2026 Most Anticipated Movies – The Decaturian

As we embark on another year of grinding assignments the night before and studying for exams, we all have something to look forward to: movies. 

2026 looks bright with a stacked year of can’t-miss blockbusters. Before we start making semester plans, let’s take a moment to appreciate the films coming out this year. 

The list below includes some of my most anticipated movies of the year. I have included the tentative release dates, as studios often switch dates to distance themselves from the competition. 

So without further ado, let’s take a glimpse into the near and not-so-near future. 

It’s showtime, folks.

1. How to Make a Killing | Tentative release date: February 20th

Glen Powell stars as Becket Redfellow, a man disowned by his wealthy family. His mission throughout the film is to receive his inheritance, even if that means speeding up the natural process. 

John Patton Ford will direct the movie, and joining Powell are Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris. 

This is an A24 film, so I’m expecting nothing but the best. 

2. The Bride | Tentative release date: March 6th

Last year, we had Guillermo Del Toro’s faithful adaptation of Frankenstein. This year, Maggie Gyllenhaal will direct a story about his better half. 

Jessie Buckley will star as the Bride of Frankenstein, and Christian Bale will portray Frankenstein’s monster. Rounding out the cast are Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Penélope Cruz. 

From the trailer, the movie seems like a Bonnie and Clyde-type story. This has the makings of a great date-night movie, but only time will tell. 

3. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Tentative release date: April 3rd

“Let’s-a go!” 

Mario and Luigi are back for a cosmic adventure after beating Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The returning cast includes Chris Pratt (Mario), Charlie Day (Luigi), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach), Jack Black (Bowser), and Keegan-Michael Key (Toad). The film will include new members Benny Safdie (Bowser Jr.) and Brie Larson (Rosalina). 

Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath will return to direct the sequel. 

I hope this movie produces another banger hit like “Peaches.” 

I think we all have grown up on Nintendo, so “let ‘s-a go” relive our childhood in theaters. 

4. Michael | Tentative release date: April 24th

The film is a biopic about the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson. 

Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson is taking on the titular role. The cast will also feature Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller.

The film will focus on the first half of Jackson’s career and the early days with the Jackson 5.

Antoine Fuqua will direct the movie, and it is rumored to be part one of a two-part saga, but nothing is confirmed at this time. 

While watching this movie in theaters, please keep all “hee hee” and “chamone” to yourself. 

5. Mortal Kombat II | Tentative release date: May 15th

Simon McQuoid is hoping this movie will be a flawless victory. McQuoid is returning to direct this sequel to the surprise 2021 hit. 

I’m not expecting Oscar-winning performances or plot from this movie. I’m looking for a fun popcorn flick, and I might get that with Karl Urban’s portrayal as Johnny Cage. 

Returning are Jessica McNamee’s Sonya Blade and Emmy winner Hiroyuki Sanada’s Hanzo Hasashi (Scorpion). 

Together, they will team up to defeat the evil Shao Khan. 

6. The Mandalorian and Grogu | Tentative release date: May 22nd

As their TV show adventures seem to be over, their theatrical adventures are just beginning. 

Pedro Pascal will suit up once more for the first Star Wars movie to hit the big screen. 

The film will likely be a continuation of Din Djarin’s (Pascal) and Grogu’s (Baby Yoda) adventures in a galaxy far, far away. Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau (Elf, Iron Man) will direct the film.

Joining this space adventure is someone who is familiar with aliens. The legendary Sigourney Weaver will make her Star Wars debut. Jeremy Allen White will also join as Jabba the Hutt’s son. 

7. Scary Movie 6 | Tentative release date: June 12th

Parody movies are finally back. The world is healing. 

Scary Movie 6 will bring back Marlon and Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall. Having these four back in the franchise is the reason I will be watching this movie. 

I can’t wait to see which horror movies they make fun of. Will it be Sinners, Weapons, The Black Phone, or even The Terrifier? 

The plot is still under lock and key, but from the poster, it seems Ghostface will make a return, so that’s whassssuppppp. 

