The most anticipated films coming to cinemas in 2026 | Ents & Arts News

It has once again been a rollercoaster year for Hollywood.

Film fans flocked to the cinema in 2025, with Ne Zha 2, Zootopia 2, Lilo & Stitch and A Minecraft Movie dominating the worldwide box office.

Wicked: For Good bowed out with a bang despite the musical being received less enthusiastically than its predecessor.

The sequel surpassed the first film to earn the highest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation but left critics less spellbound amid complaints of messy pacing, weak new songs, a lack of colour and inconsistent lighting.

We said goodbye to Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning as we welcomed David Corenswet’s Clark Kent in Superman.

It was a fantastic year for horror with Sinners and Weapons at the front of the pack.

A number of Marvel Studios pictures that would normally reap billion-dollar rewards had disappointing box office runs, including Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Jurassic World Rebirth was deemed a box office success – stomping past $800m worldwide – but received mixed reviews from audiences.

Meanwhile, Snow White, M3GAN 2.0, and Tron: Ares completely flopped despite high expectations.

As we head into 2026, here are some of the pictures that will be aiming to entice film lovers to the cinema this year.

Dune: Part Three

Denis Villeneuve’s epic science fiction space opera will come to a close with this third and final instalment in his Dune film trilogy.

Based on Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel Dune Messiah, it will continue the journey of Paul Atreides/Muad’dib (Timothee Chalamet) as he rules as emperor but finds himself burdened by the devastating consequences of his holy war.

The film – which already boasted a stacked cast including Zendaya (Chani), Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) and Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides) – has added Robert Pattinson to the bill.

And although previously playing coy, it would be surprising if Javier Bardem (Stilgar) failed to return as the Fremen leader as his character appears in the book.

Dune: Part Three is scheduled for release in December.

The Odyssey

A number of blockbusters are set to duke it out in a bid to be crowned champion of the summer box office.

Oscar-winning director Sir Christopher Nolan will be looking to emulate the success of Oppenheimer with his adaptation of the classic Greek myth, The Odyssey.

Written and directed by Nolan, the action fantasy film is based on Homer’s ancient epic.

The story follows Odysseus, legendary king of Ithica, on his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War.

During his dangerous voyage, the hero encounters a number of mythical creatures – including the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and witch-goddess Circe.

Nolan loves an ensemble cast and The Odyssey does not disappoint with the likes of Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page and Samantha Morton just a few names on the star-studded bill.

The Odyssey is scheduled for release in July.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tom Holland has once again suited up to play Marvel’s friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth in the MCU Spider-Man series.

The story will pick up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Peter Parker made the ultimate sacrifice to stop the multiverse from collapsing.

The former Avenger lost his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), as well as his friends, and went back to fighting street-level crime as opposed to world-ending events.

The solitary hero doesn’t look like he’ll be on his own for long, however, with violent vigilante Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal) set to join him.

Zendaya and Jacob Batalon will reprise their roles as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson and Ned Leeds respectively, with Mark Ruffalo also expected to appear as Bruce Banner/Hulk.

Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is a new addition to the cast, but the powers that be are yet to confirm what character she’ll be playing.

Some fans have speculated that she could be May “Mayday” Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, or indeed X-Men mutant Jean Grey.

Filming took place across the UK, including at Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey, Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, and at Battersea Park in London.

In Glasgow city centre, streets were transformed into New York as crowds lined up to watch one of the film’s action set pieces.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled for release in July.

Avengers: Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday is the 39th film in the MCU and the fifth in the Avengers series.

It is set to follow on from the events of Thunderbolts* and will see the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers and X-Men team up to take on Doctor Doom.

It would be quicker to list those not in the sequel – with directors Anthony and Joe Russo securing an all-star cast of previously seen superheroes.

Chris Evans will return as Steve Rogers, with Chris Hemsworth also set to reappear as Thor.

Most notably, Robert Downey Jr will be playing supervillain Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom.

Although he last stepped out in the MCU as Tony Stark/Iron Man, it’s not unusual for actors to reappear in another Marvel role.

