Upcoming Movies in 2026 – Part 2
Updated: Aug 18
Culture |
Monthly Movie Releases
After some strong film releases from Jan-June, and some more disappointing Toy Story 5 I'm sad to say you're one of them), the second half of the year holds a lot of promise for movie-goers - read on for potentially the biggest pictures of 2026...
July – Just gone :(
Moana 2026 
The Odyssey 2026 
Spiderman: Brand New Day 2026
Moana
Release Date: 10/07/2026
Director: Thomas Kail
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Catherine Laga'aia, Rena Owen, Jemaine Clement
Plot Summary:
A direct live-action remake of the 2016 original, the story follows Moana as she embarks on a journey with the shapeshifting demigod Maui to save her island from disaster.
While this may appeal to children who have loved the animated version, critics are not hailing it as a worthy adaptation, so it may be better to watch at home.
The Odyssey
Release Date: 17/07/2026
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Eliot Page, Lupita Nyong'o
Plot Summary:
Christopher Nolan brings to life one of history's most famous stories, the tale of Odysseus making his way home to be reunited with his family after a 10-year war, and facing not only monsters that roam the Earth, but the Gods too.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
Nolan's movies promise spectacular cinematography and storytelling, and with this movie being the first-ever feature film to be shot completely using IMAX Film Cameras, it will be a sight to behold on the big screen.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Release Date: 29/07/2026
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon
Plot Summary:
In the aftermath of the world forgetting him, this movie takes Peter Parker/Spider-Man back to his more grounded stories, facing street-level threats like the Scorpion and the Hand, whilst battling with his own inner transformations as his powers start to mutate...
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
As much as Marvel movies of late have been hit-or-miss, the sheer work that Tom Holland and the production team have put into this movie to make it worthwhile for fans, plus the amazing look of the movie, make it a must-see in the cinema.
August – Last of the Summer
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie 2026 
The End of Oak Street 2026 
The Dog Stars 2026
Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie
Release Date: 07/08/2026
Director: Cal Brunker
Cast: McKenna Grace, Terry Crews, Paris Hilton, Jameela Jamil, Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Hudson
Plot Summary:
After being caught in a storm, the Pups get stranded on an island overrun with dinosaurs, befriending a young T-Rex and attempting to save the island from extinction.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
This is definitely one for the kids to enjoy, not so much the adults, so if you're wanting to keep them occupied in the school holidays, this could be a worthwhile trip.
The End of Oak Street
Release Date: 14/08/2026
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery
Plot Summary:
A family living on suburban Oak Street have their lives uprooted (literally) to seemingly prehistoric times, and find they must stick together and survive the horde of dinosaurs now living on their street.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
With the Jurassic World franchise not dominating screens this year, this dinosaur-filled story may be a spectacle worth seeing in cinemas if you need a good blockbuster.
The Dog Stars
Release Date: 28/08/2026
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Josh Brolin, Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, Allison Janney
Plot Summary:
Following a deadly pandemic which has destroyed the majority of humankind, a pair of survivors walk the Earth following a radio transmission, in search of other survivors and hope.
STREAM or CINEMA? - STREAM:
Even though this film is under the direction of Ridley Scott, who has the classic Gladiator under his belt, this plot is not particularly screaming "watch me", and I won't be seeing it in the cinema.
September – Pick 'n' Mix
How to Rob a Bank 2026 
Resident Evil 2026 
Sense & Sensibility 2026
How To Rob A Bank
Release Date: 04/09/2026
Director: David Leitch
Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Anna Sawai, Rhenzy Feliz, Christian Slater, Pete Davidson, John C. Reilly, Michael Gandolfini, Sam Lerner
Plot Summary:
A group of bank robbers utilise social media to broadcast their daring heists (for some reason), leading to a pursuit by an FBI agent and a software engineer to take them down.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
Known for his work on films such as John Wick, Bullet Train, and Deadpool 2, Leitch brings a signature blend of action, comedy, and fun to his movies, which could translate very well on the big screen.
Resident Evil
Release Date: 18/09/2026
Director: Zach Cregger
Cast: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser
Plot Summary:
Coming hot off the tails of Weapons' success, director Zach Cregger brings a further reboot of the franchise centred on a medical courier called Brian, who must fight for survival amongst the undead.
STREAM or CINEMA? - STREAM:
I'm not guilty of being the hugest zombie/horror movie fan, and although this may be a good movie, it doesn't seem ground-breaking enough to warrant a cinema trip.
