Hollywood, as we all know, adheres to something other than the Georgian calendar.
So take our word for it, the summer movie season is underway, even if summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21.
The good news is that there’s already been a fleet of films (“Project Hail Mary,” “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” “Michael,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and more) packing viewers into theaters
Given the brisk start then, is there still hope that the best is yet to come?
Yes, given the surging interest in huge upcoming tentpole releases such as Oscar-winner Christopher Nolan’s must-see-on-a-big-screen epic “The Odyssey”; Steven Spielberg’s UFO chiller-thriller “Disclosure Day”; Woody and Buzz’s latest Pixar adventure “Toy Story 5”; Olivia Wilde’s funny/sexy San Francisco-set dramedy “The Invite”; a new “Minions” movie and, of course, the destined-to-be-a-blockbuster “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” with Tom Holland and Zendaya.
All could play a hand in making this a huge bounce-back year for people going to the movies.
There are streaming options as well (the San Francisco-set “Voicemails for Isabelle” on Netflix) and some great indie films (the Sundance horror fave “Leviticus,” the lovers-on-the-run thriller “Carolina Caroline,” and the raunchy and hilarious “I Want Your Sex”), all of which will keep you entertained from now till the end of August.
And of course, there’s more. Much more. So we prepared a sampler’s platter of movies heading your way this summer. Per the norm, release dates are subject to change.
“Backrooms”: Northern California-based content creator Kane Parsons’ feature-length thriller grew out of a gone-viral YouTube video series he uploaded under the name of Kane Pixels. Like that series, this movie messes with your mind by taking full advantage of creepy backroom spaces. Oscar nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve co-star in the Northern Californian filmmaker’s unique directorial debut, which is set in an empty Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire store. We’re extra curious about this one. When & where: In theaters May 29.
RELATED: This is the creepiest strip mall in San Jose, according to ‘Backrooms’
“Pressure”: If you paid attention during history class, you probably know that the winds of World War II dramatically changed due to D-Day (the Normandy landings). But you also might have missed out on learning about the critical role that no-guff meteorologist Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) played in picking the right day to do it. Based on a play, “Pressure” charts how the upstart Stagg remained steadfast about a forecast that weathered turbulence from skeptics. Brendan Fraser costars as Dwight D. Eisenhower. When & where: In theaters May 29.
RELATED: Review: ‘Pressure’ goes behind the scenes of D-Day invasion
“The Breadwinner”: Comedian Nate Bargatze co-wrote and stars in this comedy about an ill-equipped dad tending to three young daughters when his wife goes away for a month on business. When & where: In theaters May 29.
RELATED: First look at Nate Bargatze’s $350 million Nateland theme park
“Tuner”: A dedicated piano tuner (Leo Woodall) with acute hearing abilities gets drawn into criminal activities so he can come to the financial aid of his mentor (Dustin Hoffman). Oscar winner Daniel Roher (“Navalny”) makes the leap from documentaries to narratives with this drama/thriller. When & where: In theaters May 29.
“Scary Movie”: They’re baaaaack! The Wayan brothers — Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory — reunite for this cheeky comic homage to slashers and horror tropes. It’s the sixth “Scary Movie” and ribs new fare including “Sinners,” “The Substance” and more. Anna Faris and Regina Hall ham it up alongside Marlon and Shawn Wayans. When & where: In theaters June 5.
“Carolina Caroline”: A modern-day, less-violent Bonnie and Clyde (Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner) fall in love and sweep through the Southeast on a crime spree in Adam Carter Rehmeier’s entertaining neo noir that goes down ever so smoothly on a hot summer day. When & where: In theaters June 5.
“Power Ballad”: In this music-infused dramedy, the director of “Once” and the criminally underseen “Sing Street” pairs up a sad-sack wedding singer (Paul Rudd) with a former boy-band member (Nick Jonas) who is struggling to break out on a solo career. A hit song results but who does that tune belong to? This crowdpleaser is said to hit all the right notes. When & where: In theaters June 5.
“Masters of the Universe”: A guilt-plagued He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) blames himself for the carnage orchestrated by despicable mega-villain Skeletor (Jared Leto) on Eternia, but pulls himself out of the funk thanks to his mighty sword and the assistance of Man-at-Arms (Idris Elba) and warrior Teela (Camila Mendes). Animator and multiple Oscar nominee Travis Knight directs. When & where: In theaters June 5.
