The short answer
Updated for November 2026: the most anticipated movies left this year are The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20), then Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, which both open in US theaters on December 18. After that, early 2027 brings Greta Gerwig's Narnia, The Legend of Zelda and Star Wars: Starfighter.
- Next big opening: Sunrise on the Reaping, November 20, in IMAX
- Thanksgiving week: Hexed, Focker-in-Law and the IMAX-only run of The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (all November 25)
- Biggest date left: December 18, 2026, when Marvel and Dune open head to head
- Christmas Day: Jumanji: Open World and Robert Eggers' Werwulf
- Biggest 2026 hit so far: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, about $2.52 billion worldwide
Nov 20
Sunrise on the Reaping opens
Dec 18
Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three
503M
Doomsday trailer views in 24 hours
$2.52B
Spider-Man: Brand New Day worldwide
In this article
The most anticipated movies of 2026 have already delivered a huge year at the box office, and the final two months still hold the biggest showdown of all. A theatrical release calendar, in this guide, means the dates studios have set for a film's wide US opening in cinemas. Because those dates move often, every date below was checked against The Numbers release schedule and studio or distributor pages on October 27, 2026.
In addition, this update drops the October releases that are now out, such as Street Fighter and Clayface, and marks them with their status further down. As a result, the focus is now on November and December 2026, followed by the most anticipated movies of early 2027.
What Are the Most Anticipated Movies Left in 2026?
The most anticipated movies left in 2026 are Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three on December 18, plus The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping on November 20. Beyond those three, the holiday corridor is packed with family titles, prestige horror and a rare Netflix film playing in IMAX.
For quick planning, here are the titles we would circle first, in release order:
- November 6: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (Warner Bros.)
- November 13: Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol (Paramount)
- November 20: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Lionsgate)
- November 25: Hexed (Disney), Focker-in-Law (Universal) and The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (Netflix, IMAX only)
- December 18: Avengers: Doomsday (Disney) and Dune: Part Three (Warner Bros.)
- December 25: Jumanji: Open World (Sony) and Werwulf (Focus Features)
How we chose the most anticipated movies on this list
We weighed confirmed wide release dates, franchise track records, verified trailer and presale reports, and the talent attached. Consequently, films without a locked US date are left out, and limited releases appear only when they expand wide.
Movies Coming Out in November 2026
November is the strongest month for families, starting with The Cat in the Hat on November 6 and ending with a crowded Thanksgiving week. In particular, Sunrise on the Reaping on November 20 is the month's clear tentpole and one of the most anticipated movies of the holiday season.
| US date | Movie | US distributor |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6 | Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat | Warner Bros. |
| Nov 6 | Ramayana Part 1 | Sony Pictures |
| Nov 6 | Godzilla Minus Zero | GKIDS |
| Nov 6 | Wild Horse Nine | Searchlight Pictures |
| Nov 6 | Drummer Boy | Angel Studios |
| Nov 11 | Ghost Soldier | Sony Pictures |
| Nov 13 | Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol | Paramount |
| Nov 13 | How to Rob a Bank | Amazon MGM Studios |
| Nov 13 | Victorian Psycho | Bleecker Street |
| Nov 20 | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | Lionsgate |
| Nov 25 | Hexed | Walt Disney |
| Nov 25 | Focker-in-Law | Universal |
| Nov 25 | The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (IMAX only, two weeks) | Netflix |
The Cat in the Hat is an animated Dr. Seuss adaptation with Bill Hader voicing the Cat, alongside Quinta Brunson and Giancarlo Esposito; Warner Bros. moved it from early 2026 to November 6. Then, on November 13, Ti West's Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol casts Johnny Depp as Scrooge, with Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit and Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley.
Thanksgiving week also brings Focker-in-Law, the fourth Meet the Parents film, with Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and newcomer Ariana Grande. For a cozy night in instead, see our best Thanksgiving movies to stream.
