As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to turn the page and think about what films we’ll be talking about in 12 months. 2026 is looking great, at least on paper, with a good mix of returning masters, sequels to recent hits and even some interesting blockbusters.
For the latter category, we left a few on this list that we’re looking forward to, including “Toy Story 5,” “Supergirl” and even “Project Hail Mary,” films that could truly go either way. We wanted to limit the number of “big” films to create a mix of films that are more likely to be arthouse darlings alongside the MCU, “Dune” and even a video game adaptation. Taken as a snapshot of what might happen over the next 12 months, it’s a pretty picture. (All dates are subject to change.)
“The Adventures of Cliff Booth” (David Fincher)
The director of “Zodiac” and “The Social Network” returns to Netflix for his third consecutive film with the streaming giant, and it’s arguably the most unexpected of his career. Early reports of the project made it seem like fan fiction, but photos from the set proved that, yes, it exists, and that it’s a sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” with the return of that film’s Oscar-winning star, Brad Pitt. Pitt reportedly took Tarantino’s script to Netflix, which paid $200 million for the production. No date has been set for this one, but it seems likely that it will be one of the major players during the fall festival season, or soon after.
“All of a sudden” (Ryūsuke Hamaguchi)
In May, Variety announcement that the writer/director of “Drive My Car” and “Evil Does Not Exist” was working with Virginia Efira (“Benedetta) and Tao Okamoto (“The Wolverine”) on his follow-up shoot in Paris. Inspired by the book You and me – The illness suddenly gets worseit seems likely that this will be a Cannes premiere, assuming it’s made in time.
“Artificial” (Luca Guadagnino)
The “Call Me By Your Name” director is currently working on his fourth film in three years, following 2024’s “Challengers” & “Queer” and 2025’s “After the Hunt.” Once again, Guadagnino plays with current, hot-button issues as Andrew Garfield plays OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, alongside Monica Barbaro and Yura Borisov, Oscar nominees for “A Complete Unknown” and “Anora,” respectively. Working from a script by Simon Rich, this seems like a certainty on the fall festival circuit.
“Avengers: Doomsday” (Anthony and Joe Russo)
Phase Five was something of a snooze for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with duds like “The Marvels” and “Captain America: Brave New World” hinting that this mega-franchise’s reign might be over. In fact, the #1 superhero movie of 2025 wasn’t even an MCU movie (“Superman” took that title). That will change in 2026 with the return of the most successful franchise under the Marvel brand in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which even sees Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans return to the franchise, after they seemed to have left it seven years ago. The world will find out if they are the heroes the MCU needs to save itself when it opens on December 18.th.
“Monster!” (Tony Gilroy)
The author of “Andor” (our choice for the best TV show of 2025) returns to the director’s chair in 2026 for the first time since 2012’s “The Bourne Legacy” (and it’s his first script since 2018’s “Beirut”). The Oscar nominee for “Michael Clayton” has assembled an impressive cast, even though almost nothing is known about the plot of this Searchlight film. What do we know? This one stars Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, David Harbor and Matthew Lillard. With the brilliance that Gilroy is capable of as a writer and this fascinating cast, it cuts. No date for this one, but it seems likely that it will be Searchlight’s fall festival favorite if it’s completed in time.
“Bitter Christmas” (Almodóvar)
One of the best living filmmakers will return in 2026, and sooner than you think! In fact, “Amarga Navidad,” which sees Almodovar return to his native language after the mixed response to 2024’s “The Room Next Door,” will be released in Spain on March 20.thand Sony Pictures Classics plans to release it in the United States later this year. Almodovar told Indiewire in October 2024 that his next project was “a tragic gender comedy.” This one stars Barbara Lennie, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Carmen Machi and, of course, Rossy de Palma.
“The bride!” » (Maggie Gyllenhaal)
Guillermo del Toro isn’t the only one fascinated by Mary Shelley, as the brilliant Maggie Gyllenhaal follows up her Oscar-nominated directorial debut “The Lost Daughter” with a reunion with that film’s Jessie Buckley as none other than Frankenstein’s Bride. Based on the 1935 film by Shelley and James Whale, this one also features Christian Bale as the monster, and Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penelope Cruz and John Magaro in supporting roles. Warner Bros. is releasing it across the country on IMAX screens the first weekend in March, clearly confident that it has another special project on its hands. Considering the success they had with the horror blockbusters “Sinners” and “Weapons” in 2025, there’s reason to be very excited about this one.
