Going to the movies has been something I have been passionate about for a long, long time. It is my recollection the very first movie I ever saw in a theatre was Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear back in 1964. I was six.
Six decades later, I’m still loading up on popcorn and enjoying films in movie theaters. Of course, for the last four decades or so I’ve had to share the popcorn with my wife, who fortunately shares my passion for going out to the movies…unless the movie has sharks in it. No. Sharks.
I am so geeked for the offering Hollywood is planning to unspool on the big screen next year. Of course, movie schedules are very much subject to change, and on occasion films get pushed out due to unexpected production delays or studio strategies designed to maximize profits for their products. I just found another release date change a couple of days ago.
I’ve picked out just a few films to highlight here, in order of their expected arrivals. If you love movies, please let me know which ones you might look forward to…whether a big or small screen aficionado.
January 2026
- Greenland 2: Migration (Jan 9): In the aftermath of a comet strike that decimated most of the planet, the Garrity family must leave the safety of their Greenland bunker to traverse a shattered world in search of a new home. Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin will try to stay alive again in this apocalyptic survival sequel to 2020’s Greenland.
- Soulm8te (Jan 9): A man acquires an artificially intelligent android to cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife. In an attempt to create a partner, he inadvertently turns a harmless love bot into a deadly soulmate. This is a spin-off from the M3GAN universe starring Lily Sullivan and Claudia Doumit. M3GAN was a big hit, M3GAN 2.0 not as much. Unlike the first two, this one is billed as an erotic love bot thriller.
- Mercy (Jan 23): In the near future, a detective stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has all of 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. judge he once championed before said judge determines his fate. Chris Pratt is the hubby on trial, and Rebecca Ferguson serves as the no-nonsense artificial judge.
- Shelter (Jan 30): Jason Statham stars as a recluse on a remote Scottish island who rescues a girl from the sea, unleashing a perilous sequence of events that culminate in an attack on his home, compelling him to face his turbulent history. I suspect Jason will prevail.
February 2026
- GOAT (Feb 13): A small goat with big dreams gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play Roarball, a co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fiercest animals in the world. The NBA’s Stephen Curry is producing an animated movie here which is conveniently timed with the NBA’s All-Star Weekend. Curry is not surprisingly among the voices, which also include Gabrielle Union, Nick Kroll, David Harbour, Jelly Roll, and Patton Oswalt.
- Crime 101 (Feb 13): An elusive thief eyeing his final score encounters a disillusioned insurance broker at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective starts trailing them hoping to thwart the multi-million-dollar heist they are planning together. The cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, and Halle Berry.
- Wuthering Heights (Feb 13): A passionate, tumultuous erotic story set against the moody backdrop of the Yorkshire moors. This new adaptation of the Emily Bronte classic stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Emerald Fennell directed the movie from her own script. No accident at all this will open for Valentine’s Day, and based on the trailers I saw this owns some “heat.” There is also a new song from Charli xcx’s forthcoming album which was specifically created for the movie.
- Scream 7 (Feb 27): When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the town where O.G. Scream character Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized when her daughter becomes a target. Starring Neve Campbell (apparently her money demands were met) and Courtney Cox, and directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote three prior films in this franchise. That is all encouraging. While several sequels have fallen flat for me, I found the last couple slashingly entertaining.
March 2026
- Hoppers (Mar 6): A 19-year-old animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world. This latest animated film from Pixar will feature the voices of Jon Hamm, Bobby Moynihan, and Piper Curda.
- The Bride! (Mar 6): In 1930s Chicago, The Monster asks his creator to create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as The Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change. Maggie Gyllenhaal directs Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Penelope Cruz. I saw a trailer and it looks like a wild Bonnie & Clyde film…aside from the fact this duo was created from parts, of course.
- Project Hail Mary (Mar 20): An astronaut who wakes up alone on a space station with no memory needs to save Earth. Based on the 2021 Andy Weir best-seller, we can classify this as a star vehicle for Ryan Gosling. The writer here is Drew Goddard, who previously adapted Weir’s The Martian for the screen. That alone gives me hope this is going to be a very good one.
