The 15 Most Anticipated Movies of 2026

I’m predicting 2026 will be a fantastic year for films. Don’t hesitate to point out if I’m wrong – I’ve made optimistic predictions before that didn’t pan out! (I wrote this in December 2026, so we’ll see!)

This year’s films offer a wide range of experiences. We’re seeing ambitious, original projects from established directors like Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg – though, of course, stories based on classics like The Odyssey have been around for millennia. Newer directors, such as Zach Cregger, are also tackling big horror franchises. Alongside these, there are sequels to popular series like Toy Story and The Avengers. The latest Street Fighter film features WWE Champion Cody Rhodes with a truly impressive hairstyle, and Tom Cruise is collaborating with Alejandro González Iñárritu on a mysterious new project called Digger – where Tom Cruise is Digger! The details about who Digger actually is are still under wraps.

ScreenCrush has compiled a list of 15 of the most exciting movies coming out in 2026, with 10 more worth watching too! While tons of new films are released every week in theaters and on streaming services, these are the ones I’m personally most looking forward to – I even put their release dates in my calendar! (Maybe I’m the only one who does that…)

ScreenCrush’s Most Anticipated Movies of 2026

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

The sequel to 28 Years Later is coming soon, with a release date of January 16. The film continues the story from the previous movie, following survivors like Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), Spike (Alfie Williams), and Jimmy (Jack O’Connell), the leader of a dangerous group. Written by Alex Garland and produced by Danny Boyle, the movie is directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman). It’s also expected to bring back Cillian Murphy, star of the original 28 Days Later, potentially setting up another 28 Years Later film with him as the lead.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die

Gore Verbinski, the director behind films like The Ring and the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, is back after a ten-year hiatus with a new sci-fi comedy releasing on February 13th. The film stars Sam Rockwell as a time traveler who comes to the present day to battle a dangerous artificial intelligence. Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, and Zazie Beetz also star. Fans are especially excited to see what Verbinski, known for films like MouseHunt, The Weather Man, and Rango, has created.

Project Hail Mary

Set to release on March 20th, this new science fiction film is based on a novel by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. It stars Ryan Gosling and is directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, known for films like The LEGO Movie, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and 21 Jump Street. Gosling plays an astronaut undertaking a desperate mission to save Earth from disaster. With a strong foundation in literature and a talented creative team—including cinematographer Greig Fraser and composer Daniel Pemberton—this film is highly anticipated.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

The popular Disney+ series featuring Din Djarin and Grogu is expanding to the big screen next summer. The movie will be created by many of the same people who made the show a hit, including director and writer Jon Favreau, co-writer and producer Dave Filoni, producer Kathleen Kennedy, cinematographer David Klein, and composer Ludwig Goransson. While details about the plot are still under wraps, the cast includes Sigourney Weaver as a former Rebel and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta, the son of Jabba the Hutt – though they don’t seem to share much of a family resemblance.

Disclosure Day

Scheduled for release on June 12th, Steven Spielberg’s latest film, Disclosure Day, explores his ongoing fascination with extraterrestrial life. Spielberg initially came up with the idea and then collaborated with David Koepp, the screenwriter of Jurassic Park, to bring it to life. The film seems to build on themes from his previous works like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., potentially offering a more modern and unsettling take on alien encounters, similar to War of the Worlds. Starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colin Firth, we’ll see if that’s the case when it hits theaters in June.

Toy Story 5

With computers, video games, and a flood of AI-generated content everywhere, it’s getting harder for traditional toys and even carefully made animated films to stand out. This is especially true with the release of a new Toy Story movie, directed by Andrew Stanton, who has been involved with all the previous films. Hopefully, the return of the character Forky will ensure it’s a success – I truly believe Forky is the only thing that can beat AI!

Supergirl

Hitting theaters on June 26th is the first solo film starring Supergirl, played by Milly Alcock! Fans were thrilled to see her appear in Superman, and this movie promises to explore her story further. Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the film is based on the critically acclaimed DC comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. The story follows Supergirl as she teams up with an alien girl seeking revenge for her father’s death, and if the movie stays true to the source material, it has the potential to be a truly exceptional superhero film.

The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan’s new film, releasing July 17th, is his take on the classic story of The Odyssey. Featuring an all-star cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Charlize Theron, and Robert Pattinson, it’s already generating huge buzz. Shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras, and being Nolan’s most expensive film yet, it promises to be a truly epic cinematic experience. If that doesn’t convince you, nothing will!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Scheduled for release on July 31st, the next Marvel film promises a strong start to 2026 after a somewhat inconsistent 2025. The movie will feature Tom Holland returning as Spider-Man, alongside Zendaya and Jacob Batalon. New cast members Sadie Sink and Tramell Tillman will join established Marvel actors like Mark Ruffalo and Jon Bernthal. While it’s unclear how this film, titled Brand New Day, fits into the larger Marvel multiverse, fans will be excited to see Holland back in action as Peter Parker.

Coyote vs. Acme

Originally finished by Warner Bros. and then put on hold, the live-action/animated film Wile E. Coyote vs. Acme is now getting a theatrical release thanks to a new distributor. Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch (based on a story by James Gunn and Jeremy Slater), the movie follows Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme corporation for their faulty products. The film stars the classic Looney Tunes characters alongside human actors Will Forte, John Cena, and Luis Guzmán. While the film’s journey has been unusual, and late August releases aren’t known for blockbusters, there’s a lot of excitement to finally see it – and hopefully, Wile E. Coyote will finally get a win!

Clayface

Originally, a movie featuring the character Clayface wasn’t included in the plans for the new DC movie and TV universe. However, director Mike Flanagan presented such a compelling idea that Warner Bros. and DC decided to move forward with it – a great example of adapting when a better idea emerges! Unfortunately, Flanagan became occupied with other projects, so James Watkins ended up directing the film. It really makes you wonder what made the concept so appealing to Warner Bros. and DC that they fast-tracked its production.

Resident Evil

The new Resident Evil movie is coming out on September 18th. Usually, another installment in the series wouldn’t generate much buzz, especially after a previous reboot that didn’t leave a lasting impression. However, this one is different because Zach Cregger, the director of Barbarian and Weapons, is at the helm. His involvement makes it worth watching, and the cast – including Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, and Paul Walter Hauser – is particularly exciting.

Digger

The first look at Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new film, Digger, starring Tom Cruise, has arrived with a poster and short teaser. Details are scarce beyond that, but it’s exciting news because it’s Cruise’s first movie outside the action genre since 2017’s American Made (and even before that, 2012’s Rock of Ages). While Cruise is known for his fantastic action roles, it’s refreshing to see him take on a different type of project and challenge himself as an actor. It’s not every day you see Tom Cruise playing a character who…well…digs!

Street Fighter

Set to release on October 16th, the new Street Fighter movie is generating buzz. While the original game is a bit of a hidden ’90s classic, the new film’s visuals are striking – and its characters look remarkably like their video game counterparts, which is a bold choice for a serious movie. The first trailer showcases a deliberately exaggerated style, and the cast is equally unique, featuring Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, Roman Reigns, Eric Andre, 50 Cent, and Alexander Volkanovski. It’s hard to say if all these creative decisions will pay off, but one thing is certain: this Street Fighter movie won’t be dull.

Avengers: Doomsday

Scheduled for release on December 18th, the latest Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday, is finally arriving in theaters. The movie has gone through some changes – it was originally titled The Kang Dynasty, and the villain has switched from Kang (played by Jonathan Majors) to Dr. Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.). This has left fans uncertain about what to expect. While early previews have received a mixed response, the confirmed return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers has generated excitement. Fortunately, the directing team behind the hugely successful Endgame, the Russo brothers, are back, along with many familiar cast and crew members. This gives hope that Doomsday – and the planned sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027 – can achieve similar success.

Here’s a look at movies expected to be released in 2026: Scream 7 (February 27), Hoppers (March 6), The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3), The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1), Scary Movie 6 (June 12), Moana (July 10), Practical Magic 2 (September 18), The Social Reckoning (October 9), The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaping (November 20), and Dune: Messiah (December 18).

The 21 Best Movies of the 21st Century So Far

21. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

It’s strange that when people make lists of the greatest films, they rarely focus on which movies are the funniest. When it comes to sheer laugh-out-loud moments, it’s hard to beat Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell, the movie brilliantly satirizes the sexism common in 1970s workplaces. In fact, the scene with Ron Burgundy, Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), and his collection of colognes might be the funniest movie scene ever filmed. Seriously, almost every line and word is hilarious – there are barely a couple of moments that don’t land. The rest is pure comedic gold.

