Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies Releasing in 2026

2026 is set to be a huge year at the movies. After the strikes and delays of past years, studios are back with full slates. Big heroes return, famous directors release new epics, and a few original stories aim to steal the show.

This list ranks the 10 most anticipated films still to come or just released in 2026. We picked them based on trailer views, fan polls, and early buzz from festivals. Each entry tells you what it is, who is in it, and why people cannot wait to see it.

1. The Odyssey - July 17, 2026

Christopher Nolan's follow up to Oppenheimer is a full IMAX take on Homer's The Odyssey. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and Zendaya as Athena. The film was shot on 65mm film across Greece, Morocco, and Iceland.

The trailer shows real ships, real storms, and a Cyclops built as a giant practical head, not pure CGI. Nolan said he wanted the myth to feel like it could have happened. The hype is huge because it pairs a classic text with his time and scale tricks. Early footage shown at CinemaCon got a five minute standing ovation.

Audience tracking puts it as the number one most anticipated film of the year, with over 200 million trailer views in the first week.

Director: Christopher Nolan
Studio: Universal Pictures
Genre: Historical epic
Why you will love it: Classic story, huge practical sets, and a director at peak form.

2. Avengers: Doomsday - December 18, 2026

Marvel's next Avengers film brings the multiverse saga to a head. Robert Downey Jr. returns, not as Iron Man but as Victor Von Doom, Doctor Doom, in a bold casting move. Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the new Fantastic Four team join, with the Russo brothers directing.

Plot details are locked, but leaks point to Doom trying to patch colliding universes by force. The film will set up Secret Wars in 2027. Fans are split on Downey as Doom, which only adds to the talk. Trailer views broke Marvel records with 310 million in 48 hours.

It is the event film of the winter. Expect opening weekend lines around the block.

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Studio: Marvel Studios
Genre: Superhero epic
Why you will love it: Huge cast, multiverse stakes, and the return of a fan favorite actor in a new role.

3. Dune: Messiah - December 18, 2026

Yes, it opens the same day as Avengers: Doomsday, making this Christmas a true box office duel. Denis Villeneuve returns to close his Dune trilogy. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia, and Florence Pugh return to Arrakis 12 years after Dune Part Two.

The book is darker and more political than the first two films. Paul as emperor faces jihad in his name and a plot from within. Villeneuve has said this will be his last Dune film, which raises the stakes. The first teaser showed sandworms in snow, a new look for the series.

Sci-fi fans rank this as the most awaited sequel. It is expected to be long, sad, and powerful.

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Studio: Warner Bros. and Legendary
Genre: Sci-fi epic
Why you will love it: Rich world building, strong themes on power and faith, and a planned perfect trilogy close.

4. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse - June 25, 2026

The final Spider-Verse film was delayed from 2024 to get the animation right. Miles Morales is stranded in Earth-42, while Gwen and the Spider team race to stop the Spot from collapsing all realities. Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, and Oscar Isaac return.

Directors said the film has six unique art styles, more than the last one. The hook is Miles's choice. Does he save his father and break the canon, or follow the path laid for Spider people? Early test screenings call the ending both heart breaking and hopeful.

It is the top animated film on every most anticipated list for 2026.

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Justin K. Thompson
Studio: Sony Pictures Animation
Genre: Animated superhero
Why you will love it: Fresh art, fast story, and a true end to a beloved trilogy.

5. The Batman Part II - October 2, 2026

Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson return to a flooded, cold Gotham. The Batman Part II picks up months after The Penguin series, with Gotham trying to rebuild. Colin Farrell as Penguin and Jeffrey Wright as Gordon return, with a new villain rumored to be Court of Owls.

Reeves shoots Gotham as a real, wet, noir city. The script is said to be a detective story more than a gadget show. Pattinson has said this Batman is more hopeful, learning to be a symbol not just vengeance. The first image of the new batsuit with silver details broke the internet.

Fans of The Batman's dark tone have marked this as their must see.

Director: Matt Reeves
Studio: Warner Bros. / DC Studios
Genre: Crime superhero
Why you will love it: Dark detective story, strong cast, and a lived in Gotham.

6. Toy Story 5 - June 19, 2026

Pixar returns to Woody and Buzz after seven years. Tim Allen and Tom Hanks are back, joined by new voice Joan Cusack and Conan O'Brien as a tech toy that thinks it can replace the gang.

The pitch is simple. Bonnie now loves a tablet, and the toys must prove they still matter. Director Andrew Stanton said the film is about growing old and staying useful, a theme for parents and kids alike. The teaser shows the toys stuck in a house with smart devices that talk.

