The Top 6 Most Anticipated Movies Coming Out In Summer 2026
Movies in the summer hit different. The days are longer, people get some sort of time off, and theaters feel like the perfect place to flock to when we're desperate to get out of the sun and into an air-conditioned spot. The whole idea of a summer blockbuster becomes its own phenomenon, and even though we might never have another Barbenheimer era—Barbie (2023) and Oppenheimer (2023)—there are still some solid anticipated movies I'm counting down the days for.
From a new Steven Spielberg adventure to Christopher Nolan finally diving into Greek mythology in The Odyssey (2026), here are the movies you can't miss in theaters this summer.
Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, and more all star in Spielberg's next sci-fi epic that's sure to leave us stunned. We all have our Spielberg movie that might never be topped—Jurassic Park (1993) for me—but that doesn't mean we won't be seated for whatever else he releases next because his artistry is unmatched.
More than anything, Disclosure Day looks like it's going to be part of the greats solely because of its cast and the fact that everything they've been in during the last decade has been aces. At the same time, the story seems to hold great nuance, which can lead to thoughtful conversations about humanity as a whole.
While most millennials and those of us who grew up with the Toy Story franchise don't exactly want a fifth movie, Toy Story 5 is sure to see people running to the theatre regardless, because that's the power of Pixar and these characters. The summer season also makes perfect sense for a big Disney movie when most kids are out of school, and they can make a day out of their viewing experience.
While the movie surely won't top the emotions in Toy Story 3 (2010), we can maybe get a pretty compelling story about screen time and its effects on kids because of its newest villain, Lilypad. Pixar is nothing if not on-point about the way it tells realistic stories, so the movie is sure to be good, if not surprisingly excellent.
James Gunn's DC universe continues to expand with Milly Alcock stepping into the shoes of Kara Zor-El in Supergirl. While DC fans have had a series based on the character with Supergirl (2015), this is the first time we'll see her on the big screen, so the excitement in detail is enough reason to highlight its impact.
Since her brief appearance in Superman (2025), the new movie has been highly anticipated because it's about time we get female-led movies that also feature characters who don't actually have everything together. A large part of the reason Superman was so incredible last year is that it gave us a look into kindness at a time when we needed it most, and here's hoping that Supergirl has its own sparkle for us to cling to.
Like Toy Story 5, the kiddos deserve another movie night in the summertime. But let's be real, adults are also excited for Minions & Monsters, aren't they? I am. There's something about these little weirdos that always delivers the right amount of entertainment that makes the viewing experience an absolute blast every time.
Minions & Monsters will follow the minions trying to cast monsters for their new movie, and the trailer is already a wild ride full of shenanigans and likely a whole bunch of horror lore coming to life through a more palatable lens. Supporting animation is now more critical than ever with the rise of AI, so the movie's release feels perfect. Plus, a whole bunch of random new monsters to appreciate? Who doesn't want that? Hotel Transylvania (2012) fans could surely appreciate this one.
While movies like Troy (2004) and Broadway adaptations like Hadestown (2019) have had people running to the theater before, there's likely nothing out there that's going to top the scale of The Odyssey, and it's entirely because of Christopher Nolan. He's not only the perfect director to take on such a hefty novel, but he's also got the perfect cast to make every minute of it thoroughly entertaining in a way that might not have worked on a smaller scale.
The Odyssey has been my most-anticipated movie since the announcement, and every small bit of information we get on it makes the countdown feel even more grueling. There's also something extra delicious about watching a movie based on Greek mythology in the summer that's going to make the viewing experience even more spectacular. So many critics called Oppenheimer Nolan's magnum opus, but could The Odyssey top it? I can't wait to find out.
It's been four years too long since we last left Peter Parker alone in a dingy apartment with absolutely no one beside him to remember he exists. Four years of sheer torture if you're a die-hard Spider-Man fan who knows just how brutal this fate is. With how utterly brilliant and genuinely remarkable Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) was, a lot is riding on how Spider-Man: Brand New Day can deliver.
The trailers hint at a few new villains, teeny tiny Easter eggs that have eagle-eyed fans on the edge of their seats, and an A+ good time because each of Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies has been exceptional thus far. Of all the movies on this list, this one's the biggest for MCU fans, and maybe even the one that can be most surprising with box-office numbers if we compare it to Marvel films in the past.
