‘The Odyssey’, ‘Disclosure Day’, ‘Bride’
2026 is shaping up to be a packed year at the movies, with big franchises, long-awaited sequels, and ambitious originals all competing for attention.
Horror, sci-fi, animation, prestige adaptations, superhero tentpoles — they’re all jostling for space, particularly as the end-of-year holiday season approaches and December once again becomes a battleground.
Below, we’ve rounded up 30 of the biggest movies currently dated for release in 2026, ordered by their U.S. release months, along with a shorter list of 10 additional titles worth keeping an eye on. Where available, we’ve also included trailers to give you an early sense of what’s on the way.
January
Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin return in this sequel to the 2020 disaster hit, following the Garrity family as they emerge from underground bunkers into a devastated world and trek across Europe in search of a new safe haven. Ric Roman Waugh is back in the director’s chair.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
The rage virus saga continues with Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) taking over directing duties from Danny Boyle. Picking up after 28 Years Later, the sequel deepens the mythology around the infected and the cult-like communities that have formed in the aftermath, with Ralph Fiennes and Alfie Williams returning and Jack O’Connell playing cult leader Sir Jimmy Crystal.
February
Emerald Fennell, coming off Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, takes on Emily Brontë’s gothic romance with Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. This new adaptation appears set to lean into obsession, class tension, and emotional extremity, with Fennell’s heightened, envelope-pushing sensibilities potentially making this a divisive one.
March
Maggie Gyllenhaal, making her second feature as director following 2021’s The Lost Daughter, approaches the Bride of Frankenstein myth from an unconventional angle, with Jessie Buckley starring as the resurrected woman opposite Christian Bale’s Frankenstein’s Monster. Set in 1930s Chicago, the film appears poised to blend gothic horror with romance and social commentary, suggesting an artistic reimagining that prioritises character and theme over traditional monster-movie beats.
Adapted from the bestselling novel by The Martian author Andy Weir, the film stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, an astronaut who wakes up alone on a space station with no memory of how he got there — or why he might be humanity’s last hope. With Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing, the project has the potential to balance high-concept sci-fi with humour and character-driven storytelling. It could emerge as a rare sci-fi crowd-pleaser if it strikes the right tonal balance.
April
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Following the enormous success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (its USD $1.3 billion haul making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2023, behind only Barbie), this sequel expands the animated universe into outer space, drawing inspiration from the Super Mario Galaxy games. With Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jack Black returning, expectations are high for another significant box office draw.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer), this long-gestating Michael Jackson biopic stars Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, charting the singer’s rise from child performer to global icon. It will be closely watched for how it navigates Jackson’s life, the unprecedented success, and the personal pressures that came with it.
Written and directed by Lee Cronin (Evil Dead Rise), this new take on The Mummy appears set to steer the franchise back toward horror, with a cast that includes Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, Veronica Falcón, May Calamawy, and May Elghety. Story details are being kept fairly tight for now, but the Cronin factor suggests something nastier and more atmosphere-driven than the glossy action versions we’ve had over the years.
May
Nearly two decades after the original, Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs reunite against a backdrop of a fashion industry reshaped by digital media. With Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt returning, the sequel appears set to examine power, relevance, and generational shifts — and whether the old rulebook still works when the whole business model has changed.
The sequel is locked in for May. After the 2021 reboot’s mixed (but very loud) reception, this one’s about upping the stakes — and, ideally, delivering the kind of tournament energy audiences have been begging for. Karl Urban as among the new faces, playing action film star Johnny Cage.
Star Wars returns to cinemas for the first time since 2019 with a standalone adventure directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man). Rather than continuing the episodic Disney+ format, the film will test whether Din Djarin and Grogu’s dynamic can sustain a feature-length story, while also signalling how Lucasfilm plans to directly bridge streaming success with theatrical ambitions.
June
He-Man’s been “coming soon” for so long it’s basically become a running joke, so seeing this finally land in a summer slot feels oddly satisfying. Travis Knight directs, with Nicholas Galitzine stepping into the role.
Steven Spielberg’s return to sci-fi comes in the form of a tightly guarded UFO thriller starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colin Firth. With plot details largely under wraps, the film is shaping up as a more grounded, paranoia-driven take on extraterrestrial contact, echoing Spielberg’s long-standing interest in awe, fear, and the unknown.
Pixar returns to one of its most beloved franchises as Woody and Buzz face a new challenge tied to children’s increasing reliance on digital devices. Directed by Andrew Stanton, the film appears positioned to explore how play, imagination, and relevance evolve over time — familiar thematic territory for Toy Story. Expectations for its commercial performance remain high.
Milly Alcock headlines the DCU’s first solo Supergirl film, directed by Aussie helmer Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Cruella). Inspired by Tom King’s comic run, the story follows Kara Zor-El on a galaxy-spanning journey that attempts to balance cosmic spectacle with introspection. It will also serve as an early indicator of whether James Gunn’s DCU is finding its footing.
July
No story details yet (because of course there aren’t), but the little yellow chaos merchants are back — and history suggests they’re about to turn July into their personal ATM. Franchise director Pierre Coffin continues at the helm.
Yes, Disney is tackling another live-action remake of one of its animated hits — and recent history shows just how unpredictable that lane can be. 2025 alone delivered a pretty clear contrast: Snow White struggled commercially, while Lilo & Stitch became the third-biggest film of 2025 worldwide. Catherine Laga’aia steps into the title role and Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui. The film’s success may depend on how effectively it translates the animated original’s warmth and musical energy into a live-action setting.