Movies Coming Out in December 2026
December is where the most anticipated movies of the year collide: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three both open on December 18. After that, Christmas Day adds Jumanji: Open World and Werwulf, while Cliff Booth reaches Netflix on December 23.
| US date | Movie | US distributor |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 4 | Violent Night 2 | Universal |
| Dec 4 | The Gallerist | Roadside Attractions |
| Dec 11 | Zero A.D. | Angel Studios |
| Dec 11 | Elsinore (wide expansion) | Focus Features |
| Dec 18 | Avengers: Doomsday | Walt Disney |
| Dec 18 | Dune: Part Three | Warner Bros. |
| Dec 23 | The Angry Birds Movie 3 | Paramount |
| Dec 23 | The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth (streaming) | Netflix |
| Dec 25 | Jumanji: Open World | Sony Pictures |
| Dec 25 | Werwulf | Focus Features |
| Dec 25 | Artificial | Neon |
| Dec 25 | Mr. Irrelevant | Paramount |
Watch out. Release dates still shift, even this late in the year. For example, Jumanji: Open World was first set for December 11 before Sony moved it to Christmas Day, and Shrek 5 was once dated for December 23, 2026 before moving to June 2027. Therefore, confirm showtimes with your local theater before you book.
The Biggest Movies Still Coming in 2026
The biggest movies still coming in 2026 are the two December 18 tentpoles, followed by Sunrise on the Reaping and a crowded Christmas Day. Below, we rank the most anticipated movies still to come by how much they matter to the year, from the surest event to the riskiest bet.
1. Avengers: Doomsday — Best for Marvel fans
Marvel's next team-up, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, brings Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU as the villain Doctor Doom. Demand is enormous: its trailer drew about 503 million views in its first 24 hours after its July 20 launch, and first-day advance sales reached $16.5 million, according to Variety.
- US release: December 18, 2026, in more than 4,000 theaters
- Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh and returning X-Men actors
- Format note: No US IMAX for at least three weeks; Dolby, ScreenX, 4DX and D-Box instead
- What's next: Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027
2. Dune: Part Three — Best on an IMAX screen
Denis Villeneuve closes his Dune trilogy, co-written with Brian K. Vaughan and based on Frank Herbert's novels. Warner Bros. holds a three-week IMAX exclusive in the US, and IMAX 70mm tickets sold out within minutes when they first went on sale in April.
- US release: December 18, 2026
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Momoa and Robert Pattinson
- Music: Hans Zimmer; the first single, Desert Chant, came out October 20
3. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — Best for Thanksgiving
This prequel adapts Suzanne Collins' 2025 novel about a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy in the 50th Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell in which each district sends twice the usual number of tributes. Francis Lawrence directs again, from a script by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie.
- US release: November 20, 2026 (Lionsgate), including IMAX
- Cast: Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Jesse Plemons and Glenn Close
- Runtime: 158 minutes, per its listing
4. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth — Best for grown-up film fans
David Fincher directs a new Quentin Tarantino script, with Brad Pitt back as the stuntman from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, now in Los Angeles in 1977. Notably, Netflix's Tudum confirms a two-week worldwide IMAX run before the film streams.
- In IMAX: From November 25, 2026, for two weeks
- On Netflix: December 23, 2026
- Cast: Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
5. Jumanji: Open World — Best for a family Christmas outing
Billed as the fifth and final Jumanji film, this one sees the game break out of the console. Jake Kasdan, who directed the last two entries, returns as director and co-writer.
- US release: December 25, 2026 (Sony)
- Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Danny DeVito and Awkwafina
6. Werwulf — Best for horror fans
For horror fans, this is the pick among the most anticipated movies of Christmas week. Robert Eggers, the director of Nosferatu, tells a gothic werewolf story spoken in Middle English, co-written with Icelandic author Sjón.
- US release: December 25, 2026 (Focus Features)
- Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe and Ralph Ineson
7. Hexed — Best for kids
Walt Disney Animation's original Thanksgiving release follows Billie, an impulsive teenager who discovers magical powers and is pulled, with her cautious mother, into Hexe, a realm of witches. Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand direct.
