29 Best TV Shows To Watch In Summer 2025
There's a LOT — and I mean, A LOT — of great TV shows these days, so to help with your summer planning, I've rounded up 29 shows that are premiering or returning in late May to early August 2025:
Wednesday Season 2
Jenna Ortega returns as Wednesday Addams in the second season of this hit Netflix series. The new season picks up with Wednesday returning to Nevermore Academy for another year, which, of course, won't be smooth sailing. Once again, Wednesday and her friends are plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery, with Wednesday being forced to confront old adversaries and more. And, after last season's viral Wednesday dance set to Lady Gaga's "Bloody Mary," the singer is scheduled to make an appearance in Season 2.When it returns: Part 1 on August 6 and Part 2 on Sept. 3 on Netflix
Watch the teaser trailer below:
The Bear Season 4
The Emmy Award-winning series returns with Season 4 this summer, as Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Syd (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and the rest of the crew push forward with the restaurant. Determined to survive and not close down, they strive to take The Bear to the next level yet again. However, with challenges around every corner, they must adapt yet again as they strive for excellence. When it returns: June 25 on FX on Hulu
Watch the trailer below:
Ginny & Georgia Season 3
Ginny & Georgia Season 3 picks up after the explosive Season 2 finale cliffhanger, which saw Georgia (Brianne Howey) get arrested for murder shortly after her wedding. Now, the Millers are in the town's spotlight more than they've ever been before. With Georgia navigating her new reality, Ginny (Antonia Gentry) is also trying to figure out where she stands, and if it can really still be Ginny and Georgia against the world.When it returns: June 5 on Netflix
Watch the trailer below:
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3
The final season of this beloved Jenny Han adaptation returns for one final summer of fun, romance, and more. Based on Han's third book in the trilogy, The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 begins with Belly (Lola Tung) in a long-term relationship with Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). As they grow up and their lives start to get more complicated, Belly must decide if Jeremiah really is "the one," or if Conrad (Christopher Briney) still has her heart. The much-discussed love triangle all comes to a head this season as Belly makes her final decision on who she's meant to be with.When it returns: July 16 on Prime Video
Watch the teaser trailer below:
The Gilded Age Season 3
Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, and more return when The Gilded Age kicks off its third season this June. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened, and the Russells are ready to take their place at the head of society. Bertha (Coon) sets her sights on a prize that could elevate the family to unimaginable heights, while George (Spector) risks everything on a risky idea that could revolutionize the railroad industry, but hurt him first. Meanwhile, across the street, the Brook house is thrown into chaos as Agnes (Baranski) refuses to accept Ada's (Nixon) new position as lady of the house. Yes, it's all delightful chaos when The Gilded Age returns, so get ready.When it returns: June 22 on HBO and HBO Max
Watch the teaser trailer below:
Outlander: Blood of my Blood
A brand-new Outlander prequel series kicks off this summer, and it's something every Outlander fan is going to need to watch and swoon over. Trust me. Outlander: Blood of My Blood introduces Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire's (Caitríona Balfe) parents, as it follows these two couples, who fight against all odds to be together. As Julia (Hermione Corfield) and Henry (Jeremy Irvine) and Ellen (Harriet Slater) and Brian's (Jamie Roy) love stories unfold across time — from the battlefields of World War I to the Highlands of 18th century Scotland — Blood of My Blood explores how fate brings people together, while the world threatens to tear them apart. Starring: Jamie Roy, Harriet Slater, Hermione Corfield, Jeremy Irvine, and moreWhen it premieres: August 8 on Starz
Watch the teaser trailer below:
Sirens
Sirens is a new limited series that follows Devon (Meghann Fahy), who thinks her sister Simone (Milly Alcock) has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the mysterious and captivating Michaela (Julianne Moore). Michaela's cult-ish life of luxury lures Simone in, and Devon makes the decision it's time to help her sister and goes to her lavish island estate to get her sister back. However, Devon underestimates just how formidable an opponent Michaela can be. Starring: Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon, Glenn Howerton, Bill Camp, Felix Solis, and moreWhen it premieres: May 22 on Netflix
Watch the trailer below:
We Were Liars
