Summer Movie Preview 2026

On this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast, 2026 has finally arrived at the greatest point of every cinephile’s annual indulgence, the summer movie season!! This year theaters are trying to kick back into gear with blockbusters like The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Mortal Kombat II, The Sheep Detectives, Minions and Monsters, The Breadwinner, Jack Ryan: Ghost War, Masters of the Universe, Disclosure Day, and a whole lot more.  But with so many films coming out at this time, how is any self-respecting fan supposed to know what to see when there are so many options available? We’re here to help with our 2026 Summer Movie Preview!

We discuss each month in detail and every major and many minor releases. May, June, July, and August all receive their fair due as we elaborate and debate on over 40 titles coming to theaters, as well as those independent and streaming gems to look for.

Grab a pen and paper or your favorite app, because this is one episode you will want to take notes on. THIS is our 2026 Summer Movie Preview!

*Editor’s Note: Release dates and titles were based on the schedule as of the date of recording, and are subject to change

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2026 Summer Movie Schedule

Releasing in theaters unless stated otherwise

MAY 1

Swapped PG – Netflix

When two natural sworn enemies of The Valley, a small woodland creature and a majestic bird, magically trade places, they must set off on an adventure of a lifetime to save their home.

Animal Farm PG 

A satirical allegory of revolution and power, Animal Farm traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed, and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship—fulfilling Orwell’s warning about the dangers of communism. Voices by Jim Parsons, Steve Buscemi, Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, Laverne Cox, Kieran Culkin, Gaten Matarazzo, Andy Serkis

Deep Water R

A group of passengers flying from Los Angeles to Shanghai must make an emergency landing in waters filled with sharks. They have to cooperate to survive as sharks gather around the crash site. 

Hokum R

When reclusive novelist Ohm Bauman (Scott) retreats to a remote Irish inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, the staff’s tales of an ancient witch haunting the honeymoon suite take hold of his mind. Soon, disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance draw him into a nightmarish confrontation with the darkest corners of his past.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 PG-13

Almost twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily and Nigel—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation.

MAY 8

Couples Weekend R – Limited release

Trapped in a cozy cabin by a blizzard, two couples ring in the New Year with a mysterious cocktail that strips away their inhibitions, turning their romantic getaway into chaos with a showdown of secrets, betrayals, and rapidly shifting loyalties.

Remarkably Bright Creatures PG-13 – Netflix

A widow who works at a local aquarium finds joy again when she forms an unlikely bond with a Giant Pacific Octopus and a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family. Together, they will uncover a mystery that will lead them to a life-changing discovery and restore their sense of wonder. Based on the best-selling book.

Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour

Captured during her sold-out world tour, BILLIE EILISH – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) brings an innovative new concert experience to the big screen from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation. 

Mortal Kombat II R

The fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of Earth realm & its defenders.

The Sheep Detectives PG

In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can’t possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.

MAY 12 

The Punisher: One Last Kill – Disney+

Frank Castle tries to live a life without the need for revenge, only to be drawn into an unexpected conflict.

MAY 15

Magic Hour – Limited

Charlie and Erin escape to the desert to navigate an unexpected and challenging new phase of their relationship. A Duplass Brothers Production starring Daveed Diggs (Hamilton) and Katie Aselton (The League). A South by Southwest premiere.

 In the Grey

In The Grey follows a covert team of elite operatives who live in the global shadows, as comfortable wielding power and influence as they are automatic weapons and high explosives. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission. What begins as an impossible heist gets much worse, spiraling into an all-out war of strategy, deception and survival.

Is God Is R

In Is God Is, two sisters embark on an epic quest for revenge, confronting a charged family history that will push them to extraordinary lengths. The film is Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut and is based on Harris’ adaptation of her award-winning play of the same name.

Obsession R

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

Jack Ryan: Ghost War R – PRIME

In this new film, Jack Ryan is reluctantly thrust back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, forcing him to confront a rogue black-ops unit, and the clock is ticking. Operating in real time with lives on the line and the threat escalating at every turn, Jack reunites with battle-tested CIA operative Mike November (Michael Kelly) and former CIA boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce), their combined experience the only edge they have against an enemy who knows their every move. Backed by an unlikely new partner – razor-sharp MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) – Jack and the team navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past they thought was long put to rest – making this the most personal, high-stakes mission any of them have ever faced

MAY 22

Corporate Retreat – LIMITED

Follows a group of corporate executives from a rising tech company attending a company retreat at a remote desert mansion. The team-bonding trip turns into a blood-soaked competition when the group is trapped in a sadistic game of survival. 

I Love Boosters R

A crew of professional shoplifters takes aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. It’s like a community service.

