American Summer (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

American Summer follows Mikey, now in his 60s, as he vividly revisits a defining childhood summer marked by first love, travel baseball, a first job and the sudden absence of his father on a military mission. Michael W. Gray directs this 2026 American comedy-family film.

American Summer looks back on a formative season in Mikey’s childhood, when ordinary milestones collided with an unexpected family crisis. As an older man, Mikey returns vividly to the summer he met Kelly, joined a travel baseball team and took his first job.

Written and directed by Michael W. Gray, the film combines comedy and family elements in an 83-minute story set against a childhood summer shaped by change, memory and the disappearance of Mikey’s father overseas.

American Summer movie details

Story without spoilers

The film centers on Mikey, who is now in his 60s and revisits one of the most important summers of his youth. During that period, he met Kelly, the girl he considered his dream, earned a place on a travel baseball team and experienced his first job.

Those coming-of-age events take on added weight when Mikey’s father goes missing while serving on a military mission overseas. The supplied premise presents the story as a recollection of boyhood, first experiences and family uncertainty, without revealing how those circumstances ultimately unfold.

What to expect

American Summer is classified as both a comedy and a family film, with a premise built around childhood memories and coming of age. Its story brings together summer vacation, first love, baseball, a first job and the disruption caused by a missing parent.

The film also uses two versions of its central character: Steve Guttenberg plays Mikey in his 60s, while Logan Evan Gray portrays Young Mikey. Christie Brinkley and Mia Talerico similarly appear as Kelly and Young Kelly, reflecting the story’s movement between later-life recollection and childhood experience.

Cast and creative team

Steve Guttenberg plays Mikey, with Logan Evan Gray as Young Mikey. Christie Brinkley portrays Kelly, and Mia Talerico plays Young Kelly. The cast also includes Dan Lauria as Grandpa, Cullen Moss as Eddy, Erinn Ruth as Erica, Michael Cuomo as Mr. Young, Ellen Toland as Skylar and Stephen Krahel as Dad.

Michael W. Gray directs the film and shares writing credit with Jennifer B. White.

• Steve Guttenberg as Mikey
• Logan Evan Gray as Young Mikey
• Christie Brinkley as Kelly
• Mia Talerico as Young Kelly
• Dan Lauria as Grandpa
• Cullen Moss as Eddy
• Erinn Ruth as Erica
• Michael Cuomo as Mr. Young
• Ellen Toland as Skylar
• Stephen Krahel as Dad

Release and production context

American Summer is listed as a 2026 film from the United States of America, with English as its spoken language. It has a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes and is scheduled with a release date of September 4, 2026. The production companies are Relentless Filmz, Brooklyn Owl Pictures and Blue Harbor Entertainment.

Production companies: Relentless Filmz, Brooklyn Owl Pictures, Blue Harbor Entertainment

American Summer official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its focus on a remembered childhood summer, American Summer places personal milestones alongside the uncertainty created by a father missing overseas. Its compact runtime and comedy-family classification position it as a story about growing up, family disruption and the memories that remain vivid across decades.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb