By KBC Associate :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(759x371:761x373)/brad-pitt-f1-adam-sandler-happy-gilmore-2-David-Corenswet-superman-041525-6701d4ac2dca4e60a5439ffd2b241920.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "F1, Happy Gilmore 2, Superman and More (Exclusive)")
Who’s ready to swing into summer? Some of cinema’s biggest stars, that’s who. Brad Pitt, Adam Sandler, Pedro Pascal, Tyler Perry, Ana de Armas, Tom Cruise and the body-swapping Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are upping the wattage of this season’s hottest films. From family-friendly fun to superheroic adventure to dinosaurs and dragons, read on for PEOPLE’s 2025 summer movie guide.
Another Simple Favor
Lorenzo Sisti/Amazon
Reuniting Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick for a second campy murder mystery was “a dream come true,” director Paul Feig told PEOPLE at the film’s buzzy SXSW premiere. Like the duo’s martinis, the Italy-set sequel comes with a twist. On Prime Video May 1
Thunderbolts*
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
This ragtag team of reformed superheroes — including Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, David Harbour’s Red Guardian and more — “has all the things you’ve loved in your favorite Marvel movies,” teases director Jake Schreier, “but takes a different route to get there.” Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns as the acid-tongued Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. In theaters May 2
Friendship
Spencer Pazer/A24
Remember the 2009 bromance comedy I Love You, Man? Andrew DeYoung’s A24 film Friendship is in a similar vein, and also stars Paul Rudd — but adds the distinct chaos of I Think You Should Leave creator Tim Robinson. In theaters May 9
Fountain of Youth
Dan Smith/Apple TV+
If Indiana Jones had kids with his same thirst for adventure, they’d resemble John Krasinski and Natalie Portman’s sibling duo, who search for the mythical spring in this globe-trotting thrill ride from director Guy Ritchie. On Apple TV+ May 23
Lilo & Stitch
Courtesy of Disney
Disney’s newest live-action reimagining takes fans back to the shores of Hawaii, where Lilo (newcomer Maia Kealoha) befriends everyone’s favorite alien-menace-turned-pet. Chris Sanders, who co-created the 1992 animated hit, returns as the voice of Stitch. Tia Carrere, who voiced Lilo’s sister Nani in the original, hands the reins to Sydney Elizebeth Agudong and joins as a new character. In theaters May 23
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Paramount Pictures and Skydance
Director Christopher McQuarrie promises a “more emotional” eighth Mission: Impossible as Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt and his team (including Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell and Ving Rhames) race to save the world from an AI threat. “What you are seeing in the trailer doesn’t scratch the surface of what Tom does in the movie.” In theaters May 23
Karate Kid: Legends
Jonathan Wenk/Columbia Pictures
Not one but two senseis are returning to the big screen to inspire a new generation of karate enthusiasts. Original Mr. Miyagi student Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and 2010’s Karate Kid teacher Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) join forces to train Li Fong (Ben Wang) to punch harder and jumpkick higher than they ever could. “It’s a great film for anybody who loved the original franchise,” Wang tells PEOPLE. “There’s some really fun twists in there as well.” In theaters May 30
The Phoenician Scheme
Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features
Director Wes Anderson brings his whimsical production design and symmetrical frames to another star-studded ensemble about an eccentric arms dealer (Benicio del Toro) who ropes his daughter, a nun (Mia Threapleton), into the family business. Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks and Michael Cera are just three of many scene-stealers here. In theaters May 30
Ballerina
Courtesy of Lionsgate
Keanu Reeves hands over the action-star reins to Ana de Armas in this spin-off set between the events of the third and fourth John Wick installments. The actress trained with stunt teams daily for months to play Eve, a ballerina in Derek Kolstad’s clandestine cinematic universe becoming as deadly as Reeves’ assassin — or deadlier? In theaters June 6
I Don’t Understand You
Vertical Entertainment
Any vacationing couple would want their Italian getaway to be a rom-com. But what if instead it was a darkly chaotic slasher? Nick Kroll and Andrew Rannells, planning to adopt a baby from Amanda Seyfried, are — twist! — the ones who end up the slashers in this comedy of errors. In theaters June 6
Straw
Netflix
Although both are known for their bombastic comedy, Taraji P. Henson and director Tyler Perry have dramatic chops like the best of them, as this touching tale of a struggling single mother proves. Straw costars Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor and Sinbad. On Netflix June 6
How to Train Your Dragon
Helen Sloan/Universal Pictures
DreamWorks’ 2010 animated hit about a Viking and his dragon Toothless gets an epic live-action retelling starring Mason Thames (also leading Black Phone 2 later this year), Nico Parker and — reprising his role as the impressively bearded village chief — Gerard Butler. In theaters June 13
Materialists
A24
“A modern love story set in New York City,” as Past Lives writer-director Celine Song tells PEOPLE, Materialists features a love triangle between three of today’s hottest stars: Pascal, Chris Evans and Dakota Johnson. The latter was “inspired by the (brief) time I worked as a professional matchmaker,” reveals the filmmaker. An important bonus: “There’s lots of kissing.” In theaters June 13
28 Years Later
Miya Mizuno/Sony Pictures
Twenty-eight days became weeks, and weeks became years since the Rage virus turned the world into a zombie-ridden wasteland. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Alfie Williams play a family fighting to survive, with Ralph Fiennes ripped and ready. In theaters June 20
Elio
Pixar
