Here are my picks for the most anticipated upcoming movies of 2026, ranked by my own personal anticipation rather than any other metric like box office or hype. Normally, I’d go with 25 selections, but because it’s 2026, I decided to go with just one additional selection. But, frankly, this could’ve easily been a top 40 list. If you’re at all interested in a longer list, then check the honorable mentions at the bottom of the list, or click here for my Letterboxd list that contains quite a few more films. But, yeah, let’s get to it!
#26 – Her Private Hell – Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn
I always knew this project would get the 26th special wildcard spot because I have to support the work of my stylish countryman. It’s been ten years since The Neon Demon was released (and gave me one of the most memorable theater experiences I’ve had). I am hopeful this new project can at least be as good as that film was. Plus, it’s a thriller starring Sophie Thatcher and Diego Calva, among others. A must-see, for me.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#25 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu – Dir. Jon Favreau
Look, Star Wars historically means more to me than any other franchise or film series. It has a special place in my heart as one of my first cinematic loves. I think arguably the best audiovisual storytelling from last year was a Star Wars project (Andor). I have even loved The Mandalorian, for the most part, so why is it all the way up/down (depending on how you look at it) here? Well, frankly, I think this belongs on TV/Disney+. I think if you train your audience to expect to see it on their television, then it’s going to be really difficult to get them to be excited to go to see the same thing in theaters. So, the only reason why it’s not in a better spot on this list is that I think 1) the release strategy on this is bizarre, and that 2) while I love the early seasons, the show has been on a downward trajectory since the spin-offs. Speaking as an enormous Star Wars fan, Lucasfilm should focus on doing more things like Andor (i.e., focusing on powerful writing and stories that are bigger than the material) and fewer cartoon spin-offs (even though I, too, loved Star Wars: Rebels). But, hey, wait a minute — you might say — then why is it on my list? Well, I do love Pedro Pascal, and I do love seeing Grogu, so I am still looking forward to it a good deal.
Release date: May 22nd.
#24 – Onslaught – Dir. Adam Wingard
Adam Wingard is taking a break from his Godzilla v Kong films to bring us an action-horror-thriller starring Adria Arjona (Andor), which is supposedly about a mother trying to “protect her loved ones from a threat that escaped a secret military base.” Plus, Wingard is once again teaming up with his The Guest breakout star, Dan Stevens, who is always a good time.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#23 – October – Dir. Jeremy Saulnier
Jeremy Saulnier is quietly building an oeuvre that consists of some of the best and most underappreciated thrillers of the last fifteen years. Rebel Ridge is genuinely one of the most exciting and memorable Netflix action films ever made, and his color duology films (Blue Ruin; Green Room) are sensationally good. This time around, he’s supposedly made an action-horror-thriller set around Halloween. If you’re not excited to see it, then I can only assume that you haven’t seen his work before, in which case, go watch some films.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#22 – Fjord – Dir. Cristian Mungiu
Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu is making a drama about a Romanian family moving to Norway, where they become the center of scrutiny, for some as-yet unknown reason. I was already interested in this based on the Scandinavian premise, but what ultimately secured it a spot on the list was the fact that it’ll star Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, both of whom I really enjoy as performers. This one should be interesting.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#21 – How to Make a Killing – Dir. John Patton Ford
John Patton Ford is ready with his 2nd feature, following the excellent crime thriller Emily the Criminal, and it looks like such a good time at the movies based on the trailer. It’s about someone who has been disowned by a wealthy family and who decides to reclaim his inheritance by taking out the privileged relatives that stand in his way. When you add to that a top cast including lead Glen Powell, but also Margaret Qualley, Bill Camp, Jessica Henwick, and Ed Harris, well then you’ve got a recipe for a movie that I’m interested in.
Release date: February 20th.
#20 – Digger – Dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu
Although I recognize him for his vision and talent as a filmmaker, the fact that Iñárritu is making a new film doesn’t automatically mean he gets a spot on my list. For example, even though I think Birdman is great, I admire The Revenant more than I like it, and Bardo didn’t really work for me. I am hopeful, however, that Digger will work for me. The teaser trailer didn’t do much for me, but the idea that this is supposed to be an original dark comedy starring Tom Cruise and directed by such a renowned filmmaker, well, that does do a lot for me. We’ll see if this will actually be good, but I am excited to see it.
