Summer is around the corner, and there’s no better place to hide from the sun than a movie theater.

So far, 2026 has been a mixed bag for film, with some great hits like “Send Help” and “Hoppers,” mixed in with some films with lower ratings such as “Wuthering Heights” and “Scream 7” — and don’t forget “Mercy,” which topped one weekend at the box office.

That being said, things are looking up for the summer. “Backrooms” by 20-year-old YouTube sensation Kane Parsons seems like an interesting adaptation of the source material, and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” will, at the very least, be worth the cost of admission. But what else is out there in the coming months?

“I Love Boosters” – May 22

Director Boots Riley is a bit of an enigma. After starting out as a member of the hip-hop band The Coup in the 1990s, he transitioned into filmmaking in the 2010s with his debut feature “Sorry to Bother You” (2018), which was a critical and commercial success on top of being one of the strangest, most creative films of the 21st century. “I Love Boosters” is his second feature, and Riley has not backed down on his creativity.

The film, following a group of shoplifters that is led by Keke Palmer targeting a fashionista (Demi Moore), seems to further the revolutionary and frankly political tone that defined his earlier work, giving a voice to the underrepresented and overlooked parts of society in a highly stylized way. This is sure to be one of the most unique releases of the year.

“Disclosure Day” – June 12

Is it a bit self-evident to put a Steven Spielberg film on a “Movies You Should Watch” list? Yes, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

“Disclosure Day” was kept completely under wraps for a long time, with the only public knowledge being that it was about unidentified flying objects. Now that it is in the final stretch before release, it’s still not entirely clear what the movie will be about.

That being said, given Spielberg’s illustrious career, the film is a shoo-in for major awards consideration. The film stars Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo and a huge ensemble of similarly recognizable actors. An event film by Spielberg — what’s not to love?

“Leviticus” – June 19

A hit at Sundance, this Australian indie horror focuses on two teenage boys (Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen) as they face a supernatural entity that takes the form of whoever they desire, which turns out to be each other.

Director Adrian Chiarella’s debut feature has received rave reviews from critics and is set to be a great addition to the modern Australian horror cinematic universe, which includes Bird’s previous film credit, “Talk to Me” (2022).

“Jackass: Best and Last” – June 26

It’s a new “Jackass.” What else is there to say?

“I Want Your Sex” – July 31

After 12 long years, Gregg Araki is back with a new feature film, and it seems like a true return to form. The film features Elliot (Cooper Hoffman), a young man who recently became the assistant to Erika Tracy (Olivia Wilde), a provocative artist who takes the man as her lover and muse. Also starring Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs and Charli XCX, this film comes at a perfect time. 

In January, Araki told The Wrap that the film is a response to the seemingly sexless nature of Gen Z, encouraging sexual freedom. If only to see a real freak at work, this is a film to keep an eye out for.

“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” – Aug. 7

The title might be a difficult sell, but Jane Schoenbrun, director of “I Saw the TV Glow” (2024) and “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” (2021) is sure to intrigue.

“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” centers a queer filmmaker (Hannah Einbinder) directing a new installment of a “Friday the 13th”-esque slasher franchise, bringing back the final girl from the original film (Gillian Anderson). The film will premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival before releasing late this summer.

“The End of Oak Street” – Aug. 14

David Robert Michell’s last film, “Under the Silver Lake” (2018), thoroughly polarized critics and audiences. “The End of Oak Street” might very well do the same.

Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, the film revolves around a suburban street that is transported to an unknown place. Although the promotional material has been purposefully quite vague, there is also a massive dinosaur chasing the characters at the end of the trailer, so truly, who knows what will happen. Will this be the new “65” (2023), or will it be something entirely new? In any case, it’ll probably be worth the watch.

“The Wrong Girls” – Aug. 14

No matter what you think about the “Twilight” franchise, Kristen Stewart has proven that she knows how to pick her projects. Following her 2025 directorial debut, she is taking a swing at writing along with her wife and the director of the film, Dylan Meyer. 

Stewart stars in the stoner comedy, alongside Alia Shawkat, Seth Rogen, LaKeith Stanfield and Kumail Nanjiani, which is a strong cast for a comedy like this.