43 of The Most Anticipated Films of 2026 - Blockbusters, Nightmares, and Sequels!

As 2025 wraps up, it was a strong the year was for movies and I saw a lot of films that I loved. It was the kind of year that had everything from crowd-pleasing blockbusters to awards-season heavy hitters.

We are now in 2026, and looks like it’s gearing up to swing even harder. We’re talking giant franchise events, surprising sequels that somehow make sense, and a few “wait, THEY’RE making THAT?” pairings that could turn into instant classics.

Here are some of the most anticipated 2026 movies we can’t stop thinking about, each with a quick hit on why they’re worth your hype.

Horror, Thrillers, and Midnight-Movie Chaos

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 16)

After 28 Years Later reignited the world of the Rage Virus, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple keeps the momentum and hands directing duties to Nia DaCosta. With the story circling back to Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and the unsettling Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), this one feels primed to go weirder, nastier, and more unpredictable as the landscape erupts into new levels of disorder.

Send Help (January 30)

Sam Raimi stepping away from big IP again is reason enough to pay attention, and Send Help sounds like a mean, funny survival nightmare. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien play co-workers stranded after a plane crash, and the power dynamic flips hard once survival takes over. The pitch is awesomely twisted… Tom Hanks’ Cast Away as filtered through Stephen King’s Misery.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (February 13)

If Sam Rockwell is front and center, you’re at least getting one killer performance, and this sci-fi action comedy looks like he’s having a blast. Gore Verbinski is leaning into full weird mode, with Rockwell playing a messy “from the future” guy warning everyone that the future kinda sucks. Add Haley Lu Richardson, Zazie Beetz, Juno Temple, and Michael Peña, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos with a grin.

Wuthering Heights (February 13)

Emerald Fennell doesn’t do safe, and the early look at Wuthering Heights suggests she’s not chasing a straightforward literary adaptation either. With Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, plus anachronistic visuals that nod to old Hollywood grandeur, it sounds like this one’s aiming to shock, seduce, and spark arguments in group chats for months.

Scream 7 (February 27)

Scream 7 has had a bumpy road, which oddly makes it even more fascinating. Neve Campbell returns as Sidney, and Kevin Williamson is writing and directing. It’s also bringing back David Arquette as Dewey, plus Stu (Matthew Lillard) and Roman (Scott Foley), which raises a million questions about how this story’s going to pull that off.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (April 10)

Ready or Not was a nasty little crowd-pleaser with a sharp “eat-the-rich” bite, and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come has Samara Weaving back with Radio Silence returning to push the mayhem further. If their recent genre run is any clue, they’re going to crank up the nastiness, keep the laughs uncomfortable, and make the violence creative again.

Evil Dead Burn (July 24)

The Evil Dead franchise has an absurdly good batting average, and Evil Dead Burn is keeping its cards close to the chest, which is honestly perfect. Half the fun here is not knowing what’s coming, just bracing for new Deadite cruelty and hoping the movie finds a fresh nightmare playground to wreck.

October (2026)

A new Jeremy Saulnier thriller is always a must-watch, and October being described as a fugitive story set around Halloween is already enough. With a cast that includes Cory Michael Smith, Chase Sui Wonders, Sophie Wilde, Young Mazino, Stephen Root, James Badge Dale, Matty Matheson, and Imogen Poots, this one screams tense, grounded, and brutal in the best way.

Remain (October 23)

Remain is one of the strangest pairings on the board, M. Night Shyamalan working from a story he conceived with Nicholas Sparks. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Tate Donovan, an architect trying to rebuild his life in Cape Cod, where he meets Wren (Phoebe Dynevor) and things start shifting. It could skew more character-driven than puzzle-box, and that’s exactly why it’s so intriguing.

Werwulf (December 25)

Werwulf is Robert Eggers returning to the kind of period-accurate dread he does better than almost anyone. It’s set in 13th-century England and uses Middle English, which already sounds like a fever dream in the best possible way. With Aaron Taylor-Johnson, plus familiar Eggers collaborators like Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson, expect oppressive atmosphere and a creature design that haunts you. Eggers has even called it the “darkest thing I’ve ever written,” which is saying something.