Among multiple others, Evans was Johnny Storm/Human Torch before he was Steve Rogers/Captain America, Ryan Reynolds was Hannibal King before becoming Wade Wilson/Deadpool, and Jon Favreau was Franklin “Foggy” Nelson before Harold “Happy” Hogan.

Alternatively, the Russo brothers could explain Doom’s appearance by way of a darker Iron Man variant from the multiverse, or even that the villain is manipulating his looks to resemble the fallen Avenger.

The casting has been criticised by some as nostalgia-baiting.

And again, while not unusual, it was reported the filmmakers were shooting without a finalised script, which has sparked concerns the production could end up a hot mess.

The critical and commercial success of the MCU did taper off following Avengers: Endgame.

Doomsday has the potential to bring that shine back, but fans will be expecting more than green screen overuse.

At the moment, it’s set to go head-to-head with Dune: Part Three – so we have another potential Barbenheimer (the simultaneous theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer).

However, don’t be surprised if one of the competing studios buckle and move their release date to avoid the blockbusters from cannibalising each other at the box office.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release in December.

Michael

The life and career of Michael Jackson is being brought to the big screen by acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer trilogy).

Written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), the film will tell the tale of the King of Pop from his time with The Jackson 5 as a child to becoming a global icon in the years that followed.

If the timeline charts Jackson’s life right up to his death in 2009, it will be interesting to see how the filmmakers approach the highly publicised child sexual abuse allegations levelled against the late American singer-songwriter.

It was due to be released in 2025, but the troubled production suffered delays and reshoots.

Jackson’s daughter, Paris, has distanced herself from the biopic, claiming she had “0% involvement” in the film.

However, there is certainly appetite for the film.

The teaser trailer was viewed 116.2 million times within its first 24 hours – breaking a Lionsgate record and making it the most-viewed music biopic or concert trailer of all time, surpassing the 96.1 million for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Jackson is being played by his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, alongside a cast that also includes Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.

Michael is scheduled for release in April.

Psycho Killer

2026 is gearing up to be another great year for horror – with Psycho Killer at the top of that list.

The film revolves around a Kansas highway patrol officer (Georgina Campbell) who sets out on a journey to track down her husband’s murderer.

As the hunt progresses, she comes to realise the man responsible (James Preston Rogers) is a sadistic serial killer with a sinister agenda more twisted than anyone could have imagined.

Writer Andrew Kevin Walker also penned David Fincher’s Seven and Joel Schumacher’s 8mm – with both crime thrillers leaving a long-lasting impression on audiences.

Gavin Polone, who produced 8mm, is making his directorial debut with the satanic panic-themed production.

Expect creepy jump-scares and an ending that will most likely leave you bruised.

Psycho Killer is scheduled for release in February.

Scream 7

The Scream series has been scaring audiences for 30 years.

However, the departure of Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) from the franchise caused a devastating split in the fanbase.

The Mexican actress was fired from the slasher sequel after her pro-Palestinian social media posts were deemed “antisemitic” by production company Spyglass Media Group.

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) subsequently left the project, which most likely has brought an end to the Carpenter sisters’ storyline.

Given the controversy, disgruntled fans have been sharing potential spoilers online and have vowed a boycott.

As part of filmmaker efforts to win over unhappy cinemagoers, Scream 7 welcomes back original final girl Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott.

Campbell returns to the series after being absent from Scream VI.

This time round, the frightening game of cat-and-mouse sees killer Ghostface target Sidney’s daughter, Tatum (Isabel May) – aptly named in honour of Rose McGowan’s best friend character from the first film.

Courteney Cox will return as Gale Weathers, with Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding additionally reprising their roles as twins Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin.

Anna Camp, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Asa Germann and Joel McHale join the franchise.

Scream 7 is scheduled for release in February.

Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come

Since the release of Ready Or Not in 2019, fans have been screaming for a sequel to the snappy horror-comedy.

Samara Weaving is set to return as Grace MacCaullay – the former daughter-in-law of the devil-worshiping Le Domas family who was forced to fight for survival during a deadly game of hide-and-seek on her wedding night.

The sequel picks up immediately after the first film, with scream queen Weaving catapulted into a new nightmare.

The honeymoon is well and truly over as she goes head-to-head with the wealthy high court families who have been tasked to hunt her down in a bid to control the world.

This time round she is joined by younger sister Grace, played by Kathryn Newton.

From the trailer, Sarah Michelle Gellar appears to channel her inner Buffy The Vampire Slayer for a cool stake-style battle move.

However, her character Ursula Danforth does not seem to be a hero and is instead one of the big bads.

The all-star affair also includes Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, Nestor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, and legendary horror master David Cronenberg.

Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come is scheduled for release in March.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple was shot back-to-back with 28 Years Later and is the fourth film in the franchise.

It takes place after the events of the previous entry – which ended with the shock scare of a cult styled after prolific sex offender Jimmy Savile.

As youngster Spike (Alfie Williams) is inducted into Sir Jimmy Crystal’s (Jack O’Connell) gang of sadistic killers, Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a discovery that could alter the post-apocalyptic world.

Erin Kellyman (Jimmy Ink), Emma Laird (Jimmima), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Jamie) and Chi Lewis-Parry (Samson) additionally reprise their roles from 28 Years Later.

There are rumblings Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, who starred as Jim in the first film, could appear to set the stage for the next planned instalment.

Nia DaCosta was behind the camera for this instalment, which was once again written by Alex Garland. Director Danny Boyle is set to return for the currently untitled fifth film.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled for release in January.

Scary Movie 6

Scary Movie 6 will reboot the Wayans brothers’ much-loved horror-parody franchise.

Fan favourites Anna Faris (Cindy Campbell) and Regina Hall (Brenda Meeks) are returning, as are Marlon Wayans (Shorty Meeks), Shawn Wayans (Ray Wilkins), Jon Abrahams (Bobby Prinze), Lochlyn Munro (Greg Phillippe) and Dave Sheridan (Doofy Gilmore).

It has been 13 years since Scary Movie 5 was released. In that time, the Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer franchises have continued.

Other horrors we could see parodied include Get Out, Nope, Longlegs, Heretic, Sinners, the Terrifier films, The Conjuring Universe, Midsommar, M3GAN, Smile, The Substance, A Quiet Place and It.

Scary Movie 6 is scheduled for release in June.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

The Devil Wears Prada was a critical and commercial hit when it was released in 2006.

The film helped to launch Emily Blunt’s Hollywood career and would later spawn a West End musical.

Now 20 years on, we’re finally getting a sequel with Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly), Anne Hathaway (Andrea “Andy” Sachs), Stanley Tucci (Nigel Kipling) and Blunt (Emily Charlton) reprising their roles from the first film.

The original novel was written by Lauren Weisberger, who briefly worked at Vogue as an assistant to then editor-in-chief Dame Anna Wintour.

Weisberger wrote a sequel, Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns, set a decade after the events of the first book.

It is not yet clear how closely the second film will resemble the novel, which sees Andy about to get married and now a successful magazine editor in her own right.

The teaser trailer gives nothing away, but reports have suggested it will follow tyrannical magazine editor Miranda as she navigates the decline of traditional print journalism.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is scheduled for release in May.

Masters Of The Universe

Mattel’s Masters Of The Universe franchise has been entertaining children for decades.

There’s been plenty of comics, cartoons, action figures and games, but only one live-action He-Man film – the 1987 cult classic starring Dolph Lundgren and Courteney Cox.

There have been numerous attempts over the years to get another film over the line, but each time the planned productions found themselves stuck in development quagmire.

Once Amazon MGM Studios snapped up the rights, work steamed onward on the superhero flick.

It will reportedly follow a young Prince Adam of Eternia as he crash-lands on Earth and becomes separated from his magical power sword.

After tracking it down years later, he must uncover the mysteries of his past if he is to take on the mantle of He-Man in the battle for his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor.

Nicholas Galitzine is a fine choice for the role of Prince Adam/He-Man, and he has bulked up to play the hero.

Meanwhile, Jared Leto will be hoping his performance as the villainous Keldor/Skeletor proves a critical hit – he needs a boost after his last three films flopped (Morbius, Haunted Mansion and Tron: Ares).

