35 Must-Watch Summer 2026 Movies

'Backrooms'

Release Date: May 29

Kane Parsons was only 16 when he released the first YouTube video from his webseries Backrooms. Immediately, the impressive mythology of his series earned him a cult following, which has led to a film distributed by A24 that he directed at the age of 19. It follows Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve), a therapist who enters another dimension to find her lost patient (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

As part of our Collider Exclusive Preview event, we shared a new look at Ejiofor in character and the kind of eerie visuals that await horror fans bold enough to venture into The Backrooms. Horror has been having quite a moment this year, and Parsons only promises to continue that streak.

'Tuner'

Release Date: May 29

After its successful premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in August of 2025, Daniel Roher's Tuner is finally scheduled for a May 29 wide release. It stars Leo Woodall as Niki, a talented piano tuner who discovers that he has an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes. The film also stars Dustin Hoffman as Harry, Niki's mentor, and Havana Rose Liu as Ruthie, Niki's love interest.

Collider's exclusive preview gives thriller fans another reason to be excited about Tuner. We shared an exclusive image and details about the upcoming film, including the impressive fact that it already holds an exceptional rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

'Pressure'

Release Date: May 29

Every year, the world clamors for a great dad movie, and this year, Pressure promises to deliver. It's a British-French war drama directed by Anthony Maras, retelling the true story of General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Group Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott), who faced an impossible choice in the tense 72 hours before D-Day.

Collider's exclusive look shared new images of the cast (with Damian Lewis front and center) in the middle of a moment of suspense. As a film not about the brutality of World War II combat, but rather about the uncertainty of strategy and planning, Pressure is sure to be a different kind of war drama.

'Scary Movie'

Release Date: June 5

Parody movies of varying degrees of quality were all the rage throughout the 2000s, and the film that started this genre craze was the Wayans brothers' Scary Movie. This year, the franchise returns to theaters with the eponymous spiritual sequel. It'll involve the same kind of hilarious mayhem, including killers, monsters, and supernatural creatures that fans of the franchise love.

An awful lot has changed in the horror landscape since 2013's Scary Movie 5, including several big releases that 2026's Scary Movie no doubt will exploit to their fullest parodic potential. Collider's new look at the movie includes a Marlon Wayans image that should get all Scary Movie fans in the mood for some spooky laughs.

'Seven Snipers'

Release Date: June 5

Sandra Sciberras' Australian action thriller Seven Snipers already had a limited release in its country of origin, and is scheduled to hit theaters around the world in early June. In it, a retired sniper (Radha Mitchell) is hiding on an Australian ranch and must reunite her elite kill squad when a vengeful warlord (Tim Roth) threatens her daughter (Annabel Wolfe).

The exclusive image in Collider's new look at Seven Snipers shows a glimpse of the previous relationship that the retired sniper and the vengeful warlord once shared. Those who love straightforward action films that are light on the plot complications and heavy on the thrills are bound to love this one.

'Office Romance'

Release Date: June 5

Netflix's latest rom-com will soon be Ol Parker's Office Romance. It's the story of Jackie (Jennifer Lopez), President and CEO of a business, who sees her own anti-fraternization policy in the office tested when a sexy new lawyer (Brett Goldstein) begins working for her.

Co-written by Joe Kelly and Goldstein, the latter of whom has been on a bit of a writing and acting roll on TV with Shrinking and Ted Lasso, Office Romance promises plenty of chemistry between its two leads and laughter aplenty in Collider's exclusive new image and detailed breakdown.

'Power Ballad'

Release Date: June 5

John Carney of Begin Again, Sing Street, and Flora and Son fame is one of the best Irish filmmakers working today, and his newest musical dramedy, Power Ballad, promises to offer even more Carney-esque goodness. It follows Rick (Paul Rudd), a washed-up wedding singer who bonds over a late-night jam session with Danny (Nick Jonas), a fading boy band star. But when Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to claim back the praise he believes he deserves.

After its acclaimed premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival this March, Collider showed an exciting exclusive look at Nick Jonas in Power Ballad. Diving into the impressive pedigree of everyone involved in the movie, it's a can't-miss preview for all those excited about Carney's latest.