Passenger

After a young couple (Jacob Scipio and Lou Llobell) witnesses a gruesome highway accident, they soon realize they did not leave the crash scene alone, as a demonic presence called the Passenger that won’t stop until it claims them both and turns their van life adventure into a nightmare

The Mandalorian and Grogu PG-13

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

MAY 29

Backrooms

A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom. After a therapist’s patient goes missing into a dimension beyond reality, she has to enter the unknown to save him. Directed by Kane Parsons off of his own webseries

Pressure PG-13

In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, Pressure follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

The Breadwinner

A family comedy that follows the misadventures of Nate Wilcox (Nate Bargatze), whose wife Katie (Mandy Moore) lands a once-in-a-lifetime deal on Shark Tank that takes her on a prolonged business trip – and now the lifelong breadwinner has to fend for his family as a first-time stay-at-home dad. With three young daughters and little experience handling their day-to-day needs, Nate finds out quickly that running the household is the toughest gig he’s ever had.

JUNE 5

Carolina Caroline

Desperate to escape her small West Texas town, Caroline Daniels runs away with a charismatic con man who takes her on a romantic crime spree through the American South. But as confidence games escalate into more elaborate heists, Caroline transforms into a criminal icon and notorious bank robber, ultimately internalizing the central truth of every con: There’s no lie more convincing than the one you tell yourself.

Masters of the Universe

After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.

Power Ballad R

When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about. 

Scary Movie 6

Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer (“Ghostface”), the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe. Marlon Wayans (“Shorty”), Shawn Wayans (“Ray”), Anna Faris (“Cindy”), and Regina Hall (“Brenda”) reunite in Scary Movie alongside returning favorites and fresh faces to slash through reboots, remakes, requels, prequels, sequels, spin-offs, elevated horror, origin stories, anything with the word legacy in it, and every “final chapter” that absolutely isn’t final. Nothing is sacred. No trope survives. ​Every line gets crossed. The Wayans are back to cancel the Cancel Culture.

JUNE 12

Stop! That! Train! – Limited

STOP! THAT! TRAIN! follows best friends Tess (Ginger Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee), train stewardesses who trade their dreary shifts on the Stank Rail for the glitzy Glamazonian Express. When a catastrophic “Stormaganza” threatens to derail the high-speed train and crash it into Los Angeles, the duo in coach must join forces with the snobby first class attendants (Symone, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Marcia Marcia Marcia) and President Gagwell (RuPaul) to save the day in this wild ride of camp and comedy. 

Disclosure Day

If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people. We are coming close to … Disclosure Day.

The Furious R

When his daughter Rainy is abducted, humble tradesman Wang Wei is thrust into a deadly underworld of corruption and violence. His only ally is Navin, a relentless journalist haunted by his own past. Together, they fight their way through an international criminal network in a desperate bid to save Rainy and uncover the truth

JUNE 19

Leviticus R

Two star-crossed teenage boys [who] must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most — each other.

Girls Like Girls R

Based on writer/director Hayley Kiyoko’s hit single and best-selling novel of the same name and featuring all-new music from Kiyoko, GIRLS LIKE GIRLS is a heartfelt coming-of-age story set over the course of one sun-drenched summer, where new-girl-in-town Coley falls in love for the first time while learning to accept herself along the way.

The Death of Robin Hood R

Grappling with his past after a life of crime & murder, Robin Hood (Hugh Jackman) finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation.

Toy Story 5

The toys are back and this time, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad (voice of Greta Lee), a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same?

JUNE 26

Lucky Strike

A U.S. soldier becomes trapped behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge and must rely on a Motorola SCR‑300 radio and his own ingenuity to evade the advancing Nazi Panzer army and find his way home.

Jackass: Best And Last

The Jackass crew performs a new round of dangerous stunts, pranks, and self-inflicted chaos.

Supergirl

“Supergirl,” DC Studios’ newest feature film to hit the big screen, will be in theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Craig Gillespie directs.  In this SuperGirl story  an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home for Kara aka Supergirl, so she reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice. Jason mamoa also stars.  but not as aquaman cause this is new DC. 

The Invite R

Joe and Angela are on thin ice, and tonight might be when it all falls apart. Unfortunately, their upstairs neighbors are about to arrive for dinner, and everything that can go wrong goes worse.

JULY 1

Minions & Monsters

Fresh off the worldwide blockbuster success of summer 2024’s funniest comedy, Despicable Me 4, Illumination expands its joyful animated universe with a riotous new chapter, featuring all-new characters, in the biggest global animated franchise in history: Minions & Monsters.

JULY 3

Young Washington

Before he was the Father of a Nation, he was a soldier fighting to survive. A single misstep thrusts young George Washington into the center of a global conflict, testing his honor, loyalty, and courage. As alliances crumble and the frontier erupts into war, he must confront not only his enemies but the man he’s becoming. This is the untold story of Young Washington.

JULY 10

Evil Dead Burn

After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites—turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell—she comes to discover that the vows she took in life… live on even in death.