One of the most exciting castings is Alison Brie as Professor Evelyn Powers/Evil-Lyn. Brie has a larger-than-life personality so we should see her having a lot of fun playing the dastardly sorceress.

Camila Mendes, who earned her stripes at the school of Riverdale, will also have an opportunity to show off her action capabilities as Teela – captain of the guards and Man-At-Arms’ adoptive daughter.

Idris Elba (Duncan/Man-At-Arms), Morena Baccarin (Sorceress of Castle Grayskull), James Purefoy (King Randor), Charlotte Riley (Queen Marlena Glenn) and Kristen Wiig (Roboto) are also part of the cast.

Masters Of The Universe is scheduled for release in June.

Mortal Kombat II / Street Fighter

Fans of both the Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter video game series are in for a treat this year.

It feels like the 1990s all over again, but we’ve come a long way from the Christopher Lambert and Jean-Claude Van Damme cult classics.

Mortal Kombat II is a follow-up to the 2021 reboot, with Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) joining the champions of Earthrealm as they are forced into battle against one another as they attempt to resist the dark rule of Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford).

In Street Fighter, estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament.

As the pair take part in the brutal clash of fists, fate and fury, they unearth a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past before it’s game over.

The cast also includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, and David Dastmalchian as M Bison.

Mortal Kombat II is scheduled for release in May, with Street Fighter following in October.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping is based on Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel which revolves around Haymitch Abernathy’s experience during the 50th edition of the deadly competition.

The story explores Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games and how the horrific experience and aftermath of the Second Quarter Quell shapes Haymitch into the mentor Katniss Everdeen later knows.

The dystopian action film is the sixth instalment in the series and serves as both a sequel to The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes and a prequel to The Hunger Games.

Joseph Zada, who recently appeared in Amazon Prime Video’s We Were Liars, takes the lead as Haymitch.

Mckenna Grace is playing District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner, while Ralph Fiennes takes over from Tom Blyth and Donald Sutherland as the tyrannical President Coriolanus Snow.

The always amazing Jesse Plemons is playing a younger Plutarch Heavensbee (previously the late Philip Seymour Hoffman), with Elle Fanning in the role of Effie Trinket (previously Elizabeth Banks) and Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman (previously Stanley Tucci).

Legendary actress Glenn Close will most likely steal a few scenes as venom-tongued Capitol loyalist and District 12 escort Drusilla Sickle.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping is scheduled for release in November.

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights, first published in 1847 and the only novel by author Emily Bronte, is often considered a classic of English literature.

The passionate and tumultuous love story between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff is set against the backdrop of the rugged West Yorkshire moors.

Saltburn writer and director Emerald Fennell is behind this loose adaptation of the gothic novel, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as the star-crossed lovers.

The production has attracted controversy – with some critics suggesting Robbie, 35, is too old to play the role of a young maiden. Others have singled out an apparent lack of historical accuracy in relation to the design of a wedding dress.

Owen Cooper, the youngest male actor to win an Emmy for his performance as teenage murder suspect Jamie Miller in hit Netflix miniseries Adolescence, is set to portray the young Heathcliff.

Meanwhile Charli XCX, the musician behind the cultural phenomenon Brat Summer, is contributing an album of original songs for the soundtrack.

The question on everyone’s lips though – will the erotic psychological drama feature a scene similar to Saltburn’s jaw-dropping bathtub moment?

Wuthering Heights is scheduled for release in February.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew

The Magician’s Nephew is the sixth published but first chronological novel in CS Lewis’ The Chronicles Of Narnia series.

It tells the tale of two children – Digory and Polly – who become ensnared in otherworldly travel by Digory’s eccentric uncle.

Their adventures lead them to witness the creation of Narnia by lion Aslan and how evil sorceress Jadis becomes the White Witch.

Writer and director Greta Gerwig (Barbie) is bringing the story to the big screen, reuniting with rising star Emma Mackey – who’s playing Jadis, the future antagonist of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

BAFTA-winner Carey Mulligan and former 007 Daniel Craig are also part of the cast.