'Carolina Caroline'

Release Date: June 5

Several films that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September are scheduled for a summer-wide release this year, and that includes the Adam Carter Rehmeier romantic crime thriller Carolina Caroline. It stars Samara Weaving as Caroline, a young woman who joins a charming con man on the run (Kyle Gallner), leaving a trail of crime and passion behind them.

Promising to join True Romance and Bonnie and Clyde among the ranks of the best crime romance films, Carolina Caroline shows a disguised Weaving in an intense robbery scene in Collider's exclusive new image. If the movie's TIFF reception is any indication, it's a summer spectacle to look forward to.

'Find Your Friends'

Release Date: June 12

Find Your Friends is a Shudder original thriller about Amber (Helena Howard) and her friends, who embark on a fun girls' trip. As tensions escalate and Amber's dark past resurfaces, however, their desert getaway turns into a jaw-dropping game of revenge and survival.

Directed by Izabel Pakzad, this exciting horror thriller was inspired by one of Pakzad's terrifying experiences. Collider's exclusive look at the movie promises an adrenaline-pumping desert chase that fans of horror thrillers won't want to miss on Shudder.

'Stop! That! Train!'

Release Date: June 12

Directed by Adam Shankman, Stop! That! Train! feels like Airplane! had a baby with RuPaul's Drag Race. It's an action comedy where two train stewardess BFFs (Ginger Minj and Jujubee) switch from a dull railway to a luxurious high-speed train. During a storm, they have to work hard to prevent a disaster from ravaging LA.

For those who love campy comedies and drag performance, Stop! That! Train! is guaranteed to be a must-see once it comes out. Collider's exclusive sneak peek gives us another look at the film's stacked cast, which also includes stars like Mama Ru herself, RuPaul Charles, alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Raven-Symoné.

'This Tempting Madness'

Release Date: June 12

Jennifer E. Montgomery's psychological thriller This Tempting Madness is about a young woman (Simone Ashley) who awakens from a coma injured, with her memory fractured, and with her husband (Austin Stowell) arrested. But as she puts together the pieces of her past, she starts to question her perception of reality.

Ashley has been on a roll since her breakthrough role in Season 2 of Bridgerton, and Collider's exclusive new image of This Tempting Madness shows a side of the star that audiences haven't really seen before. Inspired by the real experiences of a friend of Montgomery's, This Tempting Madness ought to be a must-watch for all those who love films about amnesiacs recollecting their memories.

'The Furious'

Release Date: June 12

Kenji Tanigaki's English-language Hong Kong action film The Furious follows Wang Wei (Mo Tse), an ordinary tradesman whose daughter (Yang Enyou) is kidnapped. After its premiere at TIFF in 2025, which earned it a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film promises to be one of the defining action extravaganzas of the summer.

Collider's exclusive look reveals two new thrilling images that seem to represent both faces of The Furious: On the one hand, the adrenaline-pumping martial arts sequences. On the other, the emotional story of a father and his daughter.

'Disclosure Day'

Release Date: June 12

Steven Spielberg has been the king of blockbusters since the '70s, and this year, Disclosure Day promises to join the ranks of his best sci-fi outings. In it, a whistleblower (Josh O'Connor) and a possessed meteorologist (Emily Blunt) race to unravel a massive government conspiracy.

Disclosure Day is Spielberg's long-awaited return to the UFO sci-fi genre, and fans couldn't possibly be more excited for it. Or could they? Collider's new look at the film shows Blunt and Wyatt Russell in an interesting scene, which has the potential to be Spielberg's best sci-fi movie of the 21st century. It's the sort of blockbuster that cinephiles should be dying with excitement about.

'Maddie's Secret'

Release Date: June 19

Having premiered at TIFF to exceptional reviews, Maddie's Secret could end up being one of the best comedies of the year. It stars writer and director John Early as Maddie, a food influencer secretly struggling with bulimia as she navigates online fame, close friendships, and a painful past. It's pure, surprisingly emotional campy goodness.

Collider's first look at Maddie's Secret reveals an exciting side of what could be one of the best hidden gems of the summer movie season. Early has spoken at length about what it was like playing a cisgender woman, and this Collider exclusive shares other media that audiences may have seen him in before.