Based on the bestselling book by E. Lockhart, We Were Liars follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind) and her tight-knit inner circle, nicknamed "The Liars," during every summer vacationing together at their grandfather's New England private island. While on the surface, the Sinclair family is known for their good looks, generational wealth, and their close bonds, after a life-altering accident, everyone seems to have something to hide.Starring: Emily Alyn Lind, Joseph Zada, Esther MacGregor, Shubham Maheshwari, Mamie Gummer, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Candice King, David Morse, Rahul Kohli, and moreWhen it premieres: June 18 on Prime Video
Watch the teaser trailer below:
Squid Game Season 3
The third and final season of Squid Game kicks off this summer, picking up from the second season's devastating cliffhanger. This new season thrusts Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) back into the brutal heart of the games, as he's determined to dismantle them once and for all. Still haunted by the betrayal of his closest ally, Gi-hun faces new perils, including The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). As Gi-hun plots to end the games, it'll take everything to try and stay one step ahead of The Front Man as he continues to plan his next move.When it returns: June 27 on Netflix
Watch the teaser trailer below:
Ironheart
Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, this new MCU series follows Riri (Dominique Thorne), who returns to her hometown of Chicago, determined to leave her mark on the world. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she suddenly finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious, but charming, Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), aka "The Hood."Starring: Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, Anji White, and moreWhen it premieres: June 25 on Disney+
Watch the trailer below:
And Just Like That... Season 3
Our favorite NYC girls are back with Season 3 of And Just Like That... This new season is once again everything we love about Sex and the City, as Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristen Davis) continue to navigate life in New York in their 50s. And, it wouldn't be And Just Like That... without some amazing guest stars, with this season featuring Patti LuPone, Rosie O'Donnell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Logan Marshall-Green, Mehcad Brooks, Jonathan Cake, and more.When it returns: May 29 on HBO Max
Watch the trailer below:
The Buccaneers Season 2
The TV show every Bridgerton fan should be watching, aka The Buccaneers, returns with Season 2 this June. The Buccaneers follows Nan (Kristine Froseth) and her friends in the 1870s, who have traveled to London in the midst of the debutante season in hopes of securing husbands and titles. Now, with Season 2, the girls are figuring out their places after the decisions they made last season. Nan is now Duchess of Tintagel, the most influential woman in the country. Conchita (Alisha Boe) is Lady Brightlinsea, and Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse) is on every front page, wanted for the kidnapping of her unborn child. All of the girls are forced to grow up fast as they still wrestle with romance and much more.When it returns: June 18 on Apple TV+
Alien: Earth
Inspired by the beloved film franchise and created by Noah Hawley, Alien: Earth is set in 2120 and follows the USCSS Maginot, a deep space research vessel, which suddenly crash-lands on Earth. Now, "Wendy" (Sydney Chandler) and a group of ragtag tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat. What's important to know about "Wendy" is that she marks a new dawn in the race for immortality, as she's the first hybrid prototype, aka a new technological advancement that is a humanoid robot infused with human consciousness. Starring: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adrian Edmondson, David Rysdahl, Essie Davis, Lily Newmark, Erana James, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Kit Young, Diêm Camille, Moe Bar-El, Sandra Yi Sencindiver, and more.When it premieres: August 12 on FX on Hulu
Peacemaker Season 2
John Cena and the Peacemaker team are back with the second season of this hilarious and poignant superhero show. The new season follows Peacemaker (Cena) as he struggles to reconcile his past with his newfound sense of purpose. He continues to kick righteous evil-doer butt during his misguided quest for peace at any cost. The new season will also feature some guest stars who appear in James Gunn's upcoming Superman, like Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl and Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern. Peacemaker will also welcome new cast members Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows.When it returns: August 21 on HBO Max
Watch the teaser trailer below:
Overcompensating