They Will Kill You (March 27)

They Will Kill You is an action-horror-comedy from Kirill Sokolov that sounds like it starts simple and then detonates. A woman takes a housekeeping job in a NYC high-rise, only to learn the building’s history is deeply rotten and the residents are part of something much worse. With Zazie Beetz leading, plus Myha'La, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, and Patricia Arquette, this one looks like it could be an absolute blast if you like your thrills loud.

2026 looks ready to deliver an awesome variety films: superhero megaton events, auteur-driven risks, animated fun, gnarly horror, and a bunch of sequels nobody saw coming. Start picking your opening-night priorities now, because this year is going to get crowded fast.

Superheroes, Sci-Fi, and Big-Screen Spectacle

Avengers: Doomsday (December 18)

The MCU’s wildest recent swing is Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, but this time as Doctor Doom, and Avengers: Doomsday is built to make that gamble pay off. With an epic cast that brings togerther the newly rebooted Fantastic Four, plus returning X-Men faces, The Avengers, The New Avengers, Steve Rogers, and more to be revealed, this is going to be an insane Marvel movie!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has the cleanest setup No Way Home could’ve handed over: Peter Parker is alone, everyone forgot him, and he’s back to street-level Spidey life. Of course, it isn’t staying simple. Tom Holland is joined by Jon Bernthal as The Punisher, plus Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk and Michael Mando as Scorpion. Also onboard in mystery roles are Sadie Sink, Tramell Tillman, and Liza Colón-Zayas.

Supergirl (June 26)

DC’s new era keeps rolling with Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El and directed by Craig Gillespie. The premise sounds like a cosmic road trip with teeth, Kara turning 23 and tearing across the galaxy with Krypto, before the story pivots into something darker and more personal. Matthias Schoenaerts plays Krem, and yes, Jason Momoa is finally getting his shot at Lobo.

Clayface (September 11)

Among all the DC announcements, Clayface might be the one that feels most like a curveball in the best way. With James Gunn and Peter Safran building a connected universe that’s already launching Supergirl and more, a shape-shifting villain movie could be a stylish, horror-leaning character piece instead of a standard cape fight. If they land the tone, this could be a standout.

Disclosure Day (June 12)

Any new Steven Spielberg movie is appointment viewing, and Disclosure Day has him back in alien territory with writer David Koepp. Even with a trailer out, it’s still playing coy about the core mystery, with Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, and Colman Domingo caught up in what looks like a conspiracy that forces humanity to confront extraterrestrial reality. Also, John Williams scoring again is a huge deal.

Dune: Part Three (December 18)

Dune: Part Three closes out Denis Villeneuve’s saga by adapting Dune: Messiah (and maybe more), which is where the story gets thornier and stranger. After the visual and emotional wallop of the first two films, Villeneuve has earned a ton of trust, even from fans who know the later books can get delightfully unhinged.

The Odyssey (July 17)

The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan taking on one of the great epic stories, with Matt Damon as Odysseus and a cast that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal. Nolan’s also going all-in technically, shooting entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras, and building a massive practical cyclops puppet for Polyphemus. This is the kind of big-screen craftsmanship we don’t get often.

Project Hail Mary (March 20)

A big-budget, mainstream sci-fi story from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller feels like a minor miracle in today’s sequel-heavy landscape. Project Hail Mary has the vibe of a true “swing,” the kind of film that could remind studios that original sci-fi can still pack theaters when it’s made with personality and confidence.

Animation, Family Adventures, and Gaming Powerhouses

Hoppers (March 6)

Pixar doesn’t always lean into pure silliness, so Hoppers looks like a fun change of pace. The concept is ridiculous in a good way, humans projecting their consciousness into robotic animals to communicate with wildlife, and it sounds like it spirals into a human-versus-nature mess fast. Directed by Daniel Chong, it’s got a fun voice cast including Piper Curda, Dave Franco, Jon Hamm, and Meryl Streep as Insect Queen.

