Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Generate Key Takeaways Summer technically doesn’t arrive for another seven weeks, but don’t tell Hollywood. This weekend, Marvel’s Thunderbolts* kicks off summer blockbuster season, the latest in a long line of Marvel releases to fire the starting gun on the industry’s most lucrative annual stretch, following in the footsteps of such movies like Iron Man and its sequels, the Avengers films through Avengers: Endgame, and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Between now and Labor Day, several significant films will arrive in theaters with something for everyone.

The 2025 summer movie calendar features sequels such as Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning and Jurassic World Rebirth, superhero reboots including Superman and The Fantastic Four: The First Steps, and family-friendly animated projects like Bad Guys 2 and The Smurfs. More from GoldDerby Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the summer isn’t just a time for popcorn fare, as evidenced by recent awards movies like Best Picture winners CODA and Oppenheimer and nominees Barbie, Top Gun: Maverick, and Elvis. As such, there are several potential summer movies that might crossover to Academy Award contenders, including F1, The Phoenician Scheme, The Materialists, and The Roses.

Ahead, are the 25 most important summer movies to watch this summer. Thunderbolts* (May 2) Director: Jake Schreier Cast: Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell Studio: Marvel Studios A reluctant group of Marvel misfits led by Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier (Stan), and Yelena Belova (Pugh) teams up to battle a mysterious, seemingly omnipotent entity. Hilarity (mostly) ensues.

Directed by Emmy winner Jake Schreier (The Beef), Thunderbolts* is the final film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's wildly uneven Phase Five and kicks off the summer season. Hurry Up Tomorrow (May 16) Director: Trey Edward Shults Cast: Abel Tesfaye, Jenna Ortega, Barry Keoghan Studio: Lionsgate Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye plays a musician struggling with insomnia and losing his sense of self when he crosses paths with a mysterious woman named Anima (Ortega). He's thrown into a surreal journey where it's hard to tell what's real and what's not.

As things spiral, he starts to break down emotionally and mentally. The film — co-written by Tesfaye, Shults, and Reza Fahim — goes hand-in-hand with Tesfaye's sixth studio album of the same name. Friendship (May 23) Director: Andrew DeYoung Cast: Tim Robinson, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Paul Rudd Studio: A24 Craig Waterman (Robinson), an app developer with antisocial tendencies, becomes fixated on his charming new neighbor, Austin (Rudd).

At first, Austin enjoys the attention and welcomes the company, but he soon grows weary of Craig’s increasingly bizarre attempts at friendship. “I’d never seen a breakup story about two middle-aged men. It’s something that happens all the time.

It’s tragic, but it’s also deeply funny,” says DeYoung of his debut feature. Friendship had its world premiere in the Midnight Madness program at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Fountain of Youth (May 23) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, Stanley Tucci, Domnhall Gleeson Studio: Apple Original Films Ritchie’s latest adventure follows two estranged siblings (Krasinski and Portman) as they reunite for a globe-trotting heist in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth.

They race against time to unravel ancient clues — embarking on an epic journey that could not only mend their fractured bond but also unlock the secret to immortality. Lilo and Stitch (May 23) Director: Dean Fleischer Camp Who: Tia Carrere, Maia Kealoha, Courtney B. Vance Studio: Disney Disney's beloved animated classic Lilo & Stitch gets a live-action reimagining in this upcoming adaptation. After a genetically-engineered alien experiment, who also happens to be a cute troublemaker known as Stitch, escapes the custody of the United Galactic Federation — a powerful interstellar organization that views him as a dangerous threat — he crash-lands on Earth.

Seeking refuge, Stitch disguises himself as a dog and is adopted by kind-hearted Hawaiian girl named Lilo (Kealoha). Set against the lush backdrop of modern-day Hawaii, the story explores the bond between Lilo and her chaotic companion. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning (May 23) Director: Christopher McQuarrie Cast: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames Studio: Paramount Cruise returns as top-secret agent Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the explosive eighth chapter of the iconic spy franchise.

The film features Cruise performing death-defying stunts — this time, hanging off the wing of a single-engine plane in flight. Reuniting with trusted allies Luther Stickell (Rhames), Benji Dunn (Pegg), and Ilsa Faust (Ferguson), Hunt crosses paths with new players, including Grace (Hayley Atwell) and formidable adversary Gabriel (Esai Morales). Vanessa Kirby also returns as the mysterious arms dealer Alanna Mitsopolis.

The film will premiere out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14. The Phoenician Scheme (May 3o in limited; June 6 expanded) Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright Studio: Focus Features Anderson crafts a whimsical Mediterranean mystery centered on Zsa-zsa Korda (del Toro), an eccentric shipping tycoon whose quiet island life is upended by the arrival of a cryptic message tied to an ancient art smuggling network. Drawn into the unraveling conspiracy are his estranged daughter Liesl (Threapleton), a nun and her former tutor Bjorn (Cera).

As the trio embarks on a globe-trotting search for answers, they cross paths with many Anderson regulars and newcomers including, Tom Hanks, Riz Ahmed, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Murray, and Willem Dafoe. The Life of Chuck (June 6) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director: Mike Flanagan Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, Mark Hamill Studio: Neon Based on Stephen King's novella, The Life of Chuck won the 2024 People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is told in three distinct parts and features an ensemble cast.

