6 Forgotten Movie Franchises Returning in 2026

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Recently, movie theaters have seen a lot of familiar stories return to the big screen, and 2026 will be no different. Several much-loved franchises that have been absent for a while are coming back, with new sequels planned to recapture their former popularity.

Popular franchises such as Street Fighter, Scary Movie, and Resident Evil are making a comeback! Longtime fans are thrilled, and a new generation of moviegoers will get to experience them. With something for everyone – from comedies to action films – 2026 promises to be an exciting year for cinema as these beloved series return after a long break.

Meet the Parents Features Ariana Grande

The hilarious 2000 film Meet the Parents, starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Teri Polo and directed by Jay Roach, quickly became a favorite. It was actually a remake of a 1992 film with the same name, and it spawned two sequels: Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010). Now, after 16 years, the series is returning with new installments.

The new movie reunites Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller and introduces Ariana Grande as Greg’s future daughter-in-law – she plays a former FBI hostage negotiator. Although the earlier films didn’t have a huge dedicated fanbase when they first came out, people still remember how funny they were, so audiences are expected to turn out for this next chapter.

Street Fighter Will Rediscover the Franchise

Street Fighter is a hugely popular fighting game series that many people fondly remember playing at arcades when they were younger. First launched in 1987, it’s grown beyond video games into anime, comics, and both live-action movies and TV shows. However, none of these adaptations have become truly memorable or launched a successful movie or TV franchise.

I’m really excited for 2026! It feels like Street Fighter has a chance to finally break into the mainstream. Kitao Sakurai is directing the new movie, and the cast is amazing – Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Callina Liang, and even 50 Cent! From what I understand, the story follows the fighters as they compete in a tournament and ultimately face off against M. Bison. Paramount is hoping this film will reintroduce the franchise to a wider audience, and honestly, I think it could really work!

Resident Evil Is On Its Second Reboot

Despite being a hugely popular video game series, Resident Evil hasn’t had much success with movies and TV shows. This is actually its second attempt to relaunch the film adaptations, following Johannes Roberts’ Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. These past struggles have kept the series from reaching a wider audience. Now, the franchise is getting another opportunity.

Zach Cregger, known for his work on films like Barbarian and Weapons, is rebooting the Resident Evil franchise with a new movie planned for 2026. The film will star Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis, and tell a fresh story inspired by the earlier Resident Evil games. If it connects with audiences, this could revitalize the series and bring it back into the mainstream spotlight.

The Chronicles of Narnia Will Get A Prequel

Walden Media began releasing films based on C.S. Lewis’s fantasy novels in 2005 with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. They continued with Prince Caspian in 2008 and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 2010. However, each movie earned less at the box office than the one before it, so the rest of the books were never made into films.

Greta Gerwig is getting a fresh start for The Chronicles of Narnia with an adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew, the very first book in the series, which tells a story that happens before the events of the original movies. The film is scheduled to be released in November 2026 and will be available for streaming on Christmas. While The Chronicles of Narnia had potential to be a major success in the 2000s, previous attempts didn’t quite succeed. Hopefully, this new film will become a beloved classic of this decade.

Masters of the Universe Only Has One Live-Action Adaptation So Far

The Masters of the Universe franchise was hugely popular in animation during the 1980s, and it remained a cultural touchstone for years afterward, inspiring toys, comics, and further animated series. However, the franchise hasn’t found the same success with live-action films. The single live-action movie, starring Dolph Lundgren and released in 1987, was a box office disappointment, though it later gained a following as a cult classic.

A live-action He-Man movie could finally arrive in 2026, directed by Travis Knight. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Kristen Wiig, and Jared Leto as Skeletor. This impressive lineup might attract new fans and bring a fresh wave of popularity to the franchise.

Scary Movie Will Spoof New Horror Films

The Scary Movie franchise was incredibly popular in the early 2000s. The first four films were huge hits and inspired a wave of parody movies. However, the films began to lose their appeal as the movie industry changed. Scary Movie 5 was particularly unsuccessful and criticized for feeling outdated, which led to the series being put on hold for over a decade – until now.

The sixth installment of Scary Movie is scheduled to release on June 5, 2026, and is predicted to outperform the previous film. It will parody popular horror movies from the last ten years, including titles like Get Out, Longlegs, Terrifier, and Sinners, making it particularly enjoyable for fans of recent horror. It remains to be seen if the movie’s humor will be considered too edgy for today’s audiences.

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2026-04-29 05:14