10 Great Summer Blockbusters That Turn 10 In 2026, Ranked

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The summer of 2025 offered a range of movies, with some achieving both financial and critical success – like Final Destination Bloodlines, Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, F1, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Superman. However, not every film was a hit; Hurry Up Tomorrow, M3GAN 2.0, Elio, Ballerina, and Thunderbolts didn’t perform as well. Just like in 2016, the summer season was a mixed bag of results – some risks pay off, and others don’t. Ultimately, though, even the less successful films still delivered entertainment.

Just to clarify, this list isn’t based on box office earnings, but on how good the movies are overall. A film appearing higher on the list might not have been a financial success in theaters, but it’s still among the best from the summer of 2016. Plus, great movies tend to find viewers through streaming, so it’s hard to say if a movie will eventually become profitable anyway.

10) The Legend of Tarzan

While not a cinematic triumph, The Legend of Tarzan is thoroughly enjoyable. The film also showcases fantastic chemistry between Margot Robbie and Alexander Skarsgård, and it remains one of Skarsgård’s most prominent leading roles in a major studio film.

The movie The Legend of Tarzan stands out because it connects to actual historical events while staying true to the original story. Plus, Christoph Waltz delivers a convincingly threatening performance as the villain, making this a surprisingly good and underappreciated film.

Stream The Legend of Tarzan on VIX.

9) The Conjuring 2

Although not as startling as the first Conjuring movie, The Conjuring 2 is still one of the strongest films in the series. Like its predecessor, it succeeds because it centers on both a family facing hardship and the reassurance offered by Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Okay, so while the first movie was good, this one really shines when it comes to the villains. They’ve introduced Valek, and honestly, he might be the best antagonist in the whole series, topping even Annabelle herself! We don’t get a ton of screen time with him, but it was a brilliant move to bring Bonnie Aarons – you might recognize her from Drag Me to Hell – into the mix. She absolutely nails the role and adds a seriously creepy element.

Stream The Conjuring 2 on HBO Max.

8) Star Trek Beyond

While Star Trek Beyond isn’t as grand as the last two films, that’s intentional. It aims for the feel of a classic Star Trek TV episode, and it succeeds.

The film is greatly enhanced by Sofia Boutella’s performance as Jaylah, a standout new character in the Star Trek universe. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, and Zoe Saldaña all deliver strong performances as well. It’s also a touching farewell to the late Anton Yelchin.

Stream Star Trek Beyond on Paramount+.

7) Don’t Breathe

As a big movie fan, I remember Summer 2016 being a surprisingly great time for Sony. They released a few lower-budget, genre films – like Don’t Breathe and Sausage Party (plus another one I’ll mention later) – and they all did really well. Don’t Breathe was a huge success story, actually; it made almost sixteen times its $9.9 million budget – pretty incredible!

It’s clear why this movie is so gripping – it’s a truly intense experience best enjoyed on the big screen. From the beginning, it builds a strong sense of tension and never lets up.

Stream Don’t Breathe on Hulu.

6) Finding Dory

While it didn’t quite reach the same heights as the original Finding Nemo, Finding Dory was a good sequel and a welcome continuation of the story. Importantly, it captured the same emotional depth and warmth as Finding Nemo, something that Monsters University didn’t quite achieve.

The voice acting in the new series is fantastic. Idris Elba and Dominic West perfectly embody Fluke and Rudder, the sea lions, while Kaitlin Olson shines as Destiny the whale shark. Plus, Ed O’Neill and Ty Burrell, known from Modern Family, deliver wonderful performances as Hank the octopus and Bailey the beluga whale, respectively.

Stream Finding Dory on Disney+.

5) The Shallows

It’s surprisingly difficult to make a good shark movie. Jaws set the standard so high that anything trying to match it feels pointless. Stray too far from that formula, and you end up with over-the-top films like Sharknado – though Deep Blue Sea demonstrated that a big budget could make even a ridiculous concept work.

Over the last 25 years, The Shallows stands out as the best shark movie, mainly because it’s a gripping survival story rather than just a film about a shark attack. Both shark movies and thrillers set in a single location are difficult to make well, but The Shallows successfully overcomes these challenges.

Stream The Shallows on Hulu.

4) Kubo and the Two Strings

Kubo and the Two Strings is a beautiful and touching film, continuing the impressive work of LAIKA, the stop-motion animation studio that created Coraline and ParaNorman. Like their previous movies, it’s a visual masterpiece.

However, Kubo and the Two Strings also works well for adults, perhaps even more so than for children. The film tackles complex themes with depth, and it’s impressive how LAIKA Studios crafted a story that keeps adults engaged while still captivating kids with its beautiful animation. It’s likely younger viewers were also touched by the story, as the visuals and narrative work together seamlessly.

Stream Kubo and the Two Strings on Netflix.

3) Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War was always a strong Marvel movie, and arguably the most significant one yet, but it’s held up remarkably well over time. The film pushed its characters into genuinely compelling and emotional territory, features action sequences nearly as exciting as those in the Avengers films, and showcases standout performances from both Chris Evans as Captain America and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.

It’s also important to remember that this movie launched both Black Panther and Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it occasionally feels a bit crowded, Civil War proved the Russo brothers understood the key ingredients for a fantastic MCU film.

Stream Captain America: Civil War on Disney+.

2) Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Despite not being a huge hit in theaters, The Lonely Island’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping remains a favorite among fans. Similar to their other films like MacGruber and Hot Rod, it’s uniquely creative and clearly comes from the heart – it’s their most personal project yet.

The movie initially seemed like it would rely too heavily on making fun of Justin Bieber, which could have easily failed – even back in 2016, that joke was getting stale (Bieber himself was already satirizing his image in Zoolander 2). While it does parody Bieber to some degree, it’s more broadly a commentary on the emptiness of the music industry. It explores how achieving massive success can lead to isolation, and how genuine connection with friends offers a comfort that money simply can’t buy. Plus, the movie boasts an exceptionally strong soundtrack. Songs like “Mona Lisa,” “Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song),” “Incredible Thoughts,” and “I’m So Humble” are all fantastic.

1) The Nice Guys

The summer’s best movie of 2016, The Nice Guys, deserved to launch a series, but sadly it didn’t happen. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling had amazing on-screen chemistry. In fact, it’s director Shane Black’s best work yet – even more clever than Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and more thrilling than Iron Man 3 (if you enjoyed that one).

Before you’re even captivated by the witty script and the chemistry between the main actors, The Nice Guys immediately draws you in with its incredibly accurate depiction of 1970s Los Angeles. Add in consistently funny moments – including a particularly hilarious dinner scene – and standout performances from Angourie Rice and Margaret Qualley, and you have what was easily the best movie of that summer.

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2025-12-29 01:18