20. Holy Motors (2012)

Leos Carax’s Holy Motors feels like the most incredible dream you can experience while awake. It’s a wildly imaginative and moving tribute to film, acting, and life itself – suggesting they’re all deeply connected. Denis Lavant delivers eleven stunning performances as Oscar, a man who travels through Paris in a limousine, constantly transforming into different characters – from a motion-capture performer to a gangster and a beggar. While the exact nature of Oscar’s work remains a mystery, the film powerfully demonstrates the enduring magic and unrealized possibilities of cinema, especially at a time when traditional moviegoing and distribution methods are changing.

19. One Battle After Another (2025)

“One Battle After Another” stands out in today’s Hollywood, where films based on existing properties dominate. It’s a daring and costly epic—rumored to have cost over $150 million—with a clear vision from director Paul Thomas Anderson and significant political themes. The film defies easy categorization, seamlessly blending elements of a suspenseful thriller, a quirky adventure, and a socially conscious drama—the kind of movies studios used to prioritize. At its heart, it’s a touching story about a father trying to shield his teenage daughter from his past and a world in chaos. It’s funny, visually stunning, odd, unsettling, and thrilling—essentially, a new masterpiece from PTA.

18. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the comedic force behind Bridesmaids, reunited for another hilarious adventure in Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. They play two best friends who lose their jobs at a furniture store in Nebraska and decide to spend their severance pay on a trip to Florida. While there, they both fall for a charming man (Jamie Dornan, playfully poking fun at his heartthrob image) who is secretly part of a ridiculous plot to unleash killer mosquitoes on the town. Wiig and Mumolo are fantastic, delivering witty dialogue on everything from clothing to the perfect name, and the movie is filled with quotable moments. Barb and Star arrived at just the right time, offering a bright and joyful escape from the everyday.

17. Inside Out (2015)

Even before becoming Pixar’s creative leader, Pete Docter was known as a brilliant talent. He wrote for hit films like Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and WALL-E, and directed some of Pixar’s most beloved movies: Monsters, Inc., Up, and Inside Out. Inside Out is a remarkably creative story about what goes on inside the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. When Riley moves from Minnesota to San Francisco, her life is turned upside down, leading to a conflict between the personified emotions in her brain. The film’s depiction of Riley’s mind is visually stunning and full of imaginative details. But more importantly, Inside Out is a profoundly insightful film about the vital role sadness and grief play in our lives.

16. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

The game Donkey Kong is a surprisingly accurate reflection of life. It’s incredibly challenging and unforgiving, and success often feels like pure luck. You might have a good run, but ultimately, something unexpected – like a barrel thrown by a relentless gorilla who’s taken your partner – can end it all. Even achieving a high score doesn’t offer lasting victory; there’s always an end. And sometimes, you even have to contend with bizarre obstacles, like a scheming hot sauce entrepreneur with a questionable hairstyle.

Essentially, The King of Kong isn’t just a documentary about competitive Donkey Kong; it’s a film about the human experience.

15. The Prestige (2006)

Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige is a masterful film where his signature style—complex timelines, surprising twists, and recurring themes like flawed characters and loss—come together brilliantly. The movie follows two competing magicians in Victorian London, played by Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, whose rivalry leads to both incredible innovation and deadly consequences. It’s a story within a story, delving into the sacrifices artists make for their craft and the inherent duality of human nature. Even knowing the film’s secrets, The Prestige remains incredibly rewarding to watch again and again, revealing new details with each viewing as you notice how cleverly Nolan sets up every plot twist—if you pay close attention.

14. The Social Network (2010)

Whether David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin got the details of Facebook’s beginnings right is open to discussion. However, they undeniably captured a specific personality type with Mark Zuckerberg, as played by Jesse Eisenberg: incredibly intelligent, but also fueled by anger, a sense of privilege, and a deep need for acceptance. Many questioned Fincher’s choice to make a film about Facebook in 2010, but it’s now clear it shared themes with his earlier film, Fight Club – both explore the story of a frustrated, isolated man whose outburst of anger has unforeseen results.