“Bucking Fastard”Werner Herzog)
If just about anyone directed Kate Mara and Rooney Mara as twin sisters, it would make us curious enough that the result would probably make a list like this. The fact that it was written and directed by Werner Herzog constitutes a barrier. The incredible writer/director was reportedly inspired by the true story of identical British twin sisters Freda and Greta Chaplin, who both had restraining orders issued against them by the same man. Believe it or not, it gets better. Herzog has said that this project completes a trilogy with “Fitzcarraldo” and “Grizzly Man”, which is simply incredible. There’s no date yet, but the footage was apparently shown to buyers at Cannes 2025, so it will almost certainly be released in 2026. Not soon enough.
“Cliffhanger” (Jaume Collet-Serra)
Jaume Collet-Serra can be hit (“The Shallows”) or missed (“Jungle Cruise”). Still, he proved he knew how to do action escapism well, making him a good choice for a remake of a 1993 Sylvester Stallone film that became a cable staple for an entire generation. The casting for this one is also quite promising, with a gender swap for the protagonist from Sly to Lily James, who must save her father (Pierce Brosnan) and sister (Nell Tiger Free) after being kidnapped by the big bad played by the always interesting Franz Rogowski. This one comes out (sorry) on August 28, 2026.
“Coyote vs. Acme” (Dave Green)
Dave Green shot this film in 2022 and finished it later that year, but Warner Bros. Discovery is notoriously abandoned the film in 2023 for the tax deduction. A furor erupted and the film, part animated, part live-action, ended with Ketchup Entertainment, who did quite well with “The Day the Earth Exploded: A Looney Tunes Movie.” We’ll finally see what it’s all about on August 28, 2026.
“Digger” (Alejandro González Inarritu)
When was the last time Tom Cruise worked with a “serious” filmmaker? No one loves the “Mission: Impossible” movies more than me and, sure, “Top Gun: Maverick” saved cinema, but remember when Cruise was alternating between blockbusters and working with people like Paul Thomas Anderson? It’s been a generation. So there’s reason to be excited to see Cruise headlining the new project from the director of “The Revenant” and “Birdman,” and to see that Warner Bros. dated it October 2.sdjust as the fall movie season and awards conversation heats up. Is this black comedy their “One Battle After Another” for 2026? Could he finally get Cruise that overdue Oscar? Given that a preview has already been released, WB clearly thinks this is a major project for 2026. Let’s hope they’re right.
“Disclosure Day” (Steven Spielberg)
The man who essentially invented the blockbuster hasn’t really directed one since 2018’s “Ready Player One,” so there’s nothing but excitement to see the master return to crowd-pleasing storytelling for his first film of any kind since 2022. Working from a script by David Koepp (who wrote smaller films like “Jurassic Park” and “War of the Worlds” for King), Spielberg returns in the world of the Little Green Men in a new Alien Invasion story starring actor of the moment Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Emily Blunt, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo. June 12th I can’t come soon enough.
“The Dog’s Stars” (Ridley Scott)
Few octogenarians work as hard as Ridley Scott, who returns in 2026 with a post-apocalyptic blockbuster with a brilliant cast. Working from the 2012 novel of the same name, Scott tells the story of a world during a time when a deadly flu virus has wiped out most of humanity, but saved the characters played by rising stars Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley. Join them? Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce in a sci-fi blockbuster for Fox that looks to be one of the most interesting releases of 2026 when it drops on August 28th. (Yes, again. We also find it strange that three major films are currently scheduled for this date.)
“The drama” (Kristoffer Borgli)
The writer/director of the clever “Dream Scenario” returns with his highly anticipated sequel, a film whose preview makes it look a bit like a quarter-life “Marriage Story.” But given Borgli’s resume and A24’s involvement (with the provocative Ari Aster as producer), he’s probably hiding more secrets than his protagonists. These are played by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, a couple whose relationship falls apart in the days leading up to their wedding. Join the nuptials on April 3, 2026.
“Dune: Part Three” (Denis Villeneuve)
You have to love it when a franchise doesn’t waste time between payments. Denis Villeneuve and Warner Bros. know that the time has now come for their adaptation of Frank Herbert’s film Messiah of the dunesthe third film in their series about Paul Atréides (Timothée Chalamet) and Spice. One of the benefits of moving the blockbuster machine forward quickly is that familiar faces can return, including Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson and Anya Taylor-Joy, joined this time by Robert Pattinson. This one is currently scheduled for December 18th2026, but bet that this sequel and Avengers: Apocalypse do not open on the same day. We’ll see who flinches first in this game of Release Date Chicken.
