I Know What You Did Last Summer is a 2025 American slasher film directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Sam Lansky from a story by Leah McKendrick and Robinson. It is the fourth installment in the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise and a direct sequel to I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).
The film stars Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, and Austin Nichols, with Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising their roles as Ray Bronson and Julie James. Set 27 years after the Tower Bay murders, the plot follows a new group of friends who cover up a car accident, only to be stalked by a hook-wielding killer tied to the town’s dark past.
The movie premiered at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles on July 14, 2025, before its wide release on July 18, 2025, by Sony Pictures Releasing. With a budget of $18 million, it grossed $64.1 million worldwide and received mixed reviews.
Plot
On July 4th, Ava Brucks returns to Southport, North Carolina, for her best friend Danica Richards’ engagement party. After a night of partying, Ava, Danica, Danica’s fiancé Teddy, and Ava’s ex Milo cause a car driven by Sam Cooper to crash off a cliff. Teddy convinces the group to keep the accident a secret, aided by his influential father, Grant.
A year later, the group reunites as Danica prepares to marry Wyatt. At the engagement party, Danica receives a note reading: “I know what you did last summer.” Soon after, Wyatt is murdered by a fisherman wielding a hook. As bodies pile up, Ava and her friends realize someone knows the truth about the accident.
Julie James, now a professor, warns them the killings may be linked to Ben Willis’ massacre decades earlier. Suspicion grows around Pastor Judah Gillespie and recovering addict Stevie Ward. Eventually, it is revealed that Stevie is the killer, seeking revenge for Sam’s death. She is aided by Ray Bronson, who has become embittered since the 1997 events. In the final showdown, Ava kills Ray with a speargun while Stevie escapes, leaving the story unresolved.
Cast
- Madelyn Cline as Danica Richards
- Chase Sui Wonders as Ava Brucks
- Jonah Hauer-King as Milo Griffin
- Tyriq Withers as Teddy Spencer
- Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie Ward
- Billy Campbell as Grant Spencer
- Gabbriette Bechtel as Tyler Trevino
- Austin Nichols as Pastor Judah Gillespie
- Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson
- Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James
Additionally, Sarah Michelle Gellar (Helen Shivers) and Brandy Norwood (Karla Wilson) reprise their roles in cameo appearances.
Production
Development
Sony first announced a reboot in 2014 with Mike Flanagan attached, but the project stalled. After the cancellation of the 2021 television adaptation, Robinson revived the idea, pitching a sequel that would bring back Hewitt and Prinze Jr. alongside a new cast.
Casting
Prinze Jr. initially denied involvement but later signed on after meetings with Robinson. Hewitt confirmed her return in late 2024 after securing a larger role for her character. New cast members included Cline, Wonders, Pidgeon, Withers, and Hauer-King.
Filming
Production began in October 2024 in Sydney, Australia, with locations in Newport Beach, White Bay, and Paddington. Additional shooting took place in Los Angeles in early 2025. Filming wrapped on March 13, 2025, with reshoots in June adding a new ending.
Music
The score was composed by Chanda Dancy and released by Milan Records alongside the film. The soundtrack featured 20 original cues, while commercial songs by artists such as Ravyn Lenae, The 1975, and Addison Rae were also used in the film.
Release
The film premiered in Los Angeles on July 14, 2025, and was released theatrically in the United States on July 18, 2025.
Reception
Box Office
I Know What You Did Last Summer grossed $32.1 million in the United States and Canada and $32 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $64.1 million. It opened with $13 million in its first weekend, finishing third at the box office.
Critical Response
The film received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 37% rating, while Metacritic scored it 42/100.
- IndieWire praised the film as a “lean, mean serial killer flick.”
- Entertainment Weekly credited Madelyn Cline’s performance for elevating the film.
- RogerEbert.com criticized the editing and tonal inconsistency.
- The Hollywood Reporter noted that while nostalgic, the film lacked originality, though the return of Hewitt and Prinze Jr. was widely praised.
