25 Movies You Need to See This Summer (2023)

Nicole Holofcener’s delightful new comedy focuses on an all-too-familiar theme: the little white lies we tell our loved ones to protect their feelings. When author Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) overhears that her devotedly supportive husband (Tobias Menzies) doesn’t like her new book, she spirals, uncovering the web of well-meaning fibs we all tell everyday.

In theaters May 26.

Halle Bailey proves she’s Disney Princess material (as if we even doubted it) in this photo-realistic remake of the beloved 1989 original. Joining her are stars like Javier Bardem as King Triton, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and introducing Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric. If you’ve overcome the initial shock of seeing Flounder in CGI form, you’re set for one nostalgic trip under the sea.

In theaters May 26.

If you thought No Way Home had a lot of Spider-Men, wait until you see the crowd Miles Morales is running with in this sequel. In the follow-up to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, Miles reunites with Gwen Stacy and finds himself among a whole team of Spider-People tasked with protecting the good old multiverse. This time, Oscar Isaac is in the mix as Miguel O’Hara.

In theaters June 2.

Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are two childhood first loves who are separated when she and her family move from South Korea to Canada. Nearly two decades later, now grown and in different places in their lives, they reconnect in New York. Sweet and achingly beautiful, this marks the feature debut from playwright Celine Song. Prepare to be emotionally gut-punched and swept off your feet at the same time.

In theaters June 2.

Eva Longoria makes her feature directorial debut with the story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who created the idea for the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos based on his Mexican American heritage. After years in the making, the biopic ended up winning the audience award when it premiered at SXSW.

On Hulu and Disney+ June 9.

Arriving just in time for Juneteenth weekend, The Blackening follows a group of friends reuniting to celebrate the holiday at a remote cabin in the woods (which is already an ominous sign). Not long into their festivities, they realize they’re trapped inside with a twisted killer. While past scary movies have killed off their Black characters early in the story, this horror-comedy asks the question: if the entire cast of a horror movie is Black, who dies first? From director Tim Story and writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins, it delivers hilarious one-liners and an unexpected exploration of identity.

In theaters June 16.

A new Pixar movie usually means a new must-watch for the family. This one takes us into the world of Element City and introduces us to its water, air, earth, and fire-based residents.

In theaters June 16.

After watching all those Wes Anderson-themed TikToks, it’s time we finally welcome a new film from the famous director. His latest is set in a fictional desert town where an annual Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is thrown off course by a major event. Speaking of stars, check out this cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, and many more.

In select theaters June 16; in theaters everywhere June 23.

Jennifer Lawrence is back in the comedy mix. This time around, she plays Maddie, a woman planning to fix her financial problems with an unconventional gig: helping two well-meaning parents bring their introverted son out of his shell before he leaves for college.

In theaters June 23.

Based on the book of the same name by Tia Williams, this summer rom-com stars Gabrielle Union as Jenna, who finds herself falling for a much younger man after getting fired from her high-profile job. The only problem? He’s her boss’ son.

Streaming on Netflix June 23.

Indy’s back. Harrison Ford returns as the famous archeologist for a new adventure, one that leads to a legendary dial that could “change the course of history.” Phoebe Waller-Bridge co-stars as Dr. Jones’ goddaughter, and together they face off with Mads Mikkelsen’s Jürgen Voller, a villainous Nazi scientist.

In theaters June 30.

This Asian women-led, raunchy R-rated comedy stars Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu as an unlikely group of friends road-tripping through China when a business trip goes awry. Directed by Crazy Rich Asians screenwriter Adele Lim, it’s chock-full of one-liners and features a sex-scene montage you won’t forget.

In theaters July 7.

Former Olympian Savanah Leaf makes the leap from athlete to director and is sticking the landing. Her feature film debut, Earth Mama, follows a pregnant single mother trying to do what’s best for her two kids in foster care. The cast includes Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Euphoria’s Dominic Fike.

In theaters July 7.

Tom Cruise will do just about anything for The Movies™, and riding a motorcycle off a cliff and skydiving the rest of the way down is one of those things. Watch him complete what he calls his most dangerous stunt yet in his latest turn as agent Ethan Hunt.

In theaters July 12.

Theater kids, prepare to feel seen. IRL best friends Molly Gordon and Ben Platt team up for a heartwarming and hilarious comedy about a summer theater camp in the Catskills that’s in dire straits. Come for the relatable jokes about Throat Coat Tea and show tune references; stay for the adorable young cast. Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Ayo Edebiri, and Amy Sedaris also star.

In theaters July 14.

Ladies and gentlemen, the cinematic event of the summer. As the release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie approaches, we’re slowly starting to pick up on plot points. In the latest trailer, Margot Robbie’s Barbie encounters a series of troubling events (like flat feet!) that lead her to seek answers in the real world. Ryan Gosling’s Ken, of course, tags along for the ride.

In theaters July 21.

If you’re a real movie lover, you don’t have to choose between Barbie and Oppenheimer this weekend; you can have your cake and eat it too. The latest from Christopher Nolan stars Cillian Murphy as the physicist who invented the atomic bomb. Emily Blunt co-stars as his wife Katherine; Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project; and Robert Downey, Jr. as Lewis Strauss of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

In theaters July 21.

Jamie Foxx, John Boyega, and Teyonah Parris make an incredible trio trying to get to the bottom of a government conspiracy. Netflix calls this one a “pulpy mystery caper,” but the stars’ harmonizing in an elevator was already enough to draw us in.

On Netflix July 21.

If you’re looking for a real summer fright, look no further than Talk to Me, a horror indie about a group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand. It’s all fun and games until one of them takes it too far.

In theaters July 28.

This feature debut from director Vuk Lungulov-Klots premiered at Sundance Film Festival this year, where the film’s breakout star Lío Mehiel became the first trans actor to win the jury award for acting. Mutt, which features trans talent in front of and behind the camera, follows Mehiel’s Feña as he encounters three different people from his past. It’s a portrait of trans identity over the course of a single day in New York.

In theaters August 18.