“Time and Water”: Director and former Berkeley resident Sara Dosa (“Fire of Love”) revisits Iceland for her latest documentary about writer Andri Snær Magnason as he grapples with the loss of his grandparents and rapidly melting glaciers. When & where: In theaters June 5.
“Disclosure Day”: Steven Spielberg returns to close encounters territory in this hush-hush UFO thriller that stars Josh O’Connor as a thorn in the side of the U.S. government who wants to divulge top secrets about the aliens amongst us. Co-starring Colin Firth and Emily Blunt as a meteorologist who goes on the fritz. When & where: In theaters June 12.
“Stop! That! Train!”: Break out the rainbow flags and celebrate Pride month with this campy drag comedy that throws shade at disaster movies. RuPaul pops in as President Gagwell (looking gorgeous while holding that position) who is very concerned about a “Stormaganza” that imperils a high-speed train heading toward L.A. Adam Shankman directs. Drag stars Ginger Minj and Jujubee climb abroad as train attendants who tangle with the snooty first-class crew. Let the cat fights begin! When & where: In theaters June 12.
“The Furious”: Early reviews for director Kenji Tanigaki’s Hong Kong martial arts brawler gush over the same thing: The wild action sequences and fight choreography. As for the plot, it grapples with a father of a kidnapped daughter and a journalist of a wife who’s gone missing teaming up to do whatever it takes to get their loved ones back, dangit! When & where: In theaters June 12.
“Toy Story 5”: Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) along with other heartwarming characters from the Pixar toy chest contend with new competition — an all-seeing, all-knowing electronic tablet named Lilypad (voice of Greta Lee). She captivates little Bonnie with all that screen time. The trailer made us laugh and I’ll bet Emeryville-based Pixar will once again make us cry. It’s just in their nature. When & where: In theaters June 19.
“The Death of Robin Hood”: The acclaimed director of “Pig” — Michael Sarnoski — gives us a gritty, atmospheric latter-years slab of myth-making that pertains to the famous legend (played by Hugh Jackman). From what we saw in previews, prepare for something dark, moody and gory. We can’t wait. When & where: In theaters June 19.
“Leviticus”: Two teens (Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen) in a small Australian town explore their sexuality in the shadows till that relationship gets exposed and an exorcist of sorts is summoned. A dark force arises and it takes the malevolent form of the mirror image of the person they desire. Director/ screenwriter Adrian Chiarella’s first feature made a splash at Sundance. For good reason: It’s terrific. When & where: In theaters June 19.
“Maddie’s Secret”: An influencer (John Early) with an eating disorder survives all sorts of melodrama brought on by her past and one nasty mom in director/writer/star Early’s seriocomic drama. I’ve seen it and it works. When & where: In theaters June 19.
“Rose of Nevada”: A fishing boat with a checkered past eerily reappears three decades later in a small, struggling village hugging the Cornwall coast. A new crew (George MacKay and Callum Turner) signs on and soon realizes something very strange and off-centering is going on. Mark Jenkin cooks up yet another distinctive otherworldly feature like no other. When & where: In New York theaters June 19; awaiting Bay Area theater dates.
“Unidentified”: Writer-director Haifaa Al-Mansour (2012’s “Wadja”) is one of the few female Saudi Arabian filmmakers and her latest is about one woman’s committed effort to find out the name of a dead teen girl found in the desert and the circumstances that led to her demise. When & where: In theaters June 19.
“Girls Like Girls”: Books, plays and comic books have been a constant fount of cinematic inspiration. Hayley Kiyoko’s summertime romantic drama on two girls falling for each originated as her pop hit single and the novel she later wrote. With new tunes and a cast that includes Maya da Costa as 17-year-old Coley and singer Myra Molloy as Sonya, expect a sweet romance to warm your hearts this season. When & where: In theaters June 19.
“Voicemails for Isabelle”: San Francisco native Leah McKendrick follows up her hilarious feature debut “Scrambled” with this romantic comedy, set mostly in San Francisco, starring Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson. It hinges on voicemails intended for one person going instead to a Texas real estate agent. He gets a candid earful and then … . Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage and Harry Shum Jr. costar. When & where: On Netflix June 19.
