Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*” is kicking off the summer season with a potential bang at the box office this weekend. It’s been positively received by critics and has garnered good word of mouth from its audiences so far. However, this is only the beginning of the summer movie slate. We’ll be going over several of the most anticipated films of the summer if you feel so inclined to head over to the cinema.
On May 16th, we have “Final Destination: Bloodlines” from Warner Brothers. The studio is coming off major box office success from “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners” and will want to continue that momentum with a franchise that started 25 years ago. The horror genre continues to surprise us at the box office, and if “Final Destination: Bloodlines” can accomplish a fresh take on the material, we could be looking at another win for the Hollywood studio.
Also, on May 16th, we have “Hurry Up Tomorrow” from Lionsgate, starring Jenna Ortega, The Weekend (Abel Tesfaye), and Barry Keoghan. This psychological thriller is a fresh entry to the summer slate, featuring new music from the Weeknd. Sure to be a unique IMAX experience, it is about an insomniac musician who ventures into a dark journey alongside a stranger he meets.
On the heels of Barbenhemier, we potentially have another summer counterprogramming event between Stitch and Tom Cruise on May 23rd. First, with “Lilo and Stitch” from Disney, it’s another live-action remake from Disney with the beloved Stitch returning to the big screen alongside newcomer Maia Keahola portraying Lilo. Sydney Agudong is portraying Nani, Lilo’s older sister. It’s being directed by Dean Fleischer, who recently directed the Oscar-nominated “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” This summer entry has the potential to break into the $1 billion club and is already projected for over a $100 million domestic opening weekend release.
Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible” franchise is coming to a potential end with “Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning” from Paramount Pictures. It’s being framed as the last entry for Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and will have its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival a few days before its theatrical release. After a lukewarm debut for “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning,” this upcoming entry is tapping into the nostalgia of the entire franchise in its latest trailer, acting as a grand crescendo for Ethan Hunt and his friends. Joining this last entry are new characters played by Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, and Tramell Tillman.
On May 30th, we have “Karate Kid: Legends,” which will be released from Sony Pictures. Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio join forces in this new entry, directed by Jonathan Entwistle, as it sets up “Cobra Kai,” which occurs in the same universe as “Karate Kid.” It’s confirmed that this story takes place three years after the “Cobra Kai” series finale on Netflix.
Also on May 30th, Focus Features will release the latest film from Wes Anderson, “The Phoenician Scheme,” starring an all-star cast that includes Benicio Del Toro, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bryan Cranston, Hope Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Richard Ayoade, Riz Ahmed, Rupert Friend, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Hanks. The film will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival first and tells the story of a wealthy businessman, Zsa-zsa Korda, who appoints his only daughter, a nun, as the sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins. Whenever Anderson has a new film, it’s worth celebrating!
Opening on June 6th is the newest entry in the John Wick franchise, “Ballerina.” Starring Ana De Armas, this is taking place between “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” We’ll be seeing the story of Eva Macarro unfold from her upbringing in the Roma Ruska with Keanu Reeves returning as John Wick, alongside Ian McShane and Anjelica Huston. This will also serve as Lance Reddick’s last posthumous appearance within the series, and a new character will be played by “The Walking Dead” star Norman Reedus.
Also opening up on June 6th is the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award winner, “The Life of Chuck” from NEON, which is more in line with other Stephen King adaptations such as “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” than his horror work. “The Life of Chuck” will be a three-chapter arc told in reverse order that dives into the story of Charles Krantz and shows us a more sentimental side to Stephen King’s work. It features an ensemble cast of Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mia Sara, Benjamin Pajak, and Karen Gillan. Directed and written by critically acclaimed director Mike Flanagan and with positive reviews already from its world premiere last year, this is one of the most anticipated films of the summer and the year overall.
