Sign up for The Queue
Discover the best movies and TV shows streaming now, with handpicked recommendations from Boston.com.
25 must-see movies coming to theaters and streaming services this summer
Our 2025 summer movie preview features the biggest blockbusters to put on your watchlist this summer, including two from Chris Evans, one from John Krasinski, and one filmed in Massachusetts.
Summer doesn’t start for another month, but the movie world operates on a different calendar. To Hollywood, summer runs from May to August, which means that our 2025 summer movie preview doesn’t include a couple of the season’s already-released blockbusters, including Marvel’s latest superhero romp “Thunderbolts.”
Box office analysts will be keeping a close eye on every movie this summer, hoping that the early success of “A Minecraft Movie” will fuel a return to multiplexes after years of diminished returns. AMC is even offering half-priced tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for its Stubs members starting in July, with the hopes that a visit to the theater won’t be confined to the weekends.
Advertisement:
Simply put: With the pandemic and SAG-AFTRA strikes no longer a convenient excuse, it’s make-or-break time for the film studios.
Below, you’ll find info about 25 of the biggest summer movie releases, including two Chris Evans movies (that might actually be good), a globetrotting adventure from John Krasinski, and yet another attempt at making “The Fantastic Four,” this one starring Mass. native Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”).
Here are 25 must-see movies coming to theaters or streaming services from now through the end of August.
(Movie release dates are theatrical unless otherwise noted.)
May 2025 movie releases
“Lilo & Stitch” (May 23)
“Marcel the Shell” director Dean Fleischer Camp helms the live-action remake of this 2002 film, in which a Hawaiian family is visited by an adorable alien who crash-lands on the island.
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (May 23)
The first hour of the newest “Mission: Impossible” film is almost incomprehensible. But against all odds, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) saves the day once again, performing some of the most audacious stunts of the franchise while battling a sentient AI bent on world domination. (Read Boston.com’s full review of “MI:8”)
“Fountain of Youth” (May 23, Apple TV+)
The official plot synopsis for “Fountain of Youth” reads like a mix of “Indiana Jones,” “National Treasure,” and a dash of “The Da Vinci Code.” John Krasinski and Natalie Portman play a brother and sister who haven’t spoken in over a year, but reconnect in order to search for the mythical Fountain of Youth. The pair must “use their knowledge of history to follow clues on an epic adventure that will change their lives … and possibly lead to immortality.” (Read more about “The Fountain of Youth” here.)
“Karate Kid: Legends” (May 30)
Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio unite for the newest “Karate Kid” film, set three years after “Cobra Kai” and focusing on a new kid, Li, played by Ben Wang. “It kind of harkens back to the previous entries in the franchise,” Wang said. “It’s a kid who is a fish out of water who comes to a new city and has to face down bullies.”
“The Phoenician Scheme” (May 30)
Benicio del Toro stars as one of the richest men in Europe, and father to nine sons and one daughter (Mia Threapleton), in Wes Anderson’s newest film, featuring a typically starry ensemble including Tom Hanks, Michael Cera, Scarlett Johansson, Riz Ahmed and Benedict Cumberbatch.
June 2025 movie releases
“Ballerina” (June 6)
The John Wick universe is growing, with Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”) getting her own spinoff. Many of the film franchise’s familiar faces, including star Keanu Reeves, will be making an appearance.
“The Life of Chuck” (June 6)
Since 2012, every single movie that has won the TIFF Audience Award has also been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Last year’s winner is this Stephen King adaptation from Salem native Mike Flanagan, which is more along the lines of feel-good King movies like “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Stand by Me.” (Read more about “The Life of Chuck.”)
“How to Train Your Dragon” (June 13)
Unlike most live adaptations of animated movies, filmmaker Dean DeBlois is behind both. The voice actors are gone, however, with Mason Thames playing Hiccup and Nico Parker taking on the role of Astrid.