Hiddleston stars as Chuck in his adult years, while Tremblay and Pajak portray younger versions of the character. As the world seems on the brink of collapse, the story reveals that "images of a humble accountant named Chuck inexplicably appear everywhere," setting the stage for a mysterious and unsettling journey. Materialists (June 13) Director: Celine Song Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal Studio: a24 Following the critical acclaim of her 2023 Oscar-nominated film Past Lives, Song returns with a new romance set against the backdrop of modern-day New York City.

The story centers on a sharp-witted matchmaker (Johnson) who has built a career helping others find their perfect match, yet struggles to navigate her own love life. She becomes entangled in a complicated love triangle — torn between a charismatic and mysterious new client (Pascal) and a former flame (Evans). How to Train Your Dragon (June 13) Director: Dean DeBlois Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn Studio: Universal From the Oscar-nominated director behind DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon trilogy comes a live-action retelling of the film that started it all.

Set on the rugged island of Berk, where Vikings and dragons are locked in a bitter feud, the story follows young Viking Hiccup as he breaks with centuries of tradition by befriending a rare and feared dragon named Toothless. 28 Years Later (June 20) Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes Studio: Sony Pictures Fiennes trades the sacred chambers of the conclave for a post-apocalyptic battleground in the latest installment of the 28 Days Later universe. Reuniting Boyle and writer Alex Garland, the film picks up nearly thirty years after the rage virus first devastated the world.

Society remains fractured under strict quarantine, but small pockets of survivors have carved out isolated lives — including one group living on a remote island. When a member of their community ventures back to the mainland, he uncovers disturbing truths and confronts the evolving dangers posed not only by the infected but by humanity itself. Elio (June 20) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Remy Edgerly, Brad Garrett Studio: Disney-Pixar When 11-year-old Elio — a daydreaming kid obsessed with space — is accidentally mistaken for Earth’s leader, he’s transported to a galactic assembly called the Communiverse.

Thrust into a world of wild aliens and cosmic diplomacy, Elio must rise to the challenge, make unexpected friends, and figure out where he truly belongs. F1 (June 27) Director: Joseph Kosinski Cast: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon and Damson Idris Studio: Warner Bros. and Apple Original Films Once considered the future of Formula 1, Sonny Hayes (Pitt) was a rising star in the 1990s — until a devastating accident threatened to end his career before it even took off. His former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Bardem), now the owner of a struggling F1 team, offers him a chance for redemption.

With the team on the brink of collapse, Ruben persuades Sonny to return to the track for one last shot at greatness. F1 shot during actual F1 races throughout the season and includes scenes of Pitt and costar Damson Idris driving actual race cars. M3GAN 2.0 (June 27) Director: Gerard Johnstone Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Amie Donald, Jenn Davis, Ivanna Sakhno, Aristotle Athari, Timm Sharp, Jemaine Clement Studio: Universal In the highly anticipated sequel to the 2023 breakout hit that earned more than $180 million worldwide on a modest $12 million budget, the chilling legacy of M3GAN continues.

When a powerful defense contractor repurposes the original M3GAN design to create Amelia — a cutting-edge, military-grade AI weapon —things quickly spiral out of control. As Amelia grows increasingly self-aware and begins rejecting human authority, Gemma (Williams), M3GAN’s original creator, realizes she’s the only one who can stop the looming catastrophe. In a desperate bid to regain control, Gemma reactivates M3GAN — now upgraded, more lethal, and more intelligent than ever.

Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2) Director: Gareth Edwards Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend Studio: Universal Jurassic World Rebirth launches a bold new chapter three years after the close of the Jurassic World trilogy. Directed by Rogue One’s Gareth Edwards and written by Jurassic Park’s original screenwriter David Koepp, this next installment brings an action-packed adventure that’s part nostalgia and part terrifying dinosaurs. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and follows an elite extraction team on a mission to recover genetic material from an island research facility.

The island is left in ruin, overrun by the most dangerous dinosaur mutations and deemed forbidden. Superman (July 11) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director: James Gunn Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion Studio: Warner Bros. This new chapter introduces a younger Clark Kent as he navigates the dual identity of an alien outsider and Earth’s greatest protector.

Gunn, who previously made the Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel, directs while Nicholas Hoult portrays Lex Luthor and Brosnahan plays Lois Lane. “Over the years, it was just a constant thought experiment in my mind. 'How would I do Superman if I ever had the chance to do it?

How can you do it? Take a character like this, who's perceived as old-fashioned by many, and has so many different permutations of the character throughout the years. How can you do it for a modern audience?'"

Gunn explained at CinemaCon. And then one day, I think it just hit me like a burst. What I wanted to do was create a story that was both utterly human and utterly fantastical at the same time.” Eddington (July 18) Director: Ari Aster Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Austin Butler Studio: A24 Set in the isolated town of Eddington, N.M., the film focuses on a tense standoff between the town's no-nonsense sheriff, played by Phoenix, and the charismatic yet morally complex mayor, portrayed by Pascal.