A crucial element of the film is Justin Timberlake’s portrayal of Sean Parker, the founder of Napster and an early executive at Facebook, who acts as a kind of mentor figure to Zuckerberg, much like Tyler Durden in Fight Club. Timberlake and Eisenberg share a physical resemblance – they could almost be brothers, one incredibly fortunate and the other facing constant setbacks. This highlights Mark’s aspirations – he wants to be like Parker, and he’s tantalizingly close to achieving that.

13. Nickel Boys (2024)

It’s rare to see a truly original film, one that feels genuinely new and expands what movies can do. But every now and then, a movie like Nickel Boys comes along. This film is bold, insightful, and offers a unique perspective – actually, two.

Director and co-screenwriter RaMell Ross made a striking choice: he filmed almost the entire adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from the point of view of the two main characters. This remarkable camerawork, achieved with cinematographer Jomo Fray, fully immerses you in the experiences of these two young men as they struggle to survive a harsh reform school in 1960s Florida. It’s baffling that Fray wasn’t nominated for an Oscar. While this technique can easily feel gimmicky, Ross uses it to create a truly new way of seeing the world – and perhaps a glimpse into the future of filmmaking.

12. Past Lives (2023)

This moving and poignant film explores the unseen connections that shape our lives – whether you call it fate, destiny, or the Korean concept of in-yun – and how these forces can both bring people together and drive them apart. The story centers on Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who share a powerful connection but struggle to find the right time and place to be together. They keep crossing paths throughout their lives – as children, in college, and as adults – and each time, their lives have changed, yet their bond remains. The complication? Nora is now married to Arthur (John Magaro). The film delicately portrays this love triangle, and its ultimately heartbreaking resolution will leave you thinking about the pivotal moments and choices that have defined your own life, and how their true significance may only become clear with time.

11. Boyhood (2014)

For twelve years, director Richard Linklater secretly filmed scenes with the same actors – a boy (Ellar Coltrane), his mother (Patricia Arquette), and his sister (Lorelei Linklater) – to document their lives. While some might see this as a clever filmmaking trick, the result is a truly special look at American life in the early 2000s, and the real love, struggles, and compromises of one family. All movies deal with time, but Boyhood has a unique connection to it. Seeing the actors actually age on screen adds a touching quality to some moments, and makes others even more meaningful. When Patricia Arquette reflects on her life at the end, her performance is powerfully informed by a full twelve years of genuine emotion. As the late film critic Roger Ebert famously said, “Movies are windows into our world.” And I can’t think of a film that throws open those windows quite like Boyhood.

10. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

I absolutely adore Catch Me If You Can. It’s such a fun, lighthearted movie, but it also really gets under your skin with its themes of loneliness and the importance of family. And the cast? Incredible! Leonardo DiCaprio is captivating as the charming con man Frank Abagnale Jr., and the supporting actors – Christopher Walken as his father, Jennifer Garner, Amy Adams – are all fantastic. But Tom Hanks as the FBI agent Carl Hanratty? He’s just brilliant. What’s so compelling is the chase itself – Frank’s clever escapes are thrilling, but also incredibly sad. You realize both he and Hanratty are desperately lonely, and their pursuit of each other is all they have. Those annual Christmas phone calls really drive that home. Honestly, it might be the most bittersweet Christmas movie since It’s a Wonderful Life. If you don’t fall in love with this film, I’m going to tell you a knock-knock joke…

9. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road isn’t just the best car chase movie of the 21st century—it’s also surprisingly profound. It feels like a modern retelling of the biblical story of Exodus, with a group of strong women, led by Charlize Theron’s Furiosa, searching for a better life in a desolate wasteland. Tom Hardy’s Max acts as their reluctant guide, helping them towards safety but unable to find peace himself. George Miller’s action masterpiece proves that thrilling entertainment and intelligent storytelling can go hand-in-hand. Anyone who says otherwise is just trying to provoke you.

8. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Martin Scorsese, now over 80 years old, continues to challenge himself and his viewers with his films. He still elicits amazing performances from actors and consistently explores familiar themes—the dangerous allure of wealth and the tragic undercurrents of American history. His latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, focuses on the horrific events of the 1920s, when dozens of members of the Osage Nation were murdered after discovering oil on their land in Oklahoma, making them targets for their white neighbors—including Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), who marries an Osage woman (Lily Gladstone) with oil wealth. Like with many of Scorsese’s recent films, this one feels like a fitting capstone to an extraordinary career, and perhaps even his last.

7. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

2007 was a fantastic year for films, but the one that truly resonated with me was The Diving Bell & The Butterfly. Julian Schnabel beautifully adapted Jean-Dominique Bauby’s memoir about living with locked-in syndrome. Bauby’s story, and how the film conveyed the importance of embracing life, had a profound impact on me. I left the theater that day and immediately started planning to propose to my girlfriend – a decision I still feel great about 13 years and two kids later! I recently rewatched it, and it’s just as powerful and moving as I remembered.

6. Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher is known for directing films about serial killers, but Zodiac is more than just a crime thriller. It’s a journey through San Francisco’s history, seen through the perspectives of three men obsessed with solving the Zodiac Killer case. We follow a police inspector (Mark Ruffalo), rumored to have inspired the film Bullitt, a newspaper reporter (Robert Downey Jr.) who became a target of the Zodiac, and an amateur detective (Jake Gyllenhaal) unable to abandon the investigation even after the killings cease. What sets Zodiac apart is its portrayal of how all-consuming an obsession can be. Fincher immerses the audience in a complex web of clues and false leads using inventive camera work and editing. By the film’s ending—which cleverly connects back to the opening scene after a tense two and a half hours—viewers fully understand Robert Graysmith’s relentless pursuit.

5. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

The films of Joel and Ethan Coen often feel like collaborations, and Inside Llewyn Davis is particularly focused on that idea. As I’ve discussed previously, the movie portrays New York’s folk music scene in the early 1960s while also telling the story of a talented musician, Llewyn Davis (played by Oscar Isaac), and the series of unfortunate events he faces after his musical partner dies. It’s notable that Llewyn’s most beautiful song is a duet, and loses something when performed solo, suggesting the importance of partnership in art and life.

4. Lady Bird (2017)

Greta Gerwig’s film, Lady Bird, is structured around pairs and contrasts. The main character has two first names and experiences two romances and two close friendships throughout the story. The film covers two school semesters, each featuring a play, two dances, and two parties. She also navigates two different relationships with each of her parents and considers applications to two colleges while attending two churches. This focus on possibilities makes Lady Bird a powerful film about the weight of making choices – and how, at that age, every decision feels incredibly important, which, in many ways, it is.

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

I honestly can’t even recall where I first saw Eternal Sunshine. It was released about 20 years ago when I was living in New York, but the details of that initial viewing are just…gone. And you know what? That actually makes me love the film more now. What’s so brilliant about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is that it takes this wild sci-fi idea – a couple erasing each other from their memories – to really explore how natural memory loss affects us. And Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet? They’re just an incredible on-screen couple, especially because their relationship is destined to fail. It hits home, because let’s face it, all relationships eventually end, kind of like a beach house slowly being swallowed by the ocean.

2. Take Shelter (2011)

Having experienced panic attacks myself, I believe Take Shelter is a truly exceptional film about living with anxiety. The movie centers on Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon), a family man who, despite a loving wife and daughter, is plagued by terrifying nightmares of devastating storms and a constant feeling of impending doom. Michael Shannon delivers a phenomenal performance, brilliantly supported by Jessica Chastain, and the film realistically portrays the vicious cycle of fear – Curtis worries he’s losing his mind, a fear that only intensifies his anxiety. While some see the ending as open to interpretation, I find it completely logical. The film demonstrates that this kind of anxiety can’t be overcome, and neither can you simply build barriers – whether physical or emotional – to protect what you cherish. The only way to cope is to understand it and manage it with the help of those you love.

1. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Okay, so there’s this scene with Rick Dalton and his stuntman, Cliff Booth, meeting with a producer, Marvin Schwarz, at Musso & Frank Grill. Marvin’s suggesting Rick do these Italian Westerns, but Rick is not into it. He’s seriously bummed, convinced his career is over. As soon as he steps outside, he just completely breaks down – it’s a really powerful moment. Tarantino does this amazing low-angle shot, panning up to show the Musso & Frank sign, and right below the name it says, ‘Oldest in Hollywood.’ It’s like, Rick isn’t actually old news, but in that instant, he feels totally washed up. It subtly hints that even if he has a few years left, time is running out. Honestly, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a brilliant film, full of these little touches. It’s both a look back at a wild time in American history and a love letter to the movies themselves, especially at a moment when that era might be fading away.

2025-12-29 23:35