2026 Summer Blockbusters: The Mandalorian, Backrooms, Masters of the Universe & More Movies You Can't Miss

The 2026 Summer Movie Season Is Here — And It's Loaded

Grab your popcorn and cancel your weekend plans, because the summer 2026 movie lineup is one of the most stacked we've seen in years. With Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu kicking things off on May 22 and a relentless wave of franchise favorites following close behind, theaters are about to get a lot more crowded. Let's break down the biggest releases you absolutely can't miss.

Franchise Giants Return to the Big Screen

First up is the movie everyone's been waiting for: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22), directed by Jon Favreau. After three incredible seasons on Disney+, Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and the fan-favorite Grogu are making the leap to the big screen for the first new Star Wars theatrical film since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. The film is set after the fall of the Empire, with the New Republic recruiting our favorite bounty hunter duo for what Disney describes as "their most thrilling mission yet." If this doesn't open massive at the box office, nothing will.

Hot on its heels comes Backrooms (May 29) from A24 — and this one's wild. The film is directed by Kane Parsons, who was just 16 when his YouTube video "The Backrooms (Found Footage)" went viral and essentially created one of the internet's biggest horror obsessions. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Clark and Renate Reinsve as Dr. Mary Kline, the movie follows a therapist who ventures into a nightmare dimension of endless yellow-walled hallways after her patient disappears through a mysterious doorway. Critics who saw early screenings have praised it as a genuinely original horror experience.

Then we have Masters of the Universe (June 5), directed by Travis Knight. This live-action He-Man reboot features Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, Jared Leto as the villainous Skeletor, Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, and Camila Mendes as Teela. The new trailer just dropped and it highlights Leto's chilling Skeletor voice — Eternia is calling, and it sounds terrifying.

Unexpected Releases That Could Surprise Everyone

Not every summer hit needs a massive budget. The Scary Movie franchise is back after a 13-year hiatus (also May 29), dropping the number from its title for this sixth installment. With original cast members returning to spoof modern horror tropes, it could be the perfect palate cleanser between heavy blockbusters.

June brings more firepower: The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act (June 4) is getting a theatrical release for its final episodes — the Australian adult-animated web series has built such a devoted following that a cinema run made sense. And then Toy Story 5 (June 19) hits theaters, which honestly needs no introduction at this point.

Looking further ahead, the summer extends into Disclosure Day (June 12) — Steven Spielberg returns to alien-invader cinema with Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor — and Supergirl (June 26), which could be DC's answer to Marvel's box office dominance.

Bottom Line: Clear Your Calendar

Between The Mandalorian and Grogu, Backrooms, Masters of the Universe, Scary Movie, The Amazing Digital Circus, and Toy Story 5, there's literally something for every type of movie fan this summer. Whether you're team Spielberg or team Skeletor, the 2026 summer season has you covered. The only question is: which one are you seeing opening night?