date: June 27
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “Transformers: Age of Extinction”
Why we care: Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd pair up to send up every rom-com cliché in the book.
From their director on cult fave “Wet Hot American Summer,” David Wain, comes this movie in which Rudd and Poehler seemingly fall in love to the tune of every movie you have ever seen ever.
‘Begin Again’
Release date: July 4
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “Tammy”
Why we care: John Carney, the director of “Once,” returns with another emotional story with six new songs.
Keira Knightley plays a struggling musician whose boyfriend (Adam Levine) has dumped her. One night she meets a record label guy (Mark Ruffalo) who changes her path.
The songs won’t leave your head for months.
‘Boyhood’
Release date: July 11
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
Why we care: Richard Linklater began shooting this groundbreaking film back in 2002. The result is a movie that follows the same actor (Ellar Coltrane) as a boy from age 6 to his senior year of high school.
Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette also joined the aging train as his parents, and the film explores their relationships as the boy comes of age.
‘Happy Christmas’
Release date: July 25
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “Hercules”
Why we care: Anna Kendrick plays a 20-something headed nowhere who comes to live with her brother and his wife in this dramedy. She, of course, wreaks havoc on their perfect life.
Lena Dunham also stars as her friend, and the two of them hanging out together is pretty much exactly why we want to see this.
‘Life After Beth’
Release date: Aug. 15
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “The Expendables 3”
Why we care: Aubrey Plaza tackles the role she was born to play: a zombie. Dane DeHaan (the Green Goblin in the latest “Spider-Man”) plays her not-dead boyfriend, who decides to keep dating her despite her current state.
That probably works out great.
‘Frank’
Release date: Aug. 22
The blockbuster everyone else will be seeing that day: “Sin City: A Dame To Kill for”
Why we care: Michael Fassbender wears a papier-mâché head through the entire movie, which follows his band as they struggle to record an album and attempt to make it to the South by Southwest Music Festival.
While the head criminally keeps us from seeing Fassbender’s pretty face, it’s intriguing, to say the least.