Summer is right around the corner! Beyond the fun beach days and amusement park visits, there’s nothing like good movies or binge-worthy shows to help with RNR. The summertime season is prime real estate for any studio looking to get people watching.
This season, the entertainment industry promises to heat up with more waves of exciting content. There’s something for everyone, whether it’s a long-awaited TV show finale or an epic return to beloved franchises. Here are some of the most highly anticipated movies and shows you should add to your summer watchlist!
Movies
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
Releases July 25
Following the success of Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios seeks to dominate the summer box office with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The film is a fresh take on Marvel’s first family. Directed by Matt Shakman (Wandavision) and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, this next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe stands out to many across social media. It boasts a unique visual identity and endearing, heartfelt dialogue reflecting a tight-knit family. Most interestingly, cultural perceptions of previous Fantastic Four adaptations have fueled excitement even more. Given the mixed reception of the past Fantastic Four films, many are eager to see this new interpretation. It can be the definitive vision of one of Marvel’s most iconic teams. After an era of complicated Marvel releases, the film promises a new, bold future for the MCU.
‘Superman’
Releases July 11
From Marvel’s biggest competitor comes a new installment for the most popular superhero in modern history. DC’s Superman, directed by Guardians of the Galaxy’s James Gunn, is the first cinematic step in DC’s creative overhaul. It shares a similar goal with Marvel’s Fantastic Four: to revive public love for a legendary character and establish a new tone for DC moving forward. David Corenswet stars as the red and blue Man of Steel, joined by Rachel Brosnahan as reporter, love interest Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. The movie will also introduce more DC characters that have yet to appear on the big screen. Recent trailers offer a hopeful story about a man trying to uphold truth and justice amidst an unfair world. Blended with Gunn’s signature humor and heart, it can be an exciting return to the core of Superman’s broad appeal.
‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’
Releases July 2
The Jurassic Park movies need little introduction. The original 1993 film pushed the boundaries of filmmaking, blending groundbreaking practical effects with CGI to create a thrilling, lifelike dinosaur adventure. This newest installment serves as a sequel to the Jurassic World trilogy, yet introduces an entirely new story. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, Jurassic World: Rebirth seeks to return to the adventurous, wonder-filled roots of the original. It follows a daring group expedition into uncharted tropical territory on a mission to collect dinosaur DNA. A fun summer blockbuster that promises thrills for dinosaur-loving children and nostalgic fans alike!
‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’
Released May 16
(Credit: Warner Bros./New Line Cinema)
Final Destination: Bloodlines marks the long-awaited return of an iconic horror franchise—and at just the right time! The Final Destination series is infamous for instilling generational paranoia in moviegoers and horror buffs with its inventive, gruesome deaths. These movies are why we avoid driving behind logging trucks or think twice before using a tanning bed. What makes the films terrifying is how tangible the danger is. A bit of bad luck and fate can feel like they lead to disaster. Starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, and the late Tony Todd, you can see Bloodlines in theaters right now and relive that same fear! Just be sure to check your surroundings.
‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’
Released May 23
(Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Another chapter in an iconic franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning aims to conclude the series with that same ambitious spectacle. Known for its breathtaking action set pieces and death-defying stunts done by Tom Cruise himself, the Mission: Impossible movies have constantly elevated themselves with each installment. This newest entry features the thrilling drama, hard-hitting action, and intricate espionage that fans have come to love. Starring Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and more familiar faces throughout the franchise, it’s sure to be a bittersweet yet action-packed sendoff to a legacy nearly thirty years in the making.
TV Shows
‘Ironheart’
Premieres June 24 on Disney+
Amidst all the multiversal chaos leading up to Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Studios also spotlights more relatable, street-level adventures. Dominique Thorne returns as Ironheart following her character’s debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The show aims to familiarize viewers with Riri Williams, a genius teen inventor inspired by Tony Stark to build her own cutting-edge Iron Man armor. The six-episode miniseries also introduces Anthony Ramos and Alden Ehrenreich as new faces in the MCU. With Black Panther director Ryan Coogler returning as executive producer, the series offers a fun continuation of Riri’s journey as she navigates the challenges of being a young hero in a larger superpowered world. Another interesting character for Marvel’s ever-expanding roster of heroes!
‘The Bear Season 4’
Premieres June 25 on Hulu/Disney+
The Bear is a show that serves up everything: juicy drama, lovable characters, laugh-out-loud comedy, and, most importantly, mouthwatering food and culinary culture. The Bear Season Four aims to tie up the loose ends from season three, as the team continues to improve the restaurant and cement its place in Chicago’s rich culinary history by securing a Michelin star. If catching up on three seasons intimidates you, don’t worry! The Bear’s fast-paced storytelling, incredible performances, and emotional character development make it an easily bingeable treat. Starring Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Fantastic Four star Moss-Bachrach as their returning characters, the fourth season promises more comedic chaos and emotion as the team hurls itself deeper into the stress-inducing world of fine dining.
‘Alien: Earth’
Premieres August 12 on Hulu
For sci-fi horror fans, the Alien franchise is known for its legacy of intricate lore, tense storytelling, and otherworldly monster designs. Ridley Scott’s original 1979 Alien is a sci-horror classic, introducing us to an iconic monster in horror history: the xenomorph. The titular alien is the gold standard for movie monsters; it’s fast, strong, razor-sharp, and, scariest of all, intelligent. Set two years before the original film, a space vessel carrying the creature suddenly crash-lands on Earth. Starring Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, and more, this spinoff show features this group of soldiers and misfits in an Earth-bound fight for survival against the alien. Alien: Earth offers new viewers and longtime Alien fans a new spin on a classic horror scenario. What happens when the perfect killing machine is no longer stuck in space, but right outside your door?
‘Squid Game Season 3’
Premieres June 27 on Netflix
When the first season of Squid Game premiered in September 2021, it became a defining series of the pandemic. The show boasted inventive concepts rooted in real-world issues like class inequality and the exploitation of the lower class. What made it stand out from other game-centered thrillers like Saw was its sadistic use of childhood games. Popular games such as “Red Light, Green Light” and “Tug of War” were combined with Korean children’s activities such as ddakji, dalgona carving, and the titular “Squid Game.” Season two only upped the ante, introducing international audiences to even more games. Squid Game Season Three will conclude the series with an action-packed ending following season two’s cliffhanger ending. Starring returning cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Wi Ha-joon, the final season is building up to a tense and thrilling finale to one of the most iconic shows of the 2020s.
‘Wednesday Season 2 (Part 1)’
Premieres August 6 on Netflix
Another Netflix adaptation that took the world by storm! Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams returns in part one of Wednesday Season Two. This highly anticipated continuation sees a new mystery unraveling at Nevermore Academy. Tim Burton’s gothic, supernatural style and Ortega’s standout portrayal of Wednesday captured audience interest worldwide. The viral dance scene from season one became a TikTok sensation overnight, cementing the series as a cultural classic. Season two will see Ortega return alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, and Isaac Ordonez as the beloved Addams family, with more returning characters and surprise guest stars still to be announced. This new chapter in Wednesday’s journey is sure to increase the suspense, humor, and twisted nature of this ghoulish world.
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