Collider's annual preview for summer 2026 highlights a slate stretching from late May to August, featuring everything from a YouTube-originated A24 horror film to the return of the parody franchise 'Scary Movie'. According to Collider , the season kicks off on May 29 with three major releases: Kane Parsons' 'The Backrooms', Daniel Roher's 'Tuner', and Anthony Maras' 'Pressure'. The preview also offers first looks at June 5 releeases including the 'Scary Movie' spiritual sequel, the Australian action thriller 'Seven Snipers', and Netflix's romantic comedy 'Office Romance' starring Jennifer Lopez. This mix of young directors, international co-productions, and franchise revivals suggests a summer that prioritizes variety over safe bets.

Kane Parsons' 'The Backrooms': From YouTube webseries to A24 feature at age 19

Among the most anticipated titles is 'The Backrooms', directed by Kane Parsons, who was just 16 when he uploaded the first episode of his webseries to YouTube. the film, distributed by A24, follows Dr. Mary Kline (Renate Reinsve) as she enters another dimension to rescue a lost patient played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Collider's exclusive image offers a first look at Ejiofor in character, alongside the eerie visuals that have defined the mythology. The transition from internet cult phenomenon to a wide theatrical release is a rare trajectory, and the pressure on Parsons to satisfy both online fans and mainstream audiences is immense . What remains uncertain is whether the film's atmospheric horror can sustain feature length, or if the jump from short-form webseries will dilute its impact. The broader context is A24's track record of turning unconventional horror into critical and commercial successes,but 'The Backrooms' also carries the weight of a pre-existing, community-driven narrative.

Daniel Roher's 'Tuner' arrives with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score

Also debuting May 29 is 'Tuner', directed by Daniel Roher and starring Leo Woodall as Niki, a piano tuner who discovers a talent for safe-cracking. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2025 and now enters wide release with an exceptional 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as reported by Collider. the supporting cast includes Dustin Hoffman as Niki's mentor, Harry, and Havana Rose Liu as his love interest, Ruthie. The early acclaim raises questions about whether word-of-mouth will translate to box office numbers, especially given the crowded release window. 'Tuner' offers a blend of highbrow craft (Roher won an Oscar for the documentary 'Navalny') and genre thrills — a combination that worked for films like 'The Imitation Game' but remains a tough sell in the summer blockbuster season. The preview's exclusive image teases a heist sequence that could be the film's signature set piece.

The return of 'Scary Movie' after a 13-year hiatus

On June 5, the Wayans brothers' 'Scary Movie' franchise returns with a spiritual sequel of the same name, as per Collider's preview. Much has changed in horror since 2013's 'Scary Movie 5' — the genre has seen a renaissance with elevated horror, social thrillers, and a boom in independent productions. The 2026 installment promises to parody recent hits, but the challenge is immense: audiences are more sophisticated, and the scattershot approach of early 2000s parodies may no longer land. Collider's exclusive image shows Marlon Wayans in a moment that should evoke the series' trademark slapstick. The key open question is whether the filmmakers can capture the cultural zeitgeist effectively,or if the film will feel dated in an era where horror itself often winks at its own tropes. The broader context includes a resurgence of parody in other media, such as 'The Onion' and TikTok skits, but theatrical comedy has struggled in recent years.

International flavors: British-French 'Pressure' and Australian 'Seven Snipers'

Two films that stand out for their geographic and thematic specificity are Anthony Maras' 'Pressure' and Sandra Sciberras' 'Seven Snipers'. 'Pressure', a British-French war drama starring Brendan Fraser as General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Andrew Scott as Group Captain James Stagg,covers the tense 72 hours before D-Day. Collider's exclusive images show Damian Lewis front and center in a moment of suspense, emphasizing that the film is about strategic uncertainty rather than combat. Meanwhile, 'Seven Snipers' is an Australian action thriller about a retired sniper (Radha Mitchell) who must reassemble her elite kill squad to protect her daughter (Annabel Wolfe) from a vengeful warlord played by Tim Roth. The film had a limited Australian release before its worldwide rollout in early June. These two films represent very different subgenres — one prestige period piece, one straight-ahead action — but both are betting that international stories can find American audiences. The open question is whether 'Pressure' can compete with the war-drama canon (e.g., 'Dunkirk', '1917') and whether 'Seven Snipers' can break out beyond the action niche.

Netflix's 'Office Romance' rekindles the rom-com with Lopez and Goldstein

Rounding out the early summer slate is 'Office Romance', a Netflix original directed by Ol Parker and co-written by Joe Kelly and Brett Goldstein. The plot follows Jackie (Jennifer Lopez), a CEO who tests her own anti-fraternization policy when a sexy new lawyer played by Goldstein joins the company. Collider's exclusive image and breakdown highlight the chemistry between the leads. The film's streaming release on Netflix rather than theaters is notable, as it bypasses the box-office competition. The rom-com genre has seen a resurgence on streaming platforms, but the question remains whether 'Office Romance' can capture the same cultural buzz as theatrical hits like 'Anyone But You'. The film also represents a personal risk for Goldstein, making his screenwriting debut after gaining fame as an actor on 'Ted Lasso'.