If the current release calendar holds, 2026 is set up as one of the busiest years at the global box office in recent memory. The most anticipated movies of 2026 bring together Marvel ensemble pieces, prestige biopics, long-gestating sequels, and ambitious sci-fi projects that have already started to dominate film news and fan forums.
From Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man, Brand New Day to new chapters in the Hunger Games, Dune, and Toy Story franchises, the slate of upcoming movies in 2026 underlines how heavily Hollywood still leans on recognisable IP. At the same time, original or less familiar properties such as Project Hail Mary, The Dog Stars, and Spielberg’s UFO drama Disclosure carry the kind of creative risk that keeps the ecosystem interesting.
How we chose the 20 most anticipated movies of 2026
This list draws from verified studio schedules, industry reporting, and audience anticipation charts across major film-tracking platforms. The aim is to highlight projects with strong buzz, cultural relevance, and confirmed 2026 release plans. It reflects a balanced mix of blockbusters, dramas, sci-fi epics, and family films.
For this overview of the most anticipated movies of 2026, the focus is on films that are:
- Officially slated for a 2026 release by studios or distributors.
- Prominent in anticipation rankings, based on user-voted lists, pre-release buzz, and early trailer performance.
- Representative of the year’s mix of genres – superhero, sci-fi, animation, family, biopic, and prestige drama.
The result is not a prediction of quality, but a snapshot of where audience curiosity, franchise momentum, and studio expectations currently intersect in the upcoming movies 2026 pipeline.
Franchise and superhero tentpoles driving 2026 hype
Long-standing franchises and superhero epics anchor the 2026 calendar, shaping much of the year’s early excitement. These films dominate audience interest because they carry built-in fan bases, high production values, and broad global appeal. They also represent Hollywood’s most reliable box office engines.
1. Avengers: Doomsday (18 December 2026)
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday is positioned as the climactic team-up event of the current Multiverse saga. According to coverage of the 2026 slate, the film is planned for a late-December global rollout and is already topping fan “will see” lists on movie-tracking sites.
Plot details remain tightly guarded, but reporting points to Doctor Doom as the central antagonist, which would fold one of Marvel’s most iconic villains into the ensemble. The film’s importance is two-fold: commercially, it anchors year-end box office forecasts; narratively, it is expected to consolidate several overlapping story-threads from recent Marvel titles. For many viewers, this is the headline entry among the most anticipated movies of 2026.
2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (31 July 2026)
Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues the adventures of Peter Parker with a fresh storyline rather than a straight adaptation of the comic arc that shares its name. The film currently holds a late-July 2026 release date and ranks near the top of user-anticipation charts on Movie Insider.
Spider-Man remains one of the few characters who can mobilise both older comic readers and younger audiences who met him through the MCU and animated multiverse titles. This blend of generational appeal makes Brand New Day a crucial mid-summer pillar among 2026 movie releases.
3. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (26 June 2026)
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of the key early films in DC Studios’ new continuity. Based on Tom King’s acclaimed comic miniseries, the movie follows Kara Zor-El on a cosmic revenge quest, with a tone that leans darker and more introspective than earlier Supergirl adaptations.
With James Gunn’s new DCU era still taking shape, Woman of Tomorrow carries strategic weight. Its performance will signal whether audiences are willing to embrace a new set of leads after years of continuity resets in DC’s big-screen universe, making it a significant entry among the most anticipated movies of 2026 for superhero fans.
4. The Mandalorian and Grogu (22 May 2026)
Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu bring the fan-favourite Disney+ duo to cinemas for the first time. The movie is set for a late-May 2026 release and is framed as a theatrical continuation of Din Djarin and Grogu’s story, rather than a direct season four.
Star Wars has spent the past several years largely on television. This return to the big screen is expected to test how strong the brand remains in theatres. With Pedro Pascal reprising his role and a supporting cast that includes Jeremy Allen White and Sigourney Weaver, the film sits at the intersection of franchise power and streaming-era fandom.
5. Masters of the Universe (5 June 2026)
After years in development limbo, Masters of the Universe is currently slated for June 5, 2026, with Travis Knight directing. The story follows orphan Adam as he discovers his destiny as the saviour of the realm of Eternia, channelling nostalgia for the 1980s property while re-introducing it to a new generation.
Reboots of legacy toy-line franchises can be hit-and-miss, but the success of He-Man-adjacent nostalgia on streaming and in merchandising suggests a built-in base for this one. Its performance will help determine whether Eternia becomes a sustained cinematic universe or remains a one-off experiment.
6. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (26 November 2026)
Walden Media and partners return to C.S. Lewis’ world with Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, currently listed for a late-November 2026 release. While it is the sixth book published in the series, it functions as a prequel, exploring the origins of Narnia and the White Witch.
