Spotlight ENTERTAINMENT Coming soon: Historical drama, sequels, blockbusters fill summer movie bill Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises May 1, 2026 19 hrs ago 0 × USA Today - Vertical USA TODAY movie critic Brian Truitt reveals three films you need to watch this summer, including "The Odyssey." Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Consider it the “Oppenheimer” effect: This year’s summer films have a historic bent that could be ideal for the country’s 250th.kAmx7 E92E :D?’E 6?@F89[ =@@< 7@C E96 FDF2= D6BF6=D[ DFA6C96C@6D 2?5 D4:\7: 7=:4<D E@ 7:== E96 D62D@?]k^AmkAm%96 3:8 @?6 E@ H2E49i $E6G6? $A:6=36C8’D “s:D4=@DFC6 s2J[” 2 DFA6C\D64C6E:G6 4=@D6 6?4@F?E6C H:E9 2=:6?D]k^Am Movies & Television Summer blockbuster movie season is here. These are films to watch | Streamed & Screened BRUCE MILLER and TERRY LIPSHETZ Lee Enterprises kAmw6C6VD 2 =@@< 2E H92EVD 29625ik^Amk9amkDEC@?8m}~( !{p*x}vk^DEC@?8mk^9am kAmkDEC@?8mp?:>2= u2C>ik^DEC@?8m v6@C86 ~CH6==’D 2==68@CJ >2J 8@ 5@H? 36EE6C :? 2?:>2E:@?] $6E9 #@86?[ (@@5J w2CC6=D@? 2?5 v=6?? r=@D6 2C6 2>@?8 E96 G@:46D]k^Am People are also reading… Lincoln man cited for November fatal crash near Waverly, deputies say An ex-Nebraska coach watched from Northern Colorado’s bench. He says this team is title-bound Nebraska football quarterback commit earns high praise at camp Nebraska commit Trae Taylor named to 2026 Elite 11 Finals roster No. 6 Nebraska softball takes Big Ten lead with rout of Minnesota, Washington loss Social media reacts to Emmett Johnson drafted by Kansas City Chiefs Nebraska volleyball notes: Cogill making push at middle, back row booms, funky fourth set Lincoln record store faces threats after video shows staff smashing copies of new Ye album Every Nebraska football player who signed as a undrafted free agent Substitute teacher cited after disturbing comments at Raymond Central What's happening with house prices in Omaha in 2026? Watch Nebraska vs Creighton volleyball game today Nebraska volleyball notes: How NCAA's '5-in-5' affects NU's superstar seniors; spring portal opens Where to watch Nebraska baseball at Kansas today: Time, TV channel Lincoln police find 14-year-old girl missing since Wednesday kAmkDEC@?8m%96 s6G:= (62CD !C252 aik^DEC@?8m p C6G:D:E E@ E96 92F89EJ >282K:?6 65:E@C 2?5 96C 7@C>6C >:?:@?D 86ED |6CJ= $EC66A 324< :? |6CJ= $EC66A >@56] %92E’D 2==]k^Amk9am|p*k^9amkAmkDEC@?8m|p* gk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmkDEC@?8mq:==:6 t:=:D9 – w:E |6 w2C5 2?5 $@7Ei %96 %@FC W{:G6 :? bsXik^DEC@?8m xE’D 2 4@?46CE 7:=>[ 3FE :E’D q:==:6 t:=:D9[ D@ E96C6’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 DA:? J@F 5:5?’E D66 4@>:?8]k^Am "Mortal Kombat 2" Warner Bros. Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m|@CE2= z@>32E xxik^DEC@?8m %96C6’D >@C6n z2C= &C32? C6EFC?D :? E96 G:56@\82>6\EFC?65\>@G:6]k^Am Hugh Jackman in "The Sheep Detectives." Amazon MGM Studios kAmkDEC@?8m%96 $966A s6E64E:G6Dik^DEC@?8m (96? 