“The entertainment system is broken” (Ruben Ostlund)
Ruben Östlund’s last two films have won the Palme d’Or, a remarkable feat once, let alone twice in a row. Can he make it a hat trick? His new film hasn’t yet been confirmed for Cannes, of course, but it’s a safe bet given how much the festival loved “Force Majeure,” “The Square” and “Triangle of Sadness.” He once again mocks the privileged by telling the story of a long-distance flight on which the entertainment system no longer works, leading passengers to truly exist outside of their screen addictions. Creepy. He brought together an exceptional cast on this route: Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Bruhl, Samantha Morton, Nicholas Braun, Julie Delpy, Tobias Menzies and Vincent Lindon.
“Ghost Writer” (Abrams)
JJ Abrams hasn’t released a non-Star (Wars or Trek) film since 2011’s “Super 8,” but it looks like that will finally change in 2026 with this long-running project starring Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey and Samuel L. Jackson. Of course, given that this is an Abrams project, almost nothing is known about the plot, even though filming was completed in the United Kingdom and in Providence, Rhode Island. In fact, some reports from the latter region suggest that the title is just a placeholder and could be changed to “Providence” upon release. No one knows except those who did it.
“I love boosters” (Riley Boots)
Multi-talented creator Boots Riley hasn’t released a film since his confident 2018 debut, “Sorry to Bother You,” but that will finally change in 2026, starting with the premiere of his sophomore effort at SXSW in March. The title refers to a group of shoplifters who attempt to take down a fashion icon in a film that is sure to satirize our wealth-obsessed image and culture. Who is working with Boots this time? None other than Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, LaKeith Stanfield and Demi Moore. We love this casting.
“Ink” (Danny Boyle)
The award-winning director of “Trainspotting” and “Slumdog Millionaire” returns to the stage with “28 Years Later” in 2025, and he returns with a fast-paced sequel, once again demonstrating his remarkable talent as a filmmaker. It moves from this horror film to the story of none other than Rupert Murdoch as James Graham adapts his own play of the same name. Guy Pearce plays the legendary media mogul, joined by Jack O’Connell and Claire Foy. Filming only started a few months ago, so it’s possible it won’t make it through post-production in time for a 2026 release, but it seems like a fall festival release is still in play, given how quickly Boyle is working.
“Jack of Spades” (Joel Cohen)
While Ethan Coen divided critics with large-scale comedies like “Honey Don’t,” his brother Joel took a different path. His first solo credit was the highly acclaimed “The Tragedy of Macbeth” in 2021, and he finally shot a sequel in Scotland last fall with a production about which almost nothing is known other than four actors: Josh O’Connor, Frances McDormand, Lesley Manville and Damian Lewis. It appears to be a period piece. Frequent Coen brothers collaborator Carter Burwell produced the music and “Inside Llewyn Davis” cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel shot it. That’s all we need to know. No release date here, but it makes me think of a Venice premiere for some reason.
“Mother Mary” (David Lowery)
The director of “The Green Knight” and “A Ghost Story” is back with another promising journey with a terrific cast and support from A24. An original concept from one of our most interesting filmmakers, the preview for this one gives off a “Black Swan” vibe as Anne Hathaway plays the titular pop star who commissions a designer named Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel of “I May Destroy You”) to create a new dress for her tour, sparking those two automatic attention-grabbing words in the plot description: “psychosexual affair.” It is scheduled for April 2026.
“Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” (Greta Gerwig)
Choosing a sequel to a global hit like “Barbie” must have been a difficult task for Greta Gerwig and her team. However, it’s still a bit surprising that the writer/director of “Lady Bird” returned to a property as beloved as CS Lewis’s. Narnia series, adapting the sixth book in the series, which is technically the first chronologically. Expect a little more “Little Women” here than the CGI blockbusters of the 2000s. Gerwig’s adaptation, which she also wrote, stars Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan and Daniel Craig, and is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on Netflix on November 26.th2026, before a drop in streaming, probably 2 to 3 weeks later.
“October” (Jérémie Saulnier)
The incredible writer/director of “Green Room” and “Rebel Ridge” filmed his latest work in Vancouver last fall, which means it should be ready for release before the end of 2026. Very little is known about the plot, other than that it’s an action horror film set on Halloween. Given Saulnier’s skill with the genre, his excellent casting, and A24’s involvement, this is easily one of the most promising horror films of 2026. Who’s in it? Cory Michael Smith, Chase Sui Wonders, Sophie Wilde, James Badge Dale, Imogen Poots, Young Mazino and Stephen Root. There’s no date for this one yet, but I’ll give you an idea when I think it’ll land.