- US release: November 25, 2026 (Disney)
- Voice cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Rashida Jones, Jodie Foster and Walton Goggins
8. Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol — Best wild card
Ti West, best known for the X horror trilogy, gives Dickens a darker, gothic treatment. Johnny Depp as Scrooge is the big swing, so this is the riskiest bet of the season, but also the most unusual.
- US release: November 13, 2026 (Paramount)
- Cast: Johnny Depp, Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Ian McKellen and Daisy Ridley
Avengers: Doomsday or Dune: Part Three: Which Should You See First?
See Dune: Part Three first if you care about IMAX, because it holds US IMAX screens for three weeks. Otherwise, see Avengers: Doomsday first if spoilers worry you, since a Marvel ensemble film tends to dominate social media on opening weekend.
The two most anticipated movies of the holiday season both open on Friday, December 18. Consequently, premium seats are scarce: Variety reported that premium-format showtimes for Doomsday on December 17 and 18 were largely sold out, and that exhibitors were adding Christmas Day screenings.
Pro tip. If your nearest IMAX is sold out for Dune, try a weekday matinee in week two. Similarly, for Doomsday, look at Dolby Cinema or a Disney Infinity Vision certified screen, since the film will not play in US IMAX at launch.
What Are the Most Anticipated Movies of 2027?
The most anticipated movies of early 2027 are Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew on February 12, The Legend of Zelda on April 30 and Star Wars: Starfighter on May 28. After that, June stacks Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and Shrek 5 within two weeks, and Avengers: Secret Wars closes the year on December 17, 2027.
| US date | Movie | US distributor |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2027 | The Beekeeper 2 | Amazon MGM Studios |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Children of Blood and Bone | Paramount |
| Feb 5, 2027 | Ice Age: Boiling Point | 20th Century Studios |
| Feb 12, 2027 | Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (IMAX previews Feb 10) | Netflix (theaters first) |
| Mar 5, 2027 | The Thomas Crown Affair | Amazon MGM Studios |
| Mar 12, 2027 | The Exorcist: Martyrs | Universal |
| Mar 19, 2027 | Sonic the Hedgehog 4 | Paramount |
| Mar 26, 2027 | Godzilla x Kong: Supernova | Warner Bros. |
| Apr 23, 2027 | Spaceballs: The New One | Amazon MGM Studios |
| Apr 30, 2027 | The Legend of Zelda | Sony Pictures |
| May 28, 2027 | Star Wars: Starfighter | Walt Disney |
| Jun 11, 2027 | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Universal |
| Jun 18, 2027 | Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse | Sony Pictures |
| Jun 30, 2027 | Shrek 5 | Universal |
| Jul 9, 2027 | Man of Tomorrow | Warner Bros. |
| Jul 23, 2027 | A Minecraft Movie Squared | Warner Bros. |
| Dec 17, 2027 | Avengers: Secret Wars | Walt Disney |
The most anticipated movies of spring and summer 2027
Narnia: The Magician's Nephew — Best early-2027 event
Originally planned for Thanksgiving 2026, Gerwig's Narnia film now gets a full theatrical release first. According to Variety, it opens in theaters, including IMAX, on February 12, 2027, with IMAX previews from February 10, before landing on Netflix on April 2, 2027.
- Cast: Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep and Emma Mackey as Jadis
- Score: Mark Ronson
Star Wars: Starfighter — Best for Star Wars fans
Ryan Gosling leads a standalone Star Wars story directed by Shawn Levy and set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker, in a period the franchise has not explored before.
- US release: May 28, 2027 (Disney)
- Also starring: Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre and Amy Adams
The Legend of Zelda — Best video-game adaptation
Nintendo's live-action Zelda film, directed by Wes Ball, now opens on April 30, 2027, after earlier dates in March and May. Bo Bragason plays Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays Link.
- US release: April 30, 2027 (Sony)
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and Shrek 5 — Best animated double bill
Sony's next Spider-Verse film opens on June 18, 2027. Twelve days later, Shrek 5 reunites Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, with Zendaya joining as Shrek and Fiona's daughter.