8. Supergirl | Tentative release date: June 26th

This is the second film under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe. 

Milly Alcock (House of the Dragons) stars as the Man of Steel’s cousin. 

The film will be based on the 2022 graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, written by Tom King, which, in my opinion, is the greatest Supergirl story ever told. 

The film is expected to be darker than 2025’s Superman. From watching the trailer, the film gives off Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 vibes. 

Craig Gillespie will be directing this film, and it will star Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa. Momoa, who once played Aquaman, will now take on the role of Lobo, an interstellar mercenary and bounty hunter. 

9. The Odyssey | Tentative release date: July 17th

I have four words on why you should see this movie: directed by Christopher Nolan. 

The film is a telling of Homer’s Greek epic. Matt Damon will star as Odysseus as he journeys home from the Trojan War. 

Joining Damon are Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and Benny Safdie. 

This is a must-watch IMAX movie. Even if history and period pieces aren’t your thing, I can assure you that Nolan will change your tune. 

I bet if this movie came out during the spring semester, some English professors would cancel class to see it.  

10. Spider-Man Brand New Day | Tentative release date: July 31st

“Living on the edge, fighting crime, spinning webs.” Tom Holland will don the Spider-Man suit for the start of a new trilogy. 

Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) will take over for Jon Watts as director. 

The film will be a continuation of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Joining Holland will be Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman, Marvin Jones III, and the one and only Jon Bernthal. 

Bernthal returning to play the Punisher gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. 

Although he will be toned down for this outing, Bernthal is expected to return to his brutal ways for the second season of Daredevil: Born Again and a special Punisher presentation on Disney+. 

11. Coyote vs. Acme | Tentative release date: August 28th

Dave Green will direct this animated live-action hybrid film. 

The film follows Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation after their products fail to catch Roadrunner. 

The film will star John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, Eric Bauza, and Luis Guzmán. 

The reason I am excited for this movie is that it is a big middle finger to David Zaslav, the CEO and President of Warner Bros. Discovery. 

This movie was finished and ready to hit the big screen back in 2023, but Zaslav went on a purge. He started canceling completed films to get tax write-offs. 

Coyote vs Acme was one of those films that, even though it tested positive in test screenings, was shelved, never to be seen again. That was until Ketchup Entertainment acquired it in 2025. 

Even if you think you are too old to watch Looney Tunes, we should run to the theaters to show Zaslav that you can’t delete art from existence. 

12. Clayface | Tentative release date: September 11th

Described as a body horror, the film will be a character study of one of Batman’s most tragic villains, Clayface.

The film would be the third movie under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe. The film is directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep). 

Tom Rhys will star as the titular character. The plot is a mystery at this point, but from looking at behind-the-scenes photos, fans are in for a bloody good time. 

According to rumors, the film will closely follow the two-part Batman: The Animated Series episode “Feat of Clay.” If that is the case, audiences will witness actor Matt Hagen (Rhys) get disfigured, becoming addicted to a cream that alters his appearance. 

If this sounds interesting, I recommend watching the 2024 film, The Substance. This might tide you over until this film hits theaters. 

13. Digger | Tentative release date: October 2nd

Director of The Revenant, Alejandro González Iñárritu, is teaming up with Tom Cruise for a new action flick. 

According to IMDb, the film will follow “the most powerful man in the world as he causes a disaster and embarks on a mission to prove that he is the savior of humanity.” 

Having these two men work together should hopefully be a match made in heaven. Other cast members include Riz Ahmed, Robert John Burke, and Emma D’Arcy. 

We might have to keep an eye out for his movie next award season. 

14. The Social Reckoning | Tentative release date: October 9th

Director Aaron Sorkin returns to continue the story of Facebook 16 years after his film The Social Network. 

This film is set to tell the story of how an engineer and a Wall Street reporter team up to release Facebook’s most guarded secrets to the public. This sequel will not feature any cast member of the first film. 