- The Dog Stars (Mar 27): In a post-apocalyptic world, a virus wipes out humanity. Survivors, not having enough to deal with, now face roaming scavengers called Reapers. Directed by the legendary Ridley Scott and based on the 2012 Peter Heller novel. Stars Margaret Qualley, Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong.
April 2026
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Apr 3): Sequel to The Super Mario Brothers Movie with returning voices including Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jack Black. Brie Larson and Benny Safdie join the chat as well for this follow-up.
- Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come (Apr 10): Sequel to Ready Or Not, with Samara Weaving returning to star. This one also features Kathryn Newton. Ready Or Not was a big cut above in my mind as far as the horror genre is concerned, and I am very much looking forward to what they come up for our brand-new bride this time around. Curious to see where her story goes next.
- Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (Apr 17): A family encounters an ancient mummy in what is promised as a fresh take on the classic monster. Jack Reynor stars. I’m not sure how fresh any take on The Mummy can be, but producers James Wan and Jason Blum have a track record of success and for now I remain open to this.
- Michael (Apr 24): The story of the kinda-famous musician Michael Jackson, known simply to many as the King of Pop. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. The son of Jermaine Jackson, Jaafar, will star. This movie was originally cut to be four hours long. More cuts and more photography took place this year, so I don’t know whether to be encouraged…or discouraged.
May 2026
- Animal Friends (May 1): Two fugitive animals are on the run having a journey across America. This is a live action/animated hybrid. Folks attached to the project include Ryan Reynolds, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Momoa, Vince Vaughn, and Dan Levy.
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1): This one follows the iconic character Miranda Priestly’s struggle against Emily Charlton, her former assistant turned rival, as they compete for revenue amidst declining print media…while Miranda also nears retirement. Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep return in this sequel to the 2006 film. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci also return. One newcomer here is none other than Sydney Sweeney.
- The Sheep Detectives (May 8): Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realize it was a murder, and think they know how to solve it. Hugh Jackman is our unlucky shepherd. Cast also includes Emma Thompson, Nicholas Galitzine, Nicholas Braun, and Molly Gordon. Based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full, the original title of this movie. We don’t know yet how the sheep are gonna wind up looking here, but I’m hopeful they are “realistic” enough. The film’s release date was moved up from November 2026 recently, and I am hoping that is a good sign because this sounds like a lot of fun…like Paddington, Wallace & Gromit fun.
- Mortal Kombat II (May 8): Fan favorite champions – now joined by Johnny Cage himself – are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders. Sequel to the 2021 reboot, which I found meh. Most everyone is back for this one, while Karl Urban joins the cast…as surprise…Johnny Cage. I am curious to see what kind of energy Urban can bring.
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22): Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure after streaming their way into hearts and minds all over the globe. First time the Star Wars franchise is back in theatres since The Rise Of Skywalker. Pedro Pascal is always great as Din, Jeremy Allen White will show up here as the son of Jabba the Hutt, and Sigourney Weaver also appears in an unknown capacity. The trailer for this one was very, very encouraging and if you have the access, I highly recommend you take in the entire Mandalorian series.
June 2026
- Masters of the Universe (Jun 5): A young man on Earth discovers a fabulous secret legacy as the prince of an alien planet, and must recover a magic sword to protect his kingdom…as He-Man. Cast includes Nicholas Galitzine, Alison Brie, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, and Jared Leto as He-Man’s nemesis Skeletor. I don’t know a thing about this universe, but I’m willing to learn.
- Toy Story 5 (Jun 19): Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the toys are challenged after being introduced to what kids are obsessed with today: electronics. The wonderful voices return, led by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. I get too emotional about this franchise, but I keep coming back for more.
- Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (Jun 26): This one follows Kara Zor-El’s story – and her darker origins – before she made her way to Earth. Milly Alcock steps into the lead role, further expanding the James Gunn DC Universe. Krypto the Superdog returns from his role in 2025’s Superman. And, if it is as good as Superman, we are all in for a treat.
