Last summer was deemed “brat” — Charli xcx’s alternative pop album and neon green outfits defined pop culture. The year before, it was “Barbie,” and hot pink was a popular color in makeup, clothing and jewelry — Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-nominated film was the highest grossing movie of 2023 globally.
Summer 2025 has multiple highly anticipated films and TV shows that have yet to be released. From a new season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” to a global album tour from Kendrick Lamar and SZA, which trends and pop culture icons will determine the theme of this summer?
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour
Similar to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2023, we predict that Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour will make their music trend again. The tour opened in April and will continue through December.
The setlist switches between solo Lamar songs, solo SZA songs and songs featuring both artists. The concert features popular Lamar songs such as “Not Like Us” and “HUMBLE.” and popular SZA songs including “Kill Bill” and “Saturn.” The two artists sing songs together such as “All The Stars (with SZA)” and “luther (with SZA).”
We predict that Lamar and SZA will take over social media, and feeds will be flooded by posts from their concerts. Viral dances such as Tylas 2024 “Water” challenge will resurge.
Accomplished artist: Kali Uchis
Kali Uchis, a popular Colombian singer, has had multiple hit songs throughout her career. For example, “telepatía” went viral in 2020 with over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify, cementing Uchis as a mainstream artist.
Despite these successes, Uchis’s popularity has remained concentrated on just her most viral hits.
We predict that this trend will change this summer. Uchis just released her new album “Sincerely,” on May 8, and has received a positive response from critics.
The album has an ethereal energy, featuring R&B, pop and latin influenced songs. The songs are all very soothing and peaceful. The most popular song currently from the album is “Sunshine & Rain…” with over 19 million streams on Spotify. Uchis is also going on tour this summer and will be at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 18.
While the album has not received a lot of attention yet, we predict that the soothing and peaceful vibe of this audience will gain a lot of attention on social media, with audio clips from the album likely becoming viral TikTok sounds.
TV shows “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and “Stranger Things” are releasing their final seasons this summer
The highly anticipated third season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” will be released on July 16. The show follows the same general plotline as the book series by Jenny Han. High school student Belly Conklin struggles to choose between her two love interests: siblings Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. Through Belly’s romantic adventures, audiences have quickly become invested in the answer to the question: who will Belly choose?
In the novels, Belly eventually chooses Conrad. However, the first and second seasons have already taken multiple plot twists in contrast to the books. Viewers are dissecting the teasers that have been released, rooting for the brother of their choice (and heart).
Usually the show features popular songs such as “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo and “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?” by Tyler, The Creator. We predict that the show will feature the song “party 4 u” by Charli xcx.
Belly’s casual coastal outfit style will be a popular trend, with teens wearing beachy items such as sundresses.
Likewise, the television series “Stranger Things,” which began in 2016, is another global phenomenon entering its final season. The science fiction series follows a teenage friend group in the 1980s as they battle different monsters. Full of dramatic backstories, romance and plot twists, the show leaves audiences on a cliffhanger after each season. The fifth and final season will be released sometime in 2025, but the details have not been announced yet.
The previous season was released in two separate volumes; one in May and the other in July. The show was extremely popular and we think it contributed to the resurgence of 1980s culture. For example, the song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush went viral.
We predict that the season will be very popular but slightly underwhelming as viewers will be upset that the ending is another cliffhanger, but still very invested. We also believe that there will be at least one song or aspect of the show that goes viral on social media.
Movies “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “F1” are coming out this summer
Following the success of the 2022 film “Jurassic World Dominion,” Gareth Edwards is set to direct “Jurassic World Rebirth,” the latest installment in the decades-long franchise. The film will star acclaimed actors Scarlett Johanson, Rupert Friend and Johnathan Bailey; this lineup already guarantees success.
The teaser, which was released on April 18, features seamless animation. Scarlett Johansson, who plays Zora Bennett, leads a covert team to retrieve dinosaur DNA for a medical breakthrough. The mission takes them to a secret island filled with mutated dinosaurs, sparking intense action and survival stakes.
We predict that the film will be very popular, and possibly cause a resurgence in natural colored clothing, such as shades of green and brown.
The film’s release is part of a broader resurgence in the summer movie season, which includes other major titles like F1. Analysts predict that 2025 films could reach $33 billion in 2025, a 5% growth for U.S. box office levels.
F1 is an upcoming sports action drama film directed by Joseph Kosinski. The premise of the movie follows Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pit, who returns to Formula 1 (F1) driving after a devastating crash forced his retirement.
The film will attempt to present realistic F1 racing using actual F1 circuits and appearances by real drivers in cameo roles. The actors were intensely trained to drive real racing vehicles at high velocities to increase the level of realism for racing scenes.
We predict the visuals in this film will be stunning and provide 2 hours of exhilaration. Overall, this summer’s movie lineup is expected to be action-packed and full of excitement.
‘90s minimalism or an indie sleaze may be coming back this summer.
Similar to the “clean girl aesthetic” in the summer of 2023, we predict that this summer’s fashion aesthetic will be full of simplicity, clean lines and neutral colors. Namely, ‘90s minimalism may be the it-girl look this summer. This style is more refined and unique than the clean girl look in past years. Inspired by icons like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, the ‘90s minimalist look is all about quiet confidence. A typical minimalist outfit might be a slip dress with sandals and a dainty necklace. These minimalist designs have never been out, but more and more people have been exploring the trend and we think it will peak this summer.
Social media influencers and fashion houses alike are embracing this revival. Brands like The Row, Calvin Klein, and Toteme are leading the way with understated yet elegant pieces that focus on high-quality fabrics and tailored silhouettes.
Another direction fashion could go in this summer is an indie sleaze-type look. Layering with oversized button-down shirts and vintage tees, messy hair and vintage chunky accessories all characterize this look. Already, this trend has begun to become more popular, and is often referred to as a “cool” girl style.
Whether the Summer of 2025 is ‘90s or Jurassic, it is bound to be memorable. By knowing these trends now, dear readers, you too can be ahead of the game.