Created and starring Benito Skinner, Overcompensating follows Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king, who goes to college and is ready to find himself and explore his sexuality. With some guidance from his older sister (Mary Beth Barone) and her popular boyfriend (Adam DiMarco), Benny and his new BFF Carmen (Wally Baram) juggle horrible hookups, fake IDs, parties, and everything that comes with being a college student.Starring: Benito Skinner, Wally Baram, Mary Beth Barone, Adam DiMarco, Rish Shah, Andrea Martin, Connie Britton, Kyle MacLachlan, Kaia Gerber, Julia Shiplett, Tommy Do, Alexandra Beaton, Claire Qute, Elias Azimi, Maddie Phillips, and moreWhen it premieres: May 15 on Prime Video
Watch the trailer below:
The Waterfront
Created by Kevin Williamson, who is behind Scream, Dawson's Creek, The Vampire Diaries, and more, The Waterfront follows the Buckley family, who have ruled Havenport, North Carolina, for years, as they have dominated everything from the local fishing industry to the town's restaurant scene. Now, their empire is starting to crumble as patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany) recovers from two heart attacks, and his wife Belle (Maria Bello) and son Cane (Jake Weary) venture into the deep end to try to keep everything afloat. As their attempts spiral out of control, they are forced to face their family's past, their personal demons, and more.Starring: Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Jake Weary, Melissa Benoist, Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González, Danielle Campbell, Brady Hepner, and moreWhen it premieres: June 19 on Netflix
The Better Sister
Based on the book by Alafair Burke, this limited series follows Chloe (Jessica Biel), a high-profile media executive, who lives a picturesque life with her handsome lawyer husband Adam (Corey Stoll) and son (Maxwell Acee Donovan). Meanwhile, her estranged sister, Nicky (Elizabeth Banks), struggles to make ends meet and stay sober. When Adam is shockingly murdered, the main suspect causes the sisters to reunite as they try to untangle their complicated family history and discover the truth behind this sudden death. Starring: Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks, Corey Stoll, Kim Dickens, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Bobby Naderi, Gabriel Sloyer, Gloria Reuben, Matthew Modine, Lorraine Toussaint, and moreWhen it premieres: May 29 on Prime Video
Watch the trailer below:
Phineas and Ferb Season 5
There are 104 days of summer vacation, and the only way we would want to spend them is with Phineas (Vincent Martella) and Ferb (David Errigo Jr.). The beloved animated series returns with brand-new episodes this summer. Candace (Ashley Tisdale) is more determined than ever to bust her little brothers, while Perry (Dee Bradley Baker) continues to live his double life as Agent P and thwart the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire).Starring: Vincent Martella, David Errigo Jr., Ashley Tisdale, Dan Povenmire, Aluson Stoner, Dee Bradley Baker, Caroline Rhea, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, and moreWhen it premieres: June 5 on Disney Channel, next day on Disney+
Watch the trailer below:
Nine Perfect Strangers Season 2
The second season of this Nicole Kidman-led anthology series returns this summer. This time around, Nine Perfect Strangers will have nine new strangers coming together to undergo Masha's (Kidman) psychedelic therapy in the breathtaking Austrian Alps. While the path towards transformative betterment and happiness is laid out for the guests, the unconventional methods to reach their goals are wild while Masha is forced to also confront her past demons.Starring: Nicole Kidman, Henry Golding, Lena Olin, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Lucas Englander, King Princess, Murray Bartlett, Dolly de Leon, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Mark Strong, Aras Aydin, and moreWhen it premieres: May 21 on Hulu
Watch the trailer below:
Too Much
Created by Lena Dunham and Luis Felber, Too Much follows Jessica (Megan Stalter), who is a New York workaholic in her mid-30s, and is reeling from a broken relationship she for sure thought would last forever. Unable to escape everything that reminds her of this past relationship, she decides to take a job in London and live a life of solitude. That's until she meets Felix (Will Sharpe), who is a series of red flags, but their connection is impossible to ignore. Starring: Meg Stalter, Will Sharpe, Michael Zegan, Janicza Bravo, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, Naomi Watts, Andrew Rannells, Rhea Perlman, Emily Ratajkowski, Adwoa Aboah, and moreWhen it premieres: July 10 on Netflix
Revival
On one miraculous day in rural Wisconsin, the recently deceased suddenly come up from their graves. However, this isn't a zombie story because they appear and act just like they did when they were alive, only they've been recently "revived." Now, local officer and single mom Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano), who is at the center of a brutal muder mystery of her own, is left to make sense of this new chaos where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect. Starring: Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, Andy McQueen, and more.When it premieres: June 12 on SYFY
