We’re now halfway through what is shaping up to be one of the most extraordinary years in cinema history — and the second half is even bigger than the first. The Russo Brothers are bringing Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Denis Villeneuve closes his Dune trilogy on Christmas Day. Christopher Nolan’s IMAX-shot The Odyssey arrives in July. Steven Spielberg’s UFO thriller Disclosure Day opens in just days. And that’s before we talk about Greta Gerwig, Toy Story 5, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man return.
This is your complete, regularly updated guide to the most anticipated movies of 2026 — with confirmed release dates, box office results for what’s already out, and everything you need to plan the rest of your cinema year. Last updated: June 7, 2026 — Mid-Year Recap with Disclosure Day final trailer, Mandalorian & Grogu opening numbers, and Project Hail Mary’s record-breaking run.
⚡ TL;DR — 2026 Movie Release Calendar at a Glance
| Movie | Release Date | Status | Must-See Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bride! | March 6, 2026 | ✅ Released | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Project Hail Mary | March 20, 2026 | ✅ $655M+ global | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| The Mandalorian & Grogu | May 22, 2026 | ✅ $167M global open | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Disclosure Day (Spielberg) | June 12, 2026 | 🔥 This week! | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Toy Story 5 | June 19, 2026 | 🕐 2 weeks away | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| The Odyssey (Nolan) | July 17, 2026 | Upcoming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | July 31, 2026 | Upcoming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Jumanji 3 | December 11, 2026 | Upcoming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Avengers: Doomsday | December 18, 2026 | Upcoming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dune: Part Three | December 25, 2026 | Upcoming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
What’s in this Guide
📊 Mid-Year Recap: Most Anticipated Movies of 2026 Already Released
Before we look ahead, here’s how the first half of the year played out at the box office. Three major releases from our most anticipated movies of 2026 list have already landed — and the results have been genuinely surprising.
Project Hail Mary (March 20, 2026) — The Sci-Fi Phenomenon of the Year
Director: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller | Studio: Amazon MGM | Genre: Hard Sci-Fi | Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Critics, A CinemaScore
This is the breakout story of 2026 so far. Project Hail Mary — based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel (Weir is the author behind The Martian) — stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher who wakes up alone on an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. As his memory returns, he discovers he’s humanity’s last hope against an extinction-level crisis.
Directed with astonishing lightness by the Spider-Verse-producing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film has now crossed $655 million globally in its 8th weekend — making it the second highest-grossing film of 2026 behind only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Domestic gross sits at $328 million and projections now point to a $670–$700 million final worldwide haul.
Why it matters: Project Hail Mary is only the third non-franchise movie in the past decade to open above $70 million domestically (alongside Oppenheimer and Jordan Peele’s Us). For an original sci-fi to outpace The Martian, Gravity, and Interstellar‘s debut numbers signals genuine demand for adult, science-grounded storytelling at the cinema. If you see one film from this list, make it this one — it’s still in theatres in many markets.
💬 What Reddit thinks: r/scifi is calling it “the best feel-good sci-fi movie of the decade” and comparing it favourably to Interstellar with a sense of humour. It’s already spawned dozens of fan theories about the ending.
The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22, 2026) — Star Wars Returns to Cinemas
Director: Jon Favreau | Studio: Lucasfilm / Disney | Stars: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver
The first Star Wars theatrical release in seven years opened over Memorial Day weekend to $100 million domestically and $167 million globally. Solid, but softer than expected for the franchise — though Disney has the film locked into IMAX for three weeks, which should help legs through June. Pedro Pascal returns as Din Djarin alongside Sigourney Weaver in a new role. Reviews praised the chemistry but split on whether the story justified its theatrical scale; fan reception was warmer.
The Bride! (March 6, 2026) — Robert Eggers Goes Big
Robert Eggers’ follow-up to Nosferatu — a Bride of Frankenstein retelling starring Penélope Cruz and Christian Bale — landed in March to strong reviews and a modest but profitable theatrical run. Eggers fans rate it among his most accessible work to date.
🎬 The Most Anticipated Movies of 2026 Still to Come This Summer
🔥 Disclosure Day — June 12, 2026 (THIS WEEK) — Steven Spielberg’s UFO Epic
Director: Steven Spielberg | Studio: Universal | Writer: David Koepp
Stars: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell
Spielberg’s 35th feature — and his first original sci-fi since A.I. Artificial Intelligence — arrives this Friday. Written by frequent Spielberg collaborator David Koepp (Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds), the film follows Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor), a cybersecurity expert turned whistleblower, and Emily Blunt’s character as they navigate the consequences of revealing that humanity is not alone.
