If you thought 2025 was big, cinematically speaking, then 2026 is set to blow your mind. From major franchises to under-the-radar indies, we're already predicting spending a large chunk of the year curled up in a cinema seat, with a release slate that's positively overflowing. There's everything from gothic romances and psychological thrillers, to nostalgic sequels and animations of our childhood. Whatever genre takes your fancy, consider this your essential guide to the movies everyone will be talking about in 2026 (and when you can see them in Australia).
1. Hamnet
Release date: January 15, 2026
Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel and directed by Chloe Zhao, Hamnet is a devastating exploration of grief, creativity and love. Set in 16th-century England, the film imagines the emotional aftermath of the real-life death of Shakespeare’s son, reframing literary history through a deeply human perspective. Leads Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley are already generating awards buzz.
2. Marty Supreme
Release date: January 22, 2026
Timothée Chalamet takes on one of his most unconventional (but dare we say best?) roles yet in Marty Supreme, a kinetic sports drama centred on professional table-tennis player Marty Mauser. As we've already seen from the press tour, it’s the kind of character study that thrives on Chalamet’s ability to blur charm and intensity — and one that has cemented him in the race for Best Actor.
3. Send Help
Release date: January 29, 2026
Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help combines survival thriller tension with emotional intimacy. It's centred on a woman (expertly played by Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss (Dylan O'Brien) who become stranded after a plane crash, unfolding as a psychological duel as much as a fight for survival.
4. The Moment
Release date: January 30, 2026
Part satire and part cultural commentary, The Moment dissects fame in the age of virality with sharp wit and self-awareness, with Charli XCX at the cenre. Blurring fiction and Charli's real-life rise to fame, the film explores how pop stardom is constructed and consumed in real time. It's also jam-packed with celebrity cameos to keep you on your toes, from Rachel Sennott to Kylie Jenner.
5. Wuthering Heights
Release date: February 14, 2026
Emerald Fennell is set to bring her signature edge to Emily Brontë’s gothic classic, transforming Wuthering Heights into a feverish, emotionally charged, and erotic epic. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, this adaptation leans into the novel’s darker impulses while delivering a visually lush reimagining of the Yorkshire moors.
6. How To Make A Killing
Release date: February 26, 2026
How to Make a Killing stars Glen Powell in a tale of money and manipulation as a man who will stop at nothing to receive his inheritance. Lets be real, does A24 ever get it wrong?
7. The Drama
Release date: April 2, 2026
True to its title, The Drama looks to be dramatic to say the least. It stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple whose relationship is derailed by an exposed secret before their much-hyped nuptials. While specific details are tightly guarded, we're expecting a film that interrogates relationships under pressure.
8. Mother Mary
Release date: April 2026
Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel lead this psychological drama from A24, centred on the explosive pressure of fame. Hathaway plays a pop star who, faced with an existential crisis, seeks outthe help of her s old friend and legendary fashion designer, played by Coel.
9. The Devil Wears Prada 2
Release date: May 1, 2026
Want more Anne Hathaway? Nearly two decades on, she's back in The Devil Wears Prada, with a sequel that reflects how fashion — and media — has evolved. Revisiting beloved characters (yes, Meryl, Emily, and Stanley are all in) in a transformed industry, the film will hpefulyl deliver a heavy dose of nostalgia as well as the impeccable looks and scathing one-liners we know and love.
10. Toy Story 5
Release date: June 18, 2026
Pixar is revisiting arguably its most beloved franchise with Toy Story 5, exploring what it means to grow up in an increasingly digital world. We can't promise this one won't make you cry.
11. The Odyssey
Release date: July 16, 2026
Christopher Nolan is back, taking on Homer’s epic with his trademark scale and structural ambition. The Odyssey reimagines the ancient tale as a cinematic spectacle, with a few famous faces to match. Expect sweeping visuals, immersive sound design and an epic narrative.
12. Sense and Sensibility
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Release date: September 10, 2026
Jane Austen’s classic returns once more, this time with Daisy Edgar Jones at the helm. The story's classic themes of love, restraint and societal expectation are set to be explored with lush period detail, but with an updated screenplay by Australian author Diana Reid.
13. Verity
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Release date: October 1, 2026
Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, Verity is a psychological thriller that will make you feel very uneasy. As secrets unravel and perspectives shift, the film plays with unreliable narration and moral ambiguity. Don't read the book first, if you want to be in for a wild ride.
14. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Release date: November 19, 2026
Our excitement for another Hunger Games installment is well documented. This prequel delves into the brutal history of Panem, revisiting the Games through a darker, more politically charged lens. It's also set to bring together new faces (including Aussie newcomer Joseph Zada in the lead), and old favourites, with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson making a cameo.
