The cinema, still in danger, is making a strong new offer for your IRL attendance in 2026.
Most of the year’s most anticipated films are, unsurprisingly, sequels or updates to beloved films, with a few breaths of fresh air thrown in for good measure.
Here’s a taste of what our collective cinematic future holds:
Ralph Fiennes’ surprisingly distinguished post-apocalyptic doctor returns in this fourth installment of “28 Days Later,” perhaps picking up shortly after the rather bonkers ending of last year’s “28 Years Later.” Expect more naked zombies.
If the trailer’s excessive strobe lights didn’t put you off, this (we think) concert mockumentary covering Charli XCX’s “Brat” tour might finally be the film worthy of following in the footsteps of Madonna’s “Truth or Dare.”
From “Promising Young Woman” director Emerald Fennell, this Emily Brontë adaptation released just in time for Valentine’s Day bursts its bodice in the trailer alone, featuring smoldering, scandalous looks shared between Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
Co-produced by basketball great Stephen Curry, this animated underdog film introduces us to Will Harris (voiced by “Stranger Things” star Caleb McLaughlin), a goat who hopes to become a GOAT in the sport of roarball.
Sam Rockwell, MVP of Season 3 of “White Lotus,” takes us on a wild journey into a terrifying future that seems to begin at the famous Norms restaurant chain in Los Angeles, where he goes in search of people to help him save the world. Costars include “White Lotus” alumna Haley Lu Richardson and Zazie Beetz.
Maggie Gyllenhaal directs “Hamnet” star Jessie Buckley as Frankenstein’s bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster in a film that seems as far removed from the classic Universal monster films of old as possible. Look for Maggie’s brother (and “Donnie Darko” costar) Jake Gyllenhaal in an as-yet-unspecified role.
Following last year’s high-profile “It Ends With Us,” Colleen Hoover’s next novel to receive the film adaptation treatment tells the story of a woman (‘It Follows’ star Maika Monroe) seeking redemption after a prison sentence. “Gilmore Girls” alum Lauren Graham, “The Handmaid’s Tale” actor Bradley Whitford and “Him”’s Tyriq Withers are all co-stars.
From “The Martian” writer Andy Weir comes a new sci-fi epic, this one based on his 2021 novel about a science professor (Ryan Gosling) who wakes up on a spaceship to find himself in an incredible situation.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star as a soon-to-be-married couple who encounter plenty of the main subject in this romantic comedy with a different twist.
Following the massive success of the first 2023 film, Chris Pratt returns as Mario for a new adventure alongside Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser and more, including new recruit Brie Larson as the voice of Rosalina. Here we go!
“You, me and Tuscany” (April 10)
“The Little Mermaid” Halle Bailey and “Bridgerton” star Regé-Jean Page team up for this spicy romantic comedy that’s like a youngster’s “Under the Tuscan Sun.”
The Michael Jackson biopic from Antoine Fuqua of “Training Day” fame follows the King of Pop’s rise to the top and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role. This one is sure to be talkative for several reasons, not the least of which is that the film’s production reportedly hit a major roadblock with the script that delayed the film’s release.
Time passes at a glacial pace as fans of the 2006 film wait for this sequel. Returning cast members including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are joined by franchise newcomers Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh and Lady Gaga.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” (May 22)
This new entry into the legendary universe will welcome sci-fi queen Sigourney Weaver to the franchise. She plays a colonel who sends the titular Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu – formerly known as Child or Baby Yoda – on a new mission in the Outer Rim.
A Steven Spielberg extraterrestrial extravaganza coming out this summer? Pinch me! This one, starring Emily Blunt, is Spielberg’s first feature film since 2022’s “Fabelmans” and his first sci-fi-leaning film since 2018’s “Ready Player One.”
Is the age of toys really over? That’s the fateful question that this new Pixar opus seems to ask, which takes on the familiar parental conundrum about screen time as Woody, Buzz and the gang encounter a new asshole in the playroom: a tablet.
Milly Alcock plays the Man of Steel’s cousin, an unruly intergalactic renegade (and current owner of Krypto the Superdog, as seen in his “Superman” cameo).
Directed by Christopher Nolan, this epic based on Homer’s monumental poem is one of the most anticipated films of the year, with a cast of truly legendary proportions: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page and Lupita Nyong’o as costars.
“Spider-Man: All New Day” (July 31)
Speaking of Tom Holland and Zendaya, two weeks after embarking on their odyssey, they’re returning for a fourth go-round in Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise, seemingly setting the stage for “Doomsday,” which will be released later this year.
Let the festivities continue with this update of the beloved 1998 witch film, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters who each take a very different approach to their family gifts. Dianne West and Stockard Channing are back as their aunts Jet and Franny, respectively, with Lee Pace and “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams joining the fun.
Tom Cruise teams up with “Revenant” and “Birdman” director Alejandro G. Iñárritu for this dark comedy that follows the most powerful man in the world, who has some truly destructive tricks up his sleeve.
Directed by Aaron Sorkin – who wrote and won an Oscar for the storyline from David Fincher’s groundbreaking 2010 film, “The Social Network” – this sequel takes another look at the social media platform that shapes society, this time with “Succession” and “Apprentice” star Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg. Also starring Mikey Madison, last year’s Best Actress Oscar winner.
This new installment of the film franchise based on the bestselling YA book series by Suzanne Collins takes things back once again, this time looking at the origins of Haymitch Abernathy. Haymitch, portrayed as a middle-aged adult in Woody Harrelson’s previous films, will be played in this prequel by newcomer Joseph Zada. Jennifer Lawrence is set to (at least briefly) reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, even more awkward family shenanigans will ensue when the son (Skyler Gisondo) of Greg (Ben Stiller) and Pam Focker (Teri Polo) brings home his fiancée (Ariana Grande) to meet the parents.
Santa Claus (Stranger Things actor David Harbour) is back for an even bloodier holiday in Violent Night 2, a sequel to the 2022 original.
If the absolutely stacked cast of this MCU mashup of the X-Men and the Avengers didn’t seem stacked enough, Disney recently revealed via a new teaser that the film will also feature the return of Chris Evans as Captain America.
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya (who is particularly busy this year, as seen above) return for the next installment of this epic sci-fi franchise, directed by Denis Villeneuve, based on the book series by Frank Herbert.
Like 2024’s “Nosferatu,” director Robert Eggers will give us a special Christmas present with his new take on the classic werewolf story. Featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe and “Nosferatu” star Lily-Rose Depp.
