The summer box office is off to a hot start, fueled by strong ticket sales for “The Devil Wears Prada 2″ and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” That momentum is expected to carry through the season, with several major releases still ahead.
After several lackluster summers at the box office in the wake of Hollywood strikes and the post-COVID-19 era, movie theaters staged a strong comeback this spring, with first-quarter revenue rising 23% year-over-year — the strongest first quarter since the pandemic, per the Los Angeles Times.
A slate of upcoming summer blockbusters, including Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,″ is expected to keep audiences coming back to theaters throughout the season.
“Movie theaters are going to be very busy,” predicts Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Theatres, per Variety.
Beyond the blockbusters, the summer slate also includes comedian Nate Bargatze’s film debut “The Breadwinner,” a third installment in the “Minions” franchise and a live-action reimagining of “Moana.”
Here are 13 movies coming to theaters this summer.
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’
After the falls of the evil Empire, Imperial warlords remain scattered across the galaxy. Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice, Grogu, are enlisted to help the emerging New Republic protect everything the Rebellion fought so hard to build.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: May 22
‘The Breadwinner’
A successful car salesman (Nate Bargatze) steps into the role of stay-at-home dad after his wife (Mandy Moore) leaves on a monthlong business trip for a career-changing opportunity.
Left to care for their three young daughters with little experience at managing a household, he soon discovers that raising a family is the toughest job he’s ever had.
Rating: PG
Release date: May 29
‘Pressure’
In the critical 72 hours before the D-Day landings, Allied commanders Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Capt. James Stagg (Andrew Scott) confront an impossible decision: move forward with the invasion amid potentially catastrophic weather conditions — or delay the operation and jeopardize the Allied war effort.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: May 29
‘Masters of the Universe’
After living on Earth for 15 years, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is summoned back to Eternia by thy mystical Sword of Power as the planet teeters under the tyrannical rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto).
Alongside Teela (Camila Mendes), Adam must accept his destiny and transform into He-Man — the most powerful being in the universe.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: June 5
‘Disclosure Day’
As the government prepares to make a world-changing disclosure about extraterrestrial life, a young whistleblower (Josh O’Conner) and meteorologist (Emily Blunt) race to uncover a 79-year conspiracy to the world before it is hidden forever.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: June 12
‘Toy Story 5′
Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the toys face their biggest challenge yet when a new interactive tablet, Lilypad (Greta Lee), arrives — a high-tech toy that captures kids’ attention like nothing they’ve ever seen.
Rating: PG
Release date: June 19
‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’
When a merciless enemy hits too close to home, a disillusioned Supergirl (Milly Alcock) reluctantly allies with an unexpected companion — setting off an interstellar mission driven by vengeance and justice.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: June 26
‘Minions & Monsters’
In 1920s Hollywood, two minions abandon villainy and chase fame as filmmakers. After briefly becoming silent film-era stars, they lose their success with the arrival of “talkies.”
While shooting a monster film of their own, the minions accidentally unleash real monsters — forcing them into a mission to save an unsuspecting world.
Rating: PG
Release date: July 1
‘Young Washington’
Before becoming the first president of the United States, a young George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) tests his courage and loyalty during the Revolutionary War, transforming from an inexperienced soldier into a strong and capable leader.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: July 3
‘Moana’
In this live-action reimagining of “Moana,” a spirited Polynesian teenager (Catherine Lagaʻaia) is called by the ocean to restore a powerful relic and save her people from an encroaching darkness.
Along the way, she joins forces with the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) who helps her navigate monsters, storms and treacherous seas.
Rating: PG
Release date: July 10
‘The Odyssey’
After the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon), the King of Ithaca, begins a perilous 10-year journey home. Facing mythical monsters and the wrath of angry gods, he fights to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and reclaim his kingdom.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: July 17
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
A lonely Peter Parker (Tom Holland) dedicates himself fully to protecting New York City as Spider-Man. But as his responsibilities grow, he undergoes a dangerous physical evolution while a strange pattern of crimes begins to emerge — pointing to a powerful new threat rising in the shadows.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: July 31
‘The End of Oak Street’
When a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from its neighborhood and transplants it to an unknown location, the Platt family must learn to stick together to survive in the dangerous, dinosaur-filled new world.
Rating: PG-13
Release date: Aug. 14