Toy Story 5 (June 19)

The question hanging over Toy Story 5 is simple: how do you keep going after two already-perfect goodbyes? The angle this time is tech, with a Lilypad tablet voiced by Greta Lee becoming the new threat at Bonnie’s house. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen are back, and Andrew Stanton is directing, which makes it easier to trust they’ve got a real idea here, not just another lap around the track.

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender (October 9)

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender is an animated sequel that picks up after the original series, with creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko involved. Aang is voiced by Eric Nam, and the gang includes Katara (Jessica Matten), Sokka (Román Zaragoza), Toph (Dionne Quan), and Zuko (Steven Yeun) in their later years. Even if you’ve read the comics, seeing this era brought to the big screen is a big deal.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3)

After The Super Mario Bros. Movie turned into a box office monster, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is going bigger by leaving the Mushroom Kingdom comfort zone. The new additions are exciting, Bennie Safdie as Bowser Jr. and Brie Larson as Rosalina, and this movie is going in a more cosmic direction with bigger worlds and weirder characters.

Street Fighter (October 16)

The teaser for Street Fighter is short and already feels like it understands the assignment: go nuts and commit. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, it’s set in 1993 and dives into the World Warrior Tournament with Ryu (Andrew Koji), Ken (Noah Centineo), and Chun-Li (Callina Liang). And yes, the casting is gloriously unhinged: Cody Rhodes as Guile, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, and 50 Cent as Balrog, plus Roman Reigns, Eric André, Jason Momoa, Orville Peck, and Kyle Mooney.

Mortal Kombat II (May 8)

Mortal Kombat II finally brings the tournament front and center, and that’s what a lot of fans wanted from the start. Karl Urban stepping in as Johnny Cage is a smart move, and Shao Kahn is entering the arena with Martyn Ford. If you’re here for fatalities, weird lore, and a roster that pulls from the early games, this one’s aiming straight at you.

Sequels, Reboots, and “Wait… This Exists?” Energy

The Adventures of Cliff Booth (2026)

A David Fincher-directed sequel scripted by Quentin Tarantino, focused on Cliff Booth, still sounds like a fake rumor you’d read in the middle of the night. But it’s real, and The Adventures of Cliff Booth is headed to Netflix, with Brad Pitt returning and Timothy Olyphant back too. New faces include Scott Caan, Elizabeth Debicki, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Fincher plus Tarantino is a cinephile collision that’s going to be impossible to ignore.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1)

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is bringing back the core quartet that made the original crackle: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. Story details are still under wraps, but the appeal is simple, watching these characters clash again with modern career and culture pressures.

Focker-in-Law (November 25)

Focker-in-Law has the potential to be a legit comedy comeback, mostly because the original Meet the Parents is such a funny film. It’s returning with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, and adding Skyler Gisondo and Ariana Grande as the next generation couple. This could be way more fun than anyone expects.

Jumanji 3 (December 11)

It’s been a long wait since Jumanji: The Next Level made a fortune, and Jumanji 4 is finally set to follow through on the idea of the game bleeding into the real world. Director Jake Kasdan is expected to bring back the crew, including Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan, plus familiar returning faces like Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, and Alex Wolff.

Coyote vs. Acme (August 28)

After the weirdest release saga imaginable, Coyote vs. Acme is actually happening, and it sounds like exactly the kind of Looney Tunes nonsense that should’ve existed years ago. Will Forte plus John Cena in a real-world hybrid setup feels like a perfect vehicle for Wile E. Coyote’s eternal suffering, with courtroom shenanigans baked in.

Practical Magic 2 (September 18)

Practical Magic 2 is the kind of sequel that makes you nervous and excited at the same time. Susanne Bier is directing, and the Owens women are back with Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest, plus newcomers like Joey King, Lee Pace, and Maisie Williams. With the story tied to The Book of Magic, it sounds like the sequel’s going bigger than the original’s cozy curse energy.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20)

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is positioned to be a full-on event, tackling Haymitch’s Second Quarter Quell with Joseph Zada playing the younger version of the role Woody Harrelson made iconic. Francis Lawrence is back in the director’s chair, and the casting is loaded, including Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Jesse Plemons, and Ralph Fiennes, with more new faces like Mckenna Grace, Glenn Close, and Billy Porter.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (November 25)

We’re going back to Narnia, and Netflix is starting at the beginning, chronologically. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is being directed by Greta Gerwig, with Emma Mackey as Jadis, the White Witch. With Carey Mulligan, Denise Gough, and Daniel Craig also in the mix, this has real potential to feel like a fresh doorway into that world.