'Girls Like Girls'

Release Date: June 19

Girls Like Girls is the sort of coming-of-age romance that we don't get nearly enough of nowadays. Based on director Hayley Kiyoko's 2023 book, itself titled after her 2015 song, this R-rated drama is about a 17-year-old (Maya da Costa) who navigates intimacy after losing her mother and meeting Sonya (Myra Molloy), though self-doubt hinders their connection.

Collider's exclusive preview of Girls Like Girls shows a glimpse of da Costa and Molloy's chemistry and the tender connection between their characters. Queer stories like this one don't typically get the spotlight the way Girls Like Girls is bound to do after it comes out in mid-June.

'Finnegan's Foursome'

Release Date: June 19

In Edward Burns' sports comedy Finnegan's Foursome, two rival brothers (Edward Burns and Brian d'Arcy James) take their adult children (Erica Hernández and Brian Muller) to Ireland to scatter their father's ashes, turning clashing egos into an unexpected week of laughter and family bonding.

It's the sort of heartwarming family film that every slate of summer blockbusters needs to have, and the fact that it's a sports comedy only makes it sound more appealing. Described in Collider's exclusive preview as Death at a Funeral meets Happy Gilmore, the film also shows an image of what could be one of the sweetest comedies of the summer.

'Leviticus'

Release Date: June 19

LGBTQ+ horror that's as overtly about queer themes as Adrian Chiarella's Australian romantic horror film Leviticus, one of the standouts of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, is rare. The story follows Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen), two teenage boys who must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most: each other.

Collider shared an exclusive new look at Chiarella's feature debut and NEON's next horror sensation, an exclusive sneak peek that only shows further evidence that 2026 will go down in 2020s history as a very strong year for horror.

'Rose of Nevada'

Release Date: June 19

After his BAFTA-winning Bait and the highly acclaimed experimental drama Enys Men, Mark Jenkin returns to the big screen with the sci-fi drama Rose of Nevada. In it, a boat returns to a village 30 years after having vanished. Two men (George MacKay and Callum Turner) join its crew in the hopes of a better fortune, finding themselves transported back in time.

Collider's exclusive look at this drama with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes includes two images that promise a truly engrossing seafaring mystery. Having debuted in the U.K. in April, Rose of Nevada leaves nothing but praise in its wake.

'The Death of Robin Hood'

Release Date: June 19

Indie distributor and studio A24's latest will soon be Michael Sarnoski's The Death of Robin Hood, a dark adaptation of the 17th-century ballad Robin Hood's Death. It stars Hugh Jackman as an aged Robin Hood, grappling with his past life of crime and murder while in the hands of a mysterious woman (Jodie Comer) after being critically injured.

Collider's exclusive look at the film promises a sort of gritty, grounded, and character-driven approach to the Robin Hood mythos the likes of which audiences haven't seen before. Also featuring Bill Skarsgård and Noah Jupe, The Death of Robin Hood has the potential to be one of A24's most entertaining films of the year.

'Little Brother'

Release Date: June 26

Those looking to have their comedy fix fulfilled this year needn't look further than Netflix's Little Brother. Matt Spicer's film follows Rudd (John Cena), a famous real estate agent whose life is disrupted when his eccentric little brother Marcus (Eric André) unexpectedly reappears in his life.

Cena has become one of Hollywood's most reliable comedic actors, and André has built up a comedic niche all of his own throughout his illustrious career. Collider's new look at Little Brother shows both stars in character, and already promises the kind of chaotic energy that anyone might expect from a comedy like this.

'Supergirl'

Release Date: June 26

James Gunn's new and revitalized DCU is only getting started, and Craig Gillespie's Supergirl is the next step in the journey. It shows us Milly Alcock's Supergirl, who debuted in last year's Superman, joining forces with an unlikely companion (Eve Ridley) on an interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.

Based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely's recent comic book miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the DCU's Supergirl has fans holding their breath for another entry into this already-beloved universe. Collider's new look at the movie includes an exclusive image showing Alcock's Supergirl taking flight, which only feels like a fitting metaphor for a movie that promises to soar through the summer blockbuster sky.