July 2026
- Minions 3 (July 1): The seventh movie overall in the Despicable Me franchise, serving as a sequel to 2022’s Minions: The Rise Of Gru. Steve Carell once again gives his legendary voice to Gru. It doesn’t really need a plot synopsis, it just needs Minions running amok. That’s enough.
- Shiver (July 3): Amidst a catastrophic hurricane, a coastal town battles nature’s wrath and an onslaught of sharks. (My wife will sit this one out…) Braving torrential rain, debris, and darkness, the townspeople unite to survive all the deadly predators and somehow make it through. Cast includes Phoebe Dynevor and Djimon Hounsou. This sounds like the perfect July movie with many spending their free time in the water.
- Moana (Jul 10): Live-action adaptation of the 2016 Disney animated film. Dwayne Johnson stars. I’m not a big fan of Disney live-actioning all of their properties, so this one will be a pass for me…even though I rarely pass on a Dwayne Johnson flick.
- The Odyssey (Jul 17): After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting various unfriendly creatures along the way. Esteemed director Christopher Nolan takes his turn at adapting Homer here. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, and the cast includes Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, and Jon Bernthal. The teaser trailer did little for me but knowing Nolan, this will turn out to be great.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Jul 31): Iconic character Peter Parker tries to focus on college and leave his Spider-Man identity behind. But, when a new threat endangers his friends, he must suit up again, teaming with an unexpected ally to protect those he loves. Tom Holland dons the suit once more, with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon returning as his pals. Jon Bernthal and Mark Ruffalo appear as Punisher and Hulk respectively. Sadie Sink will also be in this one. I love all the Spider-Man films, but especially the Holland ones.
August 2026
- Flowervale Street (Aug 14): A family in the 80s starts to notice some pretty bizarre happenings in their neighborhood. This sci-fi mystery stars Anne Hathaway and, Ewan McGregor. Directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows). Sounds like A Quiet Place or a Stranger Things…I am all in.
- Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (Aug 14): The Paw Patrol lands on a mysterious dinosaur island after a storm where they meet Rex, a stranded pup. When a volcano erupts, the team faces their biggest rescue mission yet. For this third Paw Patrol animation, voices include Mckenna Grace, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, and Terry Crews.
- Thread: An Insidious Tale (Aug 21): A couple resorts to a spell to travel back in time, hoping to prevent their daughter’s tragic death. Stars Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani. The sixth installment in the Insidious universe, which I have very limited experience with. That being said, the stars and plot have me a bit intrigued.
- Coyote vs. Acme (Aug 28): A live action/animated hybrid with John Cena and Will Forte leading the way. This movie has enough backstory as to how it lived to see the light of day that if it is a hit, somebody’s gonna write a book. The studio initially planned to destroy the film for a tax write-off, but backed off and eventually sold the rights to distribute it. Any movie where Wile E. Coyote is suing the Acme Corporation for faulty products…is a movie that can count on me among the audience.
September 2026
- How To Rob A Bank (Sep 4): Bank robbers are posting their heists on social media, logically causing police to then chase them. Fairly straight-forward plot, I think. Directed by David Leitch, and the cast includes Nicholas Hoult, Anna Sawai, Pete Davidson, Zoe Kravitz, John C. Reilly, and Christian Slater.
- Clayface (Sep 11): A shape-shifter made of magical clay haunts Gotham City, alternating between villain and ally of Batman. This body horror film sounds like it will very much earn its R-rating, starring Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role. I know little about this character, but I’ll still be looking forward to this.
- Resident Evil (Sep 18): A hapless courier is tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. He soon finds himself caught in the middle of an outbreak, and must fight through hordes of mutated creatures to survive. Directed by Zach Cregger. Reboot of the series (which supposedly died off a couple of times now), and it will now be the eighth overall Resident Evil film. The cast includes Austin Abras, Paul Walter Hauser, and Zach Cherry.
