Summer 2022 brings new movies, shows, and music. Below is a list of entertainment coming out this summer. 

Movies:

Lightyear– June 17, 2022 

This science fiction action movie focuses on the origins of Buzz Lightyear, first seen in the Toy Story movies. It follows him as he travels through space. 

Elvis– June 24, 2022

This movie is based on the life of Elvis Presley, former “King of Rock.” It begins with Presley as a child and follows him as he grows up and begins to pursue his love of music. We learn about the complicated relationship between Presley and his manager as Presley rises to fame and we get a deeper look at how Presley’s fame affected him.

Minions: The Rise of Gru– July 1, 2022

This sequel to the first movie Minions is set in the 1970s when Gru is only twelve years old. We see how young Gru is obsessed with the Vicious 6, which is a group of supervillains. He even wants to become one of them so he interviews to be in the group but it doesn’t go well. Gru is angered by their rejection and steals one of the group’s precious stones. Gru and his minions must then go on the run with the supervillains, chasing after them. 

Thor: Love and Thunder– July 8, 2022

This action superhero movie is the sequel to Thor: Ragnarok. Thor embarks on a quest for inner peace which is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher. This villain wants to kill all the gods. Thor seeks help from others and together they go on a journey to uncover the mystery of this antagonist. They must stop him before it’s too late. 

Where the Crawdads Sing– July 22, 2022

Based on Delia Owens’ book, Where The Crawdads Sing, this movie mystery follows the story of a girl named Kya. She grows up along the North Carolina marsh, shunned by her town and called the “marsh girl”. Her parents and older siblings abandon her, so she learns to live on her own. A friend Tate Walker teaches her how to read and write and she falls for him, until he too leaves her when he goes to college. She catches the attention of another boy from her town, Chase Andrews, and they fall for each other. However, when Kya realizes their relationship isn’t going anywhere she breaks up with him, and he tries to attack her. Luckily she gets away, but soon Chase is found dead, so of course, when the body is discovered she is the suspect. Kya must go through trials for the murder, but the question is did she kill Chase?

TV shows:

The Umbrella Academy season 3- June 22, 2022

The next season of this dystopian superhero series is set to come out on June 22nd. It continues to follow the lives of seven gifted kids who all have different powers. They were born to different mothers who suddenly became pregnant. Billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves adopts these seven kids and creates the Umbrella Academy where he raises the kids to save the world.

Stranger Things season 4 part 2- July 1, 2022

Three years after Stranger Things season three came out, the long-awaited season four is finally being released. This fourth season is different from previous seasons with nine episodes instead of eight and the season is being released in two parts. Seven episodes were released on May 27 and the remaining two are coming out on July 1. This science-fiction horror series includes lots of supernatural activity and is filled with action as it continues to follow the lives of the kids it has since season one. 

Never Have I Ever season 3- August 12, 2022

This romantic comedy series follows Devi and her struggle picking between two boys: Paxton and Ben. Should she choose Paxton, who is the popular, hot kid that everyone wants or Ben, the smart, nerdy kid that she hated but has come to like in an enemies-to-lovers arc? Devi will need to decide. 

The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power– September 2, 2022

Set thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings, this show takes you back to a time where “great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness,”(IMDB). This show is set in the mid-second age however, characters from later periods in the second age will appear. The earlier time period is focused on the forging of the Rings of Power in Eregion while the later period likely focuses on events up to The War of The Last Alliance. 

Cobra Kai Season 5- September 9, 2022

This show follows the lives of The Karate Kid characters as adults. Now, both Johnny and Daniel run dojos. They still have very different karate views and are enemies but in a more respectful, adult way. Daniel teaches the Miyagi-Do way which focuses on defense while Johnny teaches the offense-focused Cobra Kai way. We not only follow Daniel and Johnny but their kids and karate dojo members. We see how their long-time hatred is passed on to these dojo members. During this show, old enemies return, and hatred is mended as each team fights to be the best dojo in the valley. 

Music:

Conan Gray: Superache– June 24, 2022

Conan Gray shared the singles Jigsaw, Telepath, People Watching, Memories, and Yours late last year and early this year. These songs are all set to be on his upcoming album which will be made up of 12 tracks. 

Journey: Freedom– July 8, 2022

This is a special album for Journey. Much of this new album was created during the pandemic and it is the first original album they have released since 2011. This is also going to be the first album without their bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith. Freedom will have fifteen tracks including the already released single, You Got The Best of Me.

Lizzo: Special– July 15, 2022

This is Lizzo’s fourth album with the popular single About Damn Time which was released on April 14th. Lizzo will be going on the Special Tour beginning September 23, 2022, in Sunrise, Florida, and ending November 18, 2022, in Inglewood, California. She will be performing in Portland, Oregon at the Moda Center on Friday, November 9th at 8:00 pm. 

Beach Bunny: Emotional Creature– July 22, 2022

Beach Bunny’s singles Oxygen, Fire Escape, and Karaoke will be appearing on their new album coming out this July. It will be composed of 12 tracks. This new album is part of a “new era” for this band with this unique sci-fi album aesthetic. Beach Bunny has blown up a couple of times on TikTok, so you have probably heard their music. They sing Sports, Prom Queen, and Cloud 9. 

Madonna: Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones– August 19, 2022

Madonna has 50 number-one hits on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart which is the most number ones an artist has had on any Billboard chart. In honor of this, Madonna’s new album will be made up of her 50 number one songs. This album will include popular songs such as Like a Virgin, Material Girls, and Into The Groove.