Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2026
2026 is already shaping up to be a year that could remind people why going to the movies still feels like an exceptional experience. After years of uncertainty about whether streaming would replace theaters, studios are lining up films that feel big, emotional, ambitious, and worth seeing with other people. It is a year built on beloved franchises, returning characters, bold adaptations, and filmmakers audiences genuinely trust.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be one of the biggest global releases of the year, with Marvel once again bringing together familiar heroes in a story that promises higher stakes and more profound emotional impact. Spider-Man: Brand New Day keeps that superhero momentum going later in the summer, giving fans a new chapter in Peter Parker’s story while staying closely tied to the larger Marvel world.
Alongside the big franchise releases, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon with Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway, brings the legendary epic to life with an all-star cast and sweeping cinematic ambition. Dune: Part Three continues Denis Villeneuve’s visually rich sci-fi saga, bringing what is expected to be a powerful conclusion to one of the most acclaimed trilogies in recent years.
Star Wars fans get their own theatrical moment with The Mandalorian and Grogu, bringing two of the franchise’s most popular modern characters to the big screen for the first time together. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie gives families another huge reason to go to theaters following the success of the first Mario film. At the same time, Toy Story 5 adds an emotional Pixar reunion that spans generations.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is another major return, taking audiences back to Panem with a focus on a younger Haymitch Abernathy and the brutal Second Quarter Quell. Lionsgate has confirmed the film, and early coverage highlights how it explores trauma, power, and survival in a darker chapter of that universe, as reported in People’s detailed breakdown of Sunrise on the Reaping.
There is also cultural nostalgia at play next year. The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in a story that reflects the evolution of fashion, media, and influence since the original film. Disney has confirmed production and the return of the cast, giving fans a real sense of anticipation, as covered in Variety’s studio confirmation update. Meanwhile, a new Chronicles of Narnia adaptation helps round out the fantasy side of the year with another beloved world returning to screens.
What makes 2026 exciting is balance. There are superhero crossovers, epic sci-fi worlds, emotional animated returns, fantasy adventures, and big dramatic storytelling. Some films are built for spectacle, others for awards conversations, and many feel designed to spark cultural conversation again. If even half of these films live up to expectations, 2026 could stand out as one of those rare movie years people look back on as a real turning point for theaters.
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