2 72C>6C WwF89 y24<>2?X H:?5D FA 5625[ E96 D966A 96 C625 E@ WJ@F 8@E E92E C:89EX 564:56 E@ 7:?5 E96 4F=AC:E] {@ED @7 3:8 ?2>6D AC@G:56 G@:46D]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m|p* `dk^DEC@?8mk^Am Jake Gyllenhaal, left, and Henry Cavill star in "In the Grey." Black Bear Pictures kAmkDEC@?8mx? E96 vC6Jik^DEC@?8m w6?CJ r2G:== 2?5 y2<6 vJ==6?922= 86E :?G@=G65 :? 2 vFJ #:E49:6 25G6?EFC6 7:=> 23@FE @A6C2E:G6D H@C<:?8 @? 2 96:DE]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mxD v@5 xDik^DEC@?8m %H@ D:DE6CD 8@ @? E96 9F?E 7@C E96 @?6 H9@ HC@?865 E96>] %@?J H:??6C z2C2 *@F?8 2?5 |2==@C: y@9?D@? DE2C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m~3D6DD:@?ik^DEC@?8m &D:?8 >28:4 E@ >2<6 D@>6@?6 72== :? =@G6 H:E9 J@F 5@6D?’E 2=H2JD H@C<] ~C D@ |:4926= y@9?DE@? 5:D4@G6CD :? E9:D 9@CC@C 7:=>]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m%96 (:K2C5 @7 E96 zC6>=:?ik^DEC@?8m yF56 {2H A=2JD '=25:>:C !FE:? :? E9:D E9C:==6C 23@FE 9:D C:D6 E@ A@H6C]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m|p* aa k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8mx {@G6 q@@DE6CDik^DEC@?8m z6<6 !2=>6C DE2CD 2D E96 9625 @7 2 8C@FA @7 D9@A=:7E6CD H9@ 86E F?56C E96 D<:? @7 7@=<D =:<6 s6>: |@@C6 2?5 (:== !@F=E6C] q@@ED #:=6J 5:C64ED]k^Am "The Mandalorian and Grogu" LUCASFILM LTD kAmkDEC@?8m%96 |2?52=@C:2? 2?5 vC@8Fik^DEC@?8m !65C@ !2D42= 86ED E@ 3C:?8 9:D 9:E “$E2C (2CD” 492C24E6C E@ E96 3:8 D4C66?] p=@?8 7@C E96 C:56n w:D 8C66? D:56<:4<]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m|p* ahk^DEC@?8mk^Am "Backrooms" A24 Films kAmkDEC@?8mq24<C@@>Dik^DEC@?8m p *@F%F36 72G6[ z2?6 !2CD@?D[ 252AED 9:D H@C<D :?E@ E96 DE@CJ @7 A6@A=6 DEF4< :? E96 324<C@@> @7 D@>6 >2==\=:<6 A=246 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96:C =:G6D]k^Am Nate Bargatze is a working dad who takes on more responsibilities at home and with the kids in the comedy "The Breadwinner." Frank Masi, Sony Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m%96 qC625H:??6Cik^DEC@?8m }2E6 q6C82EK6 E6DED 9:D D<:==D 2D 2 |C] |@> H96? 9:D H:76 W|2?5J |@@C6X 8@6D 2H2J] %96 BF6DE:@?i (:== q6C82EK6 36 2?@E96C p52> $2?5=6Cnk^Am kAmkDEC@?8m!C6DDFC6ik^DEC@?8m qC6?52? uC2D6C A=2JD sH:89E t:D6?9@H6C :? E9:D 5C2>2 23@FE E96 fa 9@FCD 367@C6 s\s2J]k^Amk9amy&}tk^9am kAmkDEC@?8my&}t dk^DEC@?8mk^Am He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) harnesses the power of Grayskull taking out Skeletor's goons in the fantasy adventure "Masters of the Universe." Giles Keyte, Amazon MGM Studios kAmkDEC@?8m|2DE6CD @7 E96 &?:G6CD6ik^DEC@?8m %9@D6 `hg_D E@JD 4@>6 E@ =:76] }:49@=2D v2=:EK:?6 DE2CD 2D w6\|2?]k^Am Nick Jonas (left) plays a fading boy-bander who makes a hit out of a song by a wedding singer (Paul Rudd ) in "Power Ballad." David Cleary, Lionsgate kAmkDEC@?8m!