Sense & Sensibility
Release Date: 25/09/2026
Director: Georgia Oakley
Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane
Plot Summary:
Based on the classic Jane Austen novel, which follows three sisters facing challenges after their father's passing, uprooting, meeting new suitors, and enduring inevitable heartbreak.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
The trailer promises a movie that encapsulates the aesthetic of the 18th century whilst blending humour and emotion, and looks like a potentially strong cinema trip.
October – Action Packed
Digger 2026 
Street Fighter 2026 
Clayface 2026
Digger
Release Date: 02/10/2026
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast: Tom Cruise, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons
Plot Summary:
A dark comedy following the most powerful man in the world, who has somehow unleashed a potentially devastating disaster and must try to avert it to save the planet and his reputation.
STREAM or CINEMA? - STREAM:
This is a hard one to call, as it's quite uncommon territory for Cruise to tackle straight-up comedy; however, without his signature stunts from the Mission: Impossible franchise, I will likely save this one for streaming.
Street Fighter
Release Date: 16/10/2026
Director: Kitao Sakurai
Cast: Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Roman Reigns, David Dastmalchian
Plot Summary:
A pair of estranged street fighters unite after being recruited for the World Warrior tournament, which masks a dangerous conspiracy they must also face together.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
The trailer showcases a neon-lit, action-packed adventure which will look great in cinemas, and give fans of the video games a treat for the eyes.
Clayface
Release Date: 23/10/2026
Director: James Watkins
Cast: Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, Joshua James
Plot Summary:
An aspiring actor from Gotham City has his life turned upside-down after a terrible incident leaves him disfigured, and undergoes a scientific procedure which transforms him into a monstrous, violent being known as Clayface.
STREAM or CINEMA? - STREAM:
This body-horror is expanding the DC Universe; however, focusing on a relatively unknown villain while other heroes like Batman are on the sidelines feels like a misstep, and isn't a huge draw for the cinema.
November – Fan Favourites
The Adventures of Cliff Booth
Release Date: 25/11/2026
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Timothy Olyphant
Plot Summary:
Picking up 8 years after being Rick Dalton's stuntman, Cliff now works as a "studio fixer", solving problems in his own unique way, and encountering dangerous troublemakers simultaneously.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
With a limited 2-week run in cinemas before it lands on Netflix, this movie is definitely on my radar to watch on the big screen, especially with it being written by Quentin Tarantino and focusing on arguably the best character from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Focker in-Law
Release Date: 25/11/2026
Director: John Hamburg
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Ariana Grande
Plot Summary:
After years of dealing with his contentious father-in-law, Greg Focker now has to deal with the arrival of his son Henry's fiancée (played by Ariana Grande), and desperately tries to avert their wedding, with chaotic results as usual.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
The Meet the Parents franchise has been a great series of films, and while they've been largely formulaic, spending time with these characters is good fun and feels deserving of a cinema trip, especially as this will likely be the final entry.
December – Year Sign-offs
Dune: Part 3 2026 
Avengers: Doomsday 
Jumanji: Open World
Dune: Part 3
Release Date: 18/12/2026
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Isaach De Bankolé, Charlotte Rampling, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, Javier Bardem
Plot Summary:
Set 17 years after Part 2, Paul Atreides' reign as Emperor has brought devastation to the galaxy, and he must now face the consequences of his actions in the action-packed finale to the trilogy.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
Although I've not seen either of the past movies, I am tempted to get them under my belt and witness this one in the cinema - it's definitely one for fans to get behind and watch on opening week, especially with the sweeping cinematography it'll surely offer.
Avengers: Doomsday
Release Date: 18/12/2026
Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, and more...
Plot Summary:
Doctor Doom finally makes his full debut in the MCU, and while his exact plans are being kept under wraps, the story will unite the heroes of 3 separate universes, who must defeat the greatest and most powerful villain they've ever encountered, with the whole Multiverse at stake...
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
This is my most anticipated movie of the year, and with several years since the last monumental Avengers movie, the buildup for this movie has been exciting and scary in varying measures. Under the direction of the Russo brothers, it is sure to deliver a spectacular, shocking story that combines the Avengers, Fantastic 4, and X-Men for the first time.
Jumanji: Open World
Release Date: 25/12/2026
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas
Plot Summary:
The final movie in the franchise will find the video game characters and the inhabitants of the jungle entering the real world, with their teen counterparts meeting them for one last adventure.
STREAM or CINEMA? - CINEMA:
Seeing as this is the final instalment, and is confirmed to pay tribute to the late Robin Williams, who began the franchise in 1995, this may be a good chance for fans to get a solid cinema trip before the end of the year.
Final Thoughts
Let us know which of these movies will be on the big screen or on the big sofa.
Comments