Summer 2026 movies: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' ‘The Odyssey' and more
It may not yet be summer on the calendar, but the summer movie season is nonetheless upon us. For those of us who remember happy summer afternoons spent munching popcorn at the nearest multiplex, here's a sampling of what's in store for the next few months on the big screen, organized by genre. Note that dates are always subject to change.
Drama
Steven Spielberg, whose last film ("The Fabelmans") was four years ago, returns with the alien/sci-fi drama "Disclosure Day" (June 12), starring Josh O'Connor and Emily Blunt.
"Girls Like Girls" (June 19), directed by Hayley Kiyoko and inspired by her 2015 song and 2023 bestselling novel, is a coming-of-age teen romance, featuring Maya da Costa and Myra Molloy.
"Young Washington" (July 3) is, as one might guess, the origin story of young George Washington, starring Ben Kingsley, Mary-Louise Parker, Andy Serkis and, in the title role, newcomer William Franklyn-Miller; Jon Erwin directs.
Christopher Nolan's long-awaited Trojan War epic "The Odyssey" (July 17) features Matt Damon as Odysseus and a starry cast that includes Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and Anne Hathaway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzw2ttJD2qQ
Action
Get your earplugs ready, as this summer has no shortage of films full of zippy sound effects.
In never-ending franchises, "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" (May 22) features Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and a voice cameo by Martin Scorsese (worlds are colliding!).
The one I'm most happily anticipating: "Supergirl" (June 26), whose star, Milly Alcock, made a funny cameo appearance in James Gunn's delightful 2025 "Superman." (Krypto the dog, you'll be glad to know, will be back too.)
In "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (July 31), everyone's favorite neighborhood webslinger (Holland) goes through some changes; Mark Ruffalo turns up as Dr. Bruce Banner, i.e. the Hulk.
Elsewhere on the adventure front: The live-action "Masters of the Universe" (June 5) is inspired by the popular 1980s line of action figures, with a cast that includes Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto and Idris Elba.
Hugh Jackman plays an injured, aging vigilante in "The Death of Robin Hood" (June 19). "The End of Oak Street" (Aug. 14), produced by J.J. Abrams, follows a family who are mysteriously transported into prehistoric times. Pierce Brosnan presumably dangles off the side of a mountain in the Italian Alps in "Cliffhanger" (Aug. 28).
And Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars" (Aug. 28), based on Peter Heller's novel, tells of a man (Jacob Elordi) left alone in a postapocalyptic world with his vintage Cessna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TZMtslA3UY
Comedy
Meryl Streep sashays us into spring (with no florals) in "The Devil Wears Prada 2" (in theaters May 1), which reunites the cast of the 2006 original: Streep, Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Blunt.
Nate Bargatze becomes a stay-at-home dad in "The Breadwinner" (May 29). "Cut Off" (July 17) is not about jean shorts, but a pair of wealthy siblings (Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill) disinherited by their parents (Nathan Lane and Bette Midler, in what sounds like a delicious pairing); Hill co-wrote and directed.
In the world of "One Night Only" (Aug. 7), from Will Gluck ("Anyone But You"), sex is legal only one night of the year - and two strangers, played by Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, need to make the best of it. A musician (Spike Fearn) searches for his dream girl in the British comedy "Finding Emily" (Aug. 28).
And on the darker side of the comedy spectrum, Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen host a very awkward couples evening in "The Invite" (June 26), with Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMd1at7OwiE
Family
My pick for the most adorable-sounding movie of the season: "The Sheep Detectives" (May 8), in which a shepherd (Jackman) who enjoys reading murder mysteries to his flock is found dead, inspiring the sheep to band together and solve the crime. (Among those voicing sheep: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall and Patrick Stewart. A very impressive flock!)
Elsewhere, Disney continues its animated-hit-transformed-to-live-action trend with "Moana" (July 10), starring Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson.
And two high-profile sequels should keep the kids on summer vacation occupied: "Toy Story 5" (June 19), probably not the last of the franchise, but who knows, and "Minions & Monsters" (July 1), in which our wide-eyed friends put on a (presumably adorable) monster movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c51ND9Hdbw0
Horror
"Passenger" (May 22) features Oscar winner Melissa Leo in a story involving a horrific accident and a demonic stalker. Recent Oscar nominee Renate Reinsve ("Sentimental Value") joins Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Duplass for "Backrooms" (May 29), in which a mysteriously sinister network of rooms is discovered underneath a furniture warehouse.
Not sure whether this belongs here or in the comedy category, but the latest "Scary Movie" (June 5) combines Ghostface and goofiness - and features several cast members from the 2000 original film, including former local Anna Faris, Hall and Marlon Wayans.
And in Eli Roth's "Ice Cream Man" (Aug. 7), a small town is terrorized by a demonic ice cream vendor (which, honestly, sounds like a "Scary Movie" bit, but what do I know).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HjdiohVOik
Happy spring/summer to us all!
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