“Materialists” (June 13)
Directed by Celine Song (“Past Lives”), “Materialists” follows a New York City matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) who hasn’t found “the one” for herself. Right when it seems like she has found the perfect match (Pedro Pascal), she is pulled in another direction by her imperfect ex (Chris Evans). (Read more about “The Materialists” here.)
“Elio” (June 20)
Pixar’s most recent original film, “Elemental,” was a low point for the Disney-owned studio. They’ll look to bounce back with “Elio,” the story of an 11-year-old beamed into space becoming Earth’s de facto ambassador.
“28 Years Later” (June 20)
The scale of time in Danny Boyle’s zombie series has grown from 28 days to 28 weeks to 28 years. This time around, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes play the longtime survivors. Despite the jokes you may have seen online, that especially gaunt zombie in the trailer is not Cillian Murphy.
“F1” (June 27)
Apple TV+ is making a big bet on Brad Pitt and Formula 1, reportedly dropping $300 million on this racing drama about a former F1 champ (Pitt) who comes out of retirement to mentor a new talent (Idris).
July 2025 movie releases
“Jurassic World Rebirth” (July 2)
Director Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) is ushering in a new era of “Jurassic” movies and harkening back to the Steven Spielberg originals in this film with Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey.
“Heads of State” (July 2, Prime Video)
Heads of state get a glow up in this action comedy, in which Idris Elba plays the British prime minister and West Newbury native John Cena is the U.S. president who are forced to work together (along with Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ MI6 agent) to defeat a foreign adversary.
“Superman” (July 11)
Newly minted DC Studios CEO James Gunn is directing, writing, and producing this new chapter in the story of Superman, with the hope that it will usher in a new chapter in the DC Cinematic Universe. Expect a sunnier, more optimistic take on Clark Kent than Zach Snyder and Henry Cavill’s gritty take.
“Sorry, Baby” (July 18)
I caught this one at IFFBoston and was blown away by the unique voice of Eva Victor, the film’s star, writer, and director. Filmed in Ipswich, it’s the story of a grad student who uses humor and friendship to grapple with a personal tragedy. Saying more would spoil things, but it’s hilarious, heartbreaking, and life-affirming.
“Eddington” (July 18)
Ari Aster re-teams with Joaquin Phoenix for this film about a standoff between a small-town sheriff and a mayor in the early months of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler also star.
“The Fantastic Four: The First Steps” (July 25)
For the third time in 20 years, Disney/20th Century Studios will try to make a “Fantastic Four” film series happen. This time it’s Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch.
“Happy Gilmore 2” (July 25, Netflix)
Adam Sandler returns to the green (and one of his most beloved roles) after almost 30 years, along with Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), Hal (Ben Stiller), Virginia (Julie Bowen) and Doug (Dennis Dugan) and an army of newcomers, including some Gilmore offspring.
August 2025 movie releases
“The Naked Gun” (August 1)
Liam Neeson flexes his particular set of comedy skills as Frank Drebin Jr. in this irreverent new entry from Lonely Island veteran Akiva Schaffer, featuring Paul Walter Hauser and Pamela Anderson.
“Freakier Friday” (August 8)
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan are back as the body-swapping mother and daughter duo.
“Nobody 2” (August 15)
Bob Odenkirk’s former assassin Hutch Mansell can’t catch a break. Still in debt to the Russian mob, a family vacation turned wrong forces the suburban dad to get dirty once more.
“Eden” (August 22)
Ron Howard directs Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney in this survival thriller set in the Galapagos after the first World War.
“Highest 2 Lowest” (August 22)
A reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic thriller “High and Low,” this A24 and Apple collaboration from Spike Lee stars Denzel Washington as a music mogul targeted by a ransom plot.
“Honey Don’t!” (August 22)
Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, Billy Eichner and Chris Evans star in this dark comedy from Ethan Coen about a small-town private investigator and a string of mysterious deaths.
Advertisement:
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com