The Most Anticipated Movies of 2026
The year is flush with the usual blockbuster franchise titles, but we've also got some thrilling genre fare and new projects from the likes of Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and Jordan Peele, among others.
JANUARY
Release Date: January 9, 2026
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Starring: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffith Davis
Lionsgate has officially slated Greenland 2: Migration for release on January 9, 2026, marking the return of Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin the post-apocalyptic survival saga. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Mitchell LaFortune and Chris Sparling, the sequel picks up after the events of the 2020 hit Greenland, which followed the Garrity family’s desperate race for shelter as a comet threatened to wipe out life on Earth. In Migration, we will follow the family as they emerge from their bunker in Greenland to navigate a devastated world in search of a new home.
Release Date: January 9, 2026 on Netflix
Director: Brett Haley
Starring: Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil
Brett Haley directs this adaptation of the popular 2021 novel by Emily Henry about a pair of best friends (Emily Bader and Tom Blyth) who live apart but spend their summer vacations together and begin to wonder if there might be something more romantic lurking just beneath their friendship.
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Director: Nia DaCosta
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams, Jack O’Connell
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple follows the 2025 sequel 28 Years Later, set decades after Cillian Murphy’s original 2002 horror film. The Marvels director Nia DaCosta is helming this project, while Murphy plays a behind-the-scenes role as a producer for the film. It is speculated that he might make a surprise appearance in the film, but that remains unconfirmed.
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Director: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck shared a first look of their new crime thriller The Rip exclusively at Netflix’s TUDUM at the end of May 2025. The Rip centers around a team of Miami cops who discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. Trust among the team of cops begins to fray as outside forces learn about the size of the seizure. Everything is called into question in one of 2026’s most anticipated Netflix films.
Release Date: January 30, 2026
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien
Send Help is an upcoming film directed by Sam Raimi, known for directing hit films such as Drag Me to Hell (2009). The film stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as two colleagues who become the sole survivors of a plane crash and are stranded on a deserted island. They must navigate their strained relationship and work together to survive.
FEBRUARY
Release Date: February 13, 2026
Director: Bart Layton
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Halle Berry, Nick Nolte
Based on the novella of the same name by Don Winslow, this Los Angeles-set thriller stars Chris Hemsworth as a thief who crosses paths with a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) on what he hopes will be his final big score, with Mark Ruffalo as the detective hot on their trail. The star-studded supporting cast includes Barry Keoghan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Corey Hawkins, and Nick Nolte.
Release Date: February 13, 2026
Director: Tyree Dillihay, Adam Rosette
Starring: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry
The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, a four-time NBA champion, partners with Emmy-nominated director Tyree Dillihay and director Adam Rosette to produce an animated sports comedy titled GOAT, an underdog sports comedy. Sony Pictures has timed the release to celebrate the start of the 2026 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
Release Date: February 13, 2026
Director: Emerald Fennell
Starring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi
This new adaptation of the Emily Bronte classic stars Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi and Barbie’s Margot Robbie, who is also a producer on the film, and, like the novel, centers around the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Healthcliff, the orphan her father brought home as young boy.
Release Date: February 20, 2026
Directors: Baz Luhrmann
Starring: Elvis Presley
Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert invites audiences to hear Elvis sing and tell his story like never before. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, showcasing long-lost footage from Presley’s 1970s Las Vegas residency, rare archival material, and newly rediscovered recordings of Elvis reflecting on his own life.
Release Date: February 26, 2026
Directors: Kyla Balda
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Nicholas Galitzine, Hong Chau, Nicholas Braun, Conleth Hill
Hugh Jackman stars in this comedy as a shepherd who reads his sheep murder mystery stories every night before bed. Little does he know that once the lights are out, the sheep discuss the mysteries amongst themselves. Joining Hugh Jackman are Succession’s Nicholas Braun and Game of Thrones‘ Conleth Hill.
Release Date: February 27, 2026
Director: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox
Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returns to face off against Ghostface once again, although this time, she’ll have to do it without the Carpenter sisters (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega), who are not a part of the film. Kevin Williamson, who wrote Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, replaces the directing team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who helmed both previous entries.
MARCH
Release Date: March 6, 2026
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Penelope Cruz, John Magaro
A new Frankenstein film is being brought to life, this time through a female lens. In this remake by Maggie Gyllenhaal of 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein, a murdered young woman in 1930s Chicago is reborn again at the hands of Frankenstein (Christian Bale) and Dr. Euphronius. The Bride becomes not only Frankenstein’s romantic companion, but the subject of police scrutiny and the leader of a radical social movement.
Release Date: March 6, 2023
Director: Daniel Chong
Starring: Jonn Hamm, Bobby Moynihan, Piper Curda
The latest from Pixar follows an animal enthusiast named Mabel (Piper Curda) who, in an effort to communicate with animals, transfers her consciousness to a robot. Jon Hamm and SNL alum Bobby Moynihan have also joined the voice cast.
