Hollywood gears up for hot movie summer

MOVIES

David Corenswet in a scene from “Superman.” WARNER BROS. PICTURES VIA AP

This image released by Disney shows the character Stitch, left, and Sydney Agudong, as Nani, in a scene from “Lilo & Stitch.” DISNEY VIA AP

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Aaron Taylor-Johnson, left, and Alfie Williams in a scene from “28 Years Later.” MIYA MIZUNO — SONY PICTURES VIA AP

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There’s a sense that the Summer of ’25 could be a scorcher at the box office, buoyed by a pair of gigantic, unexpected hits.

“The Minecraft Movie” is turning into a billion dollar franchise, the mightiest hit of the year, while the just-opened “Sinners” has found an audience amid rapturous reviews.

Believing that hits beget more hits, optimism reigns for an ambitious slate of big-screen entertainment. Here, a selective list of what’s coming.

“Thunderbolts*” (May 2) Here thrives a ragtag team of reformed superheroes, led by Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell and Julia Louise-Dreyfus.

“Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning” (May 23) Indeed, this is The End of Tom Cruise’s mightiest franchise. This Mission was held up for a year and given a new name after its “Dead Reckoning Part One” predecessor failed at the box-office.

“Lilo & Stitch” (May 23) and “How to Train Your Dragon” (June 13) Two now-classic animated originals get the live-action treatment.

“Karate Kid: Legends” (May 30) Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan are here — and that should be more than enough!

“The Phoenician Scheme” (May 30) Benicio del Toro is an arms dealer in Wes Anderson’s latest bit of all-star — Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks — peculiarity.

“Ballerina” (June 6) This first John Wick spinoff stars Ana de Armas as a dancing assassin out for vengeance and is set between the third and fourth Wick movies.

“28 Years Later” (June 20) Zombies! Hordes and hordes of them in Danny Boyle’s reboot of his franchise. With Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes.

“F1” (June 27) One of summer’s biggest gambles sees Brad Pitt as a Formula One legend mentoring a young hotshot driver (Damson Idris).

“M3GAN 2.0” (June 27) The sleeper surprise among homicidal doll movies forges a sequel reuniting a robotic killer and Allison Williams.

“Jurassic World Rebirth” (July 2) The only issue: Is this latest — the fourth dinosaur extravaganza in 10 years — too familiar to soar?

“Superman” (July 11) James Gunn defected to Warner Bros. to specifically oversee the DC Universe which launches with unknown David Corenswet’s Man of Steel. Supe finds himself on an Earth with other superheroes.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (July 25) Can a reboot work in Marvel land? Can this ‘60s-set era adventure — far away from the MCU timeline — starring Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic and Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman really be … fantastic?

“The Naked Gun” (Aug. 1) Liam Neeson takes over as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., son of late Det. Lt. Franklin “Frank” Drebin, in this fourth film in the comic franchise.

“Freakier Friday” (Aug. 8) Who could have imagined — yet it’s true: A reunion in body-swapping many years on for Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.