2026 has looked like a big movie year for a long time, and so far, it hasn’t disappointed. Some big spring hits have captured the zeitgeist, we seem to have some bona fide movie stars again, and the box office is up significantly from last year. But things are just getting started – the summer movie season has officially arrived!
That stretch of time from May through August is always the prime launchpad for some of Hollywood’s biggest movies, and this year, the release calendar is especially crowded. But blockbusters aren’t all that’s on offer: Summer 2026 will see films of all kinds release in theaters and on streaming, from indie dramas to inventive genre movies to laugh-out-loud comedies. And ScreenRant is here with exclusive early looks at what’s to come.
As with our Summer TV Preview, this list is not exhaustive, but SR’s 2026 Summer Movie Preview is full of titles to keep on your radar. Some of these are already hotly anticipated; others might be totally new to you. Together, they should get you excited for one of the most tightly packed movie summers in quite a while.
The Devil Wears Prada 2
In Theaters May 1
Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway exit a building in The Devil Wears Prada 2
20th Century Studios kicks off Hollywood’s summer with a long-awaited sequel to 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, and they got the whole gang back together. The film from returning director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna will reunite Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly with Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs, who returns to Runway as the magazine navigates a scandal and must rediscover its place in a shifting media landscape. To do so, they’ll need to secure funding from a key luxury brand – now headed by Emily (Emily Blunt), another of Miranda’s former assistants.
Swapped
On Netflix May 1
Ollie surrounded by a bunch of bird chicks in Swapped
Michael B. Jordan’s first new movie as “Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan” is about as far from Sinners as you could get. Directed by Nathan Greno (Tangled), this animated comedy from Netflix and Skydance Animation stars Jordan as Ollie the Pookoo, a sea otter-like mammal, who finds himself magically swapping bodies with Ivy (Juno Temple), a Kākāpō-like bird and his species’ natural enemy. The two of them are forced to adventure together to find a way to switch back, and they might just learn a thing or two from walking a mile in each other’s shoes.
Mortal Kombat II
In Theaters May 8
Kung Lao chokes Liu Kang against a red swirling vortex background in Mortal Kombat 2
After being pushed from last year, Warner Bros.’ sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat arrives as one of this summer’s early blockbusters. The first film set the table, and now Mortal Kombat 2 will dive right into the deadly tournament between the champions of Earthrealm and Outworld. Several characters from the video game franchise will join the existing cast, most notably Johnny Cage, played by The Boys star Karl Urban.
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live In 3D)
In Theaters May 8
Billie Eilish lit with blue light whipping her hair
That Billie Eilish would put out a concert film is no surprise – this is actually her second, after 2021’s Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles – but does it really need to be in 3D? When you find out that Eilish co-directed it with the James Cameron, the answer is obviously yes. Paramount’s movie captures her performances in Manchester during 2025’s Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, and should prove as immersive as you can get without actually having scored a ticket.
On Netflix May 8
Sally Field admires a sea creature in an aquarium in Remarkably Bright Creatures
This adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name by Shelby Van Pelt is going for all the feels. Sally Field’s Tova, who cleans the local aquarium, is at first reluctant to share her knowledge with Cameron (Lewis Pullman), the young man being groomed as her eventual replacement. But as they grow closer, Tova joins Cameron in his quest to find the father he never knew. Also, Alfred Molina voices Marcellus, the aquarium’s octopus.
In The Grey
In Theaters May 15
Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal laughing in In the Grey
Guy Ritchie sure keeps busy: In the Grey, being released by Black Bear Pictures, is his eighth feature film in eight years (and not his only one dated for 2026, either). He’s reuniting with recent regulars Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González, who play an elite team of agents tasked with recovering more than $1 billion stolen by a ruthless man with his own private island – and private army. Based on the trailer, this sits somewhere between a heist movie and an all-out action thriller.
