It’s a summer of sequels, superheroes and some singing
Going to a movie theatre can be a pretty fun summer activity.
It’s air-conditioned, you get to sit for a few hours and there are snacks.
Plus, summer is usually the time when movie studios put out some of their biggest films.
There’s even a special name for them: summer blockbusters.
Rachel Ho, a film critic with Exclaim!, says that traditionally, summer blockbusters are movies that studios think will appeal to the most people, and thus, make the most money.
Amil Niazi, a pop culture writer and columnist, says summer blockbusters are “fun and joyful.”
They also often have big action scenes and big stars.
Both of them spoke with CBC Kids News about some of the summer movies that kids might be interested in seeing this summer.
Superhero movies
Superhero movies have often been popular at the box office, and this summer there are two big ones to watch for.
Supergirl is set in the DC Universe and focuses on Kara Zor-El, or Supergirl.
She is the cousin of Clark Kent, better known as Superman, and has similar powers.
She made a brief appearance at the end of 2025’s Superman, when she was revealed to be the owner of Krypto, the super-powered dog Superman had been caring for throughout the movie.
Ho said the movie was “a lot darker” than she expected, but also said it was “a great origin story,” and that she would have really enjoyed it as a preteen.
It comes out today.
Supergirl and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, are intended for an older audience, but kids still might be interested in them. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/The Associated Press, screenrant/Instagram)
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the sequel to 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.
It follows Peter Parker and his quest to protect New York City as Spider-Man after Dr. Strange erased his identity at the end of the previous movie.
It comes out on July 31.
Both films are rated PG-13, which means that it’s recommended that you see it with a parent or guardian if you are 12 or under.
Animated, kid-friendly films
Two big animated franchises, Minions and Toy Story, also have new movies coming out this summer.
In Minions & Monsters, the Minions are trying to make a monster movie in 1930s Hollywood.
It comes out on July 1, which Ho says will probably help it be successful, since most people have the day off for Canada Day and families will be looking for an activity they can do together.
Toy Story 5, which came out June 19, is about Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of their toy friends facing off against a tablet given to their young owner.
Minions & Monster and Toy Story 5 are both sequels to popular animated film franchises. (Image credit: Universal Pictures/The Associated Press, Pixar-Disney/The Associated Press)
Niazi said Toy Story 5 is likely to “please the whole crowd,” because it appeals to both kids and their parents who grew up with the original films.
She also says sequel movies like these tend to be popular with kids because the characters and worlds are familiar to them from previous films.
And some wildcards
Some movies that might not be on your radar could do well at the box office.
Niazi and Ho both say they think Coyote vs. Acme could be a surprise hit.
The film, which comes out on Aug. 28, is about Wile E. Coyote, best known for the many Looney Tunes shorts he co-stars in with the Road Runner.
In the movie, he’s suing the Acme company for the many injuries their products have caused him.
Both experts said that because Looney Tunes have been around so long, adults have fond memories of the cartoons and kids also enjoy them, which makes the movie a good choice for families to watch together.
A live-action version of Moana is also set to hit theatres on July 10.
It follows the same plot as the original animated Moana movie that came out in 2016.
The live-action version of Moana and Coyote vs. Acme are two movies that may surprise moviegoers this summer. (Image credit: Disney/YouTube, empiremagazine/Instagram)
While a lot of live-action film adaptations have done well at the box office, like 2025’s Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, they aren’t always a hit.
The 2025 live-action Snow White film received mixed reviews and didn’t make a lot of money.
When the trailer for Moana came out last year, the response was not positive.
Niazi said she’s not particularly excited about Moana, since the original film “is so recent.”
Ho says studios see live-action adaptations of previously popular films as a way to make money from kids.
“If we get them now, they’ll buy the merchandise, and we’ll get them for future franchises,” she said.
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TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Warner Bros. Pictures/The Associated Press, Pixar-Disney/The Associated Press, Disney/YouTube