Few things rival the excitement of summer movie season—when cinemas finally shake off the slower “dump months” of early-year releases and roll out the big titles, signaling the real start of the film calendar.

The horror genre follows the same rhythm, with the warm nights bringing some of the most anticipated productions of the year. Although the first half of 2025 already offered strong entries like “The Monkey,” “Heart Eyes,” and “Sinners,” the truly exciting flicks are still on the horizon.

From the return of beloved franchises to original projects that have generated buzz since their early development stages, the upcoming months of June through September offer a solid lineup of horror releases. Here’s a list of films worth anticipating.

The Ritual (June 6)

Al Pacino in “The Ritual” (Source: @kdpacino on X)

For better or worse, Al Pacino has spent the last two decades proving he can tackle any genre—and now he’s diving into horror with “The Ritual.” He stars as one of two priests, both haunted by inner demons, who must put aside their differences to carry out a dangerous exorcism.

28 Years Later (June 20)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams in “28 Years Later” (Source: IMDb)

Arriving right at the start of summer, “28 Years Later” aims to stake its claim as the defining horror event of late 2025. Once centered on Cillian Murphy’s eerie awakening in an abandoned London, the story now follows Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a survivor living with a tight-knit community on a remote island, linked to the mainland by a single fortified causeway. Naturally, the fragile peace shatters when the infected return with brutal force.

M3GAN 2.0 (June 27)

Amie Donald in “M3GAN 2.0” (Source: IMDb)

Haunted dolls rarely miss, so it’s no surprise that “M3GAN” struck a chord with audiences. Now, a sequel is on the way. Set two years after M3GAN’s deadly rampage, creator Gemma is forced to bring her back—this time to stop Amelia, a military-grade weapon developed by a defense contractor who stole M3GAN’s original tech.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (July 18)

Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Sarah Pidgeon and Tyriq Withers in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (Source: IMDb)

The fourth installment in the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” franchise, this film directly follows “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.” Alongside the return of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, it introduces a fresh cast including Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, and Jonah Hauer-King. After five friends cover up a fatal hit-and-run, they find themselves targeted by a vengeful stalker a year later. Desperate, they turn to survivors of the infamous 1997 Southport Massacre for help.

Weapons (August 8)

Julia Garner in “Weapons” (Source: IMDb)

Famous for sparking a fierce bidding war over its script, “Weapons” builds on the buzz Zach Cregger generated with 2022’s “Barbarian.” The film follows a town thrown into panic when all but one child from the same class vanish simultaneously, leaving everyone desperate to uncover the sinister force behind it.

The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5)

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in “The Conjuring: Last Rites” (Source: IMDb)

Summer ends on a chilling note with the grand finale of the most successful modern horror franchise: “The Conjuring.” In this fourth chapter, Ed and Lorraine Warren face their darkest case yet—the haunting of Jack and Janet Smurl’s seemingly perfect new home. What begins as a dream quickly spirals into a demonic nightmare.