Preview: Summer 2026 movies and TV

Are you longing for the summer? Want nothing more than to kick back, relax, and get lost in a movie blockbuster or a hit television show?

Then fear not, we are inching ever-nearer to the summer season, and a whole bunch of new movies and television shows will be with you in no time at all.

From franchise faves and iconic IPs, to some brand new offerings, there is plenty on offer this summer. So much so, you’re gonna need a long vacation to fit it all in!

Here is some of what’s on the horizon for Summer 2026…

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The Devil Wears Prada 2

Twenty years after the release of comedy-drama, The Devil Wears Prada, belated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2 arrives to kick-start the summer. Director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna return on the creative side, while Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci are also back, reprising their roles from the original.

As for the story, as Miranda Priestly navigates her way through a new media landscape, Andy returns to Runway magazine. Along the way, the pair reconnect with Miranda’s former assistant, Emily, who is now the head of a luxury brand.

Release: May 1st

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Also due Summer 2026…

Deep Water – Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley take the lead in this survival disaster movie from director Renny Harlin. The story focuses on a group of passengers who must overcome shark infested waters when their plane is forced to make an emergency landing. Release: May 1st

Mortal Kombat II – In this sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat, Johnny Cage and the champions of Earthrealm are forced into battle as they attempt to resist the rule of Shao Kahn. Karl Urban, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, and Adeline Rudolph star, while Simon McQuoid is on director duties.Release: May 8th

The Mandalorian and Grogu – Making the leap from Disney+ to movie theatres, this feature-length adventure for everyone’s favourite Star Wars duo sees Din Djarin and Grogu sent on a new adventure worthy of the big screen! Jon Favreau directs, while Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and Jeremy Allen White star. Release: May 22nd

Spider-Noir – Nicolas Cage reprises the role of Ben Reilly/The Spider for this live-action TV spin-off of the Spider-Verse movie series. Set in the 1930s, and available to watch in either black-and-white or colour, this eight-episode series will see Reilly grapple with his past, while dealing with the fact he’s the only superhero in New York City. Release: May 25th on Prime Video

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Masters of the Universe

It’s been almost 40 years since the release of 1987’s Masters of the Universe, yet despite some false starts as well as a long period in development hell, ‘80s icon He-Man is back and he’s bringing the other Masters of the Universe with him for a whole new, feature-length outing! The story sees Prince Adam return to his home world of Eternia, where he must battle the forces of evil, including the dastardly Skeletor.

Bumblebee’s Travis Knight is calling the shots as director, while the cast includes Nicholas Galitzine as Adam/He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, and Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms. No word on whether or not Orko appears, but fingers are firmly crossed.

Release: June 5th

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Also due Summer 2026…

The Boroughs – Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, and Jenna Malone star in this sci-fi television series set in a retirement home, where a group of unlikely heroes band together to stop an otherworldly threat. The show is created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, and produced by The Duffer Brothers (aka the overlords of Stranger Things). Release: May 21st on Netflix 

Scary Movie – Following 2013’s less than impressive Scary Movie 5, audiences would be forgiven for thinking the Scary Movie comedy series was done and dusted, but nope, a sixth instalment simply titled Scary Movie is arriving this summer to tickle ribs and poke fun at various films. Michael Tiddes is directing, while franchise favourites Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Dave Sheridan, and Lochlyn Munro are all back amongst the cast. Release: June 5th

Disclosure Day – Steven Spielberg directs this highly-anticipated sci-fi movie about UFOs. Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell star. Release: June 12th

Toy Story 5 – The Toys are back in town, as Disney-Pixar and director Andrew Stanton reunite Buzz (Tim Allen) and Woody (Tom Hanks) for a fifth adventure comedy. This time around, the toys face stiff competition from an electronic tablet named Lilypad. Release: June 19th

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Supergirl

With last summer’s Superman helping to reboot and establish the new DC Universe, it’s now time for the DCU to expand with a story featuring Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl. And yes, Krypto will be along too! 

Craig Gillespie directs this big screen comic book caper, which sees Supergirl travel across the galaxy on a quest for revenge. Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, and Matthias Schoenaerts star, while Jason Momoa drops by as Lobo.