“The Odyssey” (Christopher Nolan)
The writer/director of a little film called “Oppenheimer” follows up his Best Picture and Best Director wins with an incredibly ambitious adaptation of the Greek epic that has influenced and inspired hundreds of imitators. Matt Damon steps into the sandals of Ulysses, who is forced to undertake a legendary journey to return home to Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway. The cast also includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron. Yet the real draw here is Nolan and the power he has to bring his visions to life after three decades of blockbusters. This one reportedly cost over $250 million, and I bet you’ll be able to see every penny of it when it releases on July 17, 2025.
“Paper Tiger” (James Gray)
The director of “Two Lovers,” “The Immigrant” and “Ad Astra” is one of our best working filmmakers, and this drama sees him return to familiar dramatic territory in a thriller about two brothers who cross paths with the Russian mafia. The siblings were going to be played by Adam Driver and Jeremy Strong, but the latter had to drop out, replaced by Miles Teller. Scarlett Johansson also stars in a film that seems destined for Cannes if it’s made on time. Gray has premiered five films there to date.
“Possible love” (Lee Chang-dong)
The genius South Korean filmmaker behind “Secret Sunshine” and “Poetry” hasn’t released a film since arguably his best yet, 2018’s phenomenal “Burning.” He finally returns in 2026 with another collaboration with that film’s co-writer Oh Jung-mi for this Netflix production starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong. Given that “Burning” premiered at Cannes, it’s another film that seems likely to debut on the Croisette.
“Stay” (M.Night Shyamalan)
The legendary writer/director follows up his hit “Trap” with a film co-designed by an unexpected collaborator: Nicholas Sparks. Yes, the Sparks who wrote “The Notebook.” Hmmm. Apparently, the novelist is writing the book version while Night is tackling the film version, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor, Ashley Walters and Julie Hagerty. The book and film come out in the fall, and People describes them like this: “…follows New York architect Tate Donovan as he arrives on Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home. Donovan is looking for a fresh start after his recent release from a mental institution where he was treated for acute depression. Still dealing with the loss of his beloved sister, Donovan meets Wren, a young woman who makes him question everything he knows about his logical, controlled world.” This one comes from Warner Bros. October 23rd.
“Resident Evil” (Zach Cregger)
The director of the hit “Weapons” has jumped straight into another project, and it’s an incredibly promising one. After a few years of struggling to find the right spinoff of the hit Capcom franchise — there was a bad series on Netflix and the awful “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” — Sony is heading in a new direction with a rising auteur at the helm. A complete reboot, Cregger’s film will star Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry and Kali Reis. In August, Cregger revealed that it was a new story set in the “Resident Evil” universe, probably inspired by 2sd at 4th games, and that he has never seen another “RE” movie. It hits theaters on September 18th2026.
“The Return of Saturn” (Greg Kwedar)
The “Sing Sing” director and “Train Dreams” co-writer reunites with Netflix for this character study that will take place in Chicago through much of 2025. “Saturn Return” sees Kwedar direct Charles Melton, Rachel Brosnahan, David Morse, Kim Dickens and Will Poulter in a film that Netflix says spans “a decade in the lives of its characters, charting their journey to adulthood.” continues to showcase his artistry and craftsmanship with each new project, and local readers have reason to hope that we have a future “Great Chicago Movie” on the horizon. No idea when, but it looks like a fall premiere for this writer.
“We’ll see you when I see you” (Jay Duplass)
Writer/director/actor Jay Duplass made one of the most delightful returns to cinema in 2025 with the rollicking “The Baltimores,” and it’s great to know we’ll get another Duplass comedy-drama less than a year after his comedic comeback. In fact, this one will premiere in a few weeks at Sundance, likely picked up there for release later in 2026. It stars Cooper Raiff (a Sundance star of “Cha Cha Real Smooth”) as a young man dealing with the loss of his sister, played by Kaitlyn Dever. Sundance writes: “Duplass taps into the millennial milieu of masking grief with humor and the devastating mental toll that avoidance can have on the bereaved, guiding us through a parade of misguided coping mechanisms and the collateral damage that ensues with his signature sense of moment-to-moment compassion and empathy.” » We’ll let you know what we think of Sundance at the end of January.
“Send help” (Sam Raimi)
Sam Raimi is stuck in a familiar IP prison, with only “Oz the Great and Powerful” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” on his filmography over the past 17 years. So we’re excited for his first horror/thriller project. ver since 2009’s underrated “Drag Me to Hell.” This one stars Rachel McAdams as a woman who finds herself stranded with her asshole boss (Dylan O’Brien) on a desert island after a plane crash. The preview is a banger, full of promising Raimi-style action, delivered by two committed performers. It opens on January 30th.
