The last three summers I’ve worked at The Daily Iowan, I compiled a list of the most exciting, accessible, and worthwhile movies releasing in the months between school years. I’ve loved the summer movie season since I was a kid, as it’s usually when studios drop their biggest blockbusters. This year is no different. Here are the movies you gotta keep an eye on this summer.
“The Odyssey” July 17
Christopher Nolan’s next blockbuster epic has been on the top of my most anticipated movies list for years now. Since “Oppenheimer” swept the Academy Awards, I’ve been eager to see what the filmmaker would do on a blank check budget, with like 50 movie stars, and free reign to do whatever he wants with the sick Greek source material. Historical accuracy be damned, Nolan knows how to craft an image and tell an immersive story, so I am all in.
“Disclosure Day” June 12
Just below Nolan’s film is the new science fiction thriller from Steven Spielberg. Anytime Spielberg makes a movie it feels like a massive event to me, and with how secretive the marketing has been about the premise of the film, I have no idea what to expect.
“Evil Dead Burn” July 10
There is no more reliable horror franchise than “Evil Dead.” From the masterpieces Sam Raimi made 30 years ago, to the creatively fun offshoots made in 2013 and 2023, each installment is completely different but maintains the darkly silly tone of the gory original. Utilizing practical effects and simple, confined stories, the “Evil Dead” movies are always a thrillride. “Burn” will be no different.
“Jackass: Best and Last” June 26
One of the greatest moviegoing experiences in my life was watching “Jackass: Forever” in a packed theater in 2022. Humanity has been surviving entirely for the goal of one day sitting in a full theater crying and laughing while a professional pitcher hurls a baseball at a dude’s groin on a big screen. These movies are always a riot.
“The End of Oak Street” Aug. 14
OK, hear me out on this one. David Robert Mitchell blew up after making the high-concept horror film “It Follows” a decade ago, and now he’s returning with another high-concept thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. And there are dinosaurs involved. This could be a silly trainwreck, but I have a feeling the fact Warner Bros. is placing it in the same window “Weapons” released in last year means they’re confident it’s going to gain the same viral traction that movie did while delivering a unique, auteur horror vision.
“I Love Boosters” May 22
With a stacked cast of comedic actors, Boots Riley’s latest satirical takedown of the fashion industry just looks like a good time. The summer movie diet is in need of a colorful, wacky crime story, and with talent like Keke Palmer, Alexa Demie, and Don Cheadle in the mix, it’s sure to be entertaining.
“The Invite” June 26
We’re in dire need of theatrically released comedies these days. Olivia Wilde’s new social comedy about two couples entangled in a psychosexual spiral looks wild. Starring Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, and Penelope Cruz, this is another case where the cast is going to carry it to some hilarious heights.
“Her Private Hell” July 24
For something completely different, check out Nicolas Winding Refn’s new noir thriller starring Sophie Thatcher. Little is known about this one yet, but it is premiering at the Cannes Film Festival next week, which is a good sign. Winding Refn’s neon-soaked, moody crime films are light on dialogue but heavy on atmosphere, making for a great experience on the big screen.
“The Furious” May 29
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this high octane action movie for months now. Compared to other modern action classics such as “The Raid” and “John Wick,” this Chinese action picture looks intense. Starring Joe Taslim, maybe the best action star in the world, the fight scenes here look unlike anything you’ll see in a Hollywood movie. With inventive settings and makeshift weapons, the action in “The Furious” is going to be a spectacle of practically made violence.
“I Want Your Sex” July 31
Finally, Gregg Araki’s return to the big screen is releasing at the end of the summer. For those interested in less mainstream queer stories, you’re probably familiar with Araki. His new film stars Cooper Hoffman, Charli XCX, and Mason Gooding in an erotic thriller that’s sure to have a fair amount of awkward humor. Hoffman is one of the most interesting young actors working right now, and it’s super cool to see him working with acclaimed filmmakers so I’m excited to see what Araki has in store.
For a few honorable mentions, I wanted to shout out “Obsession.” It’s an independent horror movie releasing on May 15 that looks like it’s got a good balance of gnarly gore and exaggerated humor. “Tony” is the Anthony Bourdain biopic from comedy filmmaker Matt Johnson, releasing in August.
“One Night Only” is an odd-looking romcom spin on “The Purge” starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro, releasing on Aug. 7. Lastly, “The Death of Robin Hood” is a melancholy retelling of the classic fairy tale starring Hugh Jackman, releasing June 19.