The final trailer dropped May 27 and finally revealed the aliens at the centre of the story. Early social-media reactions have been extraordinary: critic Drew Taylor called it “top tier Spielberg, as exhilarating as Raiders but with the emotional texture and increased ambition of his post-9/11 work.” That’s the kind of word-of-mouth studios dream about.
Spielberg himself told audiences at CinemaCon that the film aims to show how humanity might come together rather than fracture in the face of disclosure — a pointed contrast to his darker UFO touchstone War of the Worlds. PG-13 for action and violence, with a runtime that’s reportedly the director’s longest since Lincoln. Released exclusively in theatres on June 12, 2026.
💬 What fans are saying: “Spielberg doing a UFO film in 2026 feels like a full-circle moment from Close Encounters. If even half the early reactions hold, this is awards-season material.”
Toy Story 5 — June 19, 2026 — Toys vs Tech
Director: Andrew Stanton | Studio: Pixar / Disney
Voice Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, Conan O’Brien, Tony Hale
Pixar returns to Woody and Buzz with a sharp, modern hook: the toys go up against Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee), a high-tech, frog-shaped smart tablet who arrives with her own ideas about what’s best for Bonnie. Comedian Conan O’Brien joins the cast as a new toy called Smarty Pants. Director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) returns to a franchise he helped shape from the start.
The final trailer dropped May 26 and leans hard into the screen-time anxiety so many parents feel. Tim Allen has hinted in interviews that this entry leans heavily into Jessie’s arc, voiced once again by Joan Cusack. Original composer Randy Newman returns for his fifth Toy Story score. Opens June 19, 2026.
The Odyssey — July 17, 2026 (Christopher Nolan)
Director: Christopher Nolan | Studio: Universal | Format: Shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film — a world first
Stars: Matt Damon (Odysseus), Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o
This is Nolan’s first film since Oppenheimer won Best Picture and Best Director at the 2024 Oscars — and the scale is genuinely staggering. The Odyssey adapts Homer’s 3,000-year-old epic, following Odysseus on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. Filmed across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, and Malta on a $250 million budget, it is the first film ever shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras.
Nolan unveiled extended footage at CinemaCon in April showing the Trojan Horse sequence and the infiltration of Troy. Premiere weekend tickets sold out within hours of going on sale last year. This may well be the cinematic event of the decade — and it lands just one week before Spider-Man, meaning late July gives us two of 2026’s biggest releases back-to-back. Both star Zendaya. She’s having a year.
💬 What fans are saying: “Nolan + Homer + the biggest IMAX canvas ever made = my entire personality for the rest of 2026.”
Spider-Man: Brand New Day — July 31, 2026
Studio: Sony / Marvel | Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya
The web-slinger returns. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is back after the reality-bending events of No Way Home. Teaser posters and Beyond the Spider-Verse stills unveiled at CinemaCon 2026 hinted at a smaller-scale, more grounded New York story than the multiverse blowout that came before. With Spider-Man landing one week after Nolan’s The Odyssey, late July promises to be one of the strongest two-week stretches at the box office in years.
🎆 December 2026 — “Dunesday” & The Biggest Box Office Showdown in Years
The final weeks of 2026 are shaping up to host the most extraordinary box office event since Barbenheimer. Two of the most anticipated movies of 2026 are scheduled within seven days of each other — and neither studio is blinking first.
Avengers: Doomsday — December 18, 2026 — Where Is the Trailer?
Release Date: December 18, 2026 | Directors: Anthony & Joe Russo | Studio: Marvel / Disney
Stars: Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Tom Hiddleston, Simu Liu, Letitia Wright
The biggest question in Marvel fandom right now: where is the public trailer? At CinemaCon on April 16, Disney unveiled the first full-length trailer for Avengers: Doomsday to theatre owners — and the reaction was reportedly extraordinary. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans took the stage together and played the trailer twice to thunderous applause. But the footage has still not been released publicly. As of early June, the Russo Brothers continue to tease at industry events like SXSW London, fuelling speculation that a public drop is imminent. Rumoured release windows include mid-June and late July, but Marvel has not confirmed.