The Wizard Of The Kremlin
In Theaters May 15
Paul Dano and Will Keen staring at Jude Law seen from behind in The Wizard of the Kremlin
Sometimes fall festival movies take their time getting to US theaters, but The Wizard of the Kremlin, which premiered in official competition at last year’s Venice Film Festival, is on its way. The English-language film from French filmmaker Olivier Assayas adapts the 2022 novel of the same name, following Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano) as he transforms from a successful artist in the 1990s to the spin doctor behind a new era of Russian politics. His primary focus? Jude Law’s Vladimir Putin.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War
On Prime Video May 20
John Krasinski looking out from a helicopter door in Jack Ryan: Ghost War
Jack Ryan, the character created by novelist Tom Clancy, has a long history of changing hands in movies, having been portrayed by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine. That list now includes John Krasinski, who has up to now only played him in the hit Prime Video TV series Jack Ryan. Three years after the final episode aired, Ghost War will pull him back into the CIA’s orbit from civilian life when a uniquely dangerous black ops team goes rogue.
Saccharine
In Theaters May 22
Hana stares closely at a capsule she’s holding up in Saccharine
This Australian horror film, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, puts a dark spin on the world of weight loss crazes. Hana (Midori Francis), a medical student struggling to lose weight, gives into an obscure new method: consuming “diet pills” of human ashes. As a result, she finds herself haunted by the ghost of the person she’s consuming – and, per the trailer, perhaps unable to stop losing weight.
The Breadwinner
In Theaters May 29
Nate talking to his three daughters seated before him in The Breadwinner
It’s not as common as it used to be for successful stand-up comics to make the leap to starring in feature films, but Nate Bargatze is giving it a shot – with a theatrical release from Sony Pictures, no less! The Breadwinner, directed by Eric Appel, stars Bargatze as Nate Wilcox, who suddenly finds himself a stay-at-home dad when his wife Katie (Mandy Moore) scores a once-in-a-lifetime deal on Shark Tank. Managing the home and taking care of their three daughters turns out to be the toughest job he’s ever had.
Passenger
In Theaters May 29
Maddie and Tyler look quizzically at something in a trailer park at night in Passenger
This Paramount horror film from director André Øvredal is in the great tradition of horror movies looking to ruin something for you – in this case, road trips. A couple, played by Jacob Scipio and Lou Llobell, witness the death of another driver in an awful accident, and it leaves them with more than just the traumatic memory. They’ve picked up an unwanted hitchhiker: a demonic presence called The Passenger (Joseph Lopez) that they just can’t outrun.
Pressure
In Theaters May 29
Andrew Scott clutching a phone with concern in the foreground with Brendan Fraser and Kerry Condon out of focus over his shoulder
D-Day has been observed from many angles through film before, but never this one. Pressure, coming to theaters from Focus Features, follows meteorologist and Royal Air Force Group Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott), who is tasked with forecasting the weather for the Allied invasion of Europe. When he is convinced that the chosen date will be plagued by storms that could sink the whole enterprise, he has just hours to convince General Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) to delay.
Scary Movie (2026)
In Theaters June 5
Doofy, Shorty, and Cindy all making exaggerated faces in Scary Movie (2026)
Though the spoof franchise was a theatrical comedy staple in the 2000s, there hasn’t been a Scary Movie in 13 years, and the horror genre has pretty much completely reinvented itself in that time. The sixth installment, winkingly titled Scary Movie (2026), has a wealth of new references to twist into comedy, with nods to Smile, Weapons, Longlegs, and Sinners among the many already confirmed. But, as ScreenRant’s exclusive image shows, this film is also about getting the original cast back together to poke fun at Scream, just like the old days.
Power Ballad
In Select Theaters May 29 & In Theaters Everywhere June 5
Paul Rudd leading a group of men in matching outfits walking in a line in Power Ballad
John Carney has made a career out of affecting musical dramedies, and Power Ballad finds him working his magic with some big stars. This Lionsgate release features Paul Rudd as Rick, a wedding singer and family man who has long since given up chasing fame and fortune, and Nick Jonas as Danny, an ex-boy band member looking to break out on his own. The two cross paths and jam together one night, and Rick shares an original song of his he’s been tinkering with. Not long after, he hears Danny’s voice come over the radio, singing his song – and hitting big.
Carolina Caroline
In Theaters June 5
Oliver aiming his gun with Caroline next to him in Carolina Caroline
Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving, a Scream King and Queen, are teaming up to disastrous consequences in this romantic crime thriller from director Adam Carter Rehmeier. Carolina Caroline, distributed by Magnolia Pictures, has Weaving’s Caroline fall for Gallner’s Oliver, a charismatic con man who fulfills Caroline’s desire to be swept out of her small-town Texas life. When she also becomes his partner in crime, their rising passion pushes them to chase bigger and bigger scores, and things soon start getting out of hand.