Watch the trailer below:
Smoke
Inspired by true events, Smoke follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. Starring: Taron Egerton, Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Anna Chlumsky, Adina Porter, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo, and moreWhen it premieres: June 27 on Apple TV+
Countdown
Created by NBC's Chicago show universe and CBS's FBI show universe executive producer Derek Haas, Countdown follows LAPD Det. Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), who is recruited to a secret task force after an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight. Now, he's tasked with working alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement to investigate. However, the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot much more sinister than anyone could've imagined.Starring: Jensen Ackles, Eric Dane, Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, Uli Latukefu, and moreWhen it premieres: June 25 on Prime Video
Adults
From executive producer Nick Kroll, Adults follows a group of twenty-something people in New York who are just trying to be good people, despite being neither "good" nor really adult people yet. When Samir (Malik Elassal) lets his friends crash together in his childhood home, they share meals, anxieties, and everything else as they navigate this era of their lives.Starring: Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, Owen Thiele, and moreWhen it premieres: May 28 on FX and Hulu
Watch the trailer below:
Stick
Stick tells the story of Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson), an ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. After his marriage falls apart and he gets fired from his job at a sporting goods store, Pryce decides to hang his future on helping a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager). Starring: Owen Wilson, Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer, Timothy Olyphant, and moreWhen it premieres: June 4 on Apple TV+
Watch the trailer below:
Resident Alien Season 4
This beloved show returns with all-new episodes this summer, as the new season picks up with Harry (Alan Tudyk) and his baby, Bridget, stuck in prison on the Grey Moonbase, while a shape-shifting alien has taken over Henry's body on Earth. While Harry manages to escape prison and arrive back on Earth, he soon finds that he may not have what he needs to take his life back after all. When it returns: June 6 on SYFY and USA
Watch the trailer below:
Dept Q
Dept Q follows DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), who is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague and he doesn't have a ton of friends at the Edinbrugh police department. After a shooting leaves a young PC dead and his partner paralyzed, Carl finds himself exiled to the basement as the only member of Department Q, a newly formed cold case unit. The department is a PR stunt, but more by accident than design, Carl starts to build a group he can trust. So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat back up, Carl is back doing what he does best — rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer.Starring: Matthew Goode, Chloe Pirrie, Alexej Manvelov, Kelly Macdonald, Leah Byrne, and moreWhen it premieres: May 29 on Netflix
Untamed
This new mystery thriller follows National Parks Service special agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) and new ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), who are suddenly brought together to investigate a mysterious death in Yosemite. As they dive deeper into the case, they also uncover secrets within the park and even their own pasts.Starring: Eric Bana, Sam Neill, Lily Santiago, Rosemary DeWitt, Wilson Bethel, and moreWhen it premieres: July 17 on Netflix
And finally, Duster
Created by LaToya Morgan and J.J. Abrams, Duster is set in 1972 and follows Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson), the first Black female FBI agent, who suddenly takes on a post in Phoenix. While there, she recruits Jim Ellis (Josh Holloway), a getaway driver, in a bold effort to take down a crime syndicate. Starring: Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, Keith David, Sydney Elisabeth, Greg Grunberg, Camille Guaty, Asivak Koostachin, Adriana Aluna Martinez, Benjamin Charles Watson, and moreWhen it premieres: May 15 on HBO Max
Watch the trailer below:
We can't fit everything into one post, so which shows are YOU most excited for this summer? Tell us in the comments below!
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‘The Studio' and ‘Hacks' Are Two of the Best Shows Ever About Hollywood — But Are They Too Inside or PTSD-Inducing?
