The movies that have already come out this year have been some of the best we’ve seen in a while. From Michael to Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, this year has been an insane movie run. It will definitely be hard to beat these movies; still, there are so many more coming out in 2026 to look forward to. Here are a few of the many upcoming movie releases that you should look out for:
The Love Hypothesis (September 23)
Romance movies have been a big hit this year. People We Meet on Vacation and Reminders of Him are just two examples, and it’s not stopping there. On September 23, Prime Video will be releasing The Love Hypothesis, a new rom-com adapted from Ali Hazelwood’s 2021 novel. The film follows Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman as two academics who come together to pursue a fake relationship. After the trailer dropped on August 26, fans showed their excitement with countdowns and praise on social media. Early viewers also said it stays faithful to the original novel while delivering fantastic romantic chemistry and playful banter.
Hunger Games: The Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20)
Another recent movie adaptation from a book is from the beloved Hunger Games series. Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, Hunger Games: The Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel set 24 years before the first book, set to be released on November 20. Since the beginning of this franchise, fans have been interested in Haymitch Abernathy’s past from his games, and this film will fulfill that desire. That cast is stacked with Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Joseph Zada, McKenna Grace, and so many more. There are even reports that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson from the original films will make a brief appearance in the prequel film.
Avengers: Doomsday (December 18)
The wait for Avengers: Doomsday has been going on for years, and it’s finally headed to theaters on December 18 of this year. This film will follow beloved heroes from three universes as they face a deadly threat, unlike any they’ve encountered before. It is set to include some of the cast members from Marvel’s previous films, like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, and many more. There was even a teaser that Chris Evans could appear in the film, which only intensified fans’ excitement. Marvel also assigned 42 hours of homework to prepare for the film, consisting of an official “Countdown to Doomsday” movie list of all of the ones fans should watch ahead of Doomsday’s release at the end of this year. Fans are now even more hyped for the film and impatient to finally see what could be the most anticipated movie of 2026.
Dune: Part Three (December 18)
The third and final part of the incredible sci-fi trilogy directed by Denis Villeneuve will hit theaters on December 18. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy are reprising their roles, along with newcomer Robert Pattinson joining the cast. Dune 3 is set to adapt the second book of Frank Herbert’s novel series, 12 years after the events of the first Dune book. It follows Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides, who is now the emperor of the universe, struggling to keep the peace. The trailer was released in July of this year, leaving fans shocked and overwhelmingly excited, claiming the trilogy could rival The Lord of the Rings. This film is highly anticipated, and its release date being the same day as Avengers: Doomsday means fans of both franchises are awaiting a full day at the theater, as there is no choosing one over the other.
Jumanji: Open World (December 25)
The final installment of the Jumanji Franchise, Jumanji: Open World, will release in theaters on Christmas Day. The main four cast members, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, are returning in their roles, as well as the beloved Danny DeVito, to give us one last look at the ever-changing jungles of Jumanji. This film follows the players as they escape Jumanji, but this time the game breaks free from the console to unleash its chaos into the real world. Its official trailer dropped in July, sparking widespread positive reactions from fans. Viewers praised the returning actors and called it “one of the most anticipated family blockbusters of the holiday season.”
I hope you intend to spend a lot of time in the theaters after seeing the few films I’ve shown you of the many that will be released during the rest of 2026. I know I sure will! This year’s movie lineup has already been incredible, and these new releases are just going to make this year one of the greatest film runs we’ve ever seen. So, get yourself ready for a few more months filled with entertaining and highly anticipated movies.