Seven Snipers
On Digital June 5
Ioan Gruffudd in camo holding a sniper rifle in Seven Snipers
This Australian action-thriller from director Sandra Sciberras is a true battle of sharpshooters. Radha Mitchell plays an expert sniper long since retired to a quiet country life with her teenage daughter (Annabel Wolfe), whose past suddenly catches up to her. Tim Roth plays a warlord seeking revenge, and he’s coming at her with everything he’s got. To keep her family alive, she calls upon her old team, including Ryan Kwanten and Ioan Gruffudd, and plenty of violence ensues.
Disclosure Day
In Theaters June 12
An alien leans over a young girl in Disclosure Day
Steven Spielberg wouldn’t be the most successful filmmaker in Hollywood history without a varied filmography, but if he’s associated with one genre above all others, it’s science fiction. And with Disclosure Day, he’s returning to his most famous sci-fi niche: aliens. The characters in his newest movie from Universal grapple with the fallout of one young cybersecurity expert, played by Josh O’Connor, threatening to blow the whistle on a cover-up of not just the existence of extraterrestrials, but that they’re already among us. Spielberg has said the entire third act is being kept out of the marketing, so only those who go see this film in theaters this summer will learn the truth.
The Furious
In Theaters June 12
If you like your action vicious and relentless, Lionsgate has you covered. The Furious, an English-language Hong Kong film from director Kenji Tanigaki, follows Wang Wei (Mo Tse), whose daughter is kidnapped. Teaming up with Navin (Joe Taslim), a journalist whose wife has gone missing, he determines to rescue her at any cost. And based on the sheer number of heads he punches, kicks, and thwacks with a hammer in the trailer, for the people who took his daughter, that cost will be very high.
Find Your Friends
On Shudder June 12
A girl peeks out from her hiding place at night in Find Your Friends
This feature debut from writer-director Izabel Pakzad is about a girls’ trip gone disastrously wrong. Amber (Helena Howard) travels from Los Angeles to Joshua Tree with her four best friends, only to find the locals less than welcoming. As encounters with them start to get more hostile, some hidden feelings within the friend group begin to slip out, until their trip devolves into a violent nightmare.
Toy Story 5
In Theaters June 19
Jessie and Bullseye stare in shock at Lilypad’s screen in Toy Story 5
In what promises to be one of the biggest movies of the year, the ragtag group of toys that launched Pixar into a marquee theatrical film brand are back on the big screen – and under threat from a little screen. Struggling to make friends, Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) is gifted a Lilypad (Greta Lee), a child-friendly tablet that quickly takes over her life. Under threat of being cast aside for good, Jessie (Joan Cusack) and Buzz (Tim Allen) call Woody (Tom Hanks) back from his new life saving lost toys. But can they really turn the tide against the cultural shift from toys to tech?
The Death Of Robin Hood
In Theaters June 19
Robin Hood is observed by a mysterious figure in The Death of Robin Hood
Given how many times Hollywood has adapted Robin Hood, the title of A24’s new film feels like a challenge. Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, it stars Hugh Jackman as a more greyed version of titular outlaw, who is near the end of his life. As he’s being nursed back to health by a mysterious woman (Jodie Comer), he’s forced to come to terms with his violent criminal past.
Girls Like Girls
In Theaters June 19
Koley and Sonya nonchalantly snuggle up in the back of a car in Girls Like Girls
Girls Like Girls has followed a unique path to becoming a Focus Features theatrical release. The coming-of-age romance is directed by Hayley Kiyoko, who is adapting her own 2023 book, which in turn adapted her 2015 song. It follows the budding relationship between Koley (Maya da Costa) and Sonya (Myra Molloy), which is complicated by the fact that Sonya already has a boyfriend, played by Levon Hawke. The push-and-pull of their feelings for each other comes to define this pivotal summer in Koley’s young life.