Release date: October 2nd.
#19 – Look Back – Dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
Look Back, 2024’s hour-long animated film adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga of the same name was outstanding, so I am really excited to see what Hirokazu Kore-eda is going to do with the same narrative in a live-action adaptation.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#18 – Jack of Spades – Dir. Joel Coen
Josh O’Connor is having a bit of a breakthrough right now, with Wake Up Dead Man, and it sure seems like the La Chimera star could be well on his way to an even bigger year in 2026. This film didn’t get onto my radar until very late in the process of putting this film together, but once I found out O’Connor was starring in a gothic mystery flick from Joel Coen and co-starring Frances McDormand, Lesley Manville, and Damian Lewis, then it jumped straight onto the list. This film’s potential is through the roof. We will have to see if it can live up to it.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#17 – The Drama – Dir. Kristoffer Borgli
Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli is following up his English-language breakthrough, the Nicolas Cage-led Dream Scenario, with a drama set around the days leading up to a wedding between characters played by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, whose relationship is tested by ‘unsettling truths.’ It sounds interesting, and if it is anywhere as close to as memorable as Dream Scenario was, then we’ve got a fascinating film to look forward to.
Release date: April 3rd.
#16 – The Dog Stars – Dir. Ridley Scott
A post-apocalyptic sci-fi flick from the man behind Blade Runner and Alien, and starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin. This could be phenomenal.
Release date: August 28th.
#15 – The Entertainment System Is Down – Dir. Ruben Östlund
Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund has been a hit with me for quite some time. I really dig both Force Majeure, The Square, and The Triangle of Sadness. Now, he’s making an airplane-set satirical black comedy starring Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, and Daniel Brühl.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#14 – Artificial – Dir. Luca Guadagnino
A film about the OpenAI drama from Luca Guadagnino. This feels like it could be his version of The Social Network. Plus, it has a cast that includes Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro. Sounds pretty good!
Release date: No date as of yet.
#13 – Project Hail Mary – Dir. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
A space sci-fi adventure film starring Ryan Gosling, directed by the Jump Street filmmakers, and adapted from a novel by The Martian author Andy Weir. Need I say more?
Release date: March 20th.
#12 – Resident Evil – Dir. Zach Cregger
Barbarian and Weapons were both fantastic, so I am very much interested in Zach Cregger’s next moves. Resident Evil needs a cinematic reboot, and here we have one. This brand has a lot of potential, and it feels like a great sandbox for Cregger to play around in.
Release date: September 18th.
#11 – The Way of the Wind – Dir. Terrence Malick
Here’s a holdover from last year, so I won’t say too much. Terrence Malick making a film about the life of Jesus Christ just seems like a must-watch. Let’s see if it actually comes out this year.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#10 – The Bride! – Dir. Maggie Gyllenhaal
Again, this was also on my list last year, and I just like the idea of having another Frankenstein flick, this one made by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Also, Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley as the monster and the bride, respectively, is just great casting.
Release date: March 6th.
#9 – The Social Reckoning – Dir. Aaron Sorkin
Let’s be real here, if David Fincher were directing the sequel to The Social Network, then this would be in my top 5. Although I enjoy Sorkin’s dialogue, he’s just not as skilled a filmmaker as Fincher is. That said, I do think the idea of a sequel makes sense, and I think the cast is exciting (Jeremy Strong as the new Mark Zuckerberg is such a fascinating choice).
Release date: October 9th.
#8 – Spider-Man: Brand New Day – Dir. Destin Daniel Cretton
I really liked what Destin Daniel Cretton did with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and so, naturally, having him direct a movie about Marvel’s greatest hero feels like a good match. Supposedly, this flick will also feature both Jon Bernthal’s the Punisher, Mark Ruffalo’s the Hulk, and Sadie Sink as an as-of-yet unnamed character. This could be cool.
Release date: July 31st.
#7 – Werwulf – Dir. Robert Eggers
I have liked every feature film Robert Eggers has made. He’s made a movie about a witch, a baffling but fascinating film about lighthousekeepers, a film about Viking lore, a film about one of cinema’s most famous vampires, and now he’s making a werewolf movie. What’s not to like? It feels like a perfect match.
Release date: December 25th.