@H6C q2==25ik^DEC@?8m %H@ >FD:4:2?D 4=2D9 H96? @?6 C64@C5D E96 @E96C’D D@?8 2?5 :E 364@>6D 2 3:8 9:E] !2F= #F55 2?5 }:4< y@?2D A=2J E96 D:?86CD]k^Am Anna Faris reprises her role as Cindy – and spoofs Jamie Lee Curtis' recent "Halloween" films – in the new "Scary Movie." Paramount Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m$42CJ |@G:6ik^DEC@?8m #625J 7@C 2?@E96C 9@CC@C >@G:6 DA@@7n $:?46 H6 92G6?’E 925 @?6 D:?46 a_`b[ :E’D E:>6] {@@< 7@C “|682?[” “v6E ~FE” 2?5 “$:??6CD” E@ 86E 9:E]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8my&}t `ak^DEC@?8mk^Am Emily Blunt plays a Kansas City meteorologist affected by an extraterrestrial presence in Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day." Universal Pictures kAmkDEC@?8ms:D4=@DFC6 s2Jik^DEC@?8m $:?46 $E6G6? $A:6=36C8 :D E96 <:?8 @7 DF>>6C C6=62D6D[ E9:D :D 3@F?5 E@ 36 2 9:E] xE :?G@=G6D 2=:6?D[ 3FE E92E’D 2D >F49 2D 2?J@?6 H:== D2J] t>:=J q=F?E[ y@D9 ~’r@??@C 2?5 r@=>2? s@>:?8@ DE2C]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m$E@AP %92EP %C2:?Pik^DEC@?8m #F!2F= A=2JD E96 AC6D:56?E :? E9:D 4@>65J 23@FE 2 CF?2H2J EC2:?] {@ED @7 C64@8?:K23=6 7246D EFC? FA]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8my&}t `hk^DEC@?8mk^Am Woody and Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story 5." Pixar kAmkDEC@?8m%@J $E@CJ dik^DEC@?8m %9@D6 56E6C>:?65 E@JD 7246 2 ?6H 492==6?86i D4C66?D] (96? <:5D EFC? E@ E23=6ED[ :E’D H2C]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m%96 s62E9 @7 #@3:? w@@5ik^DEC@?8m wF89 y24<>2? A=2JD #@3:? w@@5 :? E9:D 5C2>2E:4 E2<6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m{6G:E:4FDik^DEC@?8m p 9:E @? E96 7:=> 76DE 4:C4F:E[ E9:D 6?ECJ 23@FE 4@?G6CD:@? E96C2AJ D9@HD 9@H EH@ 3@JD ECJ E@ 3C62< @FE]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mv:C=D {:<6 v:C=Dik^DEC@?8m w2J=6J z:J@<@ EFC?D 96C D@?8^?@G6= :?E@ 2 7:=> 23@FE DF>>6C =@G6]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8my&}t aek^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m$FA6C8:C=i k^DEC@?8m|:==J p=4@4< A=2JD E96 J@F?8 DFA6C96C@ 2D 2 4@F?E6C\4F=EFC6 4C:>6 7:89E6C]k^Am Penelope Cruz (left) and Olivia Wilde are neighbors whose relationship gets complicated in the dramedy "The Invite." A24 Films kAmkDEC@?8m%96 x?G:E6ik^DEC@?8m ~=:G:2 (:=56 2?5 $6E9 #@86? 86E :?G@=G65 :? 2 C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 ?6:893@CD !6?6=@A6 rCFK 2?5 t5H2C5 }@CE@?] (:=56 5:C64ED]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8my24<2DD q6DE 2?5 {2DEik^DEC@?8m %96 82?8 :D 324<[ 3FE E96J D2J E9:D :D E96 =2DE E:>6] w@?6DE]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m{F4<J $EC:<6ik^DEC@?8m r@?E:?F:?8 2 (@C=5 (2C xx 72D4:?2E:@?[ E9:D DE2CD $4@EE t2DEH@@5[ r@=:? w2?<D 2?5 pF?;2?F6 t==:D\%2J=@C :? E96 27E6C>2E9 @7 E96 q2EE=6 @7 E96 qF=86]k^Amk9amy&{*k^9am kAmkDEC@?8my&{* `k^DEC@?8mk^Am "Minions and Monsters" Universal Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m|:?:@?D 2?5 |@?DE6CDik^DEC@?8m %9@D6 =@G23=6 >:?:@?D ECJ E@ >2<6 2 >@?DE6C >@G:6 :? `ha_D w@==JH@@5 3FE 6?4@F?E6C 2 ?6H HC:?