10 hot movies to see this summer: Karate Kid, Jurassic Park: Rebirth, Superman and more

After last summer, which was sadly slim on major blockbusters, the sweaty months of 2025 are refreshingly stacked with big-budget, recognizable franchises and titles.Pass-the-popcorn stuff.

I also threw in some smaller and original films just to help me sleep at night. Here are 10 movies to catch in theaters this summer.Since the 1980s martial arts classic, there have been a lot of bad “Karate Kid” movies.You know, “Part II,” “Part III” and “The Next Karate Kid” with Hillary Swank.

But Netflix’s “Cobra Kai,” which brought back Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, was the perfect nostalgia trip.Here’s hoping the New York-set “Legends,” with Macchio and Jackie Chan, recaptures that magic.Marketed as “From the World of John Wick,” “Ballerina,” starring Ana de Armas, is this brutal-and-beautiful action franchise’s go at a more expansive cinematic universe.

De Armas plays the dancer-assassin first introduced in “Parabellum.” I’m excited because there has never been a lousy “John Wick” film.I’m scared because the last four were directed by Chad Stahelski, while “Ballerina” belongs to Len Wiseman.  This romantic comedy is writer-director Celine Song’s follow-up to Best Picture-nominated “Past Lives,” one of the loveliest surprises of 2023.

It stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal.Johnson plays a very successful NYC matchmaker who falls for a client.

Song’s movie could be 2025’s answer to “Hello, Dolly!”              Once the King of All Animation, Pixar has hit a rough patch with original movies lately.Nobody would put “Elemental,” “Lightyear” or “Turning Red” on the list of the studio’s top 10.

“Elio” has a jolly setup, though.A young outer space enthusiast gets beamed up, and aliens think he’s Earth’s leader.

Sounds a bit like “Galaxy Quest” for the under-12 set.Dinosaurs are my cinematic “I don’t know how to quit you!” This 32-year-old ser...