#6 – 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Dir. Nia DaCosta
I know Boyle’s 28 Years Later didn’t work for everyone, but I really dug it. So, naturally, I am incredibly excited to see what happens next. I think DaCosta is a talented filmmaker who has been given a tough deal with her previous franchise films, and I think this could be her real breakthrough. Also, I can’t wait to see more of Ralph Fiennes in this universe. I won’t have to wait long, though. I’ll likely be seeing it later this week!
Release date: January 16th.
#5 – Avengers: Doomsday – Dir. Anthony & Joe Russo
This is a real make-or-break event for Marvel Studios, which I have a lot of love for. They need a big hit both box office-wise and with regard to leaving a cultural imprint. Having the Russos back and Downey, Jr. kind of back could be a big win for Marvel, but I think, to a lot of people, it also seems a little bit desperate. In any case, I am excited for a big sprawling comic book movie with all of my favorite heroes. Time will tell if it’ll be any good, but I certainly hope so.
Release date: December 18th.
#4 – The Adventures of Cliff Booth – Dir. David Fincher
David Fincher is one of my favorite filmmakers, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of my favorite films of the past decade. And yet I am a little bit nervous about this. Fincher is a magic filmmaker, so I believe he can create a great sequel for Tarantino’s original. That said, I do think it is so strange that this isn’t being made by Tarantino, who is still sticking to his unnecessary ‘ten films as a director’ rule. Still, though, I am very interested in seeing what Cliff gets up to next.
Release date: No date as of yet.
#3 – Disclosure Day – Dir. Steven Spielberg
I am a simple man, sometimes. If you tease me with a Steven Spielberg movie about aliens, then I will instantly ask to see it. This rose to the top three immediately when I heard about it, and it locked its place with the trailer. Pairing an alien-esque narrative with Steven Spielberg and rising star Josh O’Connor just feels like a recipe for greatness. I am so excited to see this.
Release date: June 12th.
#2 – The Odyssey – Dir. Christopher Nolan
I am really rooting for this film. This Greek fantasy epic narrative is one that my family is particularly fascinated by, and to see Christopher Nolan, of all people, try to bring it to the big screen is just incredible. When it was announced, I was basically frothing at the mouth from pure excitement, and I am so excited. I can’t wait to see this, and the same goes for most of my family. The only thing that could possibly top it on this list is a prestige epic sequel in a series of films that has been consistently phenomenal. This is likely to be the movie of the year.
Release date: July 17th.
#1 – Dune: Part Three – Dir. Denis Villeneuve
Lisan al-Gaib! This one was definitely a tight race for the number one spot. So, why did it take the top spot? Well, like Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve has been turning in banger after banger after banger, and I’ve liked pretty much everything I’ve seen of his. Then there’s the franchise of it all. I’ve genuinely loved both of his previous Dune films, and this trilogy-capper has a chance to turn Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy into one of the best genre trilogies ever made. Also, just because this third part is not adapting the first book in the series, it feels like a more difficult adaptation to pull off, hence why I am extremely excited to see what Villeneuve will bring to the table to tie his three-film narrative together in the best way possible.
Release date: December 18th.
And that’s the list! Full disclosure, I almost put Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! starring Pedro Pascal on the list, given my love for Gilroy’s writing and Pascal as a leading man, but, right as I was about to publish the list, I read that David Harbour had exited the film, which leads me to believe the film won’t actually come out in 2026, hence my leaving it off the list. Other films that almost made it onto the list include, but are not limited to (listed in no particular order):
- M. Night Shyamalan’s Remain.
- Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime.
- James Watkins’ Clayface.
- Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl.
- Andrew Stanton’s Toy Story 5.
- David Lowery’s Mother Mary.
- Radio Silence’s Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come.
- Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love.
- Greta Gerwig’s Narnia-film for Netflix.
- Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights.
- Pawel Pawlikowski’s 1949.
- Sebastien Vanicek’s Evil Dead Burn.
- Na Hong-jin’s Hope.
- Kevin Williamson’s Scream 7.
- Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine.
Any of these could’ve easily gotten a spot on the list, but were ultimately removed in favor of some of the films actually listed, for whatever reason. They include sequels to films that I love (e.g., Toy Story, Scream, Evil Dead), new films from filmmakers whose oeuvres interest me (e.g., Greta Gerwig, Martin McDonagh), and films whose premise sounds extremely interesting (e.g., Fjord, Hope, 1949).
– Article written by Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
I'm Jeffrey Rex 