Key things to know about the upcoming summer movie season

What this summer’s big directors are saying

“It’s a fun twist on what a movie like this could be,” says Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier.

“It’s a personal journey for Superman that’s entirely new,” says Superman director James Gunn. “But it’s also about the robots and the flying dogs and all that stuff. It’s taking a very real person and putting them in the middle of this outrageous situation and outrageous world and playing with that. I think it’s a lot of fun because of that.”

“It’s working on an incredibly large scale in terms of world building, but it’s also no different from all of the great comedies and dramas that I’ve done,” says The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman. “In the end, it comes down to character, it comes down to relationships, it comes down to heart and humour.”

“People say, like, do you feel pressure and the most pressure I feel is from myself as a fan and to Steven Spielberg, to not disappoint him,” says Jurassic World Rebirth director Gareth Edwards. “Weirdly what’s great about doing a Jurassic movie is that everybody knows deep down that like half the reason they’re in this business is because of that film and Steven’s work.”

Why summer 2025 might be a big one for movies

Before the pandemic, all but one summer since 2007 broke the US$4 billion mark. Since 2020, only one has: 2023, led by Barbie.

The unstable economy might work in the industry’s favour, at least when it comes to moviegoing. Even with increased ticket prices, theatrical movies remain the most affordable entertainment outside of the home, and attendance tends to increase during recession years. The annual domestic box office crossed US$10 billion for the first time in 2009.

“By the end of this summer, hopefully people aren’t talking about being in a funk anymore and it feels like we got our mojo back and we’re off to the races,” Kosinski, who directed the pandemic-era hit Top Gun: Maverick, says.