When it comes to summer, we’ve never met an air-conditioned movie theater we didn’t like. Of course, it helps if the movie playing on the big screen is actually worth watching. (We’re looking at you, Olivia Wilde, aka the woman behind Booksmart.) Here, to help you get a leg up on the summer entertainment that lies ahead, a breakdown of all the best films to check out in June, July and August.
Comedy
Booksmart
(May 24)
Olivia Wilde makes her directorial debut with this film—starring Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever—about two college-bound seniors who go from goodie-two-shoes to party animals after realizing they may have played their high school experience all wrong.
Netflix
Always Be My Maybe
(May 29)
A falling out causes childhood friends Ali Wong and Randall Park to not speak for 15 years. But when they reconnect, sparks fly in this modern rom-com.
Amazon Studios
Late Night
(June 7)
Emma Thompson is a surly late-night talk show host. Mindy Kaling (who penned the script for this film) is a newbie writer. When cancellation looms, they team up.
Focus Features
The Dead Don’t Die
(June 14)
An all-star cast—Bill Murray, Adam Driver and Tilda Swinton to name a few—appears in this film about a crew of police officers who play defense against a zombie attack on a small town.
Working Title Films
Yesterday
(June 28)
Imagine a world without the Beatles. That’s exactly what happens when an OK singer-songwriter (Himesh Patel) gets hit by a bus and wakes up to a world where he’s the only one who recalls their existence. (Kate McKinnon, Ed Sheeran and James Corden also star.)
Bleecker Street
The Art of Self-Defense
(July 12)
When a wimpy guy (Jesse Eisenberg) gets tired of being pushed around, he signs up for karate lessons—and encounters a beautiful woman (Imogen Poots) and a not-who-he-says-he-is instructor (Alessandro Nivola) along the way.
Big Beach Films
The Farewell
(July 12)
Awkwafina stars in this dramedy about a family traveling to China from New York City with a purpose: to say goodbye to their dying grandmother.
No trailer yet
Annapurna Pictures
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
(July 26)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie all star in this Quentin Tarantino dark comedy about a TV actor and stunt double trying to make it during Hollywood’s Golden Age.
New Line Cinema
Blinded by the Light
(August 14)
A guy (Sarfraz Manzoor) who was born 30 years after Bruce Springsteen and grew up thousands of miles away from New Jersey chronicles how “The Boss” changed his life.
Universal Pictures
Good Boys
(August 16)
Seth Rogan produced this film about middle schooler Max (played by Jacob Tremblay) who, after getting invited to his first kissing party, leans on his two best friends to gather intel on how to pucker up.
Annapurna Pictures
Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
(August 16)
This comedy-drama—based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name—follows a disappearing mother (Cate Blanchett) and the daughter (Bee Branch) who’s determined to track her down.
Action
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
(May 31)
This sequel to the 2014 film—starring Millie Bobby Brown, Sally Hawkins and Vera Farmiga—pits members of the crypto-zoological agency against a crew of god-sized monsters, Godzilla included.
(May 31)
This sequel—starring Millie Bobby Brown, Sally Hawkins and Vera Farmiga—pits members of the crypto-zoological agency against a crew of god-sized monsters including (you guessed it) Godzilla.
20th Century Fox
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
(June 7)
Sophie Turner (hello, Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones) plays a telepathic mutant with an alter ego—Phoenix—in the latest X-Men installment.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Shaft
(June 14)
When his best friend dies, cyber security expert John Shaft Jr. (played by Jessie Usher) enlists the help of his family (the OG Shaft Samuel L. Jackson included) to get to the bottom of things.
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Men in Black: International
(June 14)
Avengers duo Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson trade fighting Thanos for fighting aliens in the latest installment of this beloved franchise.
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Spider-Man: Far From Home
(July 2)
Jake Gyllenhaal joins the superhero franchise as Mysterio, the guy Peter Parker, ahem, Spiderman (Tom Holland) has to go up against while on vacation in Europe.
20th Century Fox
Stuber
(July 12)
When an Uber driver (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop in pursuit of a killer, things take a stressful—but occasionally hilarious—turn.
