I’m going to say something: 2026 is already looking to be a major year for major motion pictures. From big superheroes, of course, to some long-anticipated sequels and interesting new takes from old favorite directors, I predict that (barring disaster) we’re going to have a lot of fun at the movies. These are, from where I’m standing, the most anticipated movies of 2026.
Most of the movies that get me hyped first in the new year are the big blockbusters, because they’re the ones that lock down their release dates early. We’ll get a better sense of what indie movies, lower budget comedies, and underrated gems are going to make a splash as the year goes on. The point is that we will be sat at the movies. Yes, going to the theater in 2026 can be expensive. Maybe this is the year we all get really into creative ways to sneak in snacks and sodas from like we did when we were kids. Think of it as less of a recession indicator and more of a low stakes heist movie. Do whatever it takes to get off the couch and around other people if and when you can!
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Release date: January 16, 2026
Let’s kick it off with the latest installment in this zombie franchise directed by Nia DaCosta. She’s taking over the story from Danny Boyle, though their films shot back-to-back. This film will get more into the post-apocalyptic cult called “the Jimmys,” which is not related to the high school musical theater competition in the United States and is, in fact, an homage to Jimmy Savile, a television presenter in the UK who in our world was exposed as a big time, Bill Cosby-level sexual predator. Yikes!
The Moment
Release date: January 30, 2026
Letterboxd user charli xcx is getting into film in a major way in 2026. She’s composed the score for “Wuthering Heights,“ and Mother Mary below, and stars in this mockumentary as well as The Gallerist from director Cathy Yan and I Want Your Sex from Gregg Araki. All of these movies sound good! We will hopefully be eating well this year.
“Wuthering Heights”
Release date: February 13, 2026
Everybody’s eyes are on Emerald Fennell’s upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë’s gothic romance for two overarching reasons. One, Fennell’s movies tend to be divisive. Two, if there’s one thing that people love to do it’s critique film adaptations of classic literature to death. Remember the hoopla over that Persuasian with Dakota Johnson? The knives are out to pick apart everything from the casting of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as Cathy and Heathcliff to the costuming and the scare quotes in the title. Some points are valid, others more tedious. But all chatter is good chatter, right?
The Bride!
Release date: March 6, 2026
Frankenstein is so 2025. This year, we’re all about his missus. Maggie Gyllenhaal directed an original musical about the Bride of Frankenstein starring Jessie Buckley as the lady in question and Christian Bale as the monster. It looks twisted and chaotic and so much fun. Also, as far as I know, this is Bale’s first musical since Newsies. Kind of a big deal, if you ask me!
Project Hail Mary
Release date: March 20, 2026
This is a science fiction movie based on a novel, not a comic book or ’70s film franchise, starring Ryan Gosling as a guy who wakes up on a spaceship with amnesia. Not the ideal place to be in that scenario, IMHO. I’d advise you to actually not watch the trailer if you don’t want to get spoiled on what happens next. Or, because you have free will, do it anyway.
The Drama
Release date: April 3, 2026
The first of three movies that Robert Pattinson and Zendaya both appear in this year, The Drama has already intrigued folks online with its ominous teaser trailer. What IS the twist? You know there has to be a twist. The anticipation is going to be brutal.
Mother Mary
Release date: April 26, 2026
Anne Hathaway is also in a lot of anticipated movies in 2026. The first is a psychosexual thriller from The Green Knight director David Lowery. Hathaway plays a pop singer who goes to the gothic-y mansion where her former fashion designer, played by Michaela Coel, lives to ask her for a new dress. Hunter Schaefer, Sian Clifford, FKA Twigs, Alba Batista, Kaia Gerber, and Jessica Brown Findlay also star. All women, as you may have noticed.
The Devil Wears Prada 2
Release date: May 1, 2026
The sequel, which will reunite Hathaway’s Andy, Meryl Streep’s Miranda, Stanley Tucci’s Nigel, and Emily Blunt’s Emily from the 2006 comedy, has the potential to be the event of the season. Especially if you’re not really super interested in the superheroes, aliens, and dinosaur blockbusters that usually make big bucks at the box office. Counter-programming doesn’t get much better than this. You know who’s not invited to the party this time? That villain of a grilled cheese-making boyfriend from the first movie. Good riddance!