'Jackass: Best and Last'

Release Date: June 26

Jackass: The Movie from 2002 served as a continuation of the MTV reality slapstick comedy series, and sparked a movie franchise that will come to its long-awaited conclusion this year. Jackass: Best and Last promises to be precisely what its title suggests: the final installment in the series, featuring the crew's funniest and most dangerous stunts yet.

Watching stars like Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, and Wee Man back on the big screen for one last adrenaline-filled ride will be an experience both hysterical and surprisingly nostalgic. Collider's exclusive preview shows an image of Knoxville and Wee Man engaged in some kind of electric chair stunt, which is very likely nothing but a tiny taste of what awaits.

'Minions & Monsters'

Release Date: July 1

If there's one main reason why 2010's Despicable Me became as much of a box office sensation as it did, it was the Minions. This year, families will be treated to Minions & Monsters, the third installment in the prequel series and seventh installment in the overall franchise. In it, the Minions in 1920s Hollywood will embark on a search for frightening creatures for their monster movie.

The little yellow henchmen seem to have finally met their match in Minions & Monsters, which seems refreshingly different from what the rest of the franchise has had to offer thus far. Collider's exclusive look at the prequel-sequel shows an image displaying the same kind of colorful animation that has kept the Minions as family favorites for so long.

'The Dink'

Release Date: July 24

Pretty much all sports have gotten their turn under the spotlight, from underrepresented ones like pool to overrepresented ones like boxing. This year, it's pickleball's turn. Directed by Josh Greenbaum and produced by Ben Stiller, it follows a washed-up tennis pro (Jake Johnson) trying to save a club by reluctantly playing pickleball to earn his father's (Ed Harris) respect.

Also starring Mary Steenburgen and Stiller himself, The Dink showed off an exclusive sneak peek in Collider's exciting look at the movie. Bound to be the sports comedy of the summer, The Dink is a film with a surprisingly interesting history that readers can learn a lot more about in Collider's exclusive.

'Motor City'

Release Date: July 24

Having premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, Potsy Ponciroli's Motor City seems like one of the most interesting action thrillers of the year. It follows John Miller (Alan Ritchson), an ex-con who goes on a quest for revenge in 1970s Detroit.

Those who can't get enough of Ritchson or Reacher ought to check out Motor City, a romp perfect for those who love over-the-top revenge thrillers. Collider's new look at the movie goes into detail on how strongly it prefers to do the action do the talking, rather than clunky exposition. Showing a fun new look at a bearded Ritchson in character, it's a must-read for all those who love action movies.

'I Want Your Sex'

Release Date: July 31

Gregg Araki is one of the most beloved cult filmmakers currently working, and his latest effort is called I Want Your Sex. It's a comedy thriller about Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), who lands a job for renowned and provocative artist Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde). His fantasies come true as Erika hires him to become her sexual muse.

Also starring Charli XCX and Daveed Diggs, I Want Your Sex has thus far been widely praised as one of Araki's most accessible works to date, perfect for those looking to get into his work. Collider's exclusive preview of this exciting thriller gives viewers a fun look at Hoffman in what's bound to be one of the steamiest films of 2026.

'One Night Only'

Release Date: August 7

Collider describes One Night Only as Anyone but You meets The Purge. Directed by Anyone But You's Will Gluck, this rom-com follows two New Yorkers (Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner) who go out looking for love on the one night a year when pre-marital sex is legal.

It's already a gripping premise on paper, and the final product will surely be no different. Collider's exclusive preview of the movie already shows the tremendous chemistry that Barbaro and Turner will surely show on screen, which will be the element that makes or breaks the whole film. Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, and Molly Ringwald also star.

'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma'

Release Date: August 7

After the genre-bending masterpiece that was I Saw the TV Glow, Jane Schoenbrun returns to horror with Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. This queer satirical slasher, which won the Queer Palm at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, is about a director (Hannah Einbinder) making a slasher sequel who becomes obsessed with casting the original film's final girl (Gillian Anderson), leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos.

Collider's exclusive preview of the film shows a new still from the movie, which promises the same kind of eye-popping horror that made I Saw the TV Glow an indie sensation. Also featuring stars like Zach Cherry and Eva Victor, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is bound to become the queer horror sensation of 2026.

'Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie'

Release Date: August 14

The little ones of the family deserve fun summer blockbusters to look forward to, too, and Cal Brunker's Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is just that. The third theatrical feature in the Paw Patrol cinematic universe has the team land on a mysterious dinosaur island after a storm, where they face their biggest rescue mission yet to save the island from a volcano.

Collider's exclusive look at The Dino Movie promises precisely the kind of fun and colorful animation, exciting dino action, and Paw Patrol adventure that young fans would expect from any film in the series. Having been in development since 2023, excitement for The Dino Movie has been understandably high for years.

'Union County'

Release Date: August 14

Adam Meeks' Union County was one of the most compelling dramas that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. It's the story of Cody (Will Poulter), a young man assigned to a county-mandated drug court program. He embarks on a tumultuous journey toward recovery amidst the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio.

Also starring Noah Centineo, the film has been praised for its performances and its nuanced take on the opioid crisis. Collider's exclusive new look includes two images that show just how important authenticity was to Meeks when he was making Union County.

'Mutiny'

Release Date: August 21

A visit from Jason Statham to one's local theater is always a welcome one, and Mutiny should be no different. Directed by Jean-François Richet, it follows a man (Statham) who's set up to take the fall for the crime of his billionaire boss (Ramon Tikaram) having been murdered in front of him. He sets off on the run, working to uncover an international conspiracy.

A Statham star vehicle is precisely the kind of pure action entertainment that every summer blockbuster season needs. Collider's exclusive look at Mutiny shows off an exciting image from what's clearly a soon-to-be thrilling action scene, and dives deeper into a cast that also includes Annabelle Wallis and Roland Møller.

'Insidious: Out of the Further'

Release Date: August 21

The Insidious franchise has been one of Hollywood horror's most prolific since 2010. The newest installment in the series will soon be Jacob Chase's Insidious: Out of the Further, previously known as Insidious: The Bleeding World. It follows Gemma (Amelia Eve), a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in, where she discovers that she can travel into a dimension where she can bring what lives there back to the real world.

Collider's exclusive preview of Out of the Further includes a terrifying image that promises the same kind of terror that made the franchise successful in the first place. Blurring the line between worlds in ways that the Insidious series never has before, this sequel is bound to be a real treat for fans of the genre.

'Idiots'

Release Date: August 28

Cult filmmaker and comic book writer Macon Blair returns to the big screen with Idiots. This dark comedy follows two rock-bottom drivers (Dave Franco and O'Shea Jackson Jr.) tasked with transporting a wealthy teen (Mason Thames) to rehab. However, their simple job spirals into a chaotic journey of drugs, danger, and crime.

The best road trip movies are usually the ones that never go according to plan, and the image shared in Collider's exclusive preview of Idiots promises just that. Also starring Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, and Peter Dinklage, Idiots could end up being one of the best comedy movies of the 2026 summer season.

'The Whisper Man'

Release Date: August 28

After starring in the recent horror sensation Hokum, Adam Scott returns to the movies with the Netflix psychological crime thriller The Whisper Man. It follows a grieving father (Scott), who relocates with his young son (Acston Luca Porto) to a quiet town that was terrorized by a serial killer 15 years earlier. After his son is abducted, the father discovers a disquieting connection between his disappearance and the Whisper Man case.

Based on the novel by Alex North, this film by James Ashcroft also stars Robert De Niro, Michael Keaton, and Michelle Monaghan. Collider's new look at the film goes into detail on Ashcroft's approach to making the film, and reveals an enticing new image featuring Scott and Monaghan.

'Finding Emily'

Release Date: August 28

Directed by Alicia MacDonald, the rom-com Finding Emily is about a lovesick musician named Owen (Spike Fearn). After he's given the wrong number for his dream girl (Sadie Soverall), he teams up with a psychology student (Angourie Rice) on a campus-wide frenzy to find her.

British filmmakers have proven time and time again over the years that no one does romantic comedies like them, and Collider's new look at Finding Emily shows an exciting image of what may join the ranks of the sweetest British rom-coms of the 2020s. Ending the summer blockbuster season with a little gem like this one should be enough to please even the most demanding of cinephiles.