The biggest new film releases everyone will be talking about in 2026: From anticipated sequels to live-action classics

Get ready to queue, scream, laugh and cry – 2026’s biggest films are coming. From beloved sequels and live-action classics to literary adaptations, these are the movies that will have everyone talking.

Hamnet

Adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, Hamnet follows Agnes (Jessie Buckley), the fiercely intelligent wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), as she navigates grief after the death of their young son. The film centres on family, loss and the emotional aftermath that would later inspire Hamlet.

Release date: 9 January

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Decades after the original outbreak, a new generation of survivors navigates a Britain still shaped by the rage virus. Cillian Murphy returns alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer, as the franchise explores survival, fear and humanity in a world gone mad.

Release date: 14 January

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë’s gothic romance is reimagined with Jacob Elordi as the brooding Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as the doomed Catherine Earnshaw. Obsessed, passionate and destructive, their love story brings class conflict and emotional extremity to the fore, anchored by strong star power.

Release date: 13 February

How to Make a Killing

Glen Powell stars as a charming, morally flexible entrepreneur whose quest for success spirals into criminal territory. Darkly comic and sharply satirical, the film skewers ambition, greed and self-mythology in modern society.

Release date: 27 February

Scream 7

Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott when a new Ghostface killer terrorises her town and family. Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley reprise their roles alongside fresh faces, blending suspense, legacy lore and killer thrills for fans old and new.

Release date: 27 February

The Bride!

Jessie Buckley stars as the Bride in this feminist reworking of The Bride of Frankenstein, with Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s creator. Reimagined as a fully realised protagonist, the film blends gothic horror with modern sensibilities, style and suspense.

Release date: 6 March

Project Hail Mary

Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a middle-school teacher turned unlikely astronaut tasked with saving Earth from extinction after waking alone in space with no memory. Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film mixes hard science, humour and high emotional stakes.

Release date: 20 March

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Chris Pratt returns as Mario, joined by Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Jack Black as Bowser, as the Mushroom Kingdom expands into outer space. Inspired by the Super Mario Galaxy games, the sequel delivers cosmic adventure, vibrant worlds and high-stakes spectacle.

Release date: 3 April

The Drama

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star as a couple whose relationship unravels over one emotionally charged weekend. Intense, dialogue-driven and gripping, the film explores love, power and vulnerability in a modern context.

Release date: 3 April

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Meryl Streep returns as Miranda Priestly, with Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt reprising their roles. Years later, the sequel examines how fashion, media and power have evolved, mixing sharp satire with familiar characters audiences love.

Release date: 1 May

The Sheep Detectives

Based on Leonie Swann’s cult novels, this charming mystery follows a flock of sheep investigating their shepherd’s suspicious death. Olivia Colman voices the sharpest of the flock in a playful blend of cosy crime and absurdist humour.

Release date: 8 May

Disclosure Day

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Disclosure Day stars Emily Blunt as a TV meteorologist whose broadcast exposes undeniable proof of extraterrestrial life. Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth and Eve Hewson co-star in this sci-fi thriller packed with suspense, mystery and blockbuster spectacle.

Release date: 12 June

Toy Story 5

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return as Woody and Buzz Lightyear in Pixar’s next chapter, exploring purpose, loyalty and growing up after playtime ends. The film continues the franchise’s emotional, heart-driven storytelling for fans old and new.

Release date: 19 June

Mother Mary

Anne Hathaway stars as pop icon Mother Mary, reconnecting with estranged friend Sam (Michaela Coel) ahead of a major comeback. Directed by David Lowery, the film blends music, drama and long-buried secrets in a story of friendship and reckoning.

Release date: Spring 2026

Moana

Disney’s live-action Moana follows the adventurous Moana (Catherine Laga’aia) as she sets out to save her island, with Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui. The film blends music, magic and breathtaking visuals to bring the beloved animated adventure to life.

Release date: 10 July

The Odyssey

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in this epic retelling of Homer’s poem, facing gods, monsters and moral trials on a perilous journey home after war. The film combines blockbuster spectacle with classical mythology and high stakes.

Release date: 17 July

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker, navigating life after his identity was erased from the world’s memory. Resetting the character’s trajectory, the film balances street-level heroics with new threats in the Spider-Man universe.

Release date: 31 July

Practical Magic 2

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunite as witchy sisters Sally and Gillian Owens decades later. The sequel explores legacy, family and love across generations while blending romance with supernatural charm.

Release date: 18 September

Sense and Sensibility

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as the emotional Marianne Dashwood and Saoirse Ronan as her restrained sister Elinor in this fresh adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel. The film revisits love, heartbreak and social expectation with modern emotional clarity.

Release date: 25 September

Verity

Anne Hathaway stars as bestselling author Verity Crawford, with Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, whose professional opportunity turns dangerously personal. Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s viral thriller, the film explores obsession, manipulation and blurred realities.

Release date: 1 October

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

This prequel returns to Panem decades before Katniss Everdeen, following a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) as he faces one of the earliest Hunger Games, testing courage, cunning and survival. Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace and Ralph Fiennes co-star in key roles.

Release date: 20 November

Focker In-Law

Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro return for another round of generational chaos, with new in-laws joining the already turbulent family dynamic. Expect familiar awkwardness, escalating misunderstandings and old-school comedy beats.

Release date: 25 November

Dune: Part Three

Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides faces the consequences of prophecy and power as his transformation reaches its most dangerous stage. Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem return as the saga deepens its political and spiritual stakes.

Release date: 18 December

Avengers: Doomsday

Marvel’s next ensemble epic unites heroes across the multiverse, led by Anthony Mackie, Brie Larson and Benedict Cumberbatch. As realities collide and stakes reach apocalyptic levels, the film sets the stage for the franchise’s next era.