Release: June 26th 

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Also due Summer 2026…

Jackass 5 – Expect slapstick comedy, plenty of pranks, and maybe one or two injuries as the Jackassteam return for a fifth and supposedly final instalment. Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man and all the usual suspects will be taking part in the madcap stunts, while Jeff Tremaine is back as director. Release: June 26th

Minions & Monsters – Proof you can never stop a popular film series in its prime arrives this summer in the form of Minions & Monsters – yet another entry in the popular (and profitable) Minions/Despicable Me movie series. Set in the 1920s, with Pierre Coffin directing, this instalment sees the titular Minions searching for monsters to star in their monster movie. Release: July 1st

Moana – The Disney remake machine is still in full-swing and this time has landed on 2016’s Moana. Thomas Kail directs this live-action reworking, while Catherine Laga’aia stars as Moana, and Dwayne Johnson reprises the role of Maui. Release: July 10th

Little House on the Prairie – Beloved television show of yesteryear, Little House on the Prairie is back, with Alice Halsey taking on the role of Laura Ingalls, and Luke Bracey playing father, Charles. Crosby Fitzgerald, Skywalker Hughes, Jocko Sims, and Warren Christie round out the rest of the cast for this new television series from Netflix. Release: July 9th on Netflix 

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The Odyssey

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan takes on a Greek epic for this action-fantasy retelling of Homer’s immortal Odyssey. The film follows Odysseus as he travels home from the Trojan War and encounters a cyclops, sirens, and the witch-goddess, Circe.

Matt Damon takes on the role of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, while Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus, and Anne Hathaway is Penelope. The rest of the sizeable cast includes Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, and Mia Goth.

Release: July 17th

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Also due Summer 2026…

Evil Dead Burn – Details are still a little scarce on this one, but the sixth instalment in the enduring Evil Dead movie series is positioned as yet another stand alone affair. Sébastien Vaniček directs, while the cast includes Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, and Luciane Buchanan. Release: July 24th

Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Five years after he last appeared on screen in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland is back as Peter Parker/Spider-Man for Destin Daniel Cretton’s comic book adventure, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (aka the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe). Joining Holland on screen are Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, and Sadie Sink, while Jon Bernthal pops up as the Punisher, and Mark Ruffalo reprises the role of the Hulk. Release: July 31st

One Night Only – Molly Ringwald, LeVar Burton, Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, and Este Haim star in this romantic comedy from writer/director, Will Gluck. The film focuses on two strangers who attempt to find love on the one night of the year when pre-marital sex is legal. Release: August 7th

Lanterns – Based on the Green Lantern comic books from DC Comics, Lanterns is a sci-fi television series, which primarily focuses on two key Lanterns: Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and Kelly Macdonald star, with Nathan Fillion reprising the role of Guy Gardner from 2025’s Superman. Release: August on HBO Max

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Coyote vs. Acme

Rescued from the trash heap, after Warner Bros. initially declared this film a tax write-off, this part-animated, part-live action legal comedy is arguably one of 2026’s most curious films, mostly because audiences want to know if it is any good?! 

Dave Green is on director duties, while the cast includes Will Forte, John Cena, and Luis Guzmán. The story focuses on Wile E. Coyote’s attempt to sue the Acme Corporation, after enduring years of defective products. 

Release: August 28th

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Also due Summer 2026…

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma – Gillian Anderson and Hannah Einbinder star in this slasher from writer/director Jane Schoenbrun. The film focuses on a director’s attempt to shoot a new instalment in a long-running slasher series. Release: August 7th

Insidious: The Bleeding World – Due to the success of 2023’s Insidious: The Red Door, the horror series is continuing with a sixth entry, Insidious: The Bleeding World. Jacob Chase directs, while the story focuses on a new family and the terrible realisation the Further is beginning to bleed into the real world. Release: August 21st

The Dog Stars – Ridley Scott sits in the director’s chair for this post-apocalyptic sci-fi yarn set in the aftermath of a catastrophic flu epidemic. Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, Margaret Qualley, and Benedict Wong star. Release: August 28th

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The best of the rest…

And if the above is not enough, also popping up during the summer is Animal Farm, The Sheep Detectives, Is God Is, Poetic License, Finding Emily, Obsession, I Love Boosters, Tuner, Corporate Retreat, Passenger, Stop! That! Train!, Animal Friends, Power Ballad, The Death of Robin Hood, Cut Off, The Dink, Super Troopers 3, Fall 2, The Third Parent, Flowervale Street, Mutiny, Air Bud Returns, and a remake/reboot of Cliffhanger!

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post previewing summer 2026 on TV and film. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.