Hollywood seems to always take that cliché 'write what you know' to heart when it comes to producing scripts about Hollywood. I enjoy those tales, of course, but that's because my chosen profession is to report on this fascinating business. There's clearly enough money, creativity, mystery, farce, scandal, glamour and spectacle for us to cover every single day at Variety. And all of the stuff that makes for good copy also makes for entertaining TV and film plot lines. So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that three of this year's biggest Emmy comedy contenders play in that space: 'Hacks,' 'The Studio' and 'Only Murders in the Building.' All three have quite a bit of fun with industry tropes, and come a little too close for comfort with some of its satire. And they even crash into each other: 'Hacks' creators Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky and Paul W. Downs cameo as themselves on an episode of 'The Studio,' while Ron Howard is among this year's hot TV trends, playing himself on both 'The Studio' and 'Only Murders.' More from Variety How 'The Studio,' 'Yellowjackets,' 'Monsters' and 'White Lotus' Make Bad Behavior Appealing Emmy Voters Don't Forget: The Powerful Women of 'The Righteous Gemstones' 'Handmaid's Tale' and 'Day of the Jackal' Producers on Rewriting Literary Worlds With TV Adaptations So, we always ask, do audiences outside Hollywood get the jokes, or care? Sometimes, yes. The entertainment business as a series setting goes back to the early days of TV, as even 'I Love Lucy' had a bit of showbiz as its backdrop. Then came 'The Dick Van Dyke Show,' a TV show about the making of a TV show that won the outstanding comedy Emmy three times. HBO built an entire network partly on the premise of shows about show biz — 'The Larry Sanders Show,' 'Entourage,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' 'The Comeback.' (I'm not including 'The Idol' there, for obvious reasons.) One of Netflix's best early shows was the animated 'BoJack Horseman.' But just as often, it seems like shows about the biz nail it with critics and awards, but audiences are less interested. In TV circles, we still talk about Fox's groundbreaking 1999 comedy 'Action,' about a nasty Hollywood producer played by Jay Mohr, but it was canceled after eight episodes. They added a laugh track to ABC's 'Sports Night' in a desperate attempt to make it work. NBC's '30 Rock' won three consecutive comedy Emmys and is beloved by many — yet was never a megahit. Comedy Central and HBO Max gave us three fantastic seasons of 'The Other Two,' but I'm still angry at all of you who didn't watch. I think audiences are watching 'Hacks' (especially this season as Deborah Vance tackles talk), 'The Studio' (the best biz parody in years) and 'Only Murders' (which addressed Hollywood this season) because they're just damn good. But in the industry, they're elevated because we feel a special kinship with them — and that's OK. I'm hearing from a lot of execs in the business who bristle at 'The Studio' because some of its cringe is a little too close to home. I decided to do an experiment on LinkedIn and ask other industry folk whether these shows give them PTSD. I was delighted to learn that, for the most part, it's a no, that they enjoy seeing the satire. 'It's fun for this 10-year Warner Bros. vet to get more glimpses of that classic old lot,' one exec says of 'Hacks.' Former CBS research exec Eric Steinberg says he sees 'lots of relatable moments in 'Hacks' now that the main character has her own show. It will be no surprise to you that I found the audience research episode particularly fun. And, the exteriors at TV City bring back lots of memories. PTSD? Hardly!' Communications exec Stacey Luchs adds, 'There are moments that really hit home — the kind of thing people outside the entertainment world probably wouldn't believe. Sometimes it feels like I'm in on an inside joke, and it just makes me smile.' My former (and longtime) Variety colleague Steve Gaydos perhaps says it best: 'The writers of 'Hacks' and 'The Studio' have been reading our mail. But Billy Wilder turned it into art 75 years ago with 'Sunset Boulevard.' He didn't just shoot fish in a barrel. His fish had souls, and their fates mattered — then and just as much now, on stage with music and on screens of all sizes in black and white. That's the ultimate achievement and though these current TV shows contain moments of pathos, it will take time before we can measure their memorability.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Sci-Fi Surges, FYC Crunch Pressure, and Comedy Category Shakeups Across 94 Races
