Upcoming Movies in 2026: What to Watch Out For

Monthly Movie Releases

January

28 Years Later

• Release Date: 14/01/2026

• Director: Nia DaCosta

• Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Following on from 28 Years Later, Spike joins Jimmy's gang on the mainland. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson forms a new relationship and discovers something that could impact the whole world... ominous...

Cinema: Rave reviews are coming in for this one. For fans of the franchise, you could be looking at your first blockbuster of the year.

Rental Family

• Release Date: 16/01/2026

• Director: Hikari

• Cast: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: An actor living in Tokyo finds work at a "rental family" agency. He is hired to play stand-in roles for strangers, leading him to rediscover his purpose in life.

Stream: While this looks like a heart-warmer, there's not much to merit paying out of your way to see this.

Shelter

• Release Date: 30/01/2026

• Director: Tyree Dillihay

• Cast: Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Bill Nighy, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: A reclusive ex-assassin becomes embroiled in a young girl's life after saving her. He soon has to fight to protect her and himself from his own past.

Stream: A gun-toting Statham will likely be fun to watch again, but this may be one to watch at home.

February

GOAT

• Release Date: 13/02/2026

• Director: Tyree Dillihay

• Cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: A young Goat named Will gets the chance to play pro "Roarball", an intense game typically for the biggest animals around. He has to prove his peers wrong.

Cinema: With a similar animation style to the Spider-Verse movies, this film will be visually appealing for kids and an inspirational underdog story.

"Wuthering Heights"

• Release Date: 13/02/2026

• Director: Emerald Fennell

• Cast: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Based on the 1847 classic novel by Emily Brontë, this film focuses on the tragic and intense romance between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff.

Cinema: As Valentine's Day nears, this film will likely be the best candidate for couples looking for a cinema date night.

Crime 101

• Release Date: 13/02/2026

• Director: Bart Layton

• Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: An insurance broker joins a jewel thief to prepare for his final job. He encounters a rival thief and is chased down by a detective aiming to halt the heist.

Cinema: The trailer boasts style, stunts, and a great cast, which could elevate this "cat and mouse" movie to the big leagues alongside The Departed and Heat.

March

The Bride!

• Release Date: 06/03/2026

• Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal

• Cast: Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Frankenstein's Monster requests that a doctor in 1930s Chicago create a wife for him from a murdered woman. What comes next is more than just romance.

Stream: While this may prove to be a worthy watch, it doesn't scream 'big-screen worthy', but I may be proven wrong!

Project Hail Mary

• Release Date: 20/03/2026

• Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

• Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: An astronaut on a mission to save planet Earth, who has lost his memory, must work alongside an alien life form to prevent human extinction.

Cinema: Films centred in space aren't my go-to, but anyone who loved Interstellar, Gravity, or The Martian may find a new favourite here.

The Magic Faraway Tree

• Release Date: 27/03/2026

• Director: Ben Gregor

• Cast: Andrew Garfield, Rebecca Ferguson, Claire Foy, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: A family who has relocated to the countryside is soon transported to a magical world filled with fantastical characters, found at the faraway tree.

Stream: Even though this looks like a similar film to the Narnia trilogy, I won't be heading to the cinema for this one.

April

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

• Release Date: 03/04/2026

• Directors: Aaron Horvarth and Michael Jelenic

• Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya-Taylor Joy, Jack Black, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach must venture into space and new exciting worlds, facing a new terror in Bowser Jr., and meeting new faces too.

Cinema: This is sure to be a visual treat for kids who loved the previous movie and for long-time fans of the game franchise.

You, Me & Tuscany

• Release Date: 10/04/2026

• Director: Kat Coiro

• Cast: Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Aziza Scott, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Anna decides to stay at a Tuscan villa without the owner's permission. She soon has to pretend to be Matteo's fiancée, and things get complicated when she starts to fall for Matteo's cousin.

Stream: This would have probably been better off released in February for the Valentine's movie-goers.

Michael

• Release Date: 24/04/2026

• Director: Antoine Fuqua

• Cast: Jafaar Jackson, Miles Teller, Nia Long, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: The film tells the true story of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, from childhood star to an adult musical legend.

Cinema: This is a controversial movie due to the allegations against Michael that have been prominent in the press, but it has sparked my interest.

May

The Devil Wears Prada 2

• Release Date: 01/05/2026

• Director: David Frankel

• Cast: Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: The sequel centres around a rivalry between Miranda Priestly and Emily Charlton, now enemies in the world of fashion print, with Andy potentially working alongside Emily.

Cinema: With a star-studded cast, the sequel is coming 20 years after the first movie, so falls into an event-type status.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

• Release Date: 22/05/2026

• Director: Jon Favreau

• Cast: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Din Djarin and Grogu embark on an adventure after being enlisted by the New Republic to take down Imperial Warlords.

Cinema: As the first Star Wars movie to hit cinemas in 7 years, fans will likely lap up the opportunity to see this in the cinema.

June

Disclosure Day

• Release Date: 12/06/2026

• Director: Stephen Spielberg

• Cast: Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Josh O'Connor, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Humanity grapples with the possibility of not being alone in the Universe when a Kansas weatherwoman seems to be possessed by an extraterrestrial force.

Cinema: With some of the most iconic and beloved film franchises in the world under his belt, this could be a blockbuster worth seeing on a big screen.

Toy Story 5

• Release Date: 19/06/2026

• Director: Andrew Stanton

• Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Woody is reunited with Buzz and the gang. This time they face something brand new, which could make them (and all toys) completely redundant—technology.

Cinema: Anyone who has grown up with or enjoyed the Toy Story franchise may feel an obligation to see this in the cinema.

Supergirl

• Release Date: 26/06/2026

• Director: Craig Gillespie

• Cast: Jason Momoa, Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, etc.

  
  

Plot Summary: Kara Zor-El, the jaded cousin of Kal-El (Superman), celebrates her birthday in space and soon gets caught up with a young companion in a cosmic adventure.

Stream: Superman did have some redeeming qualities in last year's reboot, but overall didn't live up to many expectations.

Glossary

Biographical Film (also known as 'Biopic')

A film genre that tells the story of a real person's life, either in its entirety or focusing on specific periods or events.

Cast

The group of actors, actresses, and performers who portray characters in a film, television show, or theatrical production.

Cinema

The art, technique, or business of making films or the motion-picture device, platform, or location where a film is viewed.

Director

The creative leader responsible for the overall artistic and dramatic vision of a film, television show, or commercial, performing roles such as translating a screenplay into a visual medium by leading actors and technicians throughout the production process.

Stream

The activity of accessing multimedia (video, audio, games) over the internet, allowing you to watch or listen instantly without downloading the content.

Thriller

An entertainment genre commonly associated with Film, Gaming, and TV that tells the story of excitement, suspense, and anticipation, keeping audiences on the edge using high stakes, danger, and uncertainty.

Sources

Image sources as captions