American Summer is a coming-of-age family comedy-drama directed by Michael W. Gray and written by Michael W. Gray, Jennifer B. White, and Marc Prey. The movie stars Steve Guttenberg, Dan Lauria, Mia Talerico, Christie Brinkley, Logan Gray, Cullen Moss, Kobi Frumer, and Erinn Ruth.
The story follows adult Mikey as he remembers one special summer from his childhood. During that summer, Mikey met “the” girl, earned a place on a travel baseball team, and enjoyed a series of summer adventures. At the same time, his US Army father was missing overseas, adding an emotional family story to the lighthearted baseball and summer fun.
American Summer has a runtime of 83 minutes and is scheduled for release in the United States on September 4, 2026. The movie was filmed in New Jersey and is distributed by Blue Harbor Entertainment. The film’s official website also lists a September 4, 2026 theatrical release.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | American Summer |
| Genre | Comedy, Family, Coming-of-Age, Drama |
| Director/Writer | Michael W. Gray; Jennifer B. White; Marc Prey |
| Starring | Steve Guttenberg, Dan Lauria, Mia Talerico, Christie Brinkley, Logan Gray, Cullen Moss, Kobi Frumer, Erinn Ruth |
| Runtime | 83 minutes |
| Age Rating | PG |
| Release Date | September 4, 2026 |
| Distributor | Blue Harbor Entertainment |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
American Summer Age Rating
American Summer is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for suggestive material, some language, and brief smoking. The official MPA listing confirms the PG rating and these reasons.
The movie is mainly a warm family story about childhood, baseball, friendship, first love, and family. However, parents should know that the movie contains some mild suggestive material, a small amount of language, and a brief smoking scene. The story also deals with the emotional subject of Mikey’s father being missing overseas.
A PG rating means parents are encouraged to give guidance because some material may not be suitable for younger children. It does not mean that the movie is inappropriate for all kids. In the case of American Summer, the rating points to mild content rather than strong violence, sexual content, or profanity.
Is American Summer Suitable for Kids?
American Summer is generally suitable for school-age children, especially kids ages 8 and older. The movie centers on baseball, friendship, summer adventures, family, and a childhood crush. These themes are easy for many children to understand and are presented within a family-friendly story.
Younger children may still need some guidance because the story includes the emotional subject of a parent missing overseas. Some of the romantic material may also be more interesting to older children than very young viewers.
Overall, American Summer is a good choice for families looking for a gentle PG coming-of-age movie, with parents paying attention to the mild content mentioned in the MPA rating.
Age-by-Suitability Table
| Age Group | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Ages 3-7 | With parental guidance; some themes may be difficult for very young children. |
| Ages 8-12 | Yes, generally suitable for this age group. |
| Teens (13-15) | Yes, suitable for most teens. |
| Teens (16-17) | Yes, suitable for older teens. |
| Adults | Yes, suitable for mature audiences. |
American Summer Parents Guide
- Sex & Nudity: American Summer contains suggestive material, which is one of the reasons for its PG rating. The story includes a childhood crush and summer romance, but there is no indication of explicit sexual content or nudity in the available rating information.
- Violence & Gore: Violence appears to be very mild. Baseball and childhood adventures are central to the movie rather than fighting or action. The available information does not indicate graphic injuries, gore, or intense violence.
- Profanity: Some language is included. The MPA specifically lists some language as a reason for the PG rating, but the available information does not indicate frequent or strong profanity.
- Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: Brief smoking is present. This is specifically listed in the official MPA rating reason. Parents who prefer to avoid smoking content should be aware of this brief scene.
- Frightening & Intense Scenes: The movie does not appear to have major scary or intense scenes. The more serious part of the story involves Mikey’s father being missing overseas, which can create emotional moments for children. The overall tone remains warm, nostalgic, and family-friendly.
Tips for Parents
Parents of younger children may want to explain the story about Mikey’s father before watching. The movie can also be a good way to talk with children about friendship, first crushes, family, and dealing with uncertainty.
Parents should also be aware that the movie is officially rated PG for suggestive material, some language, and brief smoking.
American Summer Official Trailer
The official American Summer trailer runs about 2 minutes and 13 seconds and gives a look at Mikey’s childhood summer, baseball, family, and his relationship with Kelly.
American Summer is scheduled to arrive in theaters in the United States on September 4, 2026. The film’s official website currently describes it as “In Theaters Only!”, so there is no confirmed streaming release date listed at this time.
Blue Harbor Entertainment is listed as the distributor for the movie.
FAQs
What is the age rating for American Summer (2026)?
American Summer is rated PG for suggestive material, some language, and brief smoking, according to the official MPA rating.
Is American Summer suitable for kids?
American Summer is generally suitable for children ages 8 and older. Younger children may need parental guidance because of the emotional story about Mikey’s father being missing overseas.
Does American Summer contain violence or gore?
American Summer has very mild violence and no known graphic gore. The movie focuses much more on baseball, friendship, family, and summer adventures.
Does American Summer contain sexual content or nudity?
American Summer contains some suggestive material, which is included in the official PG rating. The available rating information does not indicate explicit sexual content or nudity.
Does American Summer contain strong language?
American Summer contains some language, but the MPA has rated the movie PG rather than PG-13 or R.
Where can I watch American Summer?
American Summer is scheduled for a US theatrical release on September 4, 2026.