Fantasy franchises often struggle to gain or regain momentum, but the combination of pre-existing literary fandom and renewed interest in faith-tinged fantasy could give The Magician’s Nephew a distinctive place among upcoming movies in 2026, especially in family markets.
7. Fast X: Part 2 (2026, date TBA)
Billed as the concluding chapter of the main Fast & Furious saga, Fast X: Part 2 is targeted for 2026 with a date still to be finalised. After two decades of increasingly extravagant set-pieces, the franchise faces a familiar question: how do you land a story that has already gone to space and back?
The film’s stakes are less about narrative coherence and more about emotional closure for long-running characters, box-office endurance for an aging series, and the potential for future spin-offs.
8. Jumanji 3 (11 December 2026)
The modern Jumanji reboot series has quietly become one of Sony’s steadiest performers. Jumanji 3 (following Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level) is dated for December 11, 2026, and is already registering a strong “will see” intent among family and teen audiences.
While story details are still under wraps, the formula—a group of players pulled into a perilous game world—remains flexible enough to support new environments and character dynamics, which keeps anticipation high even without a detailed synopsis.
9. Mortal Kombat II (May 2026)
The 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot earned mixed critical notices but cultivated enough fan interest to justify a sequel. Mortal Kombat II appears on 2026 calendars for early May (with some sources listing May 8 and others mid-month), and both Rotten Tomatoes and Movie Insider flag it as a notable release.
The sequel brings back Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, and Hiroyuki Sanada, while adding Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. The film will test whether the series can evolve beyond nostalgia and fan-service toward a more broadly compelling martial-arts fantasy.
Sci-fi sagas and space odysseys are among the most anticipated movies of 2026
Ambitious sci-fi projects blend spectacle with big ideas, drawing interest from both mainstream and niche audiences. These films explore themes such as survival, identity, and cosmic mystery while pushing visual and narrative boundaries. They also highlight how 2026 is becoming a hallmark year for high-concept storytelling.
10. Dune: Part Three (18 December 2026)
Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga is expected to continue with Dune: Part Three, currently earmarked for a December 18, 2026, release in some advance round-ups of upcoming movies in 2026.
While full plot details remain fluid, the film is widely expected to draw from Dune Messiah, exploring the consequences of Paul Atreides’ rise to power. If delivered as planned, it would complete one of the most ambitious sci-fi trilogies of the decade and cement Villeneuve’s status as a central architect of big-budget literary adaptation.
11. Project Hail Mary (20 March 2026)
Based on Andy Weir’s bestseller, Project Hail Mary teams Ryan Gosling with directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The film is set for March 20, 2026, and consistently appears at or near the top of “most anticipated 2026” lists compiled by both critics and fan-driven sites.
Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a schoolteacher-turned-astronaut who wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory of his mission, only to realise he has been sent to another star system to help rescue Earth from a cosmic climate catastrophe. The mixture of hard science, mystery, and emotional stakes positions the film as one of the standout 2026 movie releases for genre audiences.
12. The Odyssey (17 July 2026)
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey adapts Homer’s epic into a large-scale adventure scheduled for July 17, 2026. Early coverage describes the film as a blend of myth, psychological drama and Nolan’s signature structural experimentation, with Odysseus’ journey home from Troy reframed for contemporary viewers.
Nolan’s track record alone makes The Odyssey one of the *most anticipated movies of 2026. The project also signals an industry willingness to invest heavily in non-franchise, director-driven spectacle, at a time when most tentpoles lean on pre-existing cinematic universes.
13. Disclosure (15 May 2026)
Steven Spielberg returns to original sci-fi with Disclosure (a working title widely used in trade coverage), dated for May 15, 2026. Rotten Tomatoes and other previews describe it as a UFO-themed ensemble story, written by long-time collaborator David Koepp and led by a cast that includes Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, and Colin Firth.
The film’s premise taps into renewed cultural fascination with unexplained aerial phenomena, but from a character-centred angle rather than pure spectacle. In a year crowded with branded IP, a new Spielberg original automatically becomes a focal point among serious filmgoers tracking upcoming movies in 2026.
14. The Dog Stars (27 March 2026)
Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars, adapted from Peter Heller’s novel, is currently scheduled for March 27, 2026. Movie Insider lists it among its high-interest titles for the year, and genre coverage has highlighted it as one of 2026’s most intriguing post-apocalyptic dramas.
Set after a flu pandemic wipes out most of humanity, the story follows a pilot who patrols the skies around his isolated airfield with his dog, confronting both external threats and his own grief. The premise suggests a quieter, more introspective approach than Scott’s recent large-scale historical epics, which broaden the tonal range of the most anticipated movies of 2026.