June 13th will be another family fare for the live-action – “How to Train Your Dragon.” Already greenlit for a sequel in 2027, there is a breath of confidence for this beloved DreamWorks property directed by Dean DeBlois, who’s returning from directing the animated moves. Having seen the film already, I can confidently say it adds to the magic of the first film and dives more into the story of Berk. You’re immersed in the world of dragons, and hopefully, it can bring a new wave of fans to this enchanting entry. It stars Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast.
The counter-programming on June 13th will be Celine Song’s “Materialists” from A24. The sophomore debut for Song, after her Oscar-nominated “Past Lives,” it stars a strong trio of Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evan. This will be a bit of a homecoming for Song due to her time as a professional matchmaker, as Dakota Johnson plays a matchmaker who is torn between Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. After how impressive her last film was, we’re all looking forward to seeing how this romantic dynamic unfolds from Song on screen.
With horror dominating the cinemas, it seems appropriate that “28 Years Later” by Sony Pictures will premiere with a bloody bang. Debuting on June 20th, it will be the start of a new trilogy, with “28 Years Later – Bone Temple” already being released mere months later on January 16th, 2026. The original team from “28 Days Later” returns with director Danny Boyle at the helm and Alex Garland writing the screenplay fresh off his work on A24’s “Civil War” and “Warfare.” This new entry stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes.
Also on June 20th will be the latest Pixar film, “Elio,” starring Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil & Shirley Henderson. Disney is hoping this will be one of their Best Animated Feature contenders this year, and we’ll just have to wait and see if this cosmic adventure with heart, humor, and soul lives up to the glory of Pixar’s past or if it disappoints.
Wrapping up June will be another clash of films – “F1” and “M3GAN 2.0.” On June 28th, we have “F1,” starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, and Kerry Condon from Apple Studios. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who’s coming off the massive success of “Top Gun: Maverick,” this film is set to deliver the sensation of being within the racecar itself and will undoubtedly look and sound great in IMAX. Brad Pitt’s veteran driver, Sonny Hayes, is looking for another chance to prove himself on the track while mentoring newcomer Joshua Pearce. We feel that audiences will enthusiastically respond to this underdog dad movie later this summer.
“M3GAN 2.0” wraps up June with a yaasss-ified sequel, set two years after the events of the first “M3GAN.” We see a cheekier M3GAN who’s not afraid to advocate for her questionable methods with Ivanna Sakhno, joining the cast as Amelia, the new military-grade weapon that’s gone rogue, and the only one that can stop her is M3GAN, with some new upgrades along the way. Allision Williams and Violet McGraw return to the sequel with director Gerard Johnstone at the helm once more.
July is a packed month of blockbusters set to release with “Jurassic World Rebirth” from Universal Studios kicking things off on July 2nd before the national holiday. Gareth Edwards is directing this entry, having recently done “The Creator” and securing quite a reputation for himself as a reliable blockbuster director. The trailers have alluded to a return to form in the horror aspect of the Jurassic franchise, with Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey leading the pack. In typical fashion, we know that a family will end up involved in this action-packed adventure and that the mission involves extracting the DNA of dinosaurs. Still, we’ll see what tales unfold on another doomed island at the start of the holiday weekend.
Following up two weeks later, on July 11th, is James Gunn’s eagerly anticipated “Superman” from Warner Bros. This is the start of a new universe and story for the DC world, and so a lot of expectation is on Gunn to deliver. You have David Corenswet taking on the titular role of Clark Kent/Superman, and we’ve been teased by the recent trailer that this will be a different direction for the character. Nicholas Hoult will be joining on as Lex Luthor and is already giving us a ruthless look at the character from the trailer and behind-the-scenes looks. Lastly, you have Rachel Brosnahan, who will tackle the role of Lois Lane, her role in The Daily Planet, and her growing relationship with Clark. Much is riding on this film, and Gunn has not missed yet, but this will undoubtedly be his biggest task to date.
July 18th will see the release of another horror legacyquel, “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” starring Neal H. Moritz, Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Lola Tung, and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising their roles from the original 1998 slasher film. Directed and co-written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (“Do Revenge“), some may be writing this one off as just another teenage slasher that uses nostalgia to bring audiences to the theaters (Hello “Scream“), but based on the trailer and Robinson’s established talent, something tells us audiences may have more fun with this one than expected.
