Summer break is just around the corner, and there are some great films on the horizon. If these haven’t already popped up on your social media, here are some movies you should consider seeing in theaters when you’re officially done with school.
‘The Odyssey’
Featuring Hollywood legends Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Robert Pattinson, Christopher Nolan’s newest addition to his stacked filmography will undoubtedly fill theaters to the brim when it premieres on July 17.
The film is a mythic action adapting Homer’s classic epic of the same title. Set around 1200 B.C.E., it follows Odysseus — played by Damon — on a perilous ten-year journey back to his home in Ithaca after the Trojan War.
This film is Nolan’s most expensive film yet. But if you’re going to adapt Homer, you might as well go big or go home.
‘Backrooms’
In case you are unfamiliar with the concept of the backrooms, they are an endless, surreal labyrinth of empty, yellow-papered offices. It originally began as a niche 2019 “4chan creepypasta,” but has since evolved into a major piece of internet folklore.
This A24 film is a horror-thriller based on Kane Parsons’ viral “found footage” YouTube series. It follows a furniture store owner played by Chiwetel Ejiofor — who becomes trapped in the backrooms — and his therapist played by Renate Reinsve, who attempts to rescue him.
Going from appearing in existential dramas such as “The Worst Person in the World” to a film like “Backrooms” is a bold career move for the Norwegian Reinsve — one that will likely cement her in the American film scene when it comes out on May 29.
‘Spiderman: Brand New Day’
Zendaya and Tom Holland — Hollywood’s best couple — will return to the silver screen on July 31 with a new Spider-Man movie.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” follows Peter Parker four years after “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” living in anonymity after erasing himself from the world’s memory. Remaining fully dedicated to protecting New York City, he faces a dangerous, evolving mutation and a powerful enemy.
Even though Holland has been missing on the big screen for a while, I don’t doubt that this will be another great Spider-Man film for the books.
‘Fjord’
“Fjord,” directed by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu and starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, is a drama about a devout couple who move to a remote Norwegian village. Their new lives fall into chaos when they are suspected of abusing their children due to their strict faith-based upbringing, triggering local scrutiny.
This film takes on sensitive subjects, so those planning to see this on Aug. 19 should be aware of that. Nevertheless, it brings up important questions about what parents should be allowed to do to their children in the name of religion and who gets to decide what is too much.
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’
The original cast from the 2006 “The Devil Wears Prada,” including Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, will return to the big screen for the sequel.
The plot follows a mature Andy Sachs, played by Hathaway, returning to Runway magazine to help an old-fashioned Miranda Priestly, played by Streep, in her struggle against the decline of print media.
Considering how much of a following the original film has, it will be interesting to see whether the sequel lives up to the sky-high expectations fans already have. It will be released on May 1, so head to your local theater once you finish all your final exams to find out.
‘Supergirl’
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” isn’t the only superhero film that is set to come out this summer — it will have some competition at the box office from “Supergirl.”
“Supergirl” is a DC Universe sci-fi adventure based on the Tom King comic. It follows a hardened, traumatized Kara Zor-El — also known as Supergirl — who witnessed the destruction of her home planet Krypton at a young age, traveling the galaxy with Krypto the Superdog and joining a young girl on a vengeful quest against a murderer.
There is a certain charm to superhero films; they blend escapist spectacle with deeply relatable human stories. This is a perfect feel-good film to disappear into for a few hours on June 26.
‘The Invite’
“The Invite” is another A24 film and gem that seems to have remained hidden thus far. It is also Olivia Wilde’s first feature since her 2022 psychological thriller “Don’t Worry Darling.”
The comedy is about a married couple — Wilde and Seth Rogen — whose relationship is in crisis. They invite their seemingly perfect neighbors over for dinner, leading to an awkward, intense and revealing night.
This film was released at the 2026 Sundance Festival, receiving a rapturous ovation. Time will only tell if “The Invite” will invite the same reaction from regular moviegoers when it releases on June 26.