Is it really summer if you’re not spending your weekends at the movies?
Every year, a few standout blockbusters seem to define the season—who can forget the frenzy around Barbenheimer opening weekend two years back? 2025, however, just might offer the most diverse summer film lineup yet. From the highly anticipated returns of buzzy franchises like Superman and Jurassic Park to tearjerkers like Sundance standout Sorry, Baby and Cannes favorite Caught By The Tides, this season promises something for every kind of moviegoer.
A number of exciting reboots will be making their way to the theaters too. Lindsay Lohan will make her return to the silver screen in Freakier Friday and we’ll be treated to a live-action reimagining of the beloved Disney film Lilo & Stitch.
Ahead, Harper’s Bazaar editors rounded up the films we’re the most excited to see this summer. Catch us at a theater near you soon.
Caught By The Tides (May 9)
Jia Zhangke’s Caught by the Tides isn’t just a film—it’s a time capsule. Blending newly shot scenes with archival footage collected over 20 years, it plays like a cinematic scrapbook and chronicles a woman’s pursuit of a love that continually slips through her grasp. Set against the backdrop of China’s sweeping cultural transformations, the film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. But beyond its accolades, of which there are many more, the fact that it’s been two decades in the making makes it something remarkable.— Ariana Marsh, Senior Features Editor
Hurry Up Tomorrow (May 14)
Hurry Up Tomorrow isn’t just a film but also an ode the artist formerly known as The Weeknd. Superstar Abel Tesfaye collaborated with director Trey Edward Shults to make a film loosely inspired by his own life as a globally renowned pop star that reflects on the darker side of fame. Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan also star. —Bianca Betancourt, Culture Editor
Oh, Hi! (July 25)
Logan Lerman nation rise up, our man is employed again! For his first lead role in a feature film since 2019, the actor stars opposite The Bear’s Molly Gordon and Drive-Away Dolls’s Geraldine Viswanathan in this kooky romantic thriller directed and written by Sophie Brooks. The official logline pegs the project as a “dark comedy” that “takes on the highs and lows of modern dating and the ways it makes us all a little crazy.” Consider me seated. — Chelsey Sanchez, Editor
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (May 23)
I recently watched Joe Wright’s version of Pride and Prejudice in theaters for the first time and it was essentially a religious experience for me. Convening in a dark room with other Jane Austen lovers to watch an adaptation of the author’s most beloved story for two hours—magical. In pursuit of feeling that magic yet again, Jane Austen Wrecked My Life seems like the next logical step. The movie follows a perpetually single bookseller with a deep attachment to Anne Elliot, the leading lady of the 1817 novel Persuasion. She ends up attending a writer’s residency hosted at Austen’s former home, where she falls for the famed author’s distant descendant. — C.S.
Lilo & Stitch (May 23)
I have no shame in sharing my excitement for the live-action reboot of Lilo & Stitch. While Disney often receives flack over it’s dedication to reviving its existing IP, I will make an exception for this special story. Unlike most Disney movies which originate from age-old fairy tales and folklore, Lilo & Stitch is an original story that follows a blue, furry extraterrestrial being on the island of Hawaii where he learns the meaning of friendship and family—all while backed by a killer Elvis soundtrack. Bring tissues! — B.B.
Materialists (June 13)
Celine Song’s highly-anticipated follow-up to her 2023 directorial debut Past Lives is a romantic comedy starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. Set in New York City, the film follows Lucy, an elite matchmaker, who finds herself oscillating between a wealthy “unicorn” named Harry and her broke ex-boyfriend John. I, personally, am a sucker for any romance plot that knows how to nail the love triangle trope, so I’ll definitely have this one on my radar by the time it releases in June. — C.S.
M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)
Everyone’s favorite killer robot with the most fashionable uniform is back. Taking place two years after the events of M3GAN, the highly-anticipated sequel follows Gemma (Allison Williams) as she advocates for stronger A.I. regulation. However, when she discovers that the military has created a new weapon in the form of a robot named Amelia, Gemma realizes that M3GAN may be the only one who can stop her. Double the horror and double the slay? Count me in. — Joel Calfee, Assistant Editor
F1 (June 27)
There are people who watch F1 for the thrill of the game and those who watch for, well…the drivers. I am the latter! This upcoming Joseph Kosinski-directed feature starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and Kerry Condon is the first in-depth look at the world of F1 racing, which has captured the zeitgest over the last decade. In the feature, Pitt portrays a retired driver who almost lost his life mid-race years prior. Convinced to return to the sport, he’s determined to be the best in the world once more. —B.B.
Sorry, Baby (June 27)
Eva Victor premiered her feature debut, Sorry Baby earlier this year at Sundance to rave reviews and critical acclaim—and she’s only 31. The black comedy drama follows a young college professor named Agnes (played by Victor herself) as she tries (and sometimes fails) to keep it together after a brutal breakup and a life-derailing assault. At her side through it all is her friend Lydie (portrayed by the incredible Naomi Ackie). —A.M.
Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2)
In the latest installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, titled Jurassic World Rebirth, a team is sent to the island where everything began, with a mission to collect DNA samples that could ultimately be used for a life-saving drug. Of course, if the past films are any indication, the team’s job is not going to be easy. While I consider myself a fan of the Jurassic Park series, I have to be honest—there is one thing and one thing only that has guaranteed I will be seated by the time the movie hits theaters on July 2. It’s this photo of Jonathan Bailey wearing the cutest, nerdiest little wire-rimmed glasses. Need I say more? — J.C.
Superman (July 11)
Okay, I know—how many iterations of Superman do we really need? James Gunn’s latest version of the famed superhero story is poised to be the most promising take on the King of All Comic Heroes thanks to a moving debut trailer, electric chemistry between David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahahn, and one really cute Superdog named Krypto. — B.B.
Freakier Friday (August 8)
I would argue that perhaps no one is a bigger fan of Lindsay Lohan than me. So, when I heard that a sequel for Freaky Friday was in the works, suffice it to say I was over the moon. With both Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis reprising their roles, viewers are sure to be in for a good time—and a good nostalgia trip. The two switch bodies on screen again but this time, a few more family members become involved. Don’t mind me when I show up to the theater wearing a Pink Slip tee while munching on some fortune cookies. — J.C.
Highest 2 Lowest (August 22)
If you’re looking for a stacked cast, look no further than Highest 2 Lowest. Denzel Washington stars alongside A$AP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright in this high-stakes Spike Lee-directed A24 feature that follows a music mogul who finds himself in the middle of a murder-for-hire plot. The film’s cast was curated with New York in mind, with city natives like Princess Nokia and Ice Spice also making appearances. —B.B.
Caught Stealing (August 29)
Austin Butler portraying a down-on-his-luck ex-professional baseball player in ’90s New York City? Sign me up. The Oscar-nominated actor stars alongside Zoe Kravitz, Matt Smith, Regina King, Bad Bunny and more in this highly anticipated crime thriller from director Darren Aronofsky. — B.B.
You Might Also Like
-
4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora
-
The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine
