Here’s Your Guide to Streaming the Best Movies This Summer

I have a deep appreciation for the Moviegoing Experience: walking in, buying your ticket, stopping at the concession stand for a large, buttery popcorn, losing said ticket when the checker asks for it, struggling to find my seat in the dark because I got there late, and finally collapsing into a semi-comfortable chair to stare at a large screen in silence for the next two hours. It’s home. And while that same series of events is enjoyable year-round, there’s something special about escaping the blistering sun of summer in a dark theater to watch the blockbuster film of the season. 

But that annual, thrilling sensation came to a screeching halt last year. Movie theaters closed, everyone stayed home, and streaming became the primary way to access new entertainment — the world was at the mercy of the Streaming Gods for escapism that was so desperately needed. Soon, box office hits started going straight to streaming services, and the way people experienced new movies changed.

As much as I will forever love movie theaters — I live right next to one, which is tempting in and of itself — I’ve grown accustomed to streaming new films from my couch, PJs on, snacks and my bed just steps away, and I’m mentally and physically prepared to continue to do so over the next few months. Yes, movie theaters are starting to open back up, but as summer blockbuster season makes a hybrid comeback, I’m just fine here on my couch — at least for one more year.

And if you are too, whether it’s out of health concerns or a desire to spend less money on movies or any other number of reasons, I’ve got good news: there is a lot of new streamable programming to be excited about. As Apartment Therapy’s Entertainment Editor, I felt it was my duty — nay, my purpose — to communicate all of the buzz-worthy flicks hitting your television that will get you pumped for the movie season that’s about to unfold.

Broken down by genre, I’ve highlighted three new movies for each category — a few are already out, so you can get to it — and three films worth rewatching as part of your summer to-watch list. Speaking of a list, in order to keep track of your progress, here’s a low-pressure checklist you can print out and use to mark what you watch (more details on each film below). Like a Summer Reading List, but make it movies.

Ready, set, WATCH. Your Summer Streaming List is awaiting:

• “Plan B” (May 28): Set in rural town in South Dakota, high schooler Sunny (Kuhoo Verma) avoids trouble to make her parents proud. After her best friend Lupe tells Sunny’s crush that she’s throwing a party while her parents are gone, though, Sunny goes all in to finally make a move. But things don’t go according to plan, and after hooking up with another classmate, Sunny abruptly wakes up to the realization that she needs to find a morning-after pill in the next 24 hours — commence wild-goose chase. Available to stream on Hulu.

• “Queen Bees” (June 11): When her husband passes away, Helen (Ellen Burstyn) is set on keeping their house. But when a forgetful moment leads to a house fire that requires months of renovations, Helen agrees to temporarily move into Pine Grove Senior Community. There, she encounters the Queen Bees — three women who rule the school, so to speak — and it suddenly feels like she’s back to high school. But over the course of her time there, she builds unexpected friendships, takes on new hobbies, and finds a love interest, proving that it’s never too late to start a new chapter. Will be available to stream on Amazon Prime.

• “Resort to Love” (July 29): While going through a music career crisis, Erica (Christina Milian) decides to take a gig at a luxurious resort on the island of Mauritius. But she soon discovers that her ex-boyfriend Jason (Jay Pharoah) is getting married on the same property and somehow gets roped into performing at his wedding. Erica tries to hide their history from his fiancée Beverly, but it gets harder and harder as she finds herself falling in love with Jason all over again. Will be available to stream on Netflix.

• “Crazy Rich Asians:” Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) had been dating her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) for more than a year when he asked her to meet his family in Singapore. Rachel is thrilled about this big step, but she has no idea what (or who) she’s in for. Throughout the trip, Rachel learns the truth about Nick’s family wealth, and strives to gain the acceptance of Nick’s mother and grandmother, who are constantly trying to sabotage their relationship. But there’s only so much harassment Rachel can handle until she hits her breaking point, and Nick must choose whose side he’s on. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and HBO Max.

• “Girls Trip:” After not seeing her best friends for five years, Ryan Pierce (Regina Hall) decides to turn a work trip with her husband Stewart into a girls’ trip. She invites Tiffany (Dina), Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Sasha (Queen Latifah) to join her in New Orleans for a “Flossy Posse” reunion. Along the way, Ryan’s friends find out that Stewart has been cheating on her with a woman named Simone — and what’s worse, she shows up in NOLA. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

• “Forgetting Sarah Marshall:” When Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) gets dumped by his famous girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), he stays at the Turtle Bay resort in Hawaii to try and overcome his grief. However, quite the opposite happens when Sarah is vacationing there with her new rock star boyfriend Aldous Snow. Their presence tortures Peter everywhere he goes until he starts hitting it off with hotel concierge Rachel Jansen. From there, Peter juggles between his old feelings for Sarah and new ones developing for Rachel, all while figuring out what to do with his “Dracula” puppet comedy-rock opera. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

• “Jagame Thandhiram” (June 18): Suruli (Dhanush), a gangster from Madurai, India, gets recruited by British crime lord Peter Sprott (James Cosmo) to take down a rival. But once Suruli arrives in London, things don’t go according to plan as he discovered the person who hired him is now the enemy. While Suruli gets involved in plenty of action-packed fighting, he also faces moral dilemmas that touch on themes of xenophobia, relationships, and what “home” means to him. Will be available to stream on Netflix.