“The Invite”: A casual dinner get-together for two San Francisco couples living in the same apartment building takes an interesting turn when one couple makes a proposal to the other. Director/star Olivia Wilde sets the table for a funny and touching affair that co-stars Seth Rogen, Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz and is imbued with the spirit of playwright Edward Albee. When & where: In theaters June 26.
“Supergirl”: Milly Alcock (so great in Netflix’s “Sirens”) doubles down as Supergirl and Kara Zor-El in Craig Gillespie’s DC superhero reboot that brings back cute dog Krypto and cute David Corenswet as Superman. Even Jason Momoa swims in, but in a non-Aquaman role. With Krypto’s life hanging in the balance, Supergirl/Kara Zor-El embarks on an adventure that pits her against Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts) — not exactly a fearsome villain name. When & where: In theaters June 26.
“Lucky Strike”: In this epic story of survival, a wounded U.S. soldier (Scott Eastwood) scrambles to get safety while trapped behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge. Rod Lurie directs with Colin Hanks and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor co-starring. When & where: In theaters June 26.
“Jackass: Best and Last”: The title says it all. More crude hijinks and jaw-dropping stunts with Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O making us slap our foreheads at their antics. As for this being the last one, we say never say never again if a franchise is still making money. When & where: In theaters June 26.
“Minions & Monsters”: The minions embark on a perilous odyssey to find suitably scary monsters to co-star with them in their studio movie. Expect this meta sequel to make millions again. When & where: In theaters July 1.
“Enola Holmes 3”: Just in time for Fourth of July comes this third action/mystery romp that features Sherlock’s sister (Millie Bobby Brown). This time, she’s heading to Malta for more intrigue. When & where: Drops July 1 on Netflix.
“Moana”: Dwyane Johnson’s locks gave us a shock when — we first saw them but let’s chill out over those big follicles and hope this live-action reboot is better than some of Disney’s previous efforts. Catherine Laga’aia stars in the titular role. When & where: In theaters July 10.
“Evil Dead Burn”: Sébastien Vaniček, director of that nasty bit of horror “Infected,” puts his stamp on an undead franchise that will never, well, die. Here, a grief-stricken woman visits her in-laws only to discover that they’re turning into Deadites (not Deadheads!) Ye gads! When & where: In theaters July 10.
“Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass”: This raunchy, over-the-top Sundance hit gives us a bride-to-be hairdresser (Zoey Deutch) ditching her clueless beloved so she can hook up in L.A. for one-time-only with her celebrity crush — Jon Hamm. David Wain’s irreverent comedy is saucy, indeed. When & where: In theaters July 10.
“The Odyssey”: Homer is where Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s heart is, and he’s setting sail with his own version (damn the accents) of the penultimate Greek lit epic. It’s already making viral waves over accents and such. Matt Damon heads an A-list cast that includes Oakland native Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson. Could it net Nolan another Oscar? We’ll regroup about that after seeing it, but it’s one of the most anticipated films of 2026. When & where: In theaters July 17.
“Her Private Hell”: You can always count on Nicolas Winding Refn to polarize audiences. His latest looks like it might do the same and fits well in his artsy visual wheelhouse — a neon-lit dystopian thriller with Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton playing strangers who join forces to search for two missing family members after a mystical fog rolls in. When & where: In theaters, July 24.
“Motor City”: “Reacher” star Alan Ritchson must have chugged down a massive amount of protein shakes for his bulging brawn (a tank top can barely contain all that muscle) in Potsy Ponciroli’s ‘70s-set bit of pulp fiction about a guy falling for a gangster’s girlfriend. What a bone-headed move, guy. When & where: In theaters July 24.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day”: Perhaps the most durable superhero of them all — at least in box-office terms — swings into a new direction in the wake of events of “No Way Home.” Four years after shutting himself off from others and making everyone forget him, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) finds he’s facing a new nemesis and changes brewing within himself. Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Trammell Tillman and Mark Ruffalo co-star. Expect a massive first week box-office showing. When & where: In theaters July 31.