MTV International
Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw
(August 2)
It’s the ninth film in the series—and this time Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham face off against a cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist: Idris Elba.
Warner Bros.
The Kitchen
(August 9)
As mob wives-turned-mobsters, Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy and Elisabeth Moss confront rival gangs—but also their own criminal husbands—in this film set in the 1970s.
No trailer yet
Drama
Rocketman
(May 31)
It’s the story of how Elton John (played by Taron Egerton) became Elton. (Bryce Dallas Howard also stars.)
Watch the trailer
(April 19)
Chrissy Metz of This Is Us fame stars in this film about a mom whose son is declared dead only to come back to life after she prays.
A24
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
(June 7)
A black San Franciscan (Jimmie Fails) plays himself as he attempts to relive his childhood in the now-gentrified Fillmore District.
Entertainment One UK
Wild Rose
(June 14)
An ex-convict—and single mom—from Glasgow (Jessie Buckley) strives to become a country music star and travels to Nashville to try and see it through.
Thriller
Ma
(May 31)
When a middle-aged woman (Octavia Spencer) gives a group of teenagers carte blanche to party at her house, they think they hit the jackpot. Until things take a sinister turn.
(May 17)
John Lithgow and Blythe Danner team up in this film about a couple of eccentric small-towners drawn together, but both with a secret that could be a deal breaker.
No trailer yet
Ad Astra
(May 24)
Brad Pitt ventures out into the solar system to track down his missing dad, a renegade scientist who’s decided to go rogue.
No trailer yet
Orion Pictures
Child’s Play
(June 21)
Mark Hamill (of Luke Skywalker fame) is the voice of Chucky in this film about a mom (Aubrey Plaza) whose son has a murderous doll.
A24
Midsommer
(July 3)
Fresh off of Hereditary, director Ari Aster is back—this time with a film about a summer festival in a small Swedish village that takes a dark turn.
Paramount Pictures
Crawl
(July 12)
Think of it as Jaws with alligators: A father and daughter (Barry Pepper and Kaya Scodelario) find themselves trapped in a house during a hurricane in the Florida Everglades and quickly realize they’re not alone.
IFC Films
The Nightingale
(August 2)
From the director of The Babadook, this horror film—starring Aisling Franciosi and Sam Claflin—follows a woman who’s out for revenge after her family is murdered.
No trailer yet
CBS Films
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
(August 9)
After Guillermo del Toro stumbled upon this book series—about a group of teens who face their fears to save their own lives—he decided to turn it into a horror movie.
Family
Aladdin
(May 24)
Will Smith steps into the iconic role of the genie as director Guy Ritchie brings this animated classic to life.
(May 3)
When a couple (Michael Ealy and Meagan Good) move into a new home in Napa Valley, they find themselves victimized by the previous owner (Dennis Quaid) who refuses to let go.
Illumination
Secret Life of Pets 2
(June 7)
Patton Oswalt takes over as the voice of the Jack Russell Terrier in this sequel to the 2016 film about the activities of pets when we’re not there. (You’ll also hear Harrison Ford and Tiffany Haddish in the film.)
Pixar
Toy Story 4
(June 21)
It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for: Woody and Buzz (Tom Hanks and Tim Allen) are back, this time with a new friend—a plastic spork in the midst of an existential crisis.
Walt Disney Studios
The Lion King
(July 19)
This photorealistic trailer of the Disney classic has Donald Glover lending his voice to the part of Simba and—wait for it—Beyoncé as Nala. (Soundtrack #goals.)
Paramount Pictures
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
(July 31)
The animated children’s TV show, Dora the Explorer, gets the live action treatment, but also flashes forward: In the film, she’s in high school and heads into the jungle to confront her nemesis, Swiper the Fox (Benicio del Toro).
Walt Disney Pictures
Artemis Fowl
(August 9)
Based on the wildly popular series of the same name, this film tells the tale of the twelve-year-old criminal mastermind—and kicks off what could be the next fantasy franchise.