<=6i D@F?5]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8my&{* bk^DEC@?8mk^Am "Young Washington" Angel kAmkDEC@?8m*@F?8 (2D9:?8E@?ik^DEC@?8m yFDE :? E:>6 7@C E96 4@F?ECJVD ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ[ H6 86E E9:D =@@< 2E E96 7:CDE AC6D:56?E 367@C6 96 >2<6D 3:8 >@G6D] (:==:2> uC2?<=J?\|:==6C A=2JD E96 C@=6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8my&{* `_k^DEC@?8mk^Am Dwayne Johnson as Maui in Disney's live-action "Moana." DISNEY kAmkDEC@?8m|@2?2ik^DEC@?8m xE’D 2 =:G6\24E:@? G6CD:@? @7 E96 s:D?6J 2?:>2E:@? 9:E] sH2J?6 y@9?D@? C6EFC?D 2D |2F:]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mv2:= s2F89ECJ 2?5 E96 r6=63C:EJ $6I !2DDik^DEC@?8m q67@C6 96C H655:?8[ 2 H@>2? K:AD E@ w@==JH@@5 E@ FD6 96C A2DD @? y@? w2>>]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8my&{* `fk^DEC@?8mk^Am Matt Damon stars as the legendary Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey." Universal Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m%96 ~5JDD6Jik^DEC@?8m r9C:DE@A96C }@=2? E2<6D @? w@>6C’D 6A:4 H:E9 |2EE s2>@? 2?5 2 3F?49 @7 @E96C 3:8 DE2CD] k^Am kAmkDEC@?8my&{* ack^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8mtG:= s625 qFC?ik^DEC@?8m xE’D E96 D:IE9 @?6] x7 J@F ?665 E@ 2D<[ J@F’C6 ?@E :? E96 “tG:= s625” 72>:=J]k^Am Mary Steenburgen, left, and Jake Johnson in "The Dink." ANDREW COOPER kAmkDEC@?8m%96 s:?<ik^DEC@?8m !:4<=632== 86ED :ED 5F6 :? E9:D 4@>65J 7C@> q6? $E:==6C[ H9@ 2=D@ E@@< @? 5@58632== 2?5 >@56=D]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m#@D63FD9 !CF?:?8ik^DEC@?8m t==6 u2??:?8 =62C?D H92E BF:C<D 36?5 2 H62=E9J 72>:=J :? E9:D D2E:C6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mfa w@FCDik^DEC@?8m z6G:? w2CE A=2JD 2? “@=56C” H@C<6C H9@ ;@:?D 9:D a_\D@>6E9:?8 4@==628F6D 2E 2 32496=@C A2CEJ]k^Am "Hadestown: The Musical" Bleecker Street kAmkDEC@?8mw256DE@H?i %96 |FD:42=ik^DEC@?8m %96 qC:E:D9 G6CD:@? @7 qC@25H2J’D 9:E 86ED 2 D4C66? 42AEFC6 G6CD:@?]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8my&{* b`k^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmkDEC@?8m$A:56C\|2?i qC2?5 }6H s2Jik^DEC@?8m %@> w@==2?5 C6EFC?D 2D E96 H63D=:?86C] +6?52J2’D 96C6[ E@@]k^Am k9amp&v&$%k^9amkAmkDEC@?8mp&v] fk^DEC@?8mk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m~?6 }:89E ~?=Jik^DEC@?8m !C6>2C:E2= D6I :D =682= @?6 ?:89E 2 J62C] $@[ H9@ 9@@<D FAn W%9:D :D =:<6 ‘%96 !FC86]’Xk^Am "Super Troopers 3" Searchlight Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m$FA6C %C@@A6CD bik^DEC@?8m %96 8@@7J '6C>@?E EC@@A6CD 2C6 324<]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mp&v] `ck^DEC@?8mk^Am "The End of Oak Street" Warner Bros. Pictures kAmkDEC@?8m%96 t?5 @7 ~2< $EC66Eik^DEC@?8m x? E9:D[ E96 DF>>6C @7 p??6 w2E92H2J[ D96 2?5 tH2? |4vC68@C A=2J 7@=<D H9@ 2C6 EC2?DA@CE65 6=D6H96C6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8m!p( !2EC@=i %96 s:?@ |@G:6ik^DEC@?8m vF6DD H9@’D 8@:?8 E@ E96 5@8Dnk^AmkAmkDEC@?8m%96 qC:?< @7 (2Cik^DEC@?8m y677 s2?:6=D A=2JD #@?2=5 #6282? 