2026 is already shaping up to be a big year at the movies. Familiar faces will return, and legendary directors are going big. It’ll be the year where major studios are throwing down the gauntlet with colossal IPs and star-studded originals.
So to help you manage your movie screentime, here is your essential guide to the films that will dominate the box office and the conversation.
January – March: The Early Wins
The year starts quickly with sequels and high-concept sci-fi. Look for a potent dose of auteur horror as Scream 7 (Feb 27) seeks to revitalise the slasher genre, followed by The Bride! (Mar 6), an ambitious modern twist on the classic Universal monster lore.
The major event of the first quarter is the highly anticipated adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, Project Hail Mary (Mar 20), starring Ryan Gosling as an astronaut trying to save humanity.
This trio sets an immediate tone for ambition and genre spectacle.
April – June: IP and Nostalgia Dominance
Spring and early summer are packed with familiar, bankable franchises. April delivers massive family appeal with The Super Mario Bros. Sequel (Apr 3).
The fashion world makes a surprise comeback with the eagerly awaited The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1), bringing back Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway for a dose of sharp wit.
May continues the IP assault with The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22) finally landing on the big screen, a guaranteed hit for Star Wars fans. Finally, June offers the ultimate family win with Toy Story 5 (Jun 19), alongside the DC universe’s critical building block, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (Jun 26).
July – September: The Spectacle Season
Mid-summer is dedicated to high-art spectacle and franchise restarts. The cinematic heavyweight championship belongs to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (Jul 17). Starring Matt Damon, this epic scale adaptation of Homer’s classic is poised to be the year’s visual and critical benchmark—a mandatory cinema experience.
Shortly after, the next iteration of the web-slinger launches with Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Jul 31), resetting the saga after the memory-wiping multiverse chaos.
The fall awards circuit starts early in September with the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael (Apr 24/Sept), which is expected to be critically divisive – but impossible to ignore!
October – December: The Epic Finales
The year closes with two crucial, high-stakes events guaranteeing massive box office returns. October sees the next chapter in the zombie saga with 28 Years Later Part Two: The Bone Temple (Jan 16/Oct), maintaining the chilling atmosphere of the original.
The Thanksgiving box office will be dominated by The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Nov 20). This prequel, focusing on Haymitch’s legendary 50th Games, is designed to reignite the entire series. The final word of the year belongs to Dune: Part Three (Dec 18). Denis Villeneuve’s concluding chapter, based on Dune Messiah, is the prestige sci-fi finale that caps off an incredibly packed year.
One thing you can be certain of is that in 2026, you won’t struggle for films to go see!
Written by Matty White
