It’s a new year, which means there are new movies to watch! With the future of the theatrical business currently hanging in the balance, here are the movies that you should see on the big screen in 2026.
Wuthering Heights (February 13th)
After the last eat-the-rich outing from Emerald Fennell with Saltburn (a movie that had quite the social reaction), she is now back with Wuthering Heights. A loose adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Emily Brontë, this movie stars two of the hottest actors working right now, Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie, and features original music from Charli XCX. And just so you are prepared for what you are getting into when you see this on Valentine’s Day weekend, you should probably watch the trailer first because it’s… something.
Project Hail Mary (March 20th)
All rejoice in the fact that we’ve got ourselves a truly large-scale sci-fi blockbuster on the slate for 2026 in Project Hail Mary. And more importantly, it is led by Ryan Gosling! Adapted from the popular book of the same title by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary follows a science teacher (Gosling) who suddenly awakens on a spaceship light-years from Earth with no memory of how he got there or what he is doing. As his memory starts to return, he realizes he must figure out how to stop a mysterious substance that is causing the sun to die out. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this movie is going to be capital B “Big.”
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3rd)
It’s a me, Mario. Well, not me. But it’s Mario! Back for another movie! After The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide in 2023, it was inevitable that we’d get a sequel. Little did we all know it would be a sequel themed to one of the most beloved Mario games to date—Super Mario Galaxy. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie notably adds Brie Larson (Rosalina) and Benny Safdie (Bowser Jr.) to the already supercharged voice cast. It has a good shot at grossing more box-office dollars than its predecessor.
Michael (April 24)
There isn’t much you need to know about Michael, considering it is a biopic of the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Emancipation, The Equalizer 3) and led by Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, this sprawling biopic has, in fact, had its fair share of behind-the-scenes drama, including reshoots due to legal issues and splitting what was originally a single film into two parts. Whether that impacts the quality of the movie is yet to be determined, but we’ll all be able to figure it out together on April 24th, whether Michael will become a legendary biopic.
The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22)
The first Star Wars movie to release theatrically in seven years is kind of a big deal, right? Obviously, The Rise of Skywalker set the Star Wars franchise on a massive movie freeze, and with the galaxy’s stories being told on the small screen for the last handful of years, the franchise is finally making it back to the silver screen with the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu in May. The big question here is whether a three-season, 24-episode streaming show can make the hyperspeed jump to movie theaters? Directed by Star Wars stalwart Jon Favreau and starring everybody’s favorite little green guy, Grogu, this will inevitably be the flashpoint movie that kicks off what could be a string of billion-dollar bangers.
Disclosure Day (June 12)
The king of UFO-themed summer blockbusters is back. Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day stars Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell, just to name a few, and sees Spielberg returning to original sci-fi, something he hasn’t done since E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial all the way back in 1982! Enlisting the support of long-time collaborators like writer David Koepp, composer John Williams, and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, Disclosure Day has all of the pieces to be one of the very best movies of 2026.
The Odyssey (July 17)
After becoming the King of Hollywood just a few years ago with his Best Picture-winning Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan is already back, and this time, he is upping the stakes even more. Adapted from one of the most famed stories of all time, The Odyssey is undoubtedly the movie of the summer. A cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Mia Goth should ultimately be illegal. But hey, it’s the lineup of The Odyssey. Oppenheimer partners Ludwig Göransson and Hoyte van Hoytema are also back. The movie will be the cultural centerpiece upon its release in July, so buckle up, baby.
Narnia (November 26)
Greta Gerwig’s success with Barbie, tied forever to the above-mentioned Oppenheimer, funnily enough, has led her to her next project—Narnia. There is plenty to be excited about. First, Gerwig secured a limited IMAX run even though Netflix is producing this movie. Second, it’s an IP that hasn’t been revived since its forgettable run between 2005 and 2010. Third, it’s Greta Gerwig. With a resume that consists of Lady Bird, Little Women, and the aforementioned Barbie, we can only assume this film will be generational.
Avengers: Doomsday (December 18)
Avengers: Doomsday is one of only two MCU movies releasing in 2026—the other one is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which releases in July, which means that Marvel, Disney, and movie theaters alike have a lot riding on this movie being successful. Supposedly, finally putting the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, and most importantly, the X-Men on screen together for the first time should be enough to generate a billion dollars. But is the nostalgia machine running low on superhero fuel? Avengers: Doomsday will tell us if the future looks bright or grim for the genre.
Dune: Part Three (December 18)
Finishing off Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy of Dune films is Dune: Part Three. Based on Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune Messiah,” word on the street is that some crazy stuff goes down in the book and will most likely go down in the movie. Arguably one of the most beautiful book-to-screen adaptations ever made, Dune: Part Three has the opportunity to turn into this generation’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and be an epic sendoff for the characters and the world.
List Courtesy of Ethan Simmie
Feature Image Still from ‘Wuthering Heights’ trailer via Warner Bros