Moana

In Disney’s live-action adaptation of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. 

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass

Described as an off-the-rails odyssey through modern day Hollywood.

JULY 17

Cut Off

Follows two rich siblings who are cut off from their parents.

The Odyssey

A mythic action epic that follows Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan war.

JULY 24

The Dink PG-13

Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck’s (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father’s approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck’s vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father’s affection and his very identity.

JULY 30

Tin Soldier – Hulu

The Bokushi (Jamie Foxx) leads a group of veterans with promises of protection and builds a secure fortress while amassing a large arsenal with his military-trained followers. After several failed infiltration attempts, the government recruits ex-special forces member Nash Cavanaugh (Scott Eastwood)—a former disciple of The Bokushi—and military operative Emmanuel Ashburn (De Niro) to use Nash’s insider knowledge to seek revenge and recover what he lost, including the love of his life.

JULY 31

I Want Your Sex R

Artist Erika Tracy taps a young protégé as a sexual muse.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Four years have passed since the events of No Way Home, and Peter is now an adult living entirely alone, having voluntarily erased himself from the lives and memories of those he loves. Crime-fighting in a New York that no longer knows his name, he’s devoted himself entirely to protecting his city — a full-time Spider-Man — but as the demands on him intensify, the pressure sparks a surprising physical evolution that threatens his existence, even as a strange new pattern of crimes gives rise to one of the most powerful threats he has ever faced.

AUGUST 7

Ice Cream Man

Ice Cream Man follows an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results. Directed by Eli Roth, with shades of Weapons here

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma – Limited

Follows a young director enthusiastic about resurrecting the Camp Miasma slash franchise after years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom. But when she visits the original movie’s star, a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear and delirium.

The Third Parent – Limited

The Third Parent takes place on the Fourth of July. A suspicious character named Tommy Taffy appears, disguising himself as a human to infiltrate a suburban neighborhood and take control of a family.

Fall 2

A sequel to the hit vertigo thriller Fall.

One Night Only

Two strangers try to find someone to sleep with on the one night of the year where premarital sex is legal.

Super Troopers 3: Winter Soldiers

Another entry in the Super Troopers saga.

AUGUST 14

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie

After their ship gets caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol pups crash land on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs. They meet Rex, a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and has become an expert in all things dino-related. When the PAW Patrol’s archrival, Mayor Humdinger, begins recklessly mining in hopes of exploiting the island for its natural resources, he inadvertently causes a huge, dormant volcano to erupt. The PAW Patrol pups are thrown into a series of high-stakes, dino-sized rescues bigger than anything they’ve done before, as they must stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.

The Brink of War

President Reagan races against time to salvage a deal with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that could dismantle nuclear arsenals—or ignite disaster. With pressure mounting on all sides, every word spoken brings the world closer to peace… or destruction.

The End of Oak Street

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.

The Rivals of Amziah King

Deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King (McConaughey) herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. When Amziah’s estranged foster daughter unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah’s rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built.

AUGUST 21

Insidious: Out of the Further

Amelia Eve stars as Gemma, a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in who discovers she can travel into The Further, the purgatorial realm of lost souls at the heart of the Insidious universe. When something evil comes after her, Gemma discovers an ability that changes everything: she doesn’t just enter The Further, she can bring what lives there back to the real world. Once the demons realize her power, our world becomes their playground.

Mutiny

Cole Reed (Jason Statham) witnesses the murder of his billionaire industrialist boss and is framed for the crime. Now a fugitive, he must uncover an international conspiracy to clear his name.

Spa Weekend

Spa Weekend follows three best friends, Jane, Coco and Sophie, as they embark on some much-needed pampering during a luxury spa break in Palm Springs. But when their trainwreck friend, Mel, turns up, the relaxation quickly descends into chaos with hilarious consequences.

AUGUST 28

Cliffhanger

A former mountaineer runs a luxury chalet with his daughter in the Dolomites, but their lives are turned upside down when kidnappers attack. His other daughter, who escapes, must face her fears to rescue her family.

IDIOTS

Two unqualified bozos (Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr.) are hired to transfer a rich teen (Mason Thames) to rehab when their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem.

Coyote vs. Acme

The story of a down-on-his-luck attorney (Will Forte) who takes on Wile E. as a client in his suit, only to discover that his boss (John Cena) at his former law firm is representing Acme.

Finding Emily

When a lovesick musician is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a driven psychology student to find her. Together, they spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.

The Dog Stars

Set years after a superflu virus has taken most of mankind off the map, a man lives in the hangar of an abandoned airport with his dog. He spends his days flying the perimeter in his Cessna, looking out for intruders and thinking about the things he’s lost—his deceased wife and the nearly extinct trout he loved to fish. When a distant radio transmission sparks in him the realization that something better might be out there, the man sets out and discover that things are both better and worse out there.

*Descriptions courtesy of MovieInsider.com