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Release date: May 22, 2026
It’s been so long since we had a new Star Wars movie that it’s going to feel weird when this finally comes out. They pivoted so hard to limited series on Disney+ that I almost forgot this is supposed to be a movie franchise. Anyway, Pedro Pascal and the little guy are back!
Disclosure Day
Release date: June 12, 2026
New movie from Steven Spielberg? And it’s about aliens or UFOs or something? And it stars Blunt as well as 2025’s most booked-and-busy actor, Josh O’Connor? Yes please! We don’t know too much more about this one, other than the ensemble cast also includes Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, Colin Firth, and Wyatt Russell. That makes it all the more intriguing.
Supergirl
Release date: June 26, 2026
Supergirl and Superman might be cousins, but they’re so not alike. There’s a good reason for this. Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El might look younger than David Corenswet’s Kal-El/Clark Kent, but she was actually born before the Man of Steel and experienced the destruction of their home planet first hand. Then the baby she was supposed to take care of (*cough* Kal-El) grew up on a farm without her! She’s understandably jaded and messy. With I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie at the helm and a screenplay by playwright Ana Nogueira, this is looking like a banger start to 2026’s superhero offerings.
The Odyssey
Release date: July 17, 2026
It kind of thrills my inner teenager, who only truly enjoyed English classes in high school, that an adaptation of The Odyssey is likely going to be the biggest movie of 2026. Christopher Nolan’s epic promises to be just that! We’re gonna see big battles, gods and goddesses, and even bigger ocean waves.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Release date: July 31, 2026
The MCU is back this year with two pretty big ones, starting with the fourth Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland. Did you know that Sadie Sink is in this one, and we still don’t know who she’s playing? That’s fun!
The Social Reckoning
Release date: October 9, 2026
Everything that happened with Facebook after the events of The Social Network was fine and good for the internet and society at large, right? There was no need for Aaron Sorkin to write and direct a sequel, starring Jeremy Strong as an older Mark Zuckerberg, Mikey Madison as whistleblower Frances Haugen, and Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, right? No? Wrong? Oh brother.
Remain
Release date: October 23, 2026
M. Night Shyamalan movies always get people talking and are always fun to watch in a crowd of people who don’t know what is coming. His next film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor, was co-conceived by Nicholas Sparks. Like… the guy who wrote The Notebook, A Walk To Remember, and Dear John. What an interesting collaboration! Aren’t you intrigued to see what this movie is about?
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Release date: November 20, 2026
The people asked for the Haymitch games, and they have received. You have until the end of November to read Suzanne Collins’ devastating novel that shows how Katniss and Peeta’s future mentor became District 12’s second victor. It’s an emotional read that will also make you think about propaganda and how important it is to sharpen your media literacy skills when the government wants to use you to push a certain narrative.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
Release date: November 26, 2026
The first installment of the new adaptations of C. S. Lewis’ fantasy series, directed by Greta Gerwig, is hitting theaters next fall/early winter. I couldn’t be more excited. Not only will it be wonderful and so appreciated to return to the cozy land of Narnia, there hasn’t really been a proper film adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew before. This is fresh ground!
Avengers: Doomsday
Release date: December 18, 2026
It’s been 84 years since we had a proper Avengers movie. Alright, it will actually only have been seven years. Still! Given how so many fans have shrugged off the Marvel Cinematic Universe in that time, it’ll be interesting to see where they go with this. Just about every man who’s ever been in a Marvel movie (plus, full shade, five women) is in it too.
Dune: Messiah
Release date: December 18, 2026
There’s no way that the new Avengers and the new Dune are going to be released on the same day… right?? “Dunesday” doesn’t have the same vibe as “Barbenheimer” AT ALL. As excited as I am for both installments, that double feature sounds exhausting.
Werwulf
Release date: December 25, 2026
Director Robert Eggers, who spooked us all a few years ago with Nosferatu, is back with the #TeamJacob to that film’s #TeamEdward starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily Rose-Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Inneson. Nothing says Christmas like howling at the moon, right?
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