This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at DCU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Summer 2026 has brought a curious mix of blockbusters, from the enormous ambitions of The Odyssey to the box-office breakthrough of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the long-awaited arrival of Coyote vs Acme; audiences have plenty to talk about. Some films have lived up to the enormous expectations surrounding them while others have left audiences wondering whether the hype was worth it.
The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey arrives with the kind of enormous expectations that only a filmmaker of Nolan’s reputation can create. Based on Homer’s ancient epic, the film promises sweeping landscapes, legendary heroes, Gods, monsters, and a journey across the Mediterranean on a scale designed for the biggest cinema screens (specifically IMAX).
There is no denying that The Odyssey looks spectacular. The locations, cinematography, costumes and enormous set pieces give the film an unmistakable sense of scale. Yet for all its ambition, the movie can feel like a case where the expectations surrounding it have become more exciting than the finished product.
With so much anticipation built around Nolan’s return to cinemas, The Odyssey can feel overhyped. The spectacle is impressive, but it sometimes comes at the expense of the emotional connection that makes an epic truly memorable. It is certainly ambitious and beautifully made, but audiences expecting more of the original epic may find themselves wanting more.
Spider-Man
One of the biggest movies of the summer is Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At first glance, the title suggests another standalone adventure for the famous web-slinger. Instead, audiences are presented with something much more closely connected to the X-Men universe, taking the story in a direction that feels far removed from a traditional Spider-Man film.
Rather than simply following the usual Spider-Man formula, Brand New Day embraces the themes and major plot beats associated with the X-Men, bringing the mutant side of the Marvel universe firmly into the spotlight. This unusual approach has clearly resonated with audiences, with the film becoming a major box-office success and earning approximately $622 million.
What makes this film especially interesting is that it demonstrates just how much excitement there still is for the X-Men despite the failing Fox movies. While the title may initially draw Spider-Man fans into cinemas, the movie ultimately feels much more like an X-Men experience. It is an excellent superhero movie, adding its name to the long list of MCU breakthroughs, proving that audiences are still willing to turn out in huge numbers when a superhero movie gives them something unexpected.
Coyote vs. Acme
Then there is Coyote vs. Acme, the film that perhaps deserves the biggest recommendation of the summer.
After its long and complicated release journey (thank you, Ketchup Entertainment), finally getting the chance to experience Coyote vs. Acme makes the whole thing feel even more worthwhile. Inspired by the classic Looney Tunes world, the film combines live-action comedy with the chaotic energy of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
What makes it so enjoyable is its sense of pure fun. Rather than trying to turn the familiar characters into something overly serious, Coyote vs. Acme embraces the ridiculousness of its premise. The result is a charming, funny, family-friendly adventure that feels like the kind of movie you can simply sit back and enjoy.
The idea of Wile E. Coyote finally suing Acme for their lousy products is wonderfully ridiculous, while the combination of courtroom comedy, live-action performances, and classic cartoon humour gives the film its own personality.
If you are deciding what to catch on streaming, please watch Coyote vs. Acme. It may not have the enormous spectacle of The Odyssey or the superhero scale of Spider-Man, but it offers something equally valuable: a genuinely entertaining watch and a middle finger to corporate capitalism.