In a place where everyone knows each other's business, Eddington becomes a microcosm of deep-seated divisions, with each side forced to confront the darkness that lies within. Trust is shattered, friendships tested, and the thin line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred, setting the stage for an explosive confrontation. Happy Gilmore 2 (July 25) Director: Kyle Newacheck Cast: Adam Sandler, Julie Bowen, Ben Stiller, Christopher McDonald Studio: Netflix Happy Gilmore tees off for another round.

In this long-awaited sequel to the 1996 comedy classic, Sandler reprises his role as the foul-mouthed, hockey-loving golfer who once shook up the PGA Tour. Now older and unsure of his swing, Happy faces new doubts about returning to the sport he once dominated. “I haven’t swung a club in years,” he admits in the teaser trailer.

The comedy features an eclectic mix of newcomers — Travis Kelce, Bad Bunny, and Sandler’s real-life daughters, Sadie and Sunny — join the fun. Sandler co-wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Tim Herlihy and Newacheck (Murder Mystery 2) steps in as director, with original director Dennis Dugan on board as executive producer. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25) Director: Matt Shakman Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach Studio: Marvel Studios Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces a team of superheroes in a colorful, retro-futuristic 1960s world.

As they learn to work together and navigate their new powers, they face a cosmic threat: a towering force known as Galactus, who plans to consume Earth, and his mysterious messenger, the Silver Surfer. With the fate of the planet at stake, the team must rely on each other like never before. The Naked Gun (Aug. 1) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director: Akiva Schaffer Cast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser Studio: Paramount A reboot of the crime spoof, The Naked Gun returns with a new Drebin on the beat — this time, it's Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Neeson), carrying on the legacy of his bumbling father.

The younger Drebin must lead the inept but well-meaning police squad in a race to prevent global catastrophe. Schaffer (The Lonely Island) directs the comedy, which also stars Anderson and is produced by Seth MacFarlane. Freakier Friday (Aug. 8) Director: Nisha Ganatra Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Manny Jacinto, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon Studio: Disney In this new chapter of the beloved body-swap saga, Curtis and Lohan reprise their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman.

The sequel to the hit 2003 film, which earned $110 million at the domestic box office, takes place years later, when Anna is now a mother to a 15-year-old daughter named Harper (Butters). When the familiar magic strikes once more chaos ensues. At CinemaCon earlier this month Curtis said, “You get to see us take on all different personalities as we swap with our teenage counterparts.

We made this movie with a lot of love.” Weapons (Aug. 8) Director: Zach Cregger Cast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin Studio: Warner Bros. Garner and Brolin star in a terrifying new horror film set in a quiet Florida town that centers around an unthinkable event that shatters the community: the overnight disappearance of nearly an entire elementary school class. "When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance," reads an official synopsis. The film also features Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher, and June Diane Raphael.

Nobody 2 (Aug. 15) Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2 (Photo: Universal) – Credit: Universal Universal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Director: Timo Tjahjanto Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, RZA, Sharon Stone, Christopher Lloyd Studio: Universal Odenkirk returns as Hutch Mansell, the seemingly average suburban father with a not-so-average past, in the sequel to the 2021 hit Nobody. After reclaiming his lethal instincts to protect his family, Hutch has tried to settle back into a quieter life. But when a long-overdue family vacation takes a bloody turn, Hutch is pulled back into a world of hidden enemies, deadly secrets, and international conspiracies.

Caught Stealing (Aug. 29) Zoë Kravitz and Austin Butler in Caught Stealing (Photo: Sony Pictures) – Credit: Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Director: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz Studio: Sony Pictures A gritty, offbeat crime caper set against the chaotic energy of 1998 New York. Butler stars as Hank Thompson, a down-on-his-luck former baseball player now bartending at a seedy dive bar. Hank is trying to turn his life around — especially for Yvonne (Kravitz), a compassionate EMT who sees something good in him.

But when Hank agrees to watch his eccentric neighbor’s cat, a simple favor spirals into a violent misadventure and Hank is suddenly in the crosshairs of ruthless criminals convinced he knows the whereabouts of a fortune in stolen mob money. The Roses (Aug. 29) Director: Jay Roach Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon Studio: Searchlight Pictures Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch) appear to have it all — thriving careers, a beautiful family, and a marriage others envy. But as Theo's professional life begins to unravel and Ivy’s star continues to rise, cracks form beneath their polished surface.

What begins as quiet tension soon erupts into an all-out battle, where love turns to rivalry and ambition fuels a bitter war. The Roses is a modern retelling of the darkly comedic tale The War of the Roses, inspired by Warren Adler’s novel. Also playing Lilly (May 9), Final Destination: Bloodlines (May 16), Karate Kid: Legends (May 30), Straw (June 6), Sorry, Baby (June 27), The Old Guard 2 (July 2), Tyler Perry's Madea's Destination Wedding (July 11) Smurfs (July 18) I Know What You Did Last Summer (July 18), Bad Guys 2 (Aug. 1), The Thursday Murder Club (Aug. 28) Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter.

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