Jeremy Strong will be taking over the role of Mark Zuckerberg. Academy Award winner Mikey Madison will play Frances Haugen, and Jeremy Allen White will play Jeff Horowitz. Comedian Bill Burr will help round out the cast. 

15. The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaping | Tentative release date: November 20th

Welcome back to Panem. We’ve seen the 10th, 74th, and 75th Hunger Games on the big screen. Finally, we get to see the 50th Hunger Games. 

The film will be centered on the backstory of my favorite District 12 winner, Haymitch Abernathy. 

Francis Lawrence returns to direct this prequel. 

The film will star Joseph Zada (Haymitch Abernathy), Ralph Fiennes (President Snow), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Beetee Latier), Elle Fanning (Effie Trinket), and Jesse Plemons (Plutarch Heavensbee). 

Although the movie will be set in the past, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson have been confirmed to reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.

16. Violent Night 2 | Tentative release date: December 4th

David Harbour is donning the red suit once more. 

Tommy Wirola returns to direct this action-packed 87North Productions sequel. 

For those who don’t know what 87North Productions is, they are the people who reinvented the action genre with such hits as the John Wick franchise, Bullet Train, Nobody, and The Fall Guy.

The film will add newcomers Kristen Bell and Daniela Melchior to the cast.  Little is known of whose ass Santa Claus will be kicking this time around, but the film is supposed to be set at a mall. 

One thing is for sure: you do not want to be on Santa’s naughty list. 

17. Avengers: Doomsday | Tentative release date: December 18th

The Russo Brothers are returning to the director’s chairs and are bringing along a ton of familiar faces. 

The film will star Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Florence Pugh (Yelena), Tenoch Huerta (Namor), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Thing), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Lewis Pullman (Sentry), Danny Ramirez (Joaquín Torres / Falcon), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier / Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), Channing Tatum (Gambit), Pedro Pascal (Mister Fantastic) Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), and Robert Downey Jr. (Dr. Doom).

Little is known of the plot at this time, but if you don’t see this movie opening night, you will regret it. Watching the previous two Avengers movies was one of the best cinematic experiences I have ever had. 

The only film that has gotten close to that feeling for me was James Gunn’s Superman. Even if you weren’t fans of the latest Marvel movies, Doomsday will hopefully be the return to form that the studio so desperately craves. 

You can count my IMAX ticket as already being purchased. 

18. Dune: Part Three | Tentative release date: December 18th

Denis Villeneuve is returning to Arrakis. 

This film will be an adaptation of the novel Dune Messiah. 

The third film will be a 12-year time jump and is expected to be darker than the first two movies. The film will once again star Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan), and Zendaya (Chani). 

With Villeneuve at the helm once again, we can all expect a great movie to follow. 

19. Werewulf | Tentative release date: December 25th

Robert Eggers is directing another period horror film. After directing Nosferatu, Egger is switching from team Edward to team Jacob. 

The movie is set in medieval Britain and follows villagers stalked by a creature. The film reunites the stars of Nosferatu: Lily Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Willem Dafoe. 

Egger has said “Werewulf” is his darkest horror movie yet. If that doesn’t get you pumped, I don’t know what will. 

20. The Adventures of Cliff Booth | Tentative release date: to be announced 

Brad Pitt is returning to his Oscar-winning role as stunt double Cliff Booth for the semi-sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. 

Unfortunately, it will not be on the silver screen like the first movie, as Netflix is making this film. Tarantino has publicly stated for years that he will make only 10 movies in his career. 

This film is a loophole: Tarantino wrote the script but will not direct it, making it not a Tarantino film. His good friend, David Fincher, will be directing this follow-up. 

Little is known about the plot at this time, but it is rumored that Cliff Booth will be working as a studio fixer. 

The film will also star Elizabeth Debicki and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. It is unknown if his original co-stars, Margot Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio, will return. 

Even if they don’t show up, I’m sure Cliff Booth’s adventures will be worth checking out. 

Throughout all the hard work you will be doing this year, make sure to find some time to escape and see a movie or two. 

It might be the necessary recharge that your body and mind will desperately need.