Onscreen's 2026 Preview

Words Lee Curtis

Six years ago, the box office belonged to superheroes. But after Avengers: Endgame, the spotlight shifted – first to Barbenheimer, then Wicked, among a wave of unexpected cultural juggernauts. Now, 2026 promises a resurgence: superhero cinema roars back, with new Star Wars and Spielberg in tow.

Following the success of Superman, James Gunn presses forward with his DC makeover and presents two new chapters: Clayface and Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow, as Milly Alcock’s renegade takes flight in her own story after last summer’s cameo. Meanwhile, at Marvel, Tom Holland swings back into action as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day before we close out the year with a cinematic event that needs no introduction… Avengers: Doomsday.

The Star Wars streaming sensation launches Pedro Pascal and “Baby Yoda” into big-screen action with The Mandalorian & Grogu, Steven Spielberg unveils a top-secret sci-fi project, and Denis Villeneuve brings his epic trilogy to a close with Dune: Part Three. Christopher Nolan embarks on an epic saga of his own with The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and more.

Huge films that may all sound like the main events, but they’re only a taste of what’s to come.

If anything, animated adventures promise to be even bigger, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Toy Story 5, Minions 3, The Angry Birds 3, The Cat In The Hat, and more all on the way!

Live-action delights join the mix as the writer behind the Paddington sequels and Wonka brings Enid Blyton’s beloved tales to life in The Magic Faraway Tree and Disney sets sail again with their live-action Moana, featuring Catherine Laga'aia as the singing seafarer and Dwayne Johnson as Maui. Johnson is also returning for more jungle fun with Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan in a new Jumanji.

Drama claims its share of the spotlight with the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic and the stylish reunion of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada 2. Classic tales are reborn, too. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi come undone in a bold new vision of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights from the director of Saltburn, a fresh adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility arrives, and Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal star in Hamnet, the untold story behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Buckley pulls double duty, also joining Christian Bale as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is turned into an entirely different beast in The Bride!

Horror fans won’t be left behind! Save the dates for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Scream 7, Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come, Evil Dead Burns. Add to that Nosferatu director Robert Eggers’ Werwulf, horror icon Sam Raimi’s Send Help, and Weapons director Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil and the future of horror looks deliciously terrifying.

For more on these films, new additions, and up-to-date information on all of the major theatrical release throughout the year, be sure to follow our socials, keep an eye on our website, and pick up your free copy of every issue of our magazine - your ultimate guide to cinema.