At a Glance
- 30 sci-fi, horror and fantasy films crowd 2026, from Nolan’s Odyssey to Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- December 18 sees both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three drop on the same day
- Why it matters: Studios are betting big on theatrical recovery with wall-to-wall tent-poles all year
2026 is stuffed with brand-name blockbusters. Between February and December, theaters will host new chapters for Star Wars, Toy Story, Scream, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat and Supergirl, while auteurs like Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig, Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg deliver original epics. Natalie A. Brooks ranks every major genre release-big and small-so fans know which dates to circle now.
Bottom Tier Sleepers
These titles sit lowest on the list yet still carry cult buzz:
- Obsession (May 15) – Director Curry Barker’s horror twist on obsessive love already wowed festivals
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20) – Haymitch’s 50th-Games prequel adds Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in supporting roles
- Evil Dead Burn (July 26) – Infested director Sébastien Vaniček keeps the gore hose flowing
- Street Fighter (October 16) – A deliberately goofy, neon-soaked ’90s-set reboot starring Andrew Koji
- Violent Night 2 (December 4) – David Harbour’s Santa returns; Kristen Bell rumored as Mrs. Claus
Mid-Tier Franchise Returns
Fan-favorite series step back into the spotlight:
- Practical Magic 2 (September 18) – Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunite, joined by Joey King and Maisie Williams
- Clayface (September 11) – DCU horror entry from Mike Flanagan’s script, Tom Rhys Harries stars as the shapeshifting Bat-villain
- The Dog Stars (August 28) – Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic pilot tale with Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin
- The Bride! (March 6) – Punk-rock musical spin on Bride of Frankenstein with Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3) – Chris Pratt, Jack Black and Brie Larson voice the cosmic sequel
- Werwulf (December 25) – Robert Eggers’ medieval werewolf tale reunites much of the Nosferatu cast
- Scary Movie 6 (June 12) – Wayans Brothers and Anna Faris resurrect the parody franchise
Upper Echelon Heavy Hitters
These ten releases shape the box-office conversation:
| Rank | Title | Date | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ray Gunn | TBD | Brad Bird’s 2-D animated noir about the last human detective in an alien city |
| 9 | Supergirl | June 26 | Milly Alcock stars in a cosmic, booze-soaked revenge quest based on Woman of Tomorrow |
| 8 | Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew | November 26 | Greta Gerwig’s IMAX vision of C.S. Lewis prequel for Netflix |
| 7 | Coyote vs. Acme | August 28 | Once-canceled Looney Tunes courtroom comedy finally sees release |
| 6 | Disclosure Day | June 12 | Spielberg’s alien-reveal thriller starring Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor |
| 5 | Avengers: Doomsday | December 18 | Multiverse Saga opener pits four hero teams against Doctor Doom |
| 4 | Dune: Part Three | December 18 | Villeneuve concludes Paul Atreides’ arc with Messiah‘s weirdness intact |
| 3 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day | July 31 | Tom Holland swings on after the world forgets Peter Parker; Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk appear |
| 2 | Godzilla Minus Zero | November 6 | Takashi Yamazaki returns after Minus One‘s Oscar win for more atomic terror |
| 1 | The Odyssey | July 17 | Christopher Nolan shoots Homer entirely in IMAX-only film ever to do so |
What Landed on Top
The list crowns The Odyssey as the year’s most anticipated film. Shot entirely with IMAX cameras and promising classical epic scale, Nolan’s take on Homer commands the top spot. Right behind it, Godzilla Minus Zero looks to repeat its predecessor’s surprise awards run, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day shoulders the burden of following No Way Home‘s multiversal smash.
Key Takeaways
- December 18 doubles the hype with Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three opening simultaneously
- Summer alone delivers The Odyssey, Spider-Man, Supergirl, Toy Story 5 and Disclosure Day
- Studios have scheduled at least one major genre title every three weeks, betting that theatrical exclusivity still drives both ticket sales and streaming subscriptions six months later
