The most anticipated movies of the summer

One of the most common ways people spend their summers, which often involves more free time than the rest of the year, is watching movies, both old and new. 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for film, and these are the ones whose releases are the most anticipated.

First up are some movies that the whole family can enjoy, coming from Universal and Pixar. On June 13th, the live-action remaster of How to Train Your Dragon premieres in theatres. Coming from the same director as the original series, Dean DeBlois, and with the stated intention of keeping true to the original film, this may be one of the most faithful live-action remasters seen yet. A week later, on June 20th, Pixar’s Elio, a movie following the adventures of a tween who is trying to be abducted by aliens, will release in theaters. This movie hasn’t been advertised as much as other Pixar endeavors, but regardless looks to be a good film.

Moving onto some more mature movies, and also releasing on June 20th, the film 28 Years Later, the third installment in the 28 Days trilogy, will be in theaters. Following the story of the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, this classic trope is re-imagined by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. 

For a more high-octane film, the movie F1 releases on June 27th from Warner Bros. Starring Brad Pitt, this film follows the story of a group of underdogs rising to the top of motorsports. This movie should be good excitement for both those who are fans of motorsports such as F1, along with the general public.

The next installments of some classic franchises will drop early in July, with Jurassic World: Rebirth being released by Universal on the 2nd of the month. The eighth installment in the Jurassic Park series of films, this movie seems to be a new take on a series that’s been going for 32 years, with Gareth Edwards, the movie’s director, stating that it will be a callback to the original Spielberg movies. 

Then, on July 11th, Warner Bros’ Superman will come to theaters, a highly anticipated telling of the story of Superman, starring David Corenswet as the titular character. Directed by James Gunn, this film aims to breathe new life into the franchise while also retaining that original Superman magic. 

For another retelling of an original superhero classic, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing July 25th, follows the famous quartet of superheroes who must fight to save the Earth from Galactus. With a star-studded cast such as Pedro Pascal, it aims to return the classic superheroes to the public spotlight, especially as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has slowed down releases in recent years.

To end the summer, three highly anticipated comedies are releasing in August. First up, from Universal, is The Bad Guys 2, a sequel to the acclaimed 2022 animated film following the misadventures of a group of goofy criminals. While not the most gripping of plots, The Bad Guys had incredible comedic timing, a height the sequel will aim to live up to when it releases on the 1st. On the same day as The Bad Guys 2 is the release of The Naked Gun, a return of the classic comedy trilogy, Naked Gun, which starred Leslie Nielsen. This rebirth of the series, starring Liam Neeson, acts as a sequel to the trilogy, with the main character the son of the original trilogy’s protagonist, Frank Drebin. Those who enjoy campy movies from the 80s and 90s will enjoy this return to a classic formula. 

Finally, on August 8th, Freakier Friday, a sequel to the critically acclaimed 2003 comedy Freaky Friday, follows the misadventures and hijinks that ensue when a mother and daughter swap bodies. Presumably, the sequel will follow a similar premise, with both lead actors returning to reprise their roles in the film.

All in all, this summer is shaping up to be a great time for all of those who enjoy movies, no matter what genre, be it fantasy, action, adventure, comedy, and more.