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This summer is jammed packed with huge franchises and nostalgia. From childhood favorites like Lilo & Stitch to Tom Cruise’s last appearance as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. While we’re excited for these retellings, continuations, and finales, we can’t help but wonder what the future will bring in terms of original story telling that’s not an A24 low-budget indie feature. But that’s another article.
In the meantime, get your calendars ready, because here are the must-see summer release highlights of 2025:
May 2 – Thunderbolts** (Marvel Studios)
- Director: Jake Schreier
- Cast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen
- Marvel’s unique team of anti-heroes (and outright villains) finally gets their big-screen debut. Expect action, attitude, and a very different kind of superheroics.
May 23 – Lilo & Stitch (Walt Disney Studios)
- Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
- Cast: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Chris Sanders (voice), Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen
- Get ready to say “Aloha” once again to an unlikely friendship. This live-action reimagining of the beloved animated classic is set to bring Hawaii and Experiment 626 to life in a whole new way.
May 23 – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures) (Note: Title listed on IMDB as Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning; previously known as Dead Reckoning Part Two)
- Director: Christopher McQuarrie
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny
- Ethan Hunt returns for what promises to be another jaw-dropping installment of death-defying stunts and global espionage. The stakes have never been higher.
June 13 – How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks/Universal Pictures)
- Director: Dean DeBlois
- Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison
- The beloved animated tale of Vikings and dragons takes flight in a new live-action adaptation, helmed by the director of the original acclaimed trilogy.
June 20 – 28 Years Later (Sony Pictures)
- Director: Danny Boyle
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell
- Return to the terrifying world of the rage virus. Decades after the initial outbreak, this new chapter promises to explore the long-term aftermath and enduring fight for survival.
June 27 – F1: The Movie (Apple/Warner Bros) (Note: Title listed on IMDB as F1: The Movie)
- Director: Joseph Kosinski
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, Damson Idris, Tobias Menzies
- Get ready for high-octane drama on and off the track in this immersive look into the world of Formula 1 racing, from the director of Top Gun: Maverick.
June 27 – M3GAN 2.0 (Universal Pictures)
- Director: Gerard Johnstone
- Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Jemaine Clement, Ivanna Sakhno
- Your favorite unhinged AI companion is back! Prepare for more technological terror and darkly comedic thrills as M3GAN returns.
June 27 – Elio (Pixar)
- Directors: Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi
- Cast (voices): Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, America Ferrera
- Pixar’s next original adventure follows a young boy who accidentally becomes Earth’s intergalactic ambassador. Expect stunning animation and a heartwarming story.
July 2 – Jurassic World: Rebirth (Universal Pictures) (Note: Title listed on IMDB as Jurassic World: Rebirth)
- Director: Gareth Edwards
- Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Rupert Friend, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
- A new era of dinosaur-filled adventure begins. With a fresh cast and director, expect a thrilling new take on the iconic franchise.
July 11 – Superman (DC Studios/Warner Bros)
- Director: James Gunn
- Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Skyler Gisondo, Isabela Merced, Nathan Fillion
- The Man of Steel flies back to the big screen, launching a new vision for the DC Universe under the guidance of James Gunn.
July 18 – Smurfs (Paramount Pictures)
- Director: Chris Miller
- Cast (voices): Rihanna, Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Kurt Russell, John Goodman
- The little blue heroes are back in an all-new animated musical adventure that’s sure to delight audiences of all ages.
July 18 – I Know What You Did Last Summer (Sony Pictures)
- Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
- Cast: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt
- A new generation is about to learn that some secrets never stay buried. This horror franchise returns with familiar faces and fresh screams.
July 25 – The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel Studios)
- Director: Matt Shakman
- Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson
- Marvel’s first family finally makes their official MCU debut. Get ready to meet Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they embark on their first incredible journey.
August 1 – The Naked Gun (Paramount Pictures)
- Director: Akiva Schaffer
- Cast: Liam Neeson, Paul Walter Hauser, Pamela Anderson, Kevin Durand
- The classic comedy franchise gets a reboot, with Liam Neeson stepping into the shoes of a new, surely bumbling, law enforcement officer.
August 8 – Freakier Friday (Walt Disney Studios) (Note: Title listed on IMDB as Freakier Friday; also referred to as Freaky Friday 2)
- Director: Nisha Ganatra
- Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Chad Michael Murray, Julia Butters, Mark Harmon
- Get ready for another body-swapping escapade! The beloved mother-daughter duo returns for more generational misunderstandings and comedic chaos.
This summer is set to be an unforgettable one at the movies. Which of these blockbusters are you most excited to see on the big screen?
