In 2026, SXSW is living up to its name as a hub of creativity. The annual festival, which takes over Austin for a few days in March, has once again become the incubator of some of the most interesting films of the year.

From Dakota Fanning's The Sun Never Sets, to Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman's anxiety-inducing relationship comedy-drama, Wishful Thinking, this is every new and noteworthy debut from SXSW in 2026.

Wishful Thinking

One of the buzziest premieres this year is Wishful Thinking, which pairs Maya Hawke and Lewis Pullman. Directed by Graham Parkes, the film follows a volatile couple whose relationship quite literally begins to affect the world around them — with emotional fallout triggering everything from natural disasters to global instability. Early reviews out of SXSW confirm what we suspected: that this is a must-watch when it hits Australian cinemas.

I Love Boosters

This year's festival opened with the kinetically funny and chaotically satirical I Love Boosters. The film follows a group of designer-clad thieves staging high-fashion heists in a critique of consumer capitalism — brought to life by a stellar cast, including Will Poulter, Keke Palmer, Alexa Demie, LaKeith Stanfield. It also comes courtesy of Neon, the production house which has brought us hits like Anora, Longlegs, and Parasite.

Over Your Dead Body

Over Your Dead Body taps into the enduring “marriage gone wrong” narrative — but with a sharper, more comedic edge. It follows  a couple secretly plotting each other’s murder during a romantic (and secluded) getaway, with Samara Weaving and Jason Segel in the unhinged lead roles.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come 

A second billing for Samara Weaving, this is a long-awaited follow up to the 2019 thriller hit, Ready or Not. This time, Grace discovers she's reached the next level of the nightmarish game that she survived in the first film, and now has her estranged sister, Faith, by her side. The cast also includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kathryn Newton, and Elijah Wood.

The Sun Never Sets

This film interrogates the universal nightmare that is not only taking a break from your partner, but also running into another ex while on said break. Despite what the plot might suggest, it's actually not a horror film, but a romantic drama, starring Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Corey Michael Smith, and Debby Ryan.

Manhood

This is a documentary, but probably not like any you've ever watched before. Manhood follows Dallas entrepreneur Bill Moore as he attempts to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox.

The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson 

At the other end of the spectrum, this documentary paints a portrait of cyclist Moriah Wilson, whose life was tragically cut short when she was murdered in 2023. In this intimate film however, the focus is shifted to the woman herself, rather than the horrific violence that ended her life.