From Men's Health · Evan Romano · · 4m
109 movies, one year, and a lot still coming
A running guide to the 2026 movies worth your time, from killer chimp schlock to Pixar at its most original.
In brief
A running guide to the 2026 movies worth your time, from killer chimp schlock to Pixar at its most original. 2026 is deep across every genre, so build your watchlist from the whole year, not just the awards bait. Originally reported by Men's Health.
Movies always give you hope
Unlike a bad season for your team, there is always another film coming that sounds great. Some will flop. The anticipation is the point.
“with sports and movies alike, excitement tends to be all about hope.”
2025 set a high bar
One Battle After Another and Sinners made last year hard to follow, which is exactly why 2026 had something to prove.
“movies like One Battle After Another and Sinners proved to be true standouts”
2026 answered with range
Horror like 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Obsession, epics like The Odyssey, comedies like Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie and The Invite.
“It's been a good year.”
The list keeps moving
It starts as a most anticipated slate and turns into a favorites list, pulling in festival noise from places like Sundance along the way.
“always looks quite different in December than it did in January.”
A killer chimp slasher
Primate is a B-movie about Ben the chimpanzee doing terrible things on screen. It knows exactly what it is and never pretends otherwise.
“The movie delivers what it promises.”
Post-apocalypse, part two
Nia DaCosta takes over from Danny Boyle for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, with Alex Garland still writing. The leads carry it.
“Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell are sensational, magnetic every minute they're on screen”
Damon and Affleck, again
The Rip is a familiar corrupt-cop thriller done well: a stash house full of cash, nobody trustworthy, and a cast including Steven Yeun and Teyana Taylor.
“Here's a quick pitch for The Rip: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.”
Sam Raimi is back
His first original horror since 2009. Send Help strands a Survivor superfan, Rachel McAdams, on an island with her awful boss, played by Dylan O'Brien.
“Think Cast Away meets Misery meets Drag Me to Hell.”
Momoa and Bautista wreck stuff
The Wrecking Crew puts them together as estranged brothers digging into their father's death in Hawaii. Jokes, then a lot of very violent action.
“Make a badass buddy action comedy.”
Charli XCX makes a movie
The Moment is about music, stardom, and celebrity right now, built for anyone who already likes her persona.
“Part This Is Spinal Tap, part Josie and the Pussycats, and part Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Pillion deserves a second look
A 2025 title worth recommending twice. Harry Melling falls into an unexpected BDSM relationship with a biker played by Alexander Skarsgard.
“at times funny, intense, raunchy, and heartbreaking, but it all comes together by the end”
Wuthering Heights, Fennell style
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi lead Emerald Fennell's take. Book purists are unhappy, Alison Oliver steals scenes, and Charli XCX scored it.
“a big, visually stunning epic romance”
Heat, but not quite
Crime 101 comes from a Don Winslow book and draws constant Michael Mann comparisons, with Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, and Barry Keoghan.
“Somewhat Resembles a Michael Mann Film”
Verbinski returns after nine years
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die casts Sam Rockwell as a man from the future fighting rogue AI. The satire gets heavy-handed, the craft saves it.
“Rockwell's performance and the practical effects keep the movie afloat as a fun sci-fi romp.”
No homework required
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie follows two inept musicians trying to book a bar gig, time travel included. Matt Johnson directed BlackBerry before this.
“His brash talent is again on display here.”
Glen Powell goes dark
How to Make a Killing is a neo-noir black comedy about killing relatives for inheritance money, with Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, and Topher Grace.
“We're always in on Glen Powell”
Pixar remembers originals
Hoppers puts a woman's consciousness into a robotic beaver so she can hear what animals say, then turns into a conspiracy mystery. Meryl Streep voices it.
“Hoppers feels like a throwback to the golden age of Pixar.”
Alan Ritchson fights a robot
War Machine is not a movie to overthink. Reacher himself squares off against a giant alien machine, with Dennis Quaid and Jai Courtney along for it.
“This is as much of a throwback to '80s-style action filmmaking as we're ever going to get”
Ryan Gosling alone in space
Project Hail Mary adapts Andy Weir's novel, directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Gosling carries it with an alien named Rocky and Sandra Huller in support.
“The visuals here are worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find.”
Horror owns the back half
Undertone bets on sound design, Ready or Not 2 brings Samara Weaving back, Forbidden Fruits hides witches in a mall, They Will Kill You goes full John Wick.
“many calling it the scariest experience of the year”
The main idea
2026 is deep across every genre, so build your watchlist from the whole year, not just the awards bait.
