Big-screen thrills: What's on the way this spring and summer
Published in Entertainment News
From ancient monsters to galactic heroes and talking toys, Hollywood’s spring-summer lineup mixes franchise heavyweights with smaller dramas and offbeat concepts.
The season brings several familiar names back to theaters, including “Mortal Kombat 2,” a new “Star Wars” entry with “The Mandalorian and Grogu” and Pixar’s long-running animated franchise with “Toy Story 5.”
Also, Steven Spielberg returns to sci-fi, a Jackson plays a Jackson, and Tom Cruise’s fighter pilot classic is back in theaters for its 40th anniversary.
Here’s what to look out for at the movies this spring. Release dates are subject to change.
Just out
“They Will Kill You”: A horror-thriller directed by Kirill Sokolov and starring Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton and Heather Graham. A woman takes a housekeeping job in a mysterious New York high-rise only to discover a pattern of disappearances tied to the building.
“The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist”: A documentary from directors Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell exploring the promises and risks of artificial intelligence through conversations with tech leaders and researchers.
“A Magnificent Life”: A biographical drama about the personal and professional struggles of the playwright, novelist and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, who attempts to balance his legacy with his ambition. Directed by Sylvain Chomet.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”: Nintendo’s flagship plumber returns in a new animated adventure that expands the video game franchise’s cinematic universe with a cosmic-scale storyline. Starring Chris Pratt as Mario, Brie Larson and Benny Safdie.
“The Drama”: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play a couple shaken by an unsettling truth days before their wedding.
April 10
“You, Me & Tuscany”: Halle Bailey and Rege-Jean Page star in this romantic comedy about two strangers whose lives intersect during a trip through the Italian countryside.
April 17
“Lee Cronin’s The Mummy”: “Evil Dead Rise” director Lee Cronin reimagines the classic Universal monster story with a darker, modern horror approach.
“Lorne”: A behind-the-scenes glimpse at “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels, featuring interviews with cast members and exclusive and archival footage.
April 24
“Michael”: Antoine Fuqua directs and Jaafar Jackson, the son of Jermaine Jackson, stars in this biopic about the King of Pop. With Colman Domingo and Nia Long.
“I Swear”: Robert Aramayo plays John Davison in this biopic about a Scottish man growing up in the ’80s with severe Tourette syndrome.
May 1
“The Devil Wears Prada 2”: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci reprise their roles in this sequel to the 2006 comedy-drama about the fashion industry.
“Animal Friends”: Live-action/animated comedy follows two animal companions on a cross-country adventure. With Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy and Vince Vaughn.
May 8
“Mortal Kombat 2”: A sequel to the 2021 video game adaptation directed by Simon McQuoid and starring Karl Urban, Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee and Hiroyuki Sanada.
“Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour”: A concert film documenting the tour supporting the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s third album.
“The Sheep Detectives:” Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Galitzine and Emma Thompson star in this family comedy about a group of animals solving a mystery threatening their farm.
May 13
“Top Gun 40th Anniversary”: Theatrical rerelease of the 1986 Tom Cruise action classic directed by Tony Scott.
May 15
“Is God Is”: Adaptation of Aleshea Harris’ stage play about two sisters with a charged family history seeking revenge. Stars Kara Young and Sterling K. Brown.
“Obsession”: Psychological thriller about the dangers of fixation and desire starring Inde Navarrette and Michael Johnston.
May 22
“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu”: A feature continuation of the Disney+ series directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White.
“Passenger”: Suspense drama centered on a couple on a van journey that takes a dangerous turn. Starring Jacob Scipio, Melissa Leo and Lou Llobell.
May 29
“Pressure”: Drama finds Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) and Capt. James Stagg (Andrew Scott) in the buildup to D-Day facing an impossible choice to launch the invasion or risk losing the war.
June 5
“Scary Movie”: Reboot of the 2000 horror parody classic stars Anna Faris, Marlon Wayans and Dave Sheridan.
“Power Ballad”: Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas star in this musical comedy about a conflict between a rock star and a wedding singer.
June 12
“Disclosure Day”: Steven Spielberg ("Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" and "War of the Worlds”) returns to sci-fi in this thriller exploring the fallout after a major secret becomes public. Starring Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor.
June 19
“Toy Story 5”: Pixar’s latest sequel finds the toy gang competing for attention with handheld devices. Andrew Stanton directs, with the returning voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack.
“Girls Like Girls”: A romance and musical coming-of-age drama centered on identity and relationships. Directed by Hayley Kiyoko and starring Maya da Costa, Myria Molloy and Levon Hawke.
June 26
“Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”: Milly Alcock stars as the Man of Steel’s cousin, traveling the galaxy with her dog Krypto on a quest for revenge.
July 1
“Minions & Monsters”: The little troublemakers from “Despicable Me” are back for their third go-round, aiming to make a monster movie in Old Hollywood.
July 3
“Shiver”: Hurricanes and sharks terrorize a coastal town.
July 10
“Moana”: Catherine Laga'aia and Dwayne Johnson star in this live-action remake of the Disney animated classic about an island girl on an adventure.
July 17
“The Odyssey”: Christopher Nolan’s first movie since “Oppenheimer” stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, Zendaya and Anne Hathaway in an adaptation of Homer's Greek classic about the king of Ithaca on a perilous journey home from the Trojan War.
“Cut Off”: Jonah Hill wrote, directed and stars in this film about siblings forced to fend for themselves when their parents cut them off. With Kristen Wiig and Bette Midler.
July 24
“Evil Dead Burn”: More gore on the way in this sequel to 2023’s “Evil Dead Rise.”
July 31
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day”: Tom Holland is back as Spidey and Zendaya is an MJ in this fourth installment of Marvel’s "Spider-Man" franchise.
Aug. 7
“One Night Only”: Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner are on the prowl in this romantic comedy about premarital sex being legal one night a year.
“Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie”: In this sequel to “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” (2023), they land on a mysterious dinosaur island.
Aug. 14
“The End of Oak Street”: Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor star in this ’80s-set sci-fi thriller about a suburban neighborhood transported to someplace unknown after a mysterious cosmic event.
© 2026 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit www.post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
















Comments