My Most Anticipated Films of 2026
Screenshot from my Letterboxd account.
With 2025 about to be a year behind us, here’s a look at my most anticipated films of 2026, ranking from what I’m really most excited about to ones where I’m simply just going to go in with an open mind and see what happens. Which ones are you most looking forward to, including ones not on this list? Check out the list on my letterbox and sound off in the comments on there: https://letterboxd.com/maxhechtman/list/my-most-anticipated-films-of-2026/
1 - The Odyssey
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan is back in his second collaboration with Universal after their triumphant success with Oppenheimer. Now, they take us to Ancient Greece for a bold new adaptation of Homer’s epic poem following Odysseus’ (Matt Damon) unforgettable journey dealing with Gods, mythological creatures and other obstacles in his attempt to return home and reunite with his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland). This being the first blockbuster film shot entirely with 70mm IMAX cameras while making a story we’ve seen adapted many times before look new again makes this an immediate de-facto front-running contender for the Best Picture Oscar in 2027.
2 - Disclosure Day
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg has been on a roll this decade. First, in 2021, he gave us his bold and colorful take on West Side Story (which turns 5 next year). Then, in 2022, he made us feel all the emotions of growing up while inspiring us to keep pursuing our dreams with his semi-autobiographical The Fabelmans (which is serving as a major inspiration on my first original narrative feature film The Lens Within Me, currently in script revisions). Now, he’s returning to a genre that he always excels at with his new original mysterious sci-fi adventure Disclosure Day. While little is known about what puts Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor’s characters into action, it’s a ride that I can’t wait to get on board and experience.
3 - Dune: Part Three
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villenueve is set to complete his Dune trilogy with the epic conclusion to Paul Atreides’ saga. Based on the original novel’s sequel Dune Messiah, and with Linus Sandgren taking over as cinematographer from Greig Fraser, we can expect another cinematic experience just as atmospheric and visually stunning as the previous installments.
4 - Supergirl
Directed by Craig Gillespie
The newly-launched DCU continues with Supergirl’s first solo cinematic outing in this world that James Gunn brought us into earlier this summer when her Kryptonian cousin made his long-awaited return to the screen. And with scene-stealer Krypto the Superdog back in action as well, this is going to be another colorful and eye-popping blockbuster worth seeing.
5 - The Sheep Detectives
Directed by Kyle Balda
What happens when you take Knives Out and replace Daniel Craig’s character with a large flock of sheep, specifically the kind you see in Babe? Well, this is what you get. Little did I know that when the trailer for this adaptation of the 2005 international best-seller Three Bags Full dropped this month online that it would skyrocket high into the lists of other people’s most-anticipated of 2026. With a stacked cast of actors, a premise so intriguing and fresh, and a huge sense of fun and plot-twisting mystery, it’s no wonder it’s in the top 5 for what I’m looking forward to next year (and it’s the first time an MGM film has ranked this high on any list I posted publicly).
6 - Coyote vs. Acme
Directed by Dave Green
May we all praise Ketchup Entertainment for stepping in to give us the live action/animated hybrid Looney Tunes film Warner Bros. kept in its vault for too long. With a Who Framed Roger Rabbit-like tone and an intriguing premise, this for sure to be a must-see for fans of 2D animation.
7 - Digger
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
The director of Birdman and The Revenant teams up with Tom Cruise to give us a film whose teaser trailer sets the stage for what’s possibly to come. And the fact it’s shot in VistaVision makes this a title that for sure will be required viewing in 70mm.
8 - Hoppers
Directed by Daniel Chong
I know, it’s Avatar but with beavers. However, at least it shows that Disney and Pixar can still do original stories while focusing heavily on expanding their existing franchises.
9 - Hexed
Directed by Josie Trinidad & Jason Hand
Officially the 65th animated motion picture in the Disney Animation canon, Hexed has a lot going for it. Will it be the next big animated cultural phenomenon the Mouse House gives us? Or will it be another Strange World/Wish? Only time will tell. Wished it was a musical though so there can be more anticipation for it. And while I’ll always be a Disney fan, their leaning in business-wise to AI is just plain dreadful, so hopefully this is animated entirely by humans.
10 - Moana (Live-Action)
Directed by Thomas Kail
Coming out 10 years since the release of the iconic original film, the live-action remake of Moana and Maui’s first big-screen adventure will for sure be an interesting attempt to defy the odds and translate familiar characters and scenes to another medium. However, with the original screenwriter and music team returning, it appears some aspects of it are in good hands.
11 - Toy Story 5
Directed by Andrew Stanton
The toys are back in town…again. And this time, it’s them vs. big tech, in the form of an innocent-looking tablet called the Lilypad. The first three films can be considered its own trilogy and this appears to be part of a possible “sequel trilogy” (a la Star Wars). Will it work? Hard to say until we get an official trailer that delves more into the story. But with most of the original cast returning, and Pixar legend Andrew Stanton at the helm, there could be some emotionally-moving surprises in store that we’re not ready to see.