• “Black Widow” (July 9): Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), aka Black Widow, takes a break from her usual Avengers duties to deal with a force back home in Russia. Romanoff’s life before becoming a superhero was filled with conspiracy and secrets, and when she can no longer run from her past, she decides to face it head on — alongside her family, no less. Will be available to stream on Disney+.
  

• “Sweet Girl” (August 20): Ray Cooper (Jason Momoa) loses his wife to cancer right after a drug that could have saved her life is pulled by a pharmaceutical company. When Ray tries to find out why it was taken off the market, he discovers a frightening realization that puts him and his daughter (Isabela Merced) in serious danger. And so, in order to protect the only family he has left, the vengeance quest begins. Will be available to stream on Netflix.

• “Black Panther:” After T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the hidden nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as King, his main priority is to keep his people and their advanced technology safe. But when a native to Wakanda named Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) comes back to seek revenge and ship weapons to operatives around the world, he becomes T’Challa’s biggest challenge yet. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Disney+.

• “John Wick:” John Wick (Keanu Reeves) receives a beagle named Daisy from his wife right before she passes away, and the new puppy helps him cope with loss. That is, until someone breaks into his house, steals his car, and kills Daisy. From then on out, Wick’s sole purpose is to find the person who killed his dog and make them pay — which he does, then he becomes a wanted man, and so the four-movie saga unfolds. Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

• “Wonder Woman” (2017): Taking place in 1918, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) lives on the hidden island of Themyscira among other Amazons, or women warriors created by the Olympian gods. She rescues U.S. pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) after his plane crashes nearby, who tells the Amazons of the great war happening that Diana believes the god of Ares is responsible for. Diana leaves Themyscira to help Steve save the world, and Wonder Woman is born. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and HBO Max.

• “In the Heights” (June 10): The Latinx community living in the Washington Heights neighborhood in NYC is on the brink on disappearing, with prices rising and small businesses closing due to gentrification and other social pressures. This Lin-Manuel Miranda musical tells the story of a struggling block that comes together when faced with adversity, as well as the importance of following your dreams — all communicated through hip-hop lyrics, Latin rhymes, and dance. Will be available to stream on HBO Max.

• “Fatherhood” (June 18): After his wife passes away from postpartum complications, Matthew Logelin (Kevin Hart) becomes a single parent the day after his daughter Maddy is born. His mother-in-law insists on playing an active role in raising her and even suggests taking full custody, but Matthew refuses to give up before he even tried. Matthew does the best he can in raising her, and a beautiful bond between a father and daughter begins. Will be available to stream on Netflix.

• “CODA” (August 13): Ruby is a high school girl who is the only hearing member in her family, and she serves as a translator for her two culturally deaf parents and deaf brother. At one point, her help is crucial to keeping her father’s fishing business alive, but when she discovers her talent for singing, she’s faced with the ultimate decision: go to music school to pursue a career in the arts, or stay back to support her family. Will be available to stream on Apple TV+.

• “The Favourite“: Set in 1711 in Great Britain, Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) arrives at the palace of Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman) looking for employment, knowing that her cousin Sarah (Rachel Weisz) already works there as the Queen’s confidant and advisor. Shortly after being given a job as a maid, Abigail discovers the sexual relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah. Over time, Abigail and Anne form a friendship that blossoms into a romantic relationship as well, and once Sarah finds out, the two fight for the Queen’s love — and power. Available to stream on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

• “Parasite:” Kim Ki-taek (Kang-ho Song) lives with his wife Chung-sook, daughter Ki-jung, and son Ki-woo in a small apartment and constantly comes up with new ways to make ends meet. Ki-taek suggests Ki-woo pretend to be a university student to get a tutoring job for a wealthy family, which ultimately leads to the whole Kim family becoming employed through referring one another. But they’re unaware of the secret that is literally hiding underneath their feet that will make them second guess wanting jobs there in the first place. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Hulu.

• “The Florida Project:” Six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her single mother Halley live in a motel called “The Magic Castle,” located just outside of Walt Disney World in Orlando. Moonee spends her summer days with friends unsupervised by parents, but the motel manager Bobby (Willem Dafoe) watches over them. Things get complicated when Halley gets fired as an exotic dancer and starts finding other means of work, but Moonee continues to find her own magic, despite the difficult circumstances around her. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Netflix.

