by Geoff Fox
Each summer, there’s a long schedule of movies that are released during the summer where studios try to pull you in from the heat and sit back in the air-conditioned theater and enjoy the latest blockbuster.
This summer, it’s no different as there are a number of movies that continue popular franchises, bring cartoons to life, and some that branch out of other movies.
Looking from early June through late August, there are a handful of movies that are more along the family-friendly feel and anticipated movies.
June
Staring off the month of June is a movie that has had fans of the franchise waiting 40 years for the right treatment to hit theaters – “Masters of the Universe” (MOTU) on June 5.
The cartoon the movie is based on debuted as a cartoon to sell toys in the early 1980s and in 1987, The Cannon Group released a live-action version that failed miserably at the box office.
For the next 39 years, fans who grew up watching the cartoon wanted a movie that had the characters and feel of the beloved original.
That is where Amazon and MGM come in with the relaunch of the franchise.
Nicholas Galitzine stars as Adam Glenn/He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, and Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms.
The movie has a young Prince Adam and the Power Sword sent to Earth for protection after Skeletor conquers Eternia.
Fifteen years later, Adam is working at a corporate job and looking for the sword. Once he finds it and is reunited with Teela, they head back to Eternia where Adam unlocks the power to become the most powerful man in the universe, He-Man, and take on Skeletor and his evil forces.
There are a number of nods to the original cartoon, but there’s a few nods to the comics, toys, other cartoon versions, and the 1987 movie which includes a cameo by Dolph Lundgren who played He-Man.
“Masters of the Universe” is rated PG-13.
For the older crowd, “Scary Movie” is also releasing that same day.
“Scary Movie” is the sixth entry into the horror film spoof franchise that started in 2000 with… “Scary Movie.”
Anna Faris returns as Cindy Campbell along with Regina Hall as Brenda, Shawn Wayans as Ray, and Marlon Wayans as Shorty Meeks. Other actors from the franchise reprise their characters as well.
The movie spoofs a number of recent horror movies such as Scream 5 and 6, “M3gan,” “A Quiet Place,” “Smile,” “Final Destination,” “Get Out,” and “Stranger Things” among others.
The movie takes place 26 years after Cindy, Brenda, Ray, and Shorty outran a masked killer only to find themselves targeted by another mad killer.
If you’ve seen any of the previous five movies, then you know there’s nothing too scary about Scary movie and that it’s all for laughs.
“Scary Movie” is rated R.
On June 19, another familiar franchise gets a new addition – “Toy Story” – with “Toy Story 5.”
The movie finds the toys fighting for the attention of Bonnie after she gets a tablet called Lilypad.
Returning to the reprise their iconic roles are Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. Joan Cusack returns as Jessie, Annie Potts as Bo Peep, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, and Wallace Shawn as Rex. Scarlett Spears voices Bonnie and Greta Lee voices Lily Pad.
“Toy Story 5” is rated PG.
The first of two super-hero movies opens on June 26 with “Supergirl” from Warner Bros and DC Comics.
Milly Alcock hits the screen as Supergirl/Kara Zor-El, the cousin of Kal-El, aka Superman/Clark Kent. Jason Momoa, who is no stranger to DC Comics’ movies having played Aquaman in two movies, plays Lobo.
Kara Zor-El is traveling across the galaxy as she celebrates her 23rd birthday and meets Ruthye Marye Knoll. Along the way Kara encounters a tragedy that leads her on what is being called a murderous quest for revenge.
This movie is part of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
“Supergirl” does not yet have a rating.
July
Keeping with continuations of franchises, July kicks off with the continuation of the Minions franchise with “Minions and Monsters” releasing on July 1.
In this entry, everyone’s favorite yellow guys are in 1920s Hollywood searching for frightening creatures for their monster movie.
They end up partnering with a small, green creature who helps them locate monsters across the world.
These aren’t the same Minions as in previous movies. They’re a different tribe. James and Henry are the two new heroes who, with the help of their buddies, must save the planet after unleashing the monsters.
“Minions and Monsters” is rated PG.
On July 10, the newest Disney cartoon to be made into live action hits the big screen with “Moana.”
Catherine Laga’aia stars as Moana and Dwayne Johnson stars as demigod Maui after voicing the character in the cartoon version.
The live action version of Moana follows the main storyline of the 2016 animated version, following Moana’s ocean voyage with Maui to save her people.
There are some creative changes that include new character designs, some scenes that have been slightly altered, and deeper inspiration from Polynesian mythology.
“Moana” is rated PG.
The other superhero movie comes from Marvel and is the fourth installment for the Spider-Man franchise.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” releases July 31.
After the events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” no one knows who Peter Parker is or that he’s Spider-Man. Not even his two best friends MJ and Ned.
Tom Holland dons the costume once again as Peter Parker/Spider-Man while Zendaya reprises her role as MJ and Jacob Batalon returns as Ned.
Parker devotes his life to being Spider-Man full-time, protecting New York City and as demands on him intensify, the pressure sparks a surprising physical evolution that threatens his existence, even as a strange new pattern of crime gives rise to one of the most powerful threats he’s ever faced.
Jon Bernthal enters the movie side of the MCU as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, after his appearances in the Netflix/Disney+ series “Daredevil” and “Daredevil: Born Again,” and the Netflix series “The Punisher.” Mark Ruffalo returns to the MCU big screen as Bruce Banner. No word on if he’ll show up as the Hulk or not.
If the Hulk shows up, could he remember Peter Parker and he’s Spider-Man? That question is being thrown around a lot as something similar to the end of “No Way Home” happened in the comics. Banner didn’t remember Parker, but Hulk did.
Sadie Sink plays an unidentified role and her character has sparked a lot of debate as well as to who she will be playing.
As of right now, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” does not have a rating.
August
Only two movies make it to the list for August.
The first of those is “Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.”
The movie releases August 14.
After getting caught in a mysterious storm, the PAW Patrol team crash on an uncharted tropical island filled with dinosaurs.
There they meet Rex, a pup who has been stranded on the island for years and become an expert on all things related to dinosaurs.
When the team’s archrival Mayor Humdinger beings to mine for natural resources, it causes a dormant volcano to erupt.
The PAW Patrol pups take charge in a number of high stakes, dino rescues bigger than anything they’ve ever done and stop Humdinger before everything on the island goes extinct.
“PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” is not yet rated.
Closing out the month is a movie that has been in movie-making limbo for a few years.
“Coyote vs. ACME” finally sees its theatrical release on August 28.
Will Forte stars as Kevin Avery, John Cena as Buddy Crane, and Luis Guzman as the judge.
The live action filming took place from March to May 2022, but in November 2023, the project was shelved so Warner Bros. Discovery could obtain a tax write-off. However, they later reversed the decision and allowed filmmakers to seek other distributers following public backlash.
In March 2025, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights after doing the same with Warner Bros. Animation’s “The Day The Earth Blew Up” in 2024.
If you’ve seen the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons, you’ve seen the luck Wile E. has had with ACME merchandise.
In the movie, Kevin Avery represents Coyote in a lawsuit against ACME and a growing friendship between the two motivates their determination to win the case, which puts them up against. Buddy Crane who represents ACME.
Many of the beloved Looney Tunes characters make appearances in the movie as well.
“Coyote vs ACME” is rated PG.