“I Want Your Sex”: Differing generational attitudes over sex make an oil-vinegar mix in hilarious and explicit ways in director Gregg Araki’s frisky Sundance comedy. Olivia Wilde portrays an HR nightmare — a very sexual and inappropriate boss and artist who hires sexually frustrated and repressed Elliot to be her assistant and sex toy. Oakland native Daveed Diggs earns a lot of laughs in a small but pivotal role. When & where: In theaters July 31.
“One Night Only”: Owen (Callum Turner) and Allie (Monica Barbaro, a San Francisco native who grew up in Mill Valley) discover they want more than just sex on the one night when they’re permitted to have sex in this intriguing rom-com from the director of “Anyone But You” and “Easy A.” The trailer looks like Turner and Barbaro have natural-born chemistry. When & where: In theaters Aug. 7.
“Ice Cream Man”: After roasting the hell out of Thanksgiving, gore master Eli Roth eviscerates the quaint ice cream man. Beware of this creep, he doles out frozen goodies that turn Bayleen Bay kiddies into killers. When & where: In theaters Aug. 7.
“Late Fame”: A former poet and current postal worker (Willem Dafoe) ingratiates himself into the lives of creative and artistic types in New York, including a struggling artist played by Greta Lee. When & where: In theaters Aug. 7.
“The Last House”: Extra-busy Greta Lee stars opposite Oscar nominee Wagner Moura in a Netflix sci-fi thriller centered on a lockdown premise that wreaks havoc for one family whose food sources start to dwindle. When & where: On Netflix Aug. 7.
“Cookie Queens”: In this utterly charming documentary, four Girl Scouts pursue racking up big cookie sales and, in the process, learning to stand up for themselves thanks to the support of their families. When & where: In theaters Aug. 7.
“Super Troopers 3”: A drug ring and an upcoming wedding begats another rude comedy that’s robust with toilet humor and crazy antics courtesy of the fumbles and bumbles of the Troopers. Jay Chandrasekhar stars and directs the R-rated comedy. When & where: In theaters Aug. 7.
“The Wrong Girls”: Two besties (Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat) attain telepathic abilities after trying a drug and that leads to all sorts of mayhem. The impressive cast includes LaKeith Stanfield, Zach Fox, Seth Rogen, Kumail Nanjiani, Kate McKinnon, Tony Hale and Geena Davis. When & where: In theaters Aug. 14.
“PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie”: The cute PAW pups make an unexpected stop on a tropical island where dinos roam and where unscrupulous Mayor Humdinger is mining the land of its precious resources. Boo! Hiss! The animated series makes reliable fare for the younger set. When & where: In theaters Aug. 14.
“The End of Oak Street”: “It Follows” filmmaker David Robert Mitchell writes and directs this original thriller that plunks a suburban family (Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor) into a new ZIP code and a destination unknown, well outside of their comfort zone. When & where: In theaters Aug. 14.
“Union County”: A recovering drug addict (Will Poulter, in an extraordinary performance) in Ohio finds a community that leads him on a road to recovery in director Adam Meeks’ compassionate film. It’s a thing of empathetic beauty. When & where: In theaters Aug. 14.
“Mutiny”: While trying to clear his name in the murder of his billionaire friend, former cop and Special Forces agent Cole Reed (Jason Statham) runs smack into a plot that has international implications. Expect a lot of kicks, punches, chases and grunts and groans. When & where: In theaters Aug. 21.
“Finding Emily”: What better way to close out the summer than with a British rom-com starring Angourie Rice and Spike Fearn as college students trying to pinpoint the whereabouts of a “dream girl.” When & where: In theaters Aug. 21.
“The Dog Stars”: Ridley Scott directs Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley in this adaptation of author Peter Heller’s sci-fi novel about survivors of a flu pandemic striking out for a better way of living. Do they find it? Hmm … . When & where: In theaters Aug. 28.
“The Whisper Man”: In this breathless, twist-filled thriller based on Alex North’s bestseller, a crime writer (Adam Scott) races to find his kidnapped 8-year-old son and stumbles into a case that requires the help of his estranged dad (Robert De Niro). When & where: On Netflix Aug. 28.
“The Idiots”: Palo Alto native Dave Franco, in a red tracksuit no less, headlines this R-rated Sundance comedy and plays one of two clueless guys who’s escorting an obnoxiously rich teen to rehab. Everything that could possibly go wrong, does. When & where: In theaters Aug. 28.
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.