Precocious space fanatic Elio’s dream of intergalactic adventure comes true when he’s beamed up and mistaken for Earth’s leader in the latest dazzler from Disney Pixar. It features the voices of Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett and more. In theaters June 20
F1
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/Apple Original Films
Brad Pitt plays a retired Formula 1 racer who gets back in the driver’s seat in a high-octane drama from Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski that brings the action from the skies down to the racetrack. Kosinski has said Pitt himself hit over 180 mph behind the wheel. F1 costars Javier Bardem, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon. In theaters June 27
M3GAN 2.0
Geoffrey Short/Universal Pictures
The dancing doll/robot diva is on a “bigger, scarier, more action-packed” rampage, says star Allison Williams. “M3GAN herself fits that same description.” While the sequel’s trailer shows plenty of new iterations of M3GAN, she teases, “We don’t give it all away. In fact, you haven’t seen my favorite version of her yet.” In theaters June 27
Jurassic World Rebirth
Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey must infiltrate the original Jurassic Park facility on a remote island housing the franchise’s biggest dinos yet. Some of the beasts may have developed frightening mutations. What could go wrong? In theaters July 2
The Old Guard 2
Netflix
Following the 2020 action hit adapted from the popular graphic novel series, Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne and their fellow warriors return for another round of beatings and bullets. Just because these superheroes can’t die doesn’t mean they feel no pain — ouch! On Netflix July 2
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding
Netflix
Our favorite tough-talking matriarch, Perry’s Madea is heading to the Bahamas for her grandniece’s last-minute nuptials. You can expect that family tensions are high and Madea’s tolerance for BS is low. On Netflix July 11
Superman
Warner Bros. Pictures
What made David Corenswet right for the epic Man of Steel reboot, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor? “He’s got all the charm and muscles a Superman needs,” says director James Gunn. “But he’s also a talented actor who could balance dramatic chops and humor.” Stealing the show is his canine companion Krypto, a super-dog based on Gunn’s own rascally pet. In theaters July 11
Eddington
Courtesy of A24
Midsommar director Ari Aster, his muse Joaquin Phoenix and A24. Is there a better — or more eerie — cinematic combination? Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone and Austin Butler join the Beau Is Afraid filmmakers for a tale of neighbor pitted against neighbor set during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In theaters July 18
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Matt Kennedy/Columbia Pictures
Revisiting her iconic final-girl role from the 1997 slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer in a new sequel may have been “a lot of pressure” and “nerve-racking” for Jennifer Love Hewitt — but not as scary as trying to survive a killer with a meat hook. Freddie Prinze Jr. returns alongside newcomers Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders and more. In theaters July 18
Smurfs
Paramount Animation
Rihanna pulls double duty as Smurfette and songwriter in an adventurous animated reboot that will have audiences of all ages boogying in their seats. Voicing Papa Smurf and his brother are John Goodman and Nick Offerman, respectively. In theaters July 18
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios
Marvel’s squabbling but supportive First Family returns — with a cool new quartet of stars: Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing. Julia Garner plays a villainous Silver Surfer. In theaters July 25
Happy Gilmore 2
Scott Yamano/Netflix
Cinema’s grumpiest golfer is back in the swing of things — with Bad Bunny costarring as his caddie. Returning from the 1996 original alongside co-writer-star Adam Sandler are Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen and Ben Stiller. Bonus: Travis Kelce and other athletes make cameos. On Netflix July 25
The Naked Gun
Paramount Pictures
Lt. Frank Drebin’s legacy of puns and sight gags is secured in this reboot of the 1980s and ’90s comedy franchise. “No one can replace the late, great Leslie Nielsen,” says director Akiva Schaffer, but Liam Neeson brings his “particular set of skills” as the bumbling cop’s son. “Smart and kind” costar Pamela Anderson, he adds, is his “new favorite person. She’s gonna really surprise people with how hilarious she is.” In theaters Aug. 1
Together
NEON
At the Sundance Film Festival premiere of their new movie, Dave Franco and Alison Brie joked to PEOPLE that playing a couple under duress onscreen made them “more codependent than ever.” They pull double duty as producers and stars in this unsettling horror indie from Michael Shanks. In theaters Aug. 1
Freakier Friday
Glen Wilson/Disney
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return for twice the body-swapping freakiness in this highly anticipated reunion and “lovefest,” as director Nisha Ganatra calls it. “I’m also really excited for audiences to fall in love with newcomers Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons,” she says, “plus Manny Jacinto as the ultimate romantic leading man.” In theaters Aug. 8
Eden
Vertical Entertainment
As its trailer indicates, Eden is an ironic title for a tale of isolation, greed and violence — based on a true story. Ron Howard directs Jude Law, Sydney Sweeney, Daniel Brühl, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Kirby as European settlers fighting for control of a remote island in the Galápagos. In theaters Aug. 22
The Thursday Murder Club
Courtesy of Netflix
This summer’s fiercest amateur detectives might be long in the tooth, but when a suspicious murder rocks their retirement village, it turns out that’s their secret weapon. Septuagenarians Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie are on the case in a Chris Columbus-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced caper. On Netflix Aug. 28