Families rank this high because the series has never missed. Toy Story 4 made over 1 billion, and this one is tracking to do the same.

Director: Andrew Stanton
Studio: Pixar Animation
Genre: Animated family
Why you will love it: Warm humor, smart take on screens, and a story for kids and grown ups.

7. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow - June 26, 2026

James Gunn's DC Universe introduces Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El. Based on the Tom King comic, Kara travels with a young girl across planets to hunt a killer, with Jason Momoa as Lobo along the way.

The tone is said to be more western than Man of Steel. Cold suns, harsh worlds, and a Kara who is tough because she saw Krypton die as a teen, not as a baby like Clark. Early stills show a rugged cape and a dirty, used ship.

Comic fans call the book one of the best Supergirl stories. If the film keeps that tone, it could be DC's breakout.

Director: Craig Gillespie
Studio: DC Studios
Genre: Sci-fi superhero
Why you will love it: Fresh hero, comic accurate story, and a new corner of DC.

8. Moana - July 10, 2026

Disney's live action Moana brings Auli'i Cravalho's world to life with Dwayne Johnson back as Maui. Catherine Laga'aia plays Moana, with direction by Thomas Kail, who led Hamilton on stage.

The film is not a shot for shot copy. New songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda are added, and the ocean is made with a huge water tank and LED volume sets. The first clip shows the canoe on real waves at sunrise, bright and vast.

Family polls put it just behind Toy Story 5 for most wanted kids film. The songs and the sea will fill IMAX screens all summer.

Director: Thomas Kail
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Genre: Family adventure
Why you will love it: Big songs, sea adventure, and Johnson back as Maui.

9. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - November 20, 2026

Suzanne Collins' new book gets a fast film take. This prequel follows Haymitch Abernathy as a teen during his games, 24 years before Katniss. Francis Lawrence returns to direct, with Joseph Zada as Haymitch and Glenn Close in a key Capitol role.

The story is darker, with Haymitch seeing the Capitol's tricks up close. The arena is said to be a poison garden, bright and dead at once. Fans of the books rank it as the most faithful Hunger Games yet, since Collins co-wrote the script.

Young adult fans and returning viewers make it a top tracked film for the fall.

Director: Francis Lawrence
Studio: Lionsgate
Genre: Dystopian adventure
Why you will love it: Return to Panem, strong young cast, and a sad, sharp story.

10. Shrek 5 - December 23, 2026

Shrek returns after 16 years, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz back. Zendaya joins as Shrek and Fiona's teen daughter Felicia. The story follows the family as the swamp faces new human developers.

DreamWorks says the humor is more self aware, with jokes about reboots and aging. Donkey and Puss get a side quest that links to Puss in Boots. The teaser kept the old fairytale book intro, which made fans cheer.

It is pure nostalgia with a new cast spark. Late December will be a family fight between this and Doomsday for tickets.

Directors: Walt Dohrn, Conrad Vernon
Studio: DreamWorks Animation
Genre: Animated comedy
Why you will love it: Classic jokes, return of a beloved cast, and a new teen Shrek story.

Other Films to Watch

If you want more, keep an eye on these: 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple in January, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery in late 2025 spillover, and Jordan Peele's untitled 2026 film set for October. All are high on tracking but just missed the top 10 cut.

Conclusion

2026 offers every kind of big film. For epic lore, see The Odyssey and Dune: Messiah. For heroes, see Avengers: Doomsday, The Batman Part II, and Supergirl. For family and fun, see Spider-Verse, Toy Story 5, Moana, and Shrek 5. For return to a known world, Sunrise on the Reaping brings Panem back.

Check dates, as studios still shift slots when two big films share a day. Buy tickets early for July and December, the two most packed months. This year will be one to remember at the movies.

FAQ

Which 2026 film is the most anticipated overall? Most polls put Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey at number one, with Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Messiah tied for second. Views and ticket search data support this rank.

What is the biggest box office clash in 2026? December 18, where Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Messiah open on the same day. It is the biggest head to head since Barbenheimer in 2023.

Which family film should I take kids to? Toy Story 5 in June and Moana in July are the safest family picks, both rated PG and built for all ages. Shrek 5 in December is also PG and great for group viewing.

Are these dates final? Studios can still move by a week or two. Check your local theater site a month before release. Dates here are as announced by studios in mid 2026.

Where can I watch trailers for these 10 films? All official trailers are on YouTube via studio channels like Universal, Marvel, Warner Bros., Sony, Disney, and DreamWorks. Search the title plus "official trailer" to avoid fan edits.