NAKM: May 15, 2025

My Summer Movie Preview!

Author

Brendan Knapp
May 15, 2025

Summer Movie Preview

Today I’m not preaching about TV settings or pulpitizing on AI’s inability to make you feel. All I’m doing is offering a kickass summer preview of NAKM-friendly films. You’ll notice there are no graphics or links. It’s because I’m at my newsletter data limit thanks to the textual overload I’m unloading on you. For god sakes, I already had to cut my bio from the bottom — so pretend the movies below include posters and Google the titles for trailers. Enjoy!

  • MAY

    • Lilo & Stitch (May 23)

      • A live-action remake of the charming original. The trailer looks like family fun. What can go wrong? (Hint: Disney execs)

    • Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (May 23)

      • You have to respect Tom Cruise. Look at how much distance he’s put from his Oprah couch hopping days — that’s incredible growth for an old man like him. I believe his work as Ethan Hunt could be the reason he’s turned around public approval.

    • Karate Kid Legends (May 30)

      • The Karate Kid-verse unites as the Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai come together for a retelling of the original. The trailer (Google it!) makes me want to see this. Solid marketing work.

  • JUNE

    • How to Train Your Dragon (June 13)

      • A live-action remake of a great animated film. Is DreamWorks just milking its dragon teat or will this remake surpass the original? We’ll find out in a month.

    • 28 Years Later (June 20)

      • I’m curious to see where this series lands on the sociological front. It’ll be a peek into what happens when humankind gets used to the zombie menace. This one is for older families, obviously.

    • Elio (June 20)

      • Pixar in space. Count me in.

  • JULY

    • Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2)

      • Scarlett Johansson returns to the original Jurassic Park island. Is that a good thing? I’m not sure — but dinosaurs running amok is always a good thing.  

    • Superman (July 11)

      • The sneak peek sold me. Director James Gunn appears to have done something that hasn’t happened in a long time: He made Superman fun again.

    • Smurfs (July 18)

      • A Rihanna-produced Smurfs movie. I fear that being trapped in a theater with this film could be work work work work. Yet, there’s a good cast and theaters are air conditioned — two things going for it.

    • Happy Gilmore 2 (July 25)

      • Expect Adam Sandler at his worst, which is sometimes Adam Sandler at his best. I’m sure older kids who love the first flick will get a kick out of this one.

    • The Fantastic Four: The First Steps (July 25)

      • Third time’s a charm, right? Wrong! This will be the fourth attempt to bring this super family to the big screen. The fourth! What’s the difference this time? Pedro Pascal. The guy can’t miss. Plus we’ll see Natasha Lyonne and John Malkovich in supporting roles. Not to mention this guy. I’m skeptically in.

  • AUGUST

    • The Bad Guys 2 (Aug. 1)

      • The bad guys who went straight are now bad again? I…yea, whatever. I’m sure it’ll be fine — with the right amount of liquid encouragement.

    • The Naked Gun (Aug. 1)

      • Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr. is some high-level casting. I’m curious to see how kid friendly this one will be. The first was…kind of safe for younger eyes.

    • Sketch (Aug. 6)

      • I’m excited for this one. I obviously haven’t seen it yet. But Kristy Puchko of RogerEbert.com has. She says, “Sketch is a fantastically fun and heartwarming movie with a slathering of weird that makes it a real treat.” Sold. Here’s the trailer.

    • Freakier Friday (Aug. 8)

      • The original is a decent switcheroo movie, er, roo. With Lohan and Lee Curtis returning, it’ll likely focus on their physical changes. Ergo, SEX! But it’s Disney, so who knows. It’ll probably be kid friendly.

These are all of the new movies. Classics such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and The Sound of Music will also return to theaters for re-releases celebrating their anniversaries. Any time you can see a classic in the theater, do it!

Instead of my usual recommendations below, I’m going to list this summer and fall’s big re-releases. There are some notable films getting rare wide-theater showings.

Cheers!

Brendan

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Fresh Cuts

The latest family films to hit all screens. Not all are winners. Watch at your own risk!

Streaming 🛜

  • Netflix

  • Hulu

    • (May 16) Crossroads (2002) (10+)

    • (May 16) The Last Breath (2025) (11+)

    • (May 30) Into the Deep (2024) (12+)

  • Max

  • Disney+

    • none

  • Peacock

    • (May 15) The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) (5+)

    • (May 15) John Wick (2014) (12+)

    • (May 15) John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) (12+)

    • (May 15) John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) (12+)

    • (May 15) John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) (12+)

    • (May 15) Trolls Band Together (2023) (5+)

    • (May 15) Trolls Band Together: Sing-Along (2023) (5+)

    • (May 18) Nope (2022) (12+)

    • (May 29) Sisu (2022) (12+)

In Theaters 📽️

On Disc 📀

  • (May 27) The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024) (5+)

  • (May 27) The Woman in the Yard (2025) (10+)

News You Can Use (and Sometimes Booze)

  • Tariffs: Will there be movie tariffs? Can there be? No one knows. If there are, though, they would be devastating.