Rose Of Nevada
In Theaters June 19
George MacKay looking up wide-eyed in Rose of Nevada
The latest film from Cornish filmmaker Mark Jenkin, Rose of Nevada sees two men, played by George MacKay and Callum Turner, caught up in a surreal mystery. When a boat returns to a village thirty years after it disappeared, they agree to crew it and set out to sea. However, when they come back, they find themselves thirty years in the past, where everyone mistakes them for the original crew who went missing. Even in SR’s exclusive still, the unique style and feel Jenkin brings to his projects is already apparent.
Supergirl
In Theaters June 26
Kara grits her teeth and stands in a fighting stance in a red-lit room in Supergirl
Last year’s Superman kicked off the new era of DC movies to great success, and now it’s time to see if that goodwill can support a sprawling cinematic universe the way it once could. This summer’s Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, is the first big test. After being introduced briefly at the end of Superman, House of the Dragon breakout Milly Alcock will headline the film as Kara Zor-El, whose birthday journey through the galaxy is waylaid after meeting Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley). The young girl is out to avenge her father’s death at the hands of Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), who, after poisoning Kara’s dog Krypto, incurs Supergirl’s wrath as well.
Strung
On Peacock June 26
A girl wearing a white mask with black lips standing against a railing in Strung
A new Blumhouse psychological thriller is headed to Peacock this summer. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Strung stars Chloe Bailey as a talented violinist who takes a job tutoring the gifted daughter of a powerful family. The deeper she goes into their world of wealth and influence, the more she learns about who she’s working for, and the secrets she uncovers force her to question her very sanity.
Minions & Monsters
In Theaters July 1
Two Minions at an alter excitedly read an ancient tome in Minions & Monsters
The Minions are back, and headed for a completely different kind of adventure. After the previous installment in the Dispicable Me spinoff franchise was set during Gru’s childhood in the 1970s, Minions & Monsters travels all the way back to the ’20s, when the Minions worked in Old Hollywood. Desiring to make a monster movie of their own, the little, yellow creatures look to the occult and try to summon some real monsters.
Evil Dead Burn
In Theaters July 10
Four people huddle together fearfully on a porch in Evil Dead Burn
The Evil Dead film franchise came roaring back to life with Evil Dead Rise in 2023, which broke away from Bruce Campbell’s Ash and the classic cabin-in-the-woods setting to find new horror in a high rise. Though not much is confirmed about the story of Evil Dead Burn, from director Sébastien Vaniček, expect it to shift things in another new direction as another family find themselves terrorized by the Necronomicon and its deadites. The first teaser trailer, centered on Souheila Yacoub’s Alice, is a chaotic one-shot sequence of fear, violence, and undead rage.
Motor City
In Theaters July 24
Alan Ritchson looking angry leaning up to a mirror in Motor City
After premiering at Venice last year, a new Alan Ritchson action-thriller will light up American theaters this summer. The Reacher star plays John Miller, an ex-con in 1970s Detroit who was framed by a gangster after having fallen for his girlfriend. Once he’s out of prison, getting revenge is the only thing on his mind.
The Dink
On Apple TV July 24
Jake Johnson and Aaron Chen stand optimistically together in The Dink
A new sports comedy is coming to Apple TV, though it’s not about a sport that usually gets much of a spotlight in movies: pickleball. Jake Johnson stars as Dusty, a washed-up tennis pro who now coaches children at his father Chuck’s (Ed Harris) country club, and who has latched onto his dad’s hatred of the pickleball fad to try and win his approval. But when an injury has him start actually playing it for rehab, he enjoys it, and suddenly finds himself having to process the failures of his past.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
In Theaters July 31
Spider-Man swinging away in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
As the title suggests, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a new chapter for Tom Holland’s MCU hero. “Peter’s not in high school anymore,” director Destin Daniel Cretton told ScreenRant in an exclusive preview interview. “Our story takes place about four years later. It’s that time in your mid-20s, when the harsh realities of life can sometimes slap you in the face. Peter is dealing with some real grown up problems both personally and professionally, and for the first time, he’s learning how to deal with them completely on his own.”
Peter is going through a stage that I think many of us can relate to right now. He’s living in the middle of NYC, surrounded by millions of people, yet somehow, he feels completely disconnected and alone. This is the first time we see Peter trying to live his life outside of his community of friends and family, and his isolation has some unexpected consequences that will complicate everything in his life.
Read SR’s Full Interview
Exclusive: Director Destin Daniel Cretton tells ScreenRant about bringing Peter Park down to street level as he enters a new chapter in the MCU.
I Want Your Sex
In Theaters July 31
Olivia Wilde makes a pouty face at Cooper Hoffman in I Want Your Sex
One of the breakouts of this year’s Sundance, Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex stars Cooper Hoffman as Elliot, a young man who starts working as an assistant for Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), an artist famous for her provocative work. Things take a turn when Erika adopts Elliot as her new sexual muse, causing him to question what he wants from life, as well as from his relationships with his girlfriend (Charli xcx) and his roommate (Chase Sui Wonders).
One Night Only
In Theaters August 7
Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner sit across from each other in One Night Only
Will Gluck, the director whose 2023 hit Anyone But You got everyone excited about the theatrical possibilities of the romantic comedy again, is back with another one – and it comes with a genre twist. Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner star in One Night Only as two people looking for love on the one night a year when pre-marital sex is legal. Curious about what you can and cannot do on a daily basis in this Purge-adjacent reality? Check out the handy chart in ScreenRant’s exclusive image from the film.
Fall 2
In Theaters August 7
Two people walking on planks on the side of a mountain in Fall 2
Sometimes, movie characters just can’t help but make bad decisions. After her sister Shiloh died following being stranded atop a 2,000ft decommissioned TV tower in the original movie, Jax (Harriet Slater) is convinced the right way to honor her life is to complete a mountain plank walk in Taiwan with Shiloh’s friend Luce (Arsema Thomas). Can you guess what happens next?
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
In Theaters August 7
The Paw Patrol line up heroically in Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
The Paw Patrol franchise returns for its third theatrical film after the success of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which saw the central team gain superpowers. This time, they find themselves on an island face-to-face with dinosaurs, and have to rely on their new friend Rex (Hayden Chemberlen), a longtime resident and dino expert. The Paw Patrol must stop their arch-nemesis, Mayor Humdinger (Ron Pardo), from kidnapping endangered species.
Mutiny
In Theaters August 21
Jason Statham holding a gun and lit by red light in Mutiny
The world of Jason Statham action movies gets a little bigger this summer. Lionsgate’s Mutiny, directed by Jean-François Richet, sees the British star play Cole Reed, an ex-Special Forces and policeman who now works private security. When he’s framed for killing his friend, the Thai billionaire Tibu, his search for the true killer leads him to stow away on a container ship, where he uncovers an international conspiracy. And, of course, he must fight his way off the ship if he wants to survive.
Insidious: Out Of The Further
In Theaters August 21
Two characters walk up stairs holding a flashlight and a lantern in Insidious: Out of the Further
The Insidious franchise has been going strong since 2010, but it scored its box office high-point with the most recent entry, Insidious: The Red Door. This summer, Sony will release installment #6: Insidious: Out of the Further, written and directed by Jacob Chase. Lin Shaye will return to her role as Elise from the previous films alongside several new stars, including Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, and Maisie Richardson-Sellers.
Idiots
In Theaters August 28
O’Shea Jackson Jr., Kiernan Shipka, and Dave Franco sitting on a neon-lit couch in Idiots
Fresh of his reboot of The Toxic Avenger, which took a couple years to make its way to theaters, writer-director Macon Blair is back with Idiots, heading to theaters in August thanks to IFC. Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr. star as two losers hired to take a rich teen (Mason Thames) to rehab through a shady transport service. What should be an easy gig ends up a hilariously chaotic mess.
Coyote vs. Acme
In Theaters August 28
Wile E. Coyote hangs onto a jet by a missile in Coyote vs. Acme
Of all the movies releasing this summer, none has had a more dramatic journey to a theater near you than this one. Coyote vs. Acme was infamously shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023, which preferred to take a tax write-off rather than release this completed and reportedly well-liked feature film. After a noisy campaign to save it, Ketchup Entertainment stepped up and met WB’s asking price to buy it away from them. This August, audiences can finally see the live-action animation hybrid depicting Wile E. Coyote’s lawsuit against the Acme Corporation for their years of failed products.