Big Swings From Big Names

The Bride! (March 6)

The Bride! is Maggie Gyllenhaal taking a big, stylish bite out of classic monster myth, with Jessie Buckley as the Bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s creature. Set in 1930s Chicago, it sounds like a romantic, violent, citywide pressure cooker once the Bride comes back and everything starts unraveling fast, with Annette Bening, Penélope Cruz, Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, and Jake Gyllenhaal rounding out the cast.

Digger (October 2)

Digger is the strangest Tom Cruise project in years, and that’s exactly why it rules. It’s described on the poster as a “comedy of catastrophic proportions,” with Cruise playing the most powerful man in the world trying to contain a disaster he kicked off. It’s directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, which makes the tonal gamble even more fascinating, and the cast includes Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons, Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Emma D'Arcy.

Artificial (2026)

Artificial sounds like a ripped-from-headlines comedy about the early OpenAI chaos, centered on CEO Sam Altman being fired and rehired within days. Luca Guadagnino directing a tech-world comedy, written by Simon Rich, is a combo that could really pop if it nails the absurdity of modern corporate drama. Andrew Garfield plays Altman, and the cast is packed with talent like Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov, Cooper Hoffman, Jason Schwartzman, Mark Rylance, and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk.

The Death of Robin Hood (2026)

The Death of Robin Hood goes for a darker angle on the myth, focusing on Robin in his later years. Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, it stars Hugh Jackman as a gravely injured Robin and Jodie Comer as a mysterious woman offering him a shot at redemption. Bill Skarsgård is playing a version of Little John with a very different perspective on their past, and that alone makes this feel like it could be a sharp, unsettling deconstruction.

Michael (April 24)

The Michael biopic could go safe or go inspired, but either way it’s going to be huge. It’s directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, with Jaafar Jackson playing Michael Jackson. Colman Domingo and Nia Long play his parents, and Miles Teller plays his lawyer and manager. The big question is how deep it digs, but as far as 2026 movie releases go, this one’s going to dominate conversation.

Moana (July 10)

Disney’s live-action remakes are always a toss-up, but Moana is at least an interesting one because the original is still so recent. It’s directed by Thomas Kail, stars newcomer Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, and brings Dwayne Johnson back as Maui. Even if you’re skeptical, you know you’re curious what a “real-life” Maui looks like.

The Social Reckoning (October 9)

The Social Reckoning has Aaron Sorkin writing and directing this time, taking another swing at the Facebook era through the Frances Haugen story. Mikey Madison plays Haugen, Jeremy Allen White plays WSJ reporter Jeff Horwitz, and Jeremy Strong steps into the Mark Zuckerberg role. The cast also includes Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Billy Magnussen, and Betty Gilpin, setting this up as a sharp, talky fall release that could surprise people the way the first film did.

The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22)

The Mandalorian and Grogu is a big deal because it’s the first Star Wars movie in more than five years. It looks like it’s leaning into pure Star Wars fun, including wild set pieces and, yes, Sigourney Weaver showing up in a Star Wars film. If this franchise wants to get theatrical momentum back, a tight two-hour adventure with Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu might be the cleanest path.

Masters of the Universe (June 5)

Masters of the Universe is finally bringing He-Man back to live action, and it’s got serious blockbuster potential. Directed by Travis Knight, it stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man and Jared Leto as Skeletor, with Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, and Kristen Wiig filling out Eternia’s roster. If the production design and action land, this could kick off something huge.

Klara and the Sun (2026)

Klara and the Sun looks like a real tonal shift for Taika Waititi, adapting Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel about an artificial friend. Amy Adams plays the mother who buys Klara (Jenna Ortega) for her daughter Josie (Mia Tharia), and the story leans into illness, love, and what “care” means when it’s programmed. If Waititi stays grounded, this could hit hard.