  • Nuisance: In-movie Chatbot tested during M3GAN screening. Great. Grand. Wonderful. No yelling on the bus!

  • Beer: West coast cleans up at the World Beer Cup — though many US regions are represented.

Papa Do Preach!

“I realize now that the warmth of that connection with my family and with the images on the screen gave me something very precious. We were experiencing something fundamental together. We were living through the emotional truths on the screen … sometimes expressed in small things: gestures, glances, reactions between the characters, light, shadow. These were things that we normally couldn’t discuss or wouldn’t discuss or even acknowledge in our lives.”

Martin Scorsese, speaking about taking his family to the movie theater

Let’s Get Re-Rec’d!

Instead of my usual recommendations, I’m telling you to enjoy a classic film in the theater. I mean, how often do you get to flinch at the first reveal of the shark in Jaws or marvel at the flickering, lively countryside of Kiki’s Delivery Service while watching on a big screen? Do it!

Studio Ghibli Fest 2025

  • Kiki’s Delivery Service (May 17 - 21)

  • The Secret World of Arrietty 15th Anniversary (June 22 - 24)

  • My Neighbor Totoro (July 19 - 23)

  • Grave of the Fireflies (Aug. 10 - 12)

  • Ponyo (Aug. 23 - 27)

  • Howl’s Moving Castle (Sept. 20 - 24)

  • Spirited Away (Oct. 18 - 22)

  • The Boy and the Heron (Nov. 15 - 19)

There is not a weak entry here. All are incredible animated films. Our family loves Kiki and Totoro. Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron are the most critically acclaimed — though that’s a fine line, because all of director Hayao Miyazaki’s films are incredible.

Fathom Entertainment’s Disney and Fox Classics Re-Releases

  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (June 15 & June 18)

  • Clueless 30th Anniversary (June 29 - 30)

  • One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 50th Anniversary (July 13 & July 16)

  • Sunset Boulevard 75th Anniversary (Aug. 3 - 4)

  • The Sound of Music 60th Anniversary (Sept. 13, 14, & 17)

  • Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago Ultimate Director’s Cut (Nov. 5 & Nov. 9)

The Sound of Music is one of the best family films of all time — but your kid may not be ready for it. In that case, go for Jaws.

For Your Eyes Only: Theater Edition

What to watch after THEY go to bed.

Sinners (2025)

Director Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed) knows how to make a cinematic statement with some oomph. In Sinners, that oomph goes to a whole new level. Moviegoers loved that oomph so much, Warner Bros. is splattering it all over IMAX screens once again May 15 - 21. Sinners has crushed expectations at the box office. Coogler delivered a wildly ambitious vampire flick that takes big swings and hits more than it misses. There’s a lot of historical and cultural subtext. You may want to see it twice to drink it all in.

Sneak Things In!

Not all theaters sell alcohol — which you need for films like Hitpig!. It’s too difficult to fit a four-pack of 20oz IPAs in your wife’s purse (Sorry again, Ann!). Instead, I say go straight booze. Here are eight flasks to help you get your buzz on at the box office.

The Classic: Stanley makes a fantastic flask with an easy-drinking wide mouth and leak-free design you can confidently stash in a purse or deep pocket.

The Durable: Yeti’s flask has a classic look and is built well enough it can be dropped from the top row of your local IMAX and still not leak.

The Foldable: You’re not turning heads with this semi-disposable flask. But maybe that’s the point. And if you are caught, at this price point you won’t be afraid to ditch.

The Godfather: You will be the godfather of your screening with this etched stainless steel flask.

The Sipper: If you feel secure pouring a drink among a sea of moviegoers, this flask is for you. The cap is a 3oz cup — perfect for a slightly more sophisticated public drinking experience.

The Curve: You're no matinee-price seeker. You’re no pocketful of candy sneaker. You enjoy the best life has to offer and you’re not afraid to pay for it. Snow Peak has just the thing for you — a lightweight, durable flask that you’ll love. And it fits snuggly into Snow Peak’s other kitchen gear so you can cook a whole damn meal while your kids sleep through Angry Birds 3.

The Garter: If you’re not afraid to show a little leg for a drink, slide this one up your stems. Or have your partner do it.

The Baby: This is totally impractical. But if you’re a borderline psycho with time on your hands, go ahead and traumatize your kiddos with this homemade monstrosity.