“Sense and sensitivity” (Georgia Oakley)
Jane Austen’s 1811 has proven to be one of the most enduring texts ever written, regularly reappearing in new forms. The latest comes from “Blue Jean” director Georgia Oakley and stars “Normal People” star Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood and “Urchin” star Frank Dillane as John Willoughby. How will Oakley give “Sense and Sensibility” a new lease of life? We’ll find out on September 11thlikely shortly after a premiere at TIFF. (Just a guess. Probably true.)
“The social balance sheet” (Aaron Sorkin)
For years, Aaron Sorkin has talked about writing a sequel to his Oscar-winning screenplay for “The Social Network,” but insisted he would only do it if David Fincher was involved. When Fincher joined the Tarantino project, Sorkin decided to direct himself, using the 2021 Facebook leak described in Jeff Horwitz’s article. Broken code as a source of inspiration for what we call more of a companion than a sequel. Jeremy Strong steps into Mark Zuckerberg’s shoes, and he’s joined by an incredibly deep cast that includes Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin, and Billy Magnussen. Filming took place in late 2025 and finished in time for October 9.th national release from Sony. This isn’t one where TIFF and perhaps Telluride feel very likely.
“Spider-Man: A Whole New Day” (Destin Daniel Cretton)
If there’s one film that’s going to take on “Doomsday” for the biggest hit of 2026, it’s 38th film in the MCU, the return of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker for the first time in five years. The end of “No Way Home” saw the world forget about Spider-Man’s existence, but “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” director Destin Daniel Cretton will likely find a way to reverse the trend with the return of the main cast, including Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal as the Punisher and Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk. Sony launches it worldwide on July 31st.
“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” (Jane Schönbrun)
The writer/director of “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair” and “I Saw the TV Glow” has filmed his third project, an original production for Mubi, starring Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”) and Gillian Anderson. The talented creator said The Hollywood Reporter“I make movies that I wish existed when I was a kid. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is my best attempt at a ‘slumber party classic’: a midnight odyssey both crazy and cozy that lures unsuspecting viewers from the horror section of the local video store. “Yeah, we can’t wait either. No date here, but filming wrapped in summer 2025, so a 2026 release seems almost certain.
“The Way of the Wind” (Terrence Malick)
Terrence Malick’s release date should always be considered to be in pencil rather than pen. The notorious perfectionist really finds his films in the edits, then repeats this process over and over again. How long has he been perfecting his long-delayed sequel to “A Hidden Life”? He reportedly filmed it in Italy in 2019, ending the year with over 3,000 hours of footage. Since then, he has modified it. Malick’s passion project stars “Son of Saul” veteran Géza Röhrig as Jesus Christ himself, joined by Matthias Schoenaerts as Saint Peter, Aidan Turner as Saint Andrew and Mark Rylance as Satan. Of course, who knows who will actually be in the final cut of a film that was once rumored for Cannes 2025, so let’s go ahead and release it for Cannes 2026. Or maybe 2027?
“Werewolf” (Robert Eggers)
Focus/Universal is hoping to repeat the success of late 2024’s wildly popular “Nosferatu” by giving Robert Eggers the keys to another classic monster tale and even bringing back much of the cast from that hit horror film. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe star in a 13th-century telling the story of a half-man, half-wolf creature that will hit theaters just in time for Christmas Day 2026.
“Wildwood” (Travis Knight)
By the time this comes out, it will have been seven years since the last LAIKA movie (“Missing Link”) and a full decade since Travis Knight’s previous animated effort, the incredible 2016 “Kubo and the Two Strings.” Sorry, Woody and Buzz fans, this is easily the most exciting animated project of 2026, an adaptation of the 2011 novel of the same name. Hopefully it’s a reminder of the creative passion of LAIKA. And it won’t take them that long to make another one.
“Wurning Heights” (Emerald Fennel)
The Oscar-winning writer/director of “Promising Young Woman” and “Saltburn” returns in early 2026 with an adaptation that is already infuriating purists just in preview. I think that’s probably exactly what Fennell wants. The latest retelling of Emily Bronte’s masterpiece features Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff. It hits theaters on February 13thjust in time for Valentine’s Day.
“day” (the room)
After the big-budget disappointment of “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” Kogonada returned to his indie roots with this low-budget experimental drama that’s about to premiere in Sundance’s NEXT section. The description of the festival project is delightfully unrevealing: “In Hong Kong, a young woman haunted by visions of her future meets a stranger who changes the course of her night – and perhaps her life. “Of course, we’ll trust the director of “Columbus” and “After Yang” to make this interesting, especially considering the involvement of Haley Lu Richardson from the former.