Animated and family-driven upcoming movies 2026
Family-oriented features continue to play a central role in theatrical recovery, offering multi-generational appeal. From beloved franchises to new interpretations, these releases provide humor, heart, and broad cultural recognition. They also ensure 2026’s lineup includes strong four-quadrant performers.
15. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (3 April 2026)
Following the billion-dollar success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Illumination and Nintendo return with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, set for April 3, 2026.
The sequel draws inspiration from the 2007 video game Super Mario Galaxy, sending Mario into space to rescue Peach. With the core voice cast (Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and others) returning, expectations are high that this will be one of the biggest animated 2026 movie releases, especially for families and nostalgia-driven adults.
16. Toy Story 5 (19 June 2026)
Pixar’s Toy Story 5 is pencilled in for June 19, 2026, with Tim Allen and Tom Hanks confirmed to reprise Buzz Lightyear and Woody.
Details remain under wraps, but reports hint at a new adventure that once again tests what “belonging” means for the toy ensemble in a changing world. The original trilogy already had a sense of closure, and Toy Story 4 pushed that even further, so anticipation now hinges on what fresh emotional territory Pixar can credibly explore with these characters.
17. Moana (Live-Action) (10 July 2026)
Disney’s live-action Moana re-imagines the 2016 animated hit, with Catherine Laga‘aia in the title role and Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui. Movie Insider lists July 10, 2026, as the planned date, and Disney has positioned the film as a major summer event.
Live-action remakes have delivered mixed artistic results but consistently strong audience interest. In this case, the original Moana remains popular with younger viewers and has a powerful soundtrack, which should give the remake a solid starting base in the crowded field of family-oriented upcoming movies in 2026.
Literary adaptations, prequels, and biopics shaping 2026 movie releases
Studios are revisiting influential books, iconic characters, and major real-life figures to create emotionally resonant stories. These films promise depth, character focus, and the kind of narrative richness that often defines award-season discussion. They round out the year with prestige-driven and thought-provoking choices.
18. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (20 November 2026)
Lionsgate returns to Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s story, during the 50th Hunger Games (the Second Quarter Quell). The film is dated for November 20, 2026.
By revisiting an earlier Game, the film can explore the political machinery of Panem without retreading the precise beats of the original trilogy. For YA readers who grew up with the books—and for newer fans drawn in by The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes—this prequel is one of the most anticipated movies of 2026 in the franchise category.
19. Michael (24 April 2026)
Antoine Fuqua’s Michael brings the life and career of Michael Jackson to the big screen, with Jaafar Jackson playing his uncle. The biopic is slated for an April 24, 2026, worldwide release and features a supporting cast that includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and others.
Biopics about major musical figures rarely arrive without controversy, and this one is no exception. Anticipation centres on whether the film can balance celebration of Jackson’s artistic legacy with a clear-eyed look at the more troubling aspects of his story, all within a format that still works as mainstream entertainment.
20. The Devil Wears Prada 2 (1 May 2026)
Two decades after the original film became a cultural touchstone for workplace comedies, The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway under returning director David Frankel. Rotten Tomatoes lists May 1, 2026, as its release date.
The sequel reportedly draws from Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns, following Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs into a media landscape transformed by digital platforms and influencer culture. For a generation that quotes the original film’s lines by heart, this is a curiosity-driven must-see among 2026 movie releases, even as some viewers question whether the story needs a second chapter.
What the most anticipated movies of 2026 tell us about the industry
Taken together, the most anticipated movies of 2026 offer a clear snapshot of where mainstream cinema now stands.
- Franchises still dominate. Superhero crossovers, long-running action series and brand-recognisable fantasy worlds account for a sizeable share of studio confidence, from Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day to Fast X: Part 2 and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
- Sci-fi remains the prestige sandbox. Projects like Dune: Part Three, Project Hail Mary, The Dog Stars, and Spielberg’s Disclosure show that science fiction continues to attract top-tier directors and sizeable budgets.
- Family and animation keep the box office broad-based. Toy Story 5, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Moana’s live-action remake give studios reliable four-quadrant options, crucial for global recovery in admissions.
At the same time, the presence of new or freshly adapted material—The Odyssey, Project Hail Mary, Michael—suggests that audiences still respond when studios back distinctive visions and strong source texts, not just familiar logos. For viewers planning their cinema trips year, these most anticipated movies of 2026 mark the key dates to circle, while leaving room for 2026’s inevitable surprises from the festival circuit and smaller distributors.
Final Words
The most anticipated movies of 2026 reflect a defining moment for global cinema, blending franchise power, bold sci-fi storytelling, and ambitious literary adaptations. As studios balance nostalgia with fresh ideas, the year showcases how Hollywood is navigating commercial safety and creative risk.
2026 brings the comfort of familiar worlds alongside the excitement of new ones — a slate shaped by evolving audience tastes, shifting studio priorities, and a willingness to take bigger artistic swings across generations and genres.
