Escape the heat with these 9 family-friendly movies coming out this summer

From Space Jam (the sequel) to Cruella (the prequel), these summer movies are sure to be a hit with the whole family.


As the saying goes, "time waits for no one," and when it comes to summer, a similar adage holds true: "summer waits for no parent." In anticipation of the upcoming season and all the festivities that surround the good times ahead, we're nailing down a list of summer movies the whole family will enjoy to add to your list of activities.

In the heat of summer, with the AC or a fan blowing, is there anything better than curling up on the couch and watching a family-friendly movie (or better yet, actually heading to a movie theater again)?

These nine movies will be out this summer—some in theaters, and some streaming directly to your TV—which you can watch with the entire family.

1. Cruella (In theaters May 28th or stream on Disney Plus)

Disney's live-action prequel stars Emma Stone as a young Cruella de Vil, the villain from 101 Dalmatians, before she became evil. Teenaged Estella has aspirations of becoming a fashion designer. Her talents catch the eye of a style icon, played by Emma Thompson, and their relationship causes Estella to embrace her dark side, eventually turning her into Cruella.

2. Spirit: Untamed (In theaters June 4th)

In this sequel, a determined girl, Lucky Prescott, longs for a place to belong. When she meets a wild horse, whom she names Spirit, they form a deep connection that brings new adventure in her life as she strives to get him back to his family. The DreamWorks Animation film cast includes Isabela Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal and Julianne Moore.

3. In the Heights (In theaters June 11th or stream on HBO Max)

Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical of the same name comes to the screen, as director Jon M. Chu brings his vibrant characters from New York City's Washington Heights to life. In the movie, a bodega owner has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother's fortune. The film features Anthony Ramos, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jimmy Smitts, Lin-Manuel Miranda and many others. Keep in mind this movie may be best suited for older kids (and avid musical theater fans).

4. Luca (streaming on Disney Plus June 18th)

Set along the Italian Riviera, a seemingly unusual yet strong friendship grows between a "human" and a sea monster pretending to be human. Together, the friends have the summer of their lives, until deeply-held secrets threaten their fun. This fish out of water film stars Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer and Maya Rudolph.

5. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (In theaters June 18th)

Peter Rabbit is bored of life in the garden and is seeking a new adventure, so he journeys to the big city and meets some less-than-desirable characters. His inclination for mischief brings harm to his entire family after they come looking for him. The film features James Corden, Elizabeth Debicki and Margot Robbie.

6. Space Jam: A New Legacy (In theaters July 16th or stream on HBO Max)

Basketball star LeBron James stars as a fictionalized version of himself in this live action/animated sports comedy. James teams up with the Looney Tunes gang to defeat the Goon Squad and save his son. This film also features an ensemble cast that includes Don Cheadle, Sonequa Martin-Green and Zendaya.

7. Hotel Transylvania 4, Transformania (In theaters July 23rd)

This is the fourth installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise. When a mysterious invention goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny becomes a monster. The series is said to be offering a lighter, more kid-friendly take on classic monsters like Count Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man. It has an all-star cast including Brian Hull, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and David Spade.

8. Jungle Cruise (In theaters and Disney Plus Premier on July 30th)

This Disney film is inspired by Disneyland's theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of passengers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles—but with a supernatural element. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt play siblings: Johnson is a wisecracking boat captain and Blunt is a fearless scholar, on a mission to uncover an ancient tree with the power to change the future of medicine. In theaters and Disney+ Premier on July 30.

9. Paw Patrol: The Movie (In theaters August 20th)

This animated film is based on the television series Paw Patrol and follows our heroic pup, Ryder, as he takes on PAW Patrol's biggest rival, Mayor Humdinger. Armed with new gadgets, Ryder and the team fight to save the citizens of Adventure City and stop Mayor Humdinger from destroying the bustling metropolis. Jimmy Kimmel, Dax Shepherd, Tyler Perry, and Kim Kardashian lend their voices to this family movie.

Tirralan is a former actress with a masters in professional writing from the University of Southern CA. She is the founder and editor of Tinseltown Mom where she blogs about and interviews celebrity & boss moms. She also hosts the podcast, Time Out with Tinseltown Mom. She’s happily married to a tv producer and together they have two creative kids.

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