What we know from the four public teasers released between late December 2025 and mid-January 2026: Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers; Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor; the X-Men come back (with Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and James Marsden as Cyclops); and the Wakandans and Fantastic Four are also in the mix. The film is reportedly set 14 months after Thunderbolts* and features three groups of heroes from different universes converging against Doom.
Key facts confirmed:
- Avengers: Doomsday will not have IMAX access in the US for at least the first three weeks, as Dune: Part Three holds IMAX exclusivity. It will be available in Dolby Vision, ScreenX, D-Box, 4DX, and IMAX in select international markets.
- Production filmed at Pinewood Studios UK, Bahrain, and Windsor Great Park. Filming wrapped September 2025; additional photography was completed in early 2026.
- Alan Silvestri — who scored Infinity War and Endgame — returns as composer.
- Industry trackers are comparing the potential box office to Avengers: Endgame ($2.8 billion worldwide). The film opens on the same day as Dune: Part Three.
💬 What Reddit thinks: “RDJ as Doom rather than Tony is genuinely one of the most inspired casting decisions in superhero cinema. The man was born to play a villain.” — r/marvelstudios
Dune: Part Three (Dune Messiah) — December 25, 2026 🟡
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Studio: Warner Bros. / Legendary | Format: IMAX exclusive for first 3 weeks
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem
Set 12 years after Dune: Part Two, this adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah finds Paul Atreides as Emperor of the Known Universe — trapped by his own prophecy and unable to stop the holy war waged in his name. Villeneuve shot the film entirely on IMAX cameras and secured a three-week exclusive premium large format window — which means Avengers: Doomsday will not be in IMAX in the US for at least those three weeks.
Dune: Part Two earned $714 million globally — more than double Part One’s $410 million — and the Alamo Drafthouse’s annual survey of 14,000 customers named Part Three as the most anticipated film of 2026 overall. The collision with Avengers on December 18 (dubbed “Dunesday” by Variety) is the box office story of the year. Dune opens Christmas Day, Avengers seven days earlier — and neither studio is moving.
💬 What fans are saying: “I’m booking IMAX tickets for both. You don’t choose between Avengers and Dune. You do both.”
📋 More 2026 Films Worth Your Calendar
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Jan 16 in US, now streaming on Netflix) — Nia DaCosta’s sequel starring Ralph Fiennes, 92% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Werwulf (TBC late 2026) — Robert Eggers reunites with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe and Lily-Rose Depp for a 13th-century werewolf folk horror
- Jumanji 3 (December 11) — Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan return for a franchise threequel
- Wicked: For Good (November 21) — The second half of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked adaptation with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
❓ Most Anticipated Movies of 2026 — FAQ
What is the most anticipated movie of 2026?
According to the Alamo Drafthouse’s annual survey of 14,000 cinemagoers, Dune: Part Three (Dune Messiah) was named the most anticipated film of 2026 overall, with Avengers: Doomsday a close second. Both open within seven days of each other in December 2026.
What movies have already been released in 2026?
As of June 2026, three major releases from the most anticipated list have arrived: The Bride! (March 6), Project Hail Mary (March 20), and The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22). Project Hail Mary has been the breakout hit, crossing $655 million globally to become 2026’s second highest-grossing film.
When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for theatrical release on December 18, 2026, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. It was originally dated for May 2026 before Marvel pushed it and its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) back. A full public trailer has not yet been released, though one screened privately for exhibitors at CinemaCon in April 2026.
Is Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey really filmed entirely on IMAX?
Yes. The Odyssey is the first film ever shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras. The $250 million production filmed across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, and Malta. It stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and releases July 17, 2026.
What is Disclosure Day about?
Disclosure Day is Steven Spielberg’s first original science fiction film since A.I. (2001). Written by David Koepp, it follows a cybersecurity expert (Josh O’Connor) and a woman (Emily Blunt) navigating the consequences of revealing humanity is not alone in the universe. It releases June 12, 2026.
Bookmark this page — we update our most anticipated movies of 2026 calendar as new trailers, casting announcements, and release date changes drop. For more entertainment coverage, explore our Entertainment section. And if you’re catching up on the MCU build-up, check our Best Sci-Fi Movies of 2026 for more picks, our Stranger Things Season 5 Finale Explained, or our 2026 TV Survival Guide for what’s renewed, cancelled, and moving platforms.
Sources: Variety (CinemaCon trailer report), Variety: Mandalorian & Grogu Box Office, Rotten Tomatoes: Disclosure Day, Variety: Dunesday, Pixar / Disney: Toy Story 5