2?5 y2C65 w2CC:D A=2JD |:<92:= v@C32496G :? E9:D 244@F?E @7 E96:C #6J<;2G:< $F>>:E]k^Am "The Rivals of Amziah King" Black Bear Productions kAmkDEC@?8m%96 #:G2=D @7 p>K:29 z:?8ik^DEC@?8m |2EE96H |4r@?2F896J DE2CD 2D 2 9@?6J >2<6C H9@ :D E9C62E6?65 3J @FED:56CD]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mp&v] a`k^DEC@?8mk^Am "Insidious: Out of the Further" Sony Pictures Releasing kAmkDEC@?8mx?D:5:@FDi ~FE @7 E96 uFCE96Cik^DEC@?8m |@C6 >2J96>] x7 J@F 92G6 E@ 2D<[ J@F 2C6?’E :? E96 =@@A]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m|FE:?Jik^DEC@?8m y2D@? $E2E92> >FDE 4=62C 9:D ?2>6 WJ6E 282:?X]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m$A2 (66<6?5ik^DEC@?8m uC:6?5D 8@ @? 2 8:C=D’ H66<6?5] {6D=:6 |2??[ xD=2 u:D96C 2?5 p??2 u2C:D 2C6 :? E96 >:I]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mp&v] agk^DEC@?8mk^Am Wile E. Coyote (left) runs into his old foe, the Road Runner, in the live-action/animated comedy "Coyote vs. Acme." Ketchup Entertainment kAmkDEC@?8mr@J@E6 GD] p4>6ik^DEC@?8m (:=6 t] r@J@E6 E2<6D @? E96 p4>6 r@CA@C2E:@?]k^Am Jacob Elordi, left, and Margaret Qualley star in "The Dog Stars." Fabio Lovino, 20th Century Studios kAmkDEC@?8m%96 s@8 $E2CDik^DEC@?8m y24@3 t=@C5: 2?5 y@D9 qC@=:? 86E E@ DE2C :? #:5=6J $4@EE’D =2E6DE[ 2 E9C:==6C 23@FE 2 7=F E92E E9C62E6?D E@ H:A6 @FE 6G6CJ@?6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mx5:@EDik^DEC@?8m s2G6 uC2?4@ 2?5 ~’$962 y24<D@? yC] E2<6 2 <:5 E@ C6923 :? 2 C@25 EC:A 4@>65J]k^Am "Legend of the White Dragon" Well Go USA Entertainment kAmkDEC@?8m{686?5 @7 E96 (9:E6 sC28@?ik^DEC@?8m p7E6C =@D:?8 9:D E:E=6 2D E96 (9:E6 sC28@?[ tC:< #665 C6EFC?D E@ 4=62C 9:D ?2>6 2?5 AC@E64E 9:D 72>:=J] %96 =2E6 y2D@? s2G:5 uC2?< DE2CD]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mq24<C@@>Dik^DEC@?8m p *@F%F36 72G6[ z2?6 !2CD@?D[ 252AED 9:D H@C<D :?E@ E96 DE@CJ @7 A6@A=6 DEF4< :? E96 324<C@@> @7 D@>6 >2==\=:<6 A=246 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96:C =:G6D]k^Am Movies & Television Review: ‘Michael’ biopic glosses over pop star’s faults Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Movies & Television For 'Running Point,' Kate Hudson draws inspiration from mom to lead the team Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Here are three movies you definitely should see this summer USA TODAY movie critic Brian Truitt reveals three films you need to watch this summer, including "The Odyssey."
Movies & Television Summer blockbuster movie season is here. These are films to watch | Streamed & Screened BRUCE MILLER and TERRY LIPSHETZ Lee Enterprises
Movies & Television Review: ‘Michael’ biopic glosses over pop star’s faults Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Movies & Television For 'Running Point,' Kate Hudson draws inspiration from mom to lead the team Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises
Here are three movies you definitely should see this summer USA TODAY movie critic Brian Truitt reveals three films you need to watch this summer, including "The Odyssey."
