2026 is set to be a big year for movies with Avengers: Doomsday, The Odyssey, Master of the Universe, and Dune: Part Three being released. They are among our most anticipated movies of 2026, but what are we most excited about?
Family films dominated at the global box office in 2025, while our own best movies of the year included Sinners, Weapons, and One Battle After Another. Superhero movies fared fine thanks to the modest success of Superman and Fantastic Four: First Steps, but in 2026, they should be back to doing billion dollar business due to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Doomsday.
But there’s more to 2026 than superheroes, especially with the Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey and the final part of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy on the way… So here’s what we’re most excited about in 2026, ranked from 15-1.
15. Street Fighter
- Director: Kitao Sakurai
- Cast: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang
- Release date: October 16, 2026
What it’s about: Estranged brothers Ken and Ryu are reunited when they agree to participate in the World Warrior Tournament, but soon realize they’re part of a deadly conspiracy that will force them to face demons of their past.
Why we’re excited: It’s like the 1990s again as new Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter movies are on the way. Mortal Kombat II hits screens in May and looks hilarious, while Street Fighter comes out punching in October. We’ve got high hopes for this one, largely because the casting looks spot on, most notably Jason Momoa as Blanka, Cody Rhodes as Guile, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, and man-mountain Olivier Richters as Zangief.
14. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
- Director: Greta Gerwig
- Cast: Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig
- Release date: November 26, 2026
What it’s about: An adaptation of the sixth novel in the Chronicles of Narnia (but the first story chronologically), The Magician’s Nephew covers the birth of that magical land, as well as the White Witch being unleashed on the streets of London with plans to conquer earth.
Why we’re excited: The last time Greta Gerwig tackled a big IP the world got critical and commercial smash Barbie, so anticipation is understandably high for her take on a Narnia Chronicle, which if successful, should launch a franchise. Early word suggests that the story – which starts out in 1900 in the C.S. Lewis novel – will instead take place in 1950s London, while G.O.A.T. Meryl Streep is rumored to be voicing Aslan.
13. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
- Directors: Aaron Hovarth, Michael Jelenic
- Cast: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black
- Release date: April 3, 2026
What it’s about: Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser are back in an adaptation of the brilliant game of the same name, and for this adventure they’re joined by Princess Rosalina (voiced by Brie Larson) and Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie).
Why we’re excited: Galaxy is one of Nintendo’s most magical worlds, full of wonder, adventure, and incredible music. If the movie captures that spirit – and Jack Black delivers more catchy tunes and big laughs as the lovably monstrous Bowser – this could be even better than the Super Mario Bros. Movie.
12. Toy Story 5
- Director: Andrew Stanton
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
- Release date: June 19, 2026
What it’s about: Bonnie Anderson – who was introduced at the end of Toy Story 3 – is now 8-years-old, and more enamored with a digital tablet than her old-fashioned playthings, which spells trouble for Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang.
Why we’re excited: Even though Part 4 wasn’t up to the sky-high standard of the original trilogy, a new Toy Story movie is always welcome, largely because – as voiced by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen – Woody and Buzz are one of the great celluloid double-acts. The story of toys v tech should also make this a timely story that children should recognise, and parents will relate to.
11. Project Hail Mary
- Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
- Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Ken Leung
- Release date: March 20, 2026
What it’s about: A lone astronaut awakens on a spaceship unable to remember how he got there, and as fragments of memory return, finds an unlikely pal in deep space.
Why we’re excited: Project Hail Mary is based on the fantastic Any Weir book of the same name, which blends science and suspense with a rip-roaring adventure. Ryan Gosling anchors the movie, and if directors Lord and Miller nail the central friendship that his character forms with an adorable alien, this one could go stratospheric.
10. Supergirl
- Director: Craig Gillespie
- Cast: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley
- Release date: June 26, 2026
What it’s about: Kara Zor-El – aka Supergirl – sets off on a galaxy-traversing adventure with her dog Krypto, but when tragedy strikes, she becomes hell-bent on revenge.
Why we’re excited: Superman got James Gunn’s DCU off to an encouraging start, and Supergirl should take proceedings to the next level thanks to Milly Alcock’s unique take on the title character, and the superb source material, which is Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s acclaimed Woman of Tomorrow comic run.
9. The Mandalorian & Grogu
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Cast: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White
- Release date: May 22, 2026
What it’s about: Following the fall of the evil Empire, Imperial warlords still exist throughout the galaxy, so the New Republic and enlists the help of Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu to maintain the peace.
Why we’re excited: A New Hope was essentially a western in space, and The Mandalorian and Grogu is leaning into that genre, which is certainly something for Star Wars fans to get excited about after several recent misfires. Sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver co-stars opposite the dynamic duo, while director Jon Favreau is the safest pair of hands the franchise could have.