- Spider-Verse: June 18, 2027 (Sony)
- Shrek 5: June 30, 2027 (Universal/DreamWorks)
Which Big 2026 Movies Are Already Out, and Where Can You Watch Them?
Most of the year's biggest hits are already out, and several are now available at home. For example, Toy Story 5 is on Disney+, Project Hail Mary is on Prime Video, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie moves from Peacock to Netflix on November 30.
| Movie | Status | Worldwide gross | Where to watch (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Released July 31 | $2.52 billion | Rent or buy digitally; Netflix date not announced |
| The Odyssey | Released | $1.80 billion | Digital and 4K Blu-ray expected November 17 |
| Toy Story 5 | Released | $1.15 billion | Disney+ |
| Michael | Released | $1.03 billion | Not confirmed in our checks |
| The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Released | $1.01 billion | Peacock; Netflix from November 30 |
| The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Released | $693 million | Not confirmed in our checks |
| Project Hail Mary | Released | $684 million | Prime Video |
| Other Mommy | Released October 9 | $95 million | In theaters or digital; check local listings |
| Street Fighter | Released October 16 | $80 million | In theaters or digital; check local listings |
| Clayface | Released October 23 | $43 million | In theaters |
Above all, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the top grosser of 2026 both worldwide and in the US, where it has earned about $959 million, according to Box Office Mojo. Meanwhile, Nolan's The Odyssey is second at roughly $1.80 billion. If you missed Project Hail Mary in theaters, it is the easiest big hit to catch now; for similar picks, see our guide to movies like Interstellar.
Our verdict
If you see only two of the most anticipated movies left in 2026, make them Dune: Part Three in IMAX and Avengers: Doomsday in Dolby or another premium format, ideally during the week of December 18. For a calmer outing, Sunrise on the Reaping and Hexed make Thanksgiving week the best time for groups and families.
Meanwhile, if you prefer staying home, the year's earlier hits are streaming, Mario reaches Netflix on November 30 and Cliff Booth follows on December 23. Finally, start planning for 2027, because Narnia, Zelda, Starfighter and the next Spider-Verse film arrive within five months of each other. For holiday viewing at home, see our list of new Christmas movies for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most anticipated movie left in 2026?
Avengers: Doomsday is arguably the most anticipated movie left in 2026, with about 503 million trailer views in 24 hours and $16.5 million in first-day presales, per Variety. However, Dune: Part Three opens the same day, December 18, and holds US IMAX screens for three weeks, so for many moviegoers it is an equally big event.
When do Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three come out?
Both films open in US theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026. Dune: Part Three, from Warner Bros., has a three-week exclusive on US IMAX screens. Meanwhile, Avengers: Doomsday, from Disney, will play in Dolby, ScreenX, 4DX, D-Box and other premium formats instead, in more than 4,000 theaters.
What movies are coming out in November 2026?
The biggest movies coming out in November 2026 are The Cat in the Hat on November 6, Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol on November 13 and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping on November 20. Then, on November 25, Hexed, Focker-in-Law and the IMAX-only run of The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth all open for Thanksgiving.
What movies come out on Christmas Day 2026?
Jumanji: Open World from Sony and Werwulf, Robert Eggers’ Middle English horror film from Focus Features, both open on December 25, 2026. Neon’s Artificial and Paramount’s Mr. Irrelevant are also dated for Christmas Day. In addition, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth reaches Netflix two days earlier, on December 23.
When is Greta Gerwig’s Narnia coming out?
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew opens in theaters, including IMAX, on February 12, 2027, with IMAX sneak previews from February 10. It then streams on Netflix from April 2, 2027. The film was originally planned for Thanksgiving 2026, but Netflix moved it to give it a full theatrical release first.
What is the highest-grossing movie of 2026 so far?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the highest-grossing movie of 2026 so far, with about 2.52 billion dollars worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is second at about 1.80 billion dollars, followed by Toy Story 5, Michael and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, each above 1 billion dollars.