The Netflix film will enjoy a limited theatrical run before dropping on the streaming service on Christmas Day.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is scheduled for release in November.

Disclosure Day

Steven Spielberg’s next project is a UFO film based on his own original idea.

The legendary filmmaker is no stranger to Close Encounters of the Third Kind – with Disclosure Day vibing more with War of the Worlds rather than the softer E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

The film, written by Jurassic Park’s David Koepp, appears to revolve around a global secret that looks set to be revealed to the world’s public all at once.

The tagline states: “If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?

“This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people.”

The cast includes Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo.

The film is scheduled for release in June.

The Mandalorian And Grogu

Star War series The Mandalorian has been a hit for streaming service Disney+.

Director Jon Favreau created the show, which revolves around a lone bounty hunter who protects a mysterious and powerful Force-sensitive infant of the same species as Yoda.

Favreau and co-writer Dave Filoni had initially written a fourth season, but production was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood labour disputes.

Lucasfilm re-evaluated its plans for the franchise and instead decided on a film over a series.

In this exciting new adventure, the Galactic Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy.

As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, legendary Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and young apprentice Grogu are enlisted to help in the epic battle of good versus evil.

The Mandalorian And Grogu is scheduled for release in May.

Supergirl

Supergirl is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU) and is part of the media franchise’s Chapter One: Gods And Monsters phase.

We got our first sighting of Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Milly Alcock) in James Gunn’s Superman.

Her character drunkenly thundered in, which is a great introduction as audiences join her on her transformation from hot mess to superhero.

It’s based on Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow, a comic book miniseries by writer Tom King and artist Bilquis Evely.

Directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, the film will follow Kara as she battles her own personal demons while travelling across the galaxy with her mischievous dog Krypto.

Along the way, she meets young Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) and encounters a tragedy that leads her on a murderous quest for revenge against Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts).

Supergirl is scheduled for release in June.

Clayface

Clayface is the third film in the DCU and is also part of the Chapter One: Gods And Monsters phase.

James Watkins (Eden Lake, Speak No Evil) is directing from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass) and Hossein Amini (Drive, The Snowman).

The shape-shifting character is mostly known to haunt Gotham City as an adversary of Batman, so expect the body horror to deliver a psychological punch rather than the traditional comic fanfare.

Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries will be playing Matt Hagen/Clayface, with British actress Naomi Ackie in the role of fringe scientist Dr Caitlin Bates who ultimately transforms his body into clay.

Clayface is scheduled for release in September.

Project Hail Mary

Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling takes the lead in this sci-fi adventure based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel.

Project Hail Mary revolves around Dr Ryland Grace – the sole survivor of a space crew sent to the Tau Ceti solar system in search of a solution to a catastrophic event on Earth.

In his hunt for answers, the teacher-turned-astronaut must rely on his vast array of scientific knowledge, sheer ingenuity and human will – but as it turns out, he may not have to search alone.

Project Hail Mary is scheduled for release in March.

Focker In-Law

Focker In-Law is the fourth film in the Meet The Parents franchise.

The comedy will mirror the original, but this time round Gaylord “Greg” Focker (Ben Stiller) is now the parent.

Expect similar in-law mishaps and chaos as Greg’s son Henry (Skyler Gisondo) announces his intention to marry Olivia Jones (Ariana Grande), a strong-willed woman who appears to be his complete mismatch.

Most of the original cast are set to reunite, including Robert De Niro (Jack Byrnes), Blythe Danner (Dina Byrnes), Owen Wilson (Kevin Rawley) and Teri Polo (Pam Byrnes Focker).

Focker In-Law is scheduled for release in November.

Toy Story 5

It’s toy meets tech in this fifth instalment of Pixar and Disney’s beloved franchise.

This time round, Woody and the gang’s jobs are under threat when young Bonnie becomes enamoured with what children are obsessed with today – electronics.

Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Joan Cusack (Jessie) and Tony Hale (Forky) return to the animation, with Anna Faris (Lilypad), Ernie Hudson (Combat Carl) and Conan O’Brien (Smarty Pants) joining the cast.