Release Date: March 13, 2026
Directors: Vanessa Caswill
Starring: Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Maika Monroe
Another Colleen Hoover adaption is coming to screens and this time it is Reminders of Him. After the release of It Ends With Us, it was no surprise that another novel was going to be adapted. Hoover herself will be leading the project, having co-written the screenplay. She is also a producer on the film.
Release Date: March 20, 2026
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce
Another high-stakes sci-fi adaptation is headed to the big screen, this time from bestselling author Andy Weir. Project Hail Mary stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, an astronaut who wakes up alone on a space station with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As fragments of his memory return, he discovers he’s on a mission to the Tau Ceti solar system to stop a cosmic event that has already pushed Earth into the early stages of a new ice age. The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.
Release Date: March 20, 2026
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton
Ready or Not 2 hits theaters on April 10, 2026, bringing back Samara Weaving as Grace for another round of chaos. The sequel to the 2019 hit promises even more shocking twists and a killer new cast. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
APRIL
Release Date: April 1, 2026
Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, Jack Black
Mario is heading to space… or so we think. Thanks to a teaser released during a September 2025 Nintendo Direct broadcast, we now know that the official title to the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel will be The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, inspired by the eponymous Nintendo Wii title. We don’t know much else about the film other than the release date and the returning cast, so stay tuned for more details.
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Directors: Lee Cronin
Starring: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, Verónica Falcón
Lee Cronin is set to put a chilling new spin on The Mummy with an upcoming supernatural horror reimagining of the classic franchise. Written and directed by Cronin, the film stars Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, and Verónica Falcón. From what we know so far, the story follows a family whose lives are upended after encountering an ancient mummy, setting off a terrifying chain of events.
Release Date: April 24, 2026 on Netflix
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Starring: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, Eric Bana
Charlize Theron is back in her action hero bag, starring alongside Taron Egerton and Eric Bana in this thriller about a a grieving woman (Theron) on a trek through the Australian wilderness who finds herself targeted by a ruthless killer (Egerton). The film is directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who has plenty of experience with stories of survival in the wild (Everest, Adrift).
Release Date: April 24, 2026
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier, Larenz Tate
Take out your red leather jackets and sequin-covered gloves and prepare to moonwalk into theaters and witness Antoine Fuqua’s Michael. Detailing the life of the man, myth, and music legend Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson), this biopic invites viewers to witness the personal woes that came along with the global success of the late hitmaker. With performances from Nia Long, Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier, and Larenz Tate, the story of the King of Pop is slated to grace big screens in April 2026.
MAY
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Director: David Frankel
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Kenneth Branagh
Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs are set to square off again, as Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep return to reprise their roles from the 2006 comedy. Based on the novel Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns, the film will be directed by David Frankel, who helmed the first, with co-stars like Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci returning.
Release Date: May 18, 2026
Director: Simon McQuoid
Starring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Karl Urban, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks
The 2021 reboot of the video game adaptation Mortal Kombat wasn’t a huge hit with critics, but it earned enough of a following that it has now spawned a sequel. Lewis Tan (Cole Young), Jessica McNamee (Sonya), Mehcad Brooks (Jax), and Shōgun co-stars Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion) and Tadanobu Asano (Raiden) all return to reprise their roles from the first film, while Karl Urban joins the cast as Johnny Cage.
Release Date: May 22, 2026
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Jeremy Allen White, Sigourney Weaver
In lieu of a fourth season of The Mandalorian, Disney and Lucasfilm have opted to give us The Mandalorian and Grogu, a standalone film that returns the Star Wars franchise back to theaters for the first time since J.J Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker. Pedro Pascal reprises his iconic role as Din Djarin alongside everyone’s favorite little green force-wielder. Jeremy Allen White also stars in the film as Rotta the Hutt, the son of Jabba, and Sigourney Weaver makes an appearance in an as-yet undisclosed role.
Release Date: May 22, 2026
Director: Boots Riley
Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Poppy Liu, Taylour Paige, Demi Moore
Actress Keke Palmer leads a star‑studded crew of shoplifters targeting a ruthless fashion mogul in I Love Boosters, Boots Riley’s second feature film. After premiering at SXSW, the movie has already earned an impressive Tomatometer score, building anticipation for this R‑rated whirlwind of comedic chaos.
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Director: Nate Bargatze
Starring: Mandy Moore, Will Forte, Colin Jost, Kumail Nanjian
Nate Bargatze’s feature film debut, which he’s writing, producing, and starring in, releases spring 2026. He is collaborating with Eric Appel, who helmed Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and Dan Lagana, who co-wrote the script with him. The plot details still haven’t been revealed, but it will be interesting to see Bargartze’s transition from stand-up comedy to the big screen.