- Practical Magic 2 (Sep 18): A multi-generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempts to break the spell by confronting dark secrets and sacrificing for each other. Sequel to the 1988 film, with Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest all returning from the original entry. Joey King and Lee Pace are newcomers here.
October 2026
- Verity (Oct 2): A female writer in need of work gets hired by a husband to ghostwrite novels for his bestselling author wife Verity, who is unable to finish her book series after a mysterious accident. She eventually uncovers the author’s disturbing truths while residing at the couple’s home. The cast includes Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. Sounds yummy.
- The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender (Oct 9): This animated film follows Aang and his friends, now as young adults, several years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Dave Bautista adds his voice here. The first of three planned Airbender films.
- The Social Reckoning (Oct 9): Based on the story of Frances Haugen, a young Facebook engineer who enlisted the help of Jeff Horwitz, a Wall Street Journal reporter, to blow the whistle on the network’s secrets. Sequel to 2010’s The Social Network. Directed by Aaron Sorkin, the cast includes Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White, Mikey Madison, and Betty Gilpin.
- Street Fighter (Oct 16): Street Fighters Ryu and Ken reunite when Chun-Li recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament. As they face a hidden conspiracy they must confront each other – and their past – or face destruction. Based on the iconic video game…which I know nothing of.
- Whalefall (Oct 16): This one is about a scuba diver who, while looking for his father’s remains, is swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm whale and has just one hour to get out before his oxygen runs out. Yes, you read that correctly. The cast includes Josh Brolin, Austin Abrams, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, and Jane Levy.
- Remain (Oct 23): A grieving New York architect moves to Cape Cod to design a summer home for a friend after leaving a psychiatric facility. While staying at a historic B & B, he meets a mysterious woman who makes him question his rational beliefs about life and loss. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor. Shyamalan movies are always interesting to me, if not always good for me.
November 2026
- The Cat in the Hat (Nov 6): We’re promised the Cat in the Hat we don’t know in an animated adventure where mischief, magic, and mayhem all reign supreme. Voices include Bill Hader (Cat, of course), Quinta Brunson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bowen Yang. Based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic. .I saw a trailer for this and it is exactly as you might expect. Crazy Cat.
- Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol (Nov 13): Promised to be a thrilling ghost story set in Charles Dickens’ London, following one man’s supernatural journey to face his past, present, and future as he fights for a second chance at redemption. This admittedly all might sound familiar. Johnny Depp as Scrooge is not. I will look forward to seeing Depp on the big screen again, especially in this role.
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Nov 20): Set 24 years before the original Hunger Games trilogy began, focusing on the 50th Hunger Games. This entry “fits” between The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and the first Hunger Games film. The cast includes Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemmons, and Ralph Fiennes. I admittedly checked out on this franchise after that initial movie – which I thought was just ok – and have only seen bits and pieces of the other films. Maybe I’ll be up for this prequel.
- Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (Nov 26): A new adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ series. Written and directed by Barbie’s own Greta Gerwig, based on the 1955 novel The Magician’s Nephew. My understanding is Netflix will be releasing this movie exclusively into IMAX theatres for the first two weeks. Then…set to stream it on Christmas Day. Gerwig is signed to create a follow-up film as well. I don’t know much of Narnia, but I will by the time this shows up.
December 2026
- Violent Night 2 (Dec 4): Stranded in a crumbling New Jersey mall and cut off from the North Pole, Santa Claus is trapped dishing out justice to a ruthless Crime Lord and his henchmen at the shopping center. David Harbour returns as Mr. Claus for this sequel. Justice will most certainly be served. Ho-ho-whoa. The first film was a nice present for moviegoers who wanted a little counter programming to Hallmark.
- Jumanji 3 (Dec 11): Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are all back again, as well as director Jake Kasdan. Not much is known about this movie’s plot just yet, but it matters not to me as I have seen the first two entries in this series many, many times. Great cast, great films.
