The 10 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2026

Graphic: Polygon | Grant Walkup

The year 2026 has already delivered a spectacular run for film enthusiasts, anchored by science-fiction triumphs like Project Hail Mary and the delightful family spectacle of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Fortunately, the momentum shows no signs of slowing down, with an impressive slate of features arriving just in time for the summer season.

Summer at the cinema is traditionally synonymous with high-octane action and blockbuster superhero sagas, fueled by a desire for grand-scale storytelling and optimistic, escapist thrills. After all, there is an enduring appeal to films that champion adventure and perseverance.

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While this summer’s lineup leans heavily into the triumphant return of iconic franchises—particularly in the superhero space—to draw crowds back to the multiplex, there is also plenty to satisfy viewers seeking more introspective or unconventional narratives.

From chilling internet-born horror to expansive superhero spectacles, we’ve rounded up the 10 most anticipated films hitting screens this summer.

10
Backrooms (May 29)

Transitioning from a viral YouTube sensation to a high-profile A24 feature, Backrooms is poised to be a standout of the season. Following the acquisition of Kane Parsons’ original work in 2023, the 20-year-old visionary director has been tapped to helm this adaptation.

The film features Chiwetel Ejiofor (The Martian) as Clarke, an architect struggling with his career who stumbles into an uncanny, liminal dimension tucked away behind a retail furniture store. When he vanishes, his therapist, Mary (Renate Reinsve), embarks on a desperate search to find him.

Parsons deftly blends the lo-fi, DIY aesthetic of his internet origins—utilizing tools like Blender—with professional Hollywood production standards, bolstered by the horror expertise of producer James Wan.

9
Masters of the Universe (June 5)

Mattel’s legendary Masters of the Universe property is making a grand return to live-action this June. It has been nearly four decades since the 1987 Dolph Lundgren film, making this modernized take a long-anticipated event for fans of the franchise.

Directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee) with a script by Chris Butler, the film stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam. The narrative follows Adam, who, after crash-landing on Earth as a child, is reunited with his legendary Sword of Power years later and thrust back into the defense of Eternia against the villainous forces of Skeletor, played by Jared Leto.

With an all-star cast including Idris Elba and a commitment to bold, spectacle-driven production design, this reimagining aims to capture the same cultural lightning in a bottle as Barbie.

8
Scary Movie 6 (June 5)

For those looking to trade epic action for raucous laughter, Scary Movie 6 arrives just in time to reboot the beloved horror-spoof series. After a decade-long hiatus, creators Marlon and Shawn Wayans return with a treasure trove of modern horror tropes to lampoon.

The trailer promises sharp jabs at recent genre hits like M3GAN, Get Out, and the latest entries in the Scream saga. True to its provocative brand, the film appears ready to tackle sensitive cultural topics head-on. Most excitingly, the return of Anna Faris and Regina Hall as the iconic duo Cindy and Brenda promises to restore the franchise’s signature chemistry.

7
Disclosure Day (June 12)

Given his history with otherworldly classics like E.T. and War of the Worlds, it’s hardly surprising that Steven Spielberg’s newest project navigates familiar, yet uniquely eerie, extraterrestrial territory.

Disclosure Day defies standard expectations, with a trailer that is intentionally cryptic and deeply unsettling. Watching Emily Blunt deliver a performance that suggests an alien presence taking control of her body offers a stark, suspenseful departure from the more whimsical nature of Spielberg’s past alien encounters. It is a mystery that demands to be seen on the big screen.

6
Toy Story 5 (June 19)

Despite the mixed reception surrounding the previous installment, the Toy Story franchise continues to march forward. While some may feel the series has run its course, Pixar’s latest trailer has undeniably piqued interest once again.

Throughout the series, Woody and his friends have faced existential threats, from growing children to newer, more advanced toys. In this chapter, they confront an even more daunting rival: the ubiquitous tablet. Seeing Bonnie—and her toys—struggle against the influence of an “iPad Kid” lifestyle adds a modern, slightly tragic layer to this enduring animation classic.

5
Supergirl (June 26)

Following the revitalization of the genre in James Gunn’s Superman, expectations are high for director Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl. The film is based on the acclaimed comic arc Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which brings a grittier, more emotional tone to the character.

Milly Alcock stars as Kara Zor-El, who joins forces with an alien girl named Ruthye to track down the villain Krem. Given that Krem is responsible for the death of Ruthye’s father and, perhaps even more unforgivably, the demise of Supergirl’s faithful dog Krypto, this is a quest for justice that hits home with brutal intensity.

4
The Odyssey (July 17)

Adapting one of the pillars of Western literature is no small feat, yet Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey promises to be a visually arresting interpretation of the ancient epic.

Featuring Matt Damon as the weary King Odysseus and Tom Holland as his son, Telemachus, the narrative recounts the harrowing decade-long voyage home following the Trojan War. Nolan’s signature stylistic approach ensures that this version will stand apart from the many adaptations that have come before, regardless of any pedantic debates over historical fidelity.

3
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31)

Marvel is pulling out all the stops this summer, aiming to make Tom Holland’s latest outing as the web-slinger his most impactful performance yet.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day picks up in the aftermath of No Way Home. With Peter Parker’s secret identity wiped from global memory, he is forced to navigate a world without the safety net he once relied upon. Facing a staggering array of classic foes and complex comic-book plot threads, director Destin Daniel Cretton hopes to deliver a definitive Spider-Man experience.

2
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Aug. 7)

The combination of Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder is enough to warrant immediate attention, but the news that Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw The TV Glow) is in the director’s chair makes Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma a must-watch.

Schoenbrun has established a unique voice exploring the intersection of adolescence, identity, and digital culture through the lens of horror. Here, she deconstructs the ’80s slasher genre with Einbinder playing a filmmaker tasked with managing a gritty reboot of the fictional Camp Miasma horror series, while Anderson portrays a iconic “final girl” forced to confront her past.

1
The End of Oak Street (Aug. 14)

The End of Oak Street presents a bizarre, intriguing premise: what happens when an entire neighborhood is mysteriously uprooted and relocated? While the idea sounds eccentric, the involvement of producer J.J. Abrams and director David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) suggests we should expect the unexpected.

Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor star as the parents of a seemingly perfect family whose lives are thrown into chaos when their environment shifts irrevocably. Given the haunting trailer footage that hints at prehistoric threats, it is safe to assume this is not a problem that will resolve itself by the weekend.

Source: Polygon