Christopher Nolan takes on Homer’s epic poem, chronicling Odysseus’ long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War. Shot entirely with IMAX cameras and led by Matt Damon, the film represents one of Nolan’s most ambitious undertakings. It also boasts an expansive ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in a world where his identity has been erased following No Way Home. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Short Term 12), the film appears set to reset Spider-Man’s status quo while introducing new threats and allies, including Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, potentially steering the franchise toward a more grounded, street-level focus.
August
After years of uncertainty (including a full shelving), the Looney Tunes hybrid is finally heading to cinemas. It’s a live-action and animation blend in a meta courtroom comedy where Wile E. Coyote sues the Acme Corporation. The film stars Will Forte, Lana Condor, and John Cena.
September
Oscar winners Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunite as the Owens sisters in a sequel to the 1998 film that revisits love, loss, and generational magic. With the original gaining cult status over time, the follow-up appears aimed at expanding the mythology while tapping into nostalgia.
This DCU detour reframes the Batman villain as the centre of a horror-thriller tragedy, directed by James Watkins. Rather than a traditional superhero outing, the film seems positioned to explore themes of identity, transformation, and obsession.
October
Tom Cruise teams up with Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant) for a project described as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions.” With few plot details revealed, the film stands out as one of 2026’s biggest wild cards, driven largely by the unlikely pairing of star and filmmaker.
November
Nicolas Cage and Christian Bale star as John Madden and Al Davis in David O. Russell’s biopic. The film looks set to explore Madden’s legacy both on the field and in the broadcast booth, with its approach likely shaped by Russell’s character-focused, often idiosyncratic storytelling style.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Set during the 50th Hunger Games, the prequel centres on a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) and the brutality of the Quarter Quell, with Whitney Peak playing his love interest Lenore Dove Baird and Mckenna Grace as fellow District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner. The cast also includes Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee. By revisiting one of Panem’s most infamous events, the film aims to expand the franchise’s political and moral framework while leaning into darker territory.
C.S. Lewis’ fantasy world returns to the big screen under the direction of Greta Gerwig, who also writes the adaptation following Lady Bird, Little Women, and Barbie. With Daniel Craig, Emma Mackey, and Carey Mulligan among the cast, the project signals a clear creative reset for the franchise. How Gerwig balances the series’ mythic scale with her character-driven sensibilities remains one of the more intriguing questions heading into its release.
December
Denis Villeneuve closes out his trilogy by adapting Dune Messiah, shifting the focus from prophecy and ascent to consequence and disillusionment. The final chapter appears set to interrogate the cost of Paul Atreides’ (Timothée Chalamet) power, potentially reframing the saga’s central figure in more challenging terms.
Marvel assembles its next major crossover with the Russo brothers returning to direct and Robert Downey Jr. re-entering the MCU as Doctor Doom. Positioned as a course-correcting event film, there’s no denying the pressure surrounding this one as it attempts to pull together multiple narrative threads and reshape the franchise’s future direction.
Robert Eggers follows Nosferatu with a medieval werewolf tale set in 13th-century England, featuring dialogue entirely in Middle English. Releasing on Christmas Day, the film continues Eggers’ fascination with folklore, language, and historical immersion, suggesting a deliberately challenging alternative to traditional holiday releases.
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol
A gothic horror reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic, directed by Ti West (X, Pearl, MaXXXine) and starring Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge in what’s being framed as a major return to studio filmmaking. With Andrea Riseborough co-starring as Belle, the film looks positioned to lean harder into the supernatural side of the story, potentially turning the ghosts and hauntings into something genuinely unsettling rather than simply seasonal.
10 More Movies Worth Keeping an Eye on
The Drama — Kristoffer Borgli follows Dream Scenario with a relationship-driven film starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come — Radio Silence return to direct, with Samara Weaving back at the centre as the series expands its wicked, crowd-pleasing formula.
Hoppers — Pixar’s high-concept animated comedy directed by Daniel Chong, featuring voices including Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan.
Terrifier 4 — Damien Leone continues Art the Clown’s saga with David Howard Thornton returning, keeping the franchise firmly in extreme-horror territory.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die — A genre-tilting survival thriller tied to gaming culture and online identity, with details still largely under wraps.
Scream 7 — Kevin Williamson steps behind the camera, with Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox returning as the film shifts the focus back toward Sidney’s world.
Verity — Colleen Hoover’s psychological thriller adaptation directed by Michael Showalter and led by Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett.
The Social Reckoning — Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, this sequel and companion piece to The Social Network — which earned Sorkin an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay — revisits the rise and fallout of Facebook from a new angle. Jeremy Strong plays Mark Zuckerberg, with Mikey Madison as whistleblower Frances Haugen and Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, positioning the film as a modern reckoning with power, responsibility, and platform influence.
The Dog Stars — Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic survival story starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin, with scope that could skew intimate or epic.
Street Fighter — The third live-action take on Capcom’s fighting game franchise arrives with a surprisingly stacked cast, including Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, Noah Centineo, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and David Dastmalchian as M. Bison. Set in 1993, the story follows estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Centineo) as they’re pulled back into combat when Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament.