- Avengers: Doomsday (Dec 18): The plot is being kept under wraps for this one also. Marvel has called back the Russo brothers to direct another one of their multi-hero meet-ups, along with Marvel fan favorite Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom…since (spoiler alert!) Iron Man is dead. The Russos will try to tap into the magic they brought to Infinity War and Endgame. I have been on Team Marvel from the beginning. There are those who look down upon superhero movies these days. Most of that ire is aimed at Marvel because they went off the rails with oversaturation and poor products. But, the genre…and Marvel…deserve a chance to recapture some glory with this spectacle. This film’s sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars is currently scheduled for December, 2027.
- Dune: Part Three (Dec 18): The third movie in the trilogy follows Paul Atreides as he brings to fruition an ancient scheme to create a superbeing ruler among men, not in the heavens. Director Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya return. Villeneuve and the producers have made the first two films in the series fairly faithful to the 1965 classic Frank Herbert novel, considered one of the best sci-fi books ever written. I tried to get through the entire book, but got stuck in the sand and never finished it.
- Werwulf (Dec 25): In medieval Britain, a mysterious creature stalks the foggy countryside, transforming local folklore into terrifying reality as villagers face an ancient supernatural threat. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Directed by Robert Eggers, who also gave us Nosferatu at Christmas in 2024. Eggers certainly has a unique approach towards entertaining for the holidays.
My most anticipated “big four” for 2026 (in anticipated release date order):
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Jumanji 3
Avengers: Doomsday
Picture Courtesy Cinemark
Wow! You are quite dedicated to the cinema.
My wife and I have the AMC A-List membership.
I have seen the trailers for The Bride! Kind looks like they are kind of like a Bonnie and Clyde couple that just happen to be scientifically re-animated human monsters.
The Mandolorian and Grogu trailer looks great.
The Mandolorian show has been my favorite Star Wars since Disney took over.
Just out of curiosity, your site name, Swan Song Apocalypse, is that an homage to the Robert McCammon novel Swan Song about the survivors of a global nuclear war?
If you guys have an AMC membership, you are dedicated to the cinema as well! I also like The Mandalorian as the best thing Disney has done so far with Star Wars. I am familiar with that novel, but the inspiration for my site name is actually an episode of the TV show Supernatural. It is explained a bit more on my About page FYI.
Ah. My son watched Supernatural. That show had a long running. Over a decade if I recall.
If you liked that show and maybe others like The Walking Dead, or any kind of survival horror/ sci fi, please check out Swang Song.
The closest thing I could compare it to is Stephen King’s The Stand. However, to this day I have not been able to get past the first 200 pages of The Stand.
I am a slow reader when it comes to novels ( I read every word).
However, I finished Swan Song in less than a week. And it’s over 700 pages!
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
I will put Swan Song on the to-be-read list. Thank you for the recommendation!
Hope you enjoy it. The nuclear war is just the beginning…
Goodness, you are passionate about films! I’ll be looking for a few of these myself now that you’ve brought them to my attention. Do you expect to see all these movies? Do you ever wait for some of them to stream?
We have tried to see one movie in the theatres each week, but with Mrs. B still working full-time, the reality has been one movie every two weeks i.e. 26 a year. So the answer here would be no, a few of these definitely would be streamers.
The most interesting plot, by far, is the movie, “Verity.”
I’d also watch “Crime 101” because most anything with Mark Ruffalo in it usually is quality.
My wife votes for “The Sheep Detectives” because she says anything with Hugh Jackman in it is worthy of her attention.
I agree on Verity and Mark Ruffalo…and I certainly understand your wife’s vote for the reason given. To be honest, I have seen some mixed reviews on the novel Verity is based upon, but I think the plot/set-up will make for a better movie.
Kudos on the very comprehensive listing, Bruce! You did not mess around. Anything with Jason Statham, Mark Ruffalo and Jon Hamm gets my vote. Practical Magic–I loved the book. And the same cast–yay! The Devil Wears Prada–I am glad the gang is all there. The Minions!!! Yes, to those adorable little crazies running amok!
