7 Can’t-Miss Summer Movies

We love to beat the summer heat by going to the movies or streaming a flick from the comfort of an air-conditioned living room. Worthy of your screen time is this roundup of musical, dramatic, romantic, sci-fi and documentary films. They feature some of your favorite actresses and music icons, including Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid), Gabrielle Union (The Perfect Find), T-Boz and Chilli (TLC Forever), Rosario Dawson (Haunted Mansion) and Donna Summer (Love to Love You, Donna Summer).

The Little Mermaid

(in theaters now)

Despite the haters’ attempts to throw cold water on this diverse remake, it dominated the box office over Memorial Day weekend. Halle Bailey (of the R&B sister act Chloe x Halle) stepped into the fins of beloved ginger-haired Disney princess Ariel. Because Bailey is Black, some folks couldn’t fathom her as the beautiful and spirited young mermaid who falls for a mortal prince. Ariel makes a deal with an evil sea witch (funny lady Melissa McCarthy) so that she can join her love on land. We wholeheartedly support rising star Bailey, who looks and sings like an angel. Rob Marshall (Chicago) directed this enthralling, live action musical reimagining of the 1989 Disney animated classic.

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TLC Forever

(streaming on Lifetime)

TLC was the “it” girl group of the ’90s and we still sing along whenever their hits “No Scrubs,” “Creep” and “Waterfalls,” pop up on the radio. In this two-part documentary, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas chronicle the highs and lows of their iconic Atlanta group with Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who tragically died in a car accident in Honduras in 2002. During their meteoric career, TLC has sold over 85 million records, had nine top 10 hits, and won four Grammy awards, five MTV Video Music awards and five Soul Train Music awards. But T-Boz and Chilli aren’t resting on their laurels. Take a walk down memory lane and find out how these talented sisters are poised for a comeback. TLC Forever is available on demand and to stream on the Lifetime app, and on https://www.mylifetime.com.

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Avatar: The Way of Water

(available on HBO Max and Disney+)

If you missed the global blockbuster and Avatar sequel in theaters, here’s your chance to find out what all the fuss is about. James Cameron’s science fiction fantasy returns to the magical world and seascapes of Pandora a decade after the events of the first film. Avatar: The Way of Water continues with the journey of the stunning, greenish-blue-skinned Sully family (Neytiri, portrayed by Zoe Saldaña; Jake, portrayed by Sam Worthington; and their children), and introduces audiences to different Na’vi clan cultures and exotic sea creatures.

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Love to Love You, Donna Summer

(now streaming on HBO Max)

If you thought you knew Donna Summer’s story, then think again. This intimate documentary, directed by Roger Ross Williams (The Apollo) and Brooklyn Sudano (one of Summer’s three daughters), peels back the queen of disco’s sexy stage persona to reveal a woman who struggled privately with childhood trauma, vulnerability, motherhood and her public image. Summer’s dramatic story unfolds – from her religious upbringing in Boston, to finding her voice and freedom early in her career in Germany, to Hollywood diva stardom – through a compelling mix of current day interviews with her family, and clips from home videos, performances and interviews. All set to Summer’s sizzling music catalog full of timeless hits like “Bad Girls,” “On the Radio,” “Love to Love You Baby,” “She Works Hard for the Money” and “Last Dance.”

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A Thousand and One

(now streaming on Peacock)

In this Sundance-winning drama, actress and singer Teyana Taylor is well cast as a tough young mother named Inez who loses custody of her 6-year-old son when she goes to prison and then kidnaps him from foster care when she is released. This moving story follows the mother and son as they grow and navigate the hard knock streets of New York City together.

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The Perfect Find

(June 23, Netflix)

Gabrielle Union stars as in this May-December romance, where her character Jenna falls for a younger man. Plot twist – her new beau, Eric, is her new boss’s son. And the steamy How Stella Got Her Groove Back-reminiscent affair threatens to derail the fashion career she just got back on track. Will Jenna risk it all for love? Let’s watch and find out.

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Haunted Mansion

(July 28, in theaters)

Inspired by the Disney theme park ride of the same name, Haunted Mansion promises frightening fun for the whole family. Directed by Justin Simien (Dear White People), the plot thickens when, according to Disney Studios, a woman and her son enlist “a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.” The star-studded cast features LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson. Fun fact: The 2003 Eddie Murphy film The Haunted Mansion is also based on a Disney theme park ride.

Watch the trailer: