Five Movies You Should See This Summer

School’s out for the summer, which means for teachers like me, there’s finally time to slow down and do the things we love, like going to the movies.

Over the past year, I made a promise to myself: watch more films, and more importantly, watch them in theaters. Because despite what you’ve heard, movie theaters aren’t dead. In fact, I’d argue they matter more now than ever.

It seems like the cultural zeitgeist has all but laid the movie-going experience six feet under. Between the rise of streaming, industry strikes, inflation, and the long shadow of a global pandemic, the prevailing narrative is that theaters are dying. But I beg to differ. 

The narrative around the death of cinema has been loud: streaming has taken over, ticket prices are up, and studios seem more interested in pumping out IP than crafting original stories. Add in the long shadow of a global pandemic and last year’s industry strikes, and you’ve got a film landscape that feels shaky. But here’s the thing: streaming might be convenient, but it’s also lonely. There’s something deeply human about sitting in a dark theater with strangers, all leaning forward at the same moment, gasping at the same twist, or laughing together at the same punchline. It's a communal ritual that can't be replicated on a couch with one eye on your phone.

The pendulum has swung hard toward isolation and convenience. But like all things, it swings back, and this summer feels like a turning point.

So if you’re wondering what to do with your free evenings this season, here’s my suggestion: go to the movie theater. Often. And if you’re not sure where to start, here are five films hitting theaters this summer that I’m excited about (and I think you will be too).

Sinners

Directed by Ryan Coogler

I’ve already seen this one, so if I’m wrong about everything else, at least I know I’m not leading you astray here. Sinners is a wild, genre-bending ride—part horror, part Southern Gothic, part blues-rock musical. Imagine O Brother, Where Art Thou? meets The Thing, with a touch of Oppenheimer’s intensity. Set in the Deep South and soaked in religious undertones, this is a vampire movie like no other. The visuals are jaw-dropping, the performances magnetic, and there’s one sequence that left me audibly gasping in the theater. If you only see one movie this summer, make it Sinners.

Eddington

Directed by Ari Aster

If you know anything about Ari Aster’s work so far (Midsommar, Hereditary), you know just how weird this one can get. If you’re looking to get a psyched out (and have a good time in the process), Eddington might be your movie of the summer. Set in a surreal New Mexico town, the story centers on a tense standoff between a sheriff and a mayor…while also somehow being about COVID-19, of all things. With Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal leading the way, this western-horror hybrid promises to be as trippy as it is unforgettable. If you want your summer movie to mess with your head in the best way, this is it.

Superman

Directed by James Gunn

I get it. Another superhero movie. But hear me out: this might be the one that brings the magic back. James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) is at the helm of this reboot, and it feels like DC is finally ready to capitalize on Marvel’s recent missteps. Gunn has a knack for mixing humor, heart, and spectacle. If he can pull those same sentiments off with Superman, we might just get a superhero movie that feels fresh again. I’m not saying it’ll be the best film of the summer, but it could be the most fun.

Weapons

Directed by Zach Cregger

You know a film has heat when non-film friends are texting you about it weeks before release. Weapons has been surrounded by buzz ever since studios started fighting over the script. Cregger, who directed the sleeper hit Barbarian, is back with what’s being described as a “multistory horror epic” centered around children who all vanish on the same night. That’s all we know, and honestly, that’s enough. The mystery, the scope, the ambition: all of it is setting us up for something that could be a breakout hit or a total mind-bender. Either way, I’m in.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Directed by Matt Shakman

I know, I know. They’ve tried Fantastic Four multiple times, and almost every time, it’s flopped; however, I don’t think the studios have been up against the wall with the future of their cinematic universe’s success, not the way that this iteration of Fantastic Four is. Marvel finds itself at a crossroads of sorts, looking to find their rhythm again akin to the hey-day of the franchise in Phase 3 and the Infinity Saga. Things have been bleak lately, to put it lightly. But with the same director of WandaVision leading the charge, along with superstar-to-be Pedro Pascal playing Mr. Fantastic himself, Marvel is desperately trying to make this one land with some gusto to push the franchise forward. For that reason alone, I’m interested to see what direction they take with this one. 

Honorable Mentions

• The Materialists:  a stylish rom-com starring Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal

• Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning: because Tom Cruise doesn’t miss

• The Phoenician Scheme: mysterious indie thriller with awards buzz

• The Roses: a dark family drama from A24

So there you have it. Five movies (and a few more for good measure) that just might restore your faith in the magic of the big screen. Agree with me? Think I missed something huge? That’s fair. You can roast me in the comments and let me know.

Regardless of how you feel about my opinions, go see a movie this summer. Support your local theater. Make a night of it. Stories are better when we experience them together.