Despite 2025 being a rough year for many businesses and industries, the movie industry seemed to emerge from its slump. Twenty-twenty-five harbored beautiful and critically acclaimed films such as F1, Five Nights at Freddy’s Two, Wicked For Good, Lilo & Stitch, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Zootopia Two, A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Weapons, and many more. According to Box Office Mojo, even with the slight decrease in theatre attendance, the collective domestic movie box office made approximately $9,000,000,000.
It’s unknown if 2026 will be able to compete with the preceding years, but with scheduled releases such as Toy Story Five, Scream Seven, and Street Fighter, it’s safe to assume that this year will, at the very least, bring on some phenomenal films. Even without official release dates, there are already numerous projects suspected to be released this year. Here are twelve movies we can look forward to in the coming year:
Goat:
This animated sports film, directed by Tyree Dillihay, combines an astonishing cast with great animation. With voice actors such as Caleb McLaughlin (known for his role as Lucas in Stranger Things), Stephen Curry (a renown basketball professional), Nicholas Kroll (co-creator of Big Mouth), David Harbour (known for his role as Hopper in Stranger Things), and Jelly Roll (an American rapper), the movie is set to release in theaters February 13, 2026.
The film, set in an all-animal universe much like Zootopia, follows Will, a small goat who gets an unbelievable chance to take part in a professional “roar-ball” match. Roarball, similar in nature to basketball, is a co-ed, full-contact sport that is said to be only for the strongest and fastest animals. While his teammates aren’t the most excited about having an animal of his caliber on the team, the determined Will makes haste in proving himself and paving the way for small animals everywhere.
Scream Seven:
Directed by Kevin Williamson, Scream Seven, the seventh movie in the Scream movie series, is scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on February 27, 2026.
In this movie, long-time Scream protagonist Sidney Prescott has settled down in Pine Grove, Indiana, a small and quiet town. In the midst of building her new life away from the terror, it is revealed to Prescott that a new Ghostface killer has begun to target her daughter, forcing her to face the past and finally end the killings for good.
The Breadwinner:
This heartily comedic film, directed by Eric Appel, is scheduled to be released on March 13, 2026.
The Breadwinner follows Nate Wilcox, a father who is forced to become a stay-at-home parent after his wife lands a deal on the hit-show Shark Tank.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie:
An animated adventure-comedy film based on the Super Mario Galaxy video game, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and is being directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic. The movie is set to release in theaters on April 3, 2026.
This film follows the Super Mario Brothers as they join Princess Peach and Toad on an adventure across the galaxy to defeat the main antagonist, Bowser Jr.
Animal Farm:
This 2025 animated fantasy comedy-adventure film is directed by Andy Serkis and based on George Orwell’s classic novel, Animal Farm. Premiering at the 2025 Annecy Animation Film Festival on June 9, 2025, this movie is scheduled to be theatrically released on May 1, 2026, despite the negative critical reviews it has already received.
This being the third adaptation of the classic, the film offers a personalized plotline with new characters such as a piglet named Lucky (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo, best known as Dustin in Stranger Things).
Toy Story Five:
This animated comedy film, directed by Andrew Stanton, will be the fifth movie in the Toy Story series. Toy Story Five is scheduled to be released in theaters on June 19, 2026.
The film follows Jessie and Buzz Lightyear as they lead the charge in Bonnie’s room after Woody’s departure. They face their biggest problem yet: Bonnie’s newest favorite toy, a frog-like tablet named Lilypad.
Moana [Live-Action]:
This live-action adaptation of Disney’s 2016 animated movie, Moana, is being directed by Thomas Kail. The movie stars Catherine Laga’aia in her debut film as Moana and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as his previously voiced character, Maui. The film is scheduled for release on July 10, 2026.
The live action will follow the same storyline as the original animated movie. Moana, a hero handpicked by the ocean, leaves her island—despite consistent protests—in order to find the demigod legend, Maui, and save her village from his previous wrongdoings.
Flowervale Street
This upcoming science fiction film is written, produced, and directed by David Robert Mitchell. Flowervale Street is scheduled for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on August 14, 2026.
Starring the famous Anne Hathaway, Flowervale Street follows a family who notice strange occurrences in their neighborhood.
Street Fighter:
Directed by Kitao Sakurai, this martial arts film will be the fourth live-action adaptation of the Street Fighter video game franchise and will release October 16, 2026.
Beloved street fighters Ryu and Ken Masters return to combat after Chun-Li personally recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament. The tournament is what Paramount claims to be a “brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury”, as well as a cover for the dangerous conspiracy that pushes the fighters to battle each other, as well as their less than delightful past.
The Cat in the Hat:
This animated fantasy-comedy film is based on the children’s book by Dr. Seuss and is being produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, the movie is set to release on November 6, 2026.
“In the wonderfully whimsical tradition of Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat comes to the big screen in his animated theatrical feature film debut, an all-new, epic adventure with an edge, where mischief, magic, and mayhem reign supreme. Doing what he does best, The Cat spreads joy to kids in his hilarious, signature, and singularly irreverent way, transporting them and audiences on a fantastical journey through a world they’ve never seen before,” said Warner Bros. “In the film, our hero takes on his toughest assignment yet for the I.I.I.I. (Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC): to cheer up Gabby and Sebastian, a pair of siblings struggling with their move to a new town. Known for taking things too far, this could be this agent of chaos’s last chance to prove himself…or lose his magical hat!”
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping:
Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, this dystopian action film will be directed by Francis Lawrence and will be released on November 20, 2026.
This film is set 24 years before the first film. It follows Haymitch Abernathy’s time when he was chosen for the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. For this specific Quarter Quell, each district of Panem is required to double the number of tributes to The Capitol, making this fight to the death much more interesting.
The Backrooms:
Directed by Kane Parsons, this science-fiction horror film is based on the urban legend and creepypasta that formed the base of Parsons’ YouTube series, Backrooms. The Backrooms is scheduled to be released by A24 at some unknown point in 2026.
“After a therapist’s patient goes missing into a dimension beyond reality, she has to enter the unknown to save him,” said ProductionWeekly on issue #1459.
Overall, 2026 has many great-sounding films in store. From movie adaptations to seventh film series installments, this year is bound to have something for everyone.