One of the biggest question marks of the year is Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” which will also be released theatrically on July 18th, following a world premiere In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Always a controversial storyteller with a passionate fanbase, the filmmaker will undoubtedly be pushing buttons with his latest following the divisive “Beau Is Afraid,” as it tells the story of a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal), which sparks a powder keg in a fictional New Mexico town, putting as neighbor against neighbor. Something tells us this highly political and violent film will get audiences talking this summer but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
The last entry for Marvel Studios this year will release on July 25th: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” from Disney. Starring the quartet of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, you have Marvel’s first family presented to us in an alternate universe within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Set in a futuristic retro 1960s, we’re seeing director Matt Shakman get to dive into the same era he did in Marvel’s “WandaVision.” Like “Superman,” a lot is riding on this to be a success as we’ll wait with held breath to see how this will continue to steer the Marvel Universe into its next Avengers film: “Avenger’s Doomsday.”
Wrapping up July is the Sundance breakout hit body horror film “Together” starring real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple who move to the countryside, triggering a supernatural incident that drastically alters their relationship, existence, and physical form. The film got quite the reception out of Sundance and further continued this with its screening at SXSW. It has audiences buzzing, and that will likely continue as the summer heads into its final month.
Paramount’s reboot of “The Naked Gun” kicks off the month of August on the 1st. It stars Liam Neeson as a man with a particular set of skills. The teaser trailer from CinemaCon itself shows a comedic Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. and the madness that will likely ensue from director Akiva Schaffer. Coming off the original trilogy of “Naked Gun,” which wrapped up 25 years ago, this new entry also stars Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser in supporting roles and will serve as a legacy sequel to “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” (1994).
On August 8th is Warner Bros. “Weapons.” It’s directed by Zach Cregger, who recently delivered “Barbarian” to much acclaim and surprise from critics and audiences. After the trailer, which premiered the other day, and a stellar marketing campaign, “Weapons” is already promising us the chills. It’s a horror film about the sudden disappearance of students and the unraveling of that event starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, and Alden Ehrenreich.
Also, on August 8th, we have the return of Disney’s “Freakier Friday,” with Lindsay Lohan and Jaime Lee Curtis returning to the helm. After the first entry back in 2003, these leading ladies are being promised more body swaps, hijinks, and adventure with new characters played by Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, and Manny Jacinto. Also returning is Chad Michael Murray, Anna’s ex-boyfriend from the first film. Many thought this would go straight to Disney+, so we’ll have to wait and see if Disney’s decision to put this in theaters will pay off.
Wrapping up August, on the 29th, is “Caught Stealing,” directed by acclaimed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. Set in the 1990s, this crime thriller stars Academy Award-nominee Austin Butler as Henry “Hank” Thompson, a former baseball player caught up in a criminal world in New York City. Filmed on location and said to be a change of pace from Aronofsky’s usual dark psychological offerings, it stars a packed ensemble consisting of Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Bad Bunny, Regina Hall, Live Schreiber, and Vincent D’Onofrio.
Also releasing on the 29th and concluding the 2025 summer movie season is “The Roses,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, and Kate McKinnon. Written by “The Favourite” and “Poor Things” screenwriter Tony McNamara and directed by Jay Roach (“Bombshell“), we didn’t initially have this film high on our list once we realized it’s probably not the awards contender we were initially expecting. Still, the trailer’s tone and comedy suggest this could be quite the fun offering from Searchlight Pictures before the fall film festivals kick in.
Which films are you most looking forward to this summer? Obviously, there are others we didn’t mention here, such as “Animal Farm” (July 11th), “Sorry, Baby” (July 27th), “The Bad Guys 2” (August 1st), “Honey Don’t” (August 22nd), and “Lurker” (Also August 22nd). But what are you planning to see this summer? Please let us know in the comments section below and on our X account.
