15 summer movies we can’t wait to see: Spielberg to Spider-Man

Summer’s biggest movie season has arrived, bringing sequels, star-studded epics, family animation, bold indie pieces and a surprising number of queer stories. Below are 15 films across June, July and August worth adding to your watchlist, with release dates and what makes each one buzzworthy.

June premieres to watch this month

• Scary Movie — In theaters June 5

  This long-running horror spoof returns with familiar Wayans comedy and fresh targets. Expect lampooning of modern hits like A Quiet Place and M3GAN. Fans of broad parody will want to see how the franchise reinvents itself.

• Disclosure Day — In theaters June 12

  Steven Spielberg directs a whistleblower thriller about hidden contact with extraterrestrials. Josh O’Connor plays a cybersecurity expert who threatens to expose a decades-long secret. The film blends sci-fi intrigue with political stakes.

• June 19 — A busy release date

  • The Death of Robin Hood

    Hugh Jackman plays a darker, wounded Robin who faces the moral cost of violence and theft. Jodie Comer and Noah Jupe join him in a grimmer retelling of the legend.

  • Toy Story 5

    Woody, Buzz and Jessie return as toys clash with a child-friendly tablet called Lilypad. The conflict of Toys vs. Tech promises family-friendly humor and a sentimental edge.

  • Leviticus

    An Australian-set supernatural drama where two teen boys’ forbidden love collides with a literalized horror born from conversion-style abuse. Horror used to explore faith and identity.

  • Rose of Nevada

    After boarding a ghostly fishing vessel, two men return to find themselves thrust three decades into the past. The film blends mystery and time-slip suspense on the open sea.

• Supergirl — In theaters June 26

  Milly Alcock takes the cape as Kara Zor-El, a loner forced into heroism after an intergalactic villain harms those she loves. The movie tests whether she can anchor the next chapter of the DC Universe.

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• Minions & Monsters — In theaters July 1

  A 1920s-set prequel where the Minions try to conjure a real monster for their own movie. Expect slapstick, nostalgic Hollywood vibes, and plenty of yellow mayhem.

• Moana (live-action) — In theaters July 10

  The ocean chooses a new heroine in a live-action retelling of the beloved animated tale. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, now embodied by the actor on screen, alongside newcomer Catherine Laga’aia.

• The Odyssey — In theaters July 17

  Christopher Nolan reimagines Homer’s epic with a star-packed cast. Matt Damon leads as Odysseus in a visually ambitious production shot for IMAX. Expect large-scale spectacle and period gravitas.

• Motor City — In theaters July 24

  A near-wordless, 1970s Detroit revenge thriller. Alan Ritchson plays an ex-con bent on settling a score. This one leans into action over dialogue for a lean, physical ride.

• Spider-Man: Brand New Day — In theaters July 31

  Set four years after No Way Home, Peter Parker gets a fresh start after the world forgets him as Spider-Man. New pressures spark change as a new threat emerges.

August releases and late-summer surprises

• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma — In theaters August 7

  Jane Schoenbrun directs a meta-horror about a queer filmmaker rebooting a slasher franchise. The film explores obsession, legacy, and the cost of reviving violent pop culture icons.

• The End of Oak Street — In theaters August 14

  From the creator of It Follows comes a suburban nightmare about an ’80s family who notices strange neighborhood events. The trailer offers uncanny imagery and owed mysteries.

• Coyote vs. Acme — In theaters August 28

  Wile E. Coyote hires a down-on-his-luck lawyer (Will Forte) to sue Acme for defective gear. The long-delayed hybrid comedy survived studio shakeups to finally hit screens. Looney Tunes fans will be watching.

Notable themes across the season

• Genre variety: Expect horror, sci-fi, mythic epics, and family animation.

• Big names: Filmmakers like Spielberg and Nolan and stars such as Hugh Jackman and Matt Damon headline major releases.

• More queer representation: Several offerings put LGBTQ+ stories front and center, from supernatural allegory to auteur-driven indie pieces.

• Franchise recalibrations: Reboots and sequels try new tonal directions, whether comedic, tragic, or ambitious.