8. Coyote vs. Acme
- Director: David Green
- Cast: Will Forte, John Cena, Wile E. Coyote
- Release date: August 28, 2026
What it’s about: Having spent years trying – and failing – to catch Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote sues the ACME Corporation for injuries and hurt caused by their defective products.
Why we’re excited: Because we’re finally going to see Coyote vs Acme! The film was shelved back in 2023 as part of a Warner Bros. tax write-off, but Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights in March 2025, for global release in August of 2026. We’re also excited to see Will Forte and John Cena go toe-to-toe with a bunch of iconic cartoon characters, with the early word on this one suggesting this one is very funny.
7. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- Director: Nia DaCosta
- Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry
- Release Date: January 16, 2026
What it’s about: Set moments after 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple sees survivor Spike fall in with Sir Jimmy Crystal’s cult of killers, while Dr. Kelson starts experimenting with the Rage Virus.
Why we’re excited: The cliffhanger of 28 Years Later teased Jack O’Connell’s terrifyingly charismatic villain, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how a cult leader operates in a world full of screaming hordes of the infected.
Plus, with the news that Cillian Murphy is returning to play Jim from the original movie, we can’t wait to see him collide with these new characters! The trailers also teased that Dr. Kelson might be working on some kind of cure, which could change the franchise forever…
6. Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
- Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo
- Release date: July 31, 2026
What it’s about: With the world no longer aware that Peter Parker is Spider-Man – thanks to a Stephen Strange spell – the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler focusses his efforts on fighting street-level crime.
Why we’re excited: Brand new Day mixes things up for the Spider-Man franchise by placing Peter Parker in a brand-new reality that will doubtless have him questioning both his identity, and his closest relationships. We also can’t wait to see how Peter interacts with the Punisher, plus what chaos Hulk will cause.
5. Masters of the Universe
- Director: Travis Knight
- Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto, Camila Mendes
- Release date: June 5, 2026
What it’s about: After years spent on earth, Prince Adam returns to his home planet of Eternia, where he assumes the mantle of He-Man, and does battle with the evil Skeletor.
Why we’re excited: The 1980s He-Man cartoon and toy line are filled with amazing characters and exciting storylines that are ideal for a blockbuster franchise. It went wrong when Masters of the Universe first hit screens via the 1987 Dolph Lundgren dud, but hopefully this version will learn from that film’s mistakes, and deliver action and adventure that’s worthy of the source material.
4. Dune: Part Three
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa
- Release date: December 18, 2026
What it’s about: It’s currently unclear just how closely Dune: Part Three will adhere to Frank Herbert’s 1969 sequel novel, but we’re likely to see Paul Atreidis’ time as emperor coming under fire, and his messianic power destabilising the galaxy.
Why we’re excited: The forthcoming Dune sees Denis Villeneuve tackling the most complex and philosophically dense portion of the saga, but if he sticks the landing – and the Canadian helmer has a pretty flawless record thus far – it could be the triumphant closing chapter of the greatest sci-fi trilogy ever.
3. The Social Reckoning
- Director: Aaron Sorkin
- Cast: Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White, Mikey Madison
- Release date: October 9, 2026
What it’s about: This sequel to The Social Network focusses on the 2021 Facebook leak by whistleblower Francis Haugen, and the fallout from that info drop.
Why we’re excited: The Social Network is one of the greatest movies of the 21st century, so we’re excited about a continuation of that story, especially as Facebook has been at the center of multiple world-changing events since that film’s release. But our anticipation is coupled with trepidation, as a couple of major changes are afoot, with writer Aaron Sorkin on directing duties instead of David Fincher, and Mark Zuckerberg now played by Jeremy Strong rather than Jessie Eisenberg.
2. Avengers: Doomsday
- Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart
- Release date: December 18, 2026
What it’s about: Old Avengers team up with Thunderbolts/New Avengers, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four to do battle with Doctor Doom.
Why we’re excited: The Marvel Cinematic Universe has faltered since the last Avengers movie, but Thunderbolts and First Steps steadied the ship, while the studio has brought back Endgame directors the Russo brothers for this team-up movie that combines elderly X-Men with young Avengers and the MCU’s MVP RDJ. But will fans accept Downey Jr. as hero rather than villain? We’ll have to wait a year to find out.
1. The Odyssey
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Ann Hathaway
- Release date: July 17, 2026
What it’s about: This adaptation of Homer’s epic tale revolves around a warrior’s perilous journey home after a catastrophic war, during which he confronts monsters, gods, and psychological trauma.
Why we’re excited: A new Christopher Nolan movie is always an event, and The Odyssey is his biggest yet, in terms of budget, size, and scale, while he’s also assembled one of the greatest ensembles ever captured on film. Shot entirely on IMAXX 70mm film cameras, expect a combination of spectacular myth and gritty drama, as Nolan endeavours to capture the emotional weight of Odysseus’ journey.
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