Release Date: May 29, 2026
Director: Kane Parsons, Dan Cohen
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett
Back in 2022, a teenage filmmaker named Kane Parsons uploaded a found‑footage horror short called The Backrooms (Found Footage) to YouTube, and it exploded across the internet. Within weeks, A24 had taken notice, acquiring the rights and giving Parsons, still only in high school, the chance to expand his creation into a full‑length feature film. The film stars Academy Award nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as furniture store owner Clark, and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) as Dr. Mary Kline, a psychologist who is treating him.
JUNE
Release Date: June 5, 2026
Director: Travis Knight
Starring: Alison Brie, Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes
After nearly 40 years, He-Man returns to the big screen in a new adaptation of Masters of the Universe. Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue) stars as Prince Adam, who is marooned on Earth at age 10 and separated from his magical sword. As a grown-up, he fulfills his destiny as He-Man and battles for the fate of his home planet Eternia. The all-star cast includes Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, and Jared Leto as He-Man’s nemesis Skeletor.
Release Date: June 5, 2026
Director: Michael Tiddes
Starring: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Dave Sheridan
The Scary Movie franchise is back, with Shawn and Marlon Wayans teaming up with producer Neal H. Moritz to bring audiences more absurd pop culture and horror film references. Shawn, Marlon, and older brother Keenen Ivory co-wrote the film with Rick Alvarez, who worked with the Wayans brothers as far back as 2001’s Scary Movie 2.
Release Date: June 12, 2026
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, Wyatt Russell
Steven Spielberg reunites with David Koepp (Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds) for a new film based on an original idea from Spielberg. While we still don’t know much about the plot, we do know that it will be a sci-fi film about a UFO starring an A-list ensemble.
Release Date: June 19, 2026
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Tim Allen, Blake Clark
Remember when we all thought Toy Story 3 was the perfect swan song for Buzz and Woody? That was cute, wasn’t it? Fifteen years later, the dynamic duo are back in Toy Story 5 to face a new challenge when they realize that children are replacing their toys with gadgets and must spring into action. Details are scarce so far, but we do know the film is directed by Pixar vet Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo) and we can expect much of the core voice cast, including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, to return.
Release Date: June 26, 2026
Director: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham
House of the Dragon‘s Milly Alcock stars as Kara Zor-El (aka Supergirl) in an adaptation of the eponymous comic miniseries by Tom King that serves as the latest chapter of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe. The story follows Supergirl as she travels the galaxy with Krypto the Superdog and helps a young woman in a quest for revenge. The film co-stars, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, and Emily Beecham.
Release Date: June 26, 2026
Director: TBD
Starring: Johnny Knoxville
A brand-new “Jackass” movie is officially heading back to the big screen. Paramount Pictures will release the next installment of the long-running stunt franchise nationwide on June 26. Johnny Knoxville first hinted at the franchise’s theatrical return with a cryptic Instagram post teasing a summer release. Additional details, including the full cast and plot specifics, are being kept under wraps.
JULY
Release Date: July 1, 2026
Director: Pierre Coffin
Starring: Pierre Coffin
Minions & Monsters was originally slated for a 2027 release but was pushed up by a year, replacing Shrek 5’s release date. Steve Carell and Pierre Coffin reprise their roles as Gru and the minions, and the first trailer gives us a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Release Date: July 10, 2026
Director: Thomas Kail
Starring: Catherine Laga’aia, Dwayne Johnson, Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams
Moana is the latest Disney animated film to get the live-action remake treatment, courtesy of Tony Award-winning director Thomas Kail. Moana herself will be played by a fresh face in Catherine Laga’aia, while Dwayne Johnson returns to the role of Maui, who he voiced in the two animated films.
Release Date: July 17, 2026
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Robert Pattinson
Academy Award winner Christopher Nolan follows up Oppenheimer with an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, which tells the story of Odysseus (Matt Damon) in the aftermath of the Trojan War. The film’s massive star-studded ensemble includes Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, Charlize Theron, and more.
Release Date: July 24, 2026
Director: Sébastien Vaniček
Starring: Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Souheila Yacoub
Evil Dead Burn is an upcoming standalone entry in the Evil Dead franchise, slated for release in July 2026. The film introduces a fresh cast of characters and a new setting while staying true to the series’ signature horror. While much is still under wraps, fans can expect a first trailer of the new film in the coming months.
Release Date: July 31, 2026
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Tom Holland
Just two weeks after appearing in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Tom Holland is set to reprise his role as another famous literary character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Peter Parker’s next adventure will be penned by the No Way Home screenwriters Erik Sommers and Chris McKenna, with Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton at the helm. It’s unknown whether Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are involved, but it’s speculated that Tom Holland might make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday earlier in the year.