• “Wish Dragon” (June 11): Set in Shanghai, Din is a working-class college student who dreams of being reunited with his childhood friend Lina, who is now famous. Din wants to surprise Lina at her birthday party, but when faced with setback after setback, he feels like their two worlds can never collide — until he finds a colorful tea pot containing a magic dragon (John Cho) that can grant his three wishes. Will be available to stream on Netflix.

• “Luca” (June 18): Luca (Jacob Tremblay) and his friend Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer) are sea monsters that live below the water’s surface, but they hold the power to transform into humans on land. Despite the warnings of his mother, Luca goes with Alberto to explore a seaside town on the Italian Riviera and end up having the summer of their lives — but there’s shortage of close calls and life lessons. Will be available to stream on Disney+.

• “Cinderella” (Sept.): An ambitious young woman (Camila Cabello) has big dreams that seem unreachable, but it’s nothing that her Fairy G (Billy Porter) can’t help with. Along the way, she finds herself falling in love with Prince Robert, but there are sure to be setbacks from her stepmother (Idina Menzel). Little information is known about this musical, including a specific release date, but its star-studded cast is something to look forward to. Will be available to stream on Amazon Prime.

• “Soul:” Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a high school music teacher who dreams of playing jazz onstage. When he finally lands his dream gig, his excitement is short-lived when he falls down a manhole and finds himself in the “Great Beyond.” Joe makes an alliance with a soul named 22 (Tina Fey), who seems like his ticket to getting back to Earth. However, when Joe’s soul ends up in his cat and 22 ends up in his body, they have to figure out how to get Joe back to Joe in time for his performance. But in Disney fashion, it ends up being about so much more than that. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Disney+.

• “The Parent Trap” (1998): This remake of “The Parent Trap” stars Lindsay Lohan as twin girls Hallie Parker and Annie James, who don’t know the other even exists until they run into each other at summer camp. From there, they decide to switch places so they can get to know their parents better — and try to get them back together. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Disney+.

• “Shrek:” Shrek (Mike Meyers), an ogre who loves his swamp, doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone or anything. Lord Farquaad of Duloc (John Lithgow) proposes a deal: if Shrek saves Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from her tower, he’ll relocate all fairytale creatures away from his swamp, and Shrek agrees. Accompanied by Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Shrek goes on a quest to rescue Fiona, but everything changes when Shrek discovers Fiona’s secret that makes them more similar than he ever imagined. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Hulu.

• “Changing the Game” (June 1): High schoolers Mack Beggs, Sarah Rose Huckman, and Andraya Yearwood all play different sports in different states, but they have one thing in common: they’re all trans student athletes who are fighting for the right to compete. They all face challenges and resistance from their communities, regardless of whether or not their state policies support them, but continue to do what they love and push boundaries for young trans people. Available to stream on Hulu.

• “Revolution Rent” (June 15): When Andy Señor Jr. was asked to direct a stage production of “RENT” in Cuba, he said yes for two reasons: he played Angel in the original Broadway production of “RENT,” and he would be given the opportunity to explore his Cuban heritage and visit the place his parents were exiled from. While Señor Jr.develops a strong connection with the cast and revisits what it means to be a family onstage, he’s also learns a lot about himself and helps his mother become reunited with her homeland. Will be available to stream on HBO Max.

• “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” (July 2): In 1969, the same summer when Woodstock happened, the six-week-long Harlem Film Festival took place at Mount Morris Park in Harlem. However, it was never widely covered in the mainstream media, and the footage sat in a basement for over 50 years — until now. The documentation celebrates the massive event that celebrates Black history, culture, and fashion, pieced together through iconic stage performances and interviews. Will be available to stream on Hulu.

• “Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am:” American novelist Toni Morrison recounts her personal and professional life in this film that pays homage to the significance of her work. In addition to Morrison, there are interviews with figures like Oprah Winfrey, Angela Davis, Fran Lebowitz, and many more, all of whom touch upon the greatness that Morrison contributed to the literary world and beyond. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Hulu.

• “The Biggest Little Farm:” When they were evicted from their Santa Monica apartment in 2010, Chester and Molly purchases a 200-acre farm in Moorpark, California to pursue organic farming. They named the land Apricot Lane Farms and get to work on establishing their new life, quickly realizing how much work it was actually going to be. But even through all the hardships that the film depicts, the close relationship they build with nature makes it all worth it. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Hulu.

• “Jiro Dreams of Sushi:” Jiro Oro is a 85-year-old sushi master (at the time of filming) who owns and operates Sukiyabashi Jiro, a famous 10-seat sushi restaurant located in a Tokyo subway station. Jiro’s work is his passion, which shines through in his daily dedication to his restaurant and the care that goes into making every piece of sushi. Available to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Hulu.