Thanks, Lois! I never read the Practical Magic books, but I am looking forward to another movie with the same main cast. I was also very happy to see everyone signed back up for the Devil Wears Prada sequel. That should be delicious.
MINIONS 3!!!!!
that’s all I care about, haha 😄
Minions always make me smile. If I’m having a grumpy day, shoot me a Minion GIF.😊
On the small screen, I will watch almost any movies because I can easily abandon ones I don’t like (and look up the endings online if I am curious) or I can multi task while watching. On the big screen, I was intrigued by Mercy, Crime 101, Project Hail Mary, The Sheep Detectives, The Social Reckoning, and Remain. I read the book Verity and liked it.
Ok, now I need to read Verity. I have seen mixed reviews on the book, but figured it would make a better movie based on what I knew of it. Thanks for sharing that. I’m fairly certain Mrs. B and I will try to see all of the movies you listed here, especially The Sheep Detectives. That sounds like it will be so much fun.
Bruce, you’ve done a ton of work here with this list. Are you getting a paycheck for putting this list together?? The AI one in January sounds a lot like Companion with Sophie Thatcher, which was creepy. I’ll probably put Wuthering Heights on my list but these classic remakes always give me pause. It always seems the “modernization” of a classic just doesn’t work. A few others sound interesting so I’ll be watching for them when they release. Thanks!
Thanks, Deb! Companion was a wild movie, and I wonder when it will no longer be creepy sci-fi…and be creepy reality. Just saw a TV commercial for Wuthering Heights an hour ago…and it doesn’t come out until Valentine’s Day. The studio is looking for that to be a big, big movie. Remakes are really tricky, but from what I’ve seen it looks well-made.
It is better watching the big screen than television. I don’t seem to go very often, but near my daughter’s they have a lovely little Art Deco cinema lovingly saved and last Christmas we all went to see ELF, nothing too scary!
Elf has become a modern Christmas classic. Did you ever post anything about that Art Deco cinema near your daughter’s? I love “saved” theatres!
Michael Moore saved one in Traverse City and continues to take a personal interest in it. There’s one in Ann Arbor that’s been saved but I don’t know much about it.
Wuthering Heights to Mortal Kombat II, now this is a list. Ha, ha. I would like to see a few of these. I’m not a particularly big Johnny Depp fan, but I love the scrooge story. I think that could be interesting. And yes, I noticed no sharks in the bunch. Maybe Hollywood needs to get Stephen Spielberg back on the case to come up with the next Jaws or Sharknado movie for your wife and you. Ha, ha.
I just saw the good folks behind Sharknado are planning yet another film. Needless to say, Mrs. B is not a fan…I keep telling her they aren’t real.
what a thorough run down! hope your faves win this year. we only go to movies on xmas, which is the perfect day for it – then local Chinese dinner
btw, just a heads up – for some reason this came up as one solid block of text in wordpress reader, rather than than the beautifully formatted version you have at your site…
Movies and Chinese is a winning combination any day!
WoWeee!! What a list🍿🌟 SO many on here I’d like to see. Marveling at the title, “Avengers: DoomsDay” Somebody made a lotta money to come up with that and they delivered😄 Gonna be a good year🙂
It is gonna be a good year at the movies…and the Marvel film is appropriately named.😊
Wow, you really are a fan of the movies! I can’t remember the last movie I went to see-it’s been THAT long ago. Enjoy that popcorn. 🍿
I may be having some again in just a few hours from now…and I will make it a point to enjoy it!🍿
😁 Outstanding!
Hi. There’s a lot of movies to look forward to in 2026.
My wife and I saw Blue Moon recently in Philadelphia, at the PFS East, which used to be called Ritz East. It’s a quality movie.
Mrs. B and I are familiar with the Ritz. Blue Moon is a film we plan on catching at home when it becomes available. Thanks for sharing that recommendation.
I’m impressed. I’ll have to refer to your lists to entertain, Bruce! xx
Cindy, thanks…and thanks for stopping by!
Wow! This is a keeper of a post, Bruce! Thank you for the grin, here:
“Of course, for the last four decades or so I’ve had to share the popcorn with my wife, who fortunately shares my passion for going out to the movies…unless the movie has sharks in it. No. Sharks.” 🤣❤️🤣
Thanks, Vicki! I keep telling Mrs. B the sharks aren’t real, but she isn’t buying it…even after all these years.🦈
LOL! ❤️😜❤️
Wow, you are organised. I usually decide the day before! We often get films a bit later than you so I look forward to any reviews. Having said that, I don’t do action films and super heroes 😀
We have been known to decide the day before…but for us it is between 2 or 3 movies we already were planning to see months ago.😁 I do notice when some films are opening elsewhere before or after the U.S. Global movie distribution is not always evenly distributed.
Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights . . . I just can’t see that working out. I really can’t.
Lots of stuff for me to catch on DVD. I stopped going to cinemas a while back. Too expensive!
I just saw a TV commercial for Wuthering Heights a couple of hours ago, and it doesn’t come out until Valentine’s Day. I think the studio is banking on Barbie big-time!
Excellent list. 😀
My picks:
January – Greenland 2 – was surprised by and loved the first one.
February – Maybe Goat, maybe not.
March – Project Hail Mary – not a fan of Ryan but I liked what they did with The Martian.
April – Maybe Ready or Not 2 – maybe not.
May – The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, need I say more 😀
June – Supergirl – based only on how much I liked Superman.
July – The Odessey – for the big screen-ness of it all! And Spidey – cos, Tom Holland.
August – Pass.
September – Maybe Practical Magic 2, maybe not – will have to rewatch the original first.
October – Pass
November – Maybe The Cat In The Hat, maybe.
December – Avengers Doomsday, of course – and Dune, but I might wait until Dune is streamed, and watch all three at once. (disabilities mean no more theaters, so I treated myself to a curved 43-ish inch computer monitor so I don’t miss out. 😀 )
Thanks, Widds! Love all your picks and maybes here! We agree on Project Hail Mary – I don’t know that I’d be up for it at all without having The Martian vibe attached to it. I do need to rewatch the first Practical Magic for sure, and aligned with your Dune thoughts, I will watch the first two before seeing the third one. Those movies – like the book – are “dense,” and it would make perfect sense to watch them in close proximity to one another.
The first movie I ever saw in theaters was James and the Giant Peach when I was less than 1 year old. My mom can attest to it. As for 2026 movies, there’s a lot I’m looking forward to and some I’m cautiously optimistic about. You’ve highlighted most of them. I’m eager to see SOULM8TE, but I’m convinced it will be delayed since there hasn’t been a trailer for the January release. Avengers: Doomsday and now Michael are probably the movies I’m most excited to see. Though my list of movies to see in theaters is probably over 40 at this point.
I love that James was your first movie…and before your first birthday. I looked at a couple of things online and I now agree Soulm8te may wind up being pushed back, or even pushed out to streaming. We share a similar number when it comes to a list of films to see in theatres.
Thanks for the thorough round-up! One that I’m really looking forward to is Hamnet, the adaptation of the Maggie O’Farrell novel, with Paul Mescal and Jess Buckley.
Thanks, Emma. Agreed on Hamnet. Chloe Zhao is such a great director, and the stars look to be a perfect fit for the story.
Wow! My head is spinning. Thank you for the round-up. The first movie I saw was Bambi. The first movie that stuck with me was Goldfinger, and I was immediately a James Bond fan. I’m sorry that great books have been made into movies, like James and the Giant Peach. My mother would say, “Jennie, you loved the James Bond movies, but you never read Ian Fleming’s books.” Touche!
Thanks, Jennie! Your first movie was certainly a memorable one. I will say the James Bond books I read were almost as good as their movies…but geez, the movies are so hard to top. Highly entertaining films to be sure.
You’re welcome, Bruce. I’m sorry to say I haven’t read Ian Fleming’s books after that first movie with Sean Connery.
Wow – a year’s worth of movies. This is a treasure trove of information I had no idea. Verity sounds particularly intriguing. And the Cat in the Hat too? Wow! Thanks for giving me lots to look forward to!
Thanks, Wynne! I just bought the Verity book to read before that movie comes around. I have already read The Cat In The Hat…many times…many years earlier.😊
So passionate about movies! A thoughtful listing indeed!
Thanks, Kaushal…and thanks for stopping by as well!
Lulu: “Wow, that’s a lot of movies coming out! Our Dada says he hasn’t been to a theatre since before he was in the hospital, which was before the pandemic, so it’s been a while. However, he and Mama are going to see something called ‘Flow’ tomorrow because the local symphony is going to be playing the soundtrack live while the movie is shown in their concert hall and they thought that sounded interesting.”
Charlee: “Also, rumor has it Mama was not able to watch ‘Flow’ at home because Bean kept barking at the main character, who is a cat.”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, it was a big cat, and it kept looking at me from inside the TV!”
All, that Flow show sounds really cool. I love that concept when they enrich a movie experience in that manner. I hope Dada and Mama have a great time and that it’s the cat’s meow!
Wow! That is quite the list! 🥳
I really want Crime 101, Toy Story 5, Wuthering Heights, The Odyssey, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Michael and Hoppers to be good. They’re the ones I want to see most. 🤞🤞
Fingers crossed those are all good ones, G!
Wow there are some that really sound good. Makes me wish the grandkids were younger for some of those. You need to buy a bucket of popcorn to share and then get the free refill. Lol
Diane, I really do need to take advantage of the free refills more often!
I haven’t been to a movie theater since 2009 (Avatar). But I do stream a lot of movies, and this list is awesome, Bruce. I’ll have to wait for them to hit the small screen, but other than the animations, I’ll give them a try. I’m favoriting your long list. You are in for a great year! Enjoy the popcorn. 🙂
Thanks, Diana. I originally wasn’t an Avatar fan at all but the second one hooked me…and now I eagerly await the third one to arrive shortly…popcorn in hand!
That is an amazing list! I was reading that this year hasn’t been lucrative for Hollywood. What’s your assessment of this year’s movies?
Hollywood is wishing for a return to pre-pandemic days box office-wise but no matter the quality of their movies, I don’t see that ever happening. There are so many entertainment choices these days, pandemic or no pandemic box office was going to drop. I actually think the movies overall were pretty good this year, especially the “smaller films.” However, they need those blockbusters to keep making those smaller films, and those have been in shorter supply this year.
Bruce, that was a lot to go through, and I appreciate the effort you took to pull it together. From that list the ones I want to see, in chron order:
1)Greenland 2 — saw the first one and liked it
2) The Bride! — of course I have to see it, as I’m a fan of Frankenstein movies. Wondering how it will measure up to GDT’s vision
3) Project Hail Mary — do not like the title, but the cast is hard to resist
4) The Dog Stars
5) The Odyssey
6) Clayface — I’m a fan of Gotham themed movies
7) The Social Reckoning — may be the only way anymore to tell the truth about the monsters is through cinema
8) Dune Part 3 — yes on Denis directing! I trust the dude to do it right
Lisa, love this list and your comments. I especially like what you said about The Social Reckoning…so true!
Bruce I can’t believe you haven’t seen the first 2 Dune movies! You better get on that.
Lisa, I haven’t finished the book yet. I tried reading it a couple of years ago and it just wore me down lol. We have seen both of the Dune movies in the theatre, and a couple of times each at home since. It was the book…big…book…🫤
Oh ok, sorry, I misunderstood. I read the first Dune book but none beyond.
Super thorough list Bruce! As far as immediate things that have my attention in the first few months, Scream 7 is up there. Huge superfan of those movies and I don’t think there’s ever been a truly bad one. I’ll always enjoy the whodunit aspect of them and what rules they end up making for their universe.
Thanks, Mark! I am so happy that Kevin Williamson is helming Scream 7, and of course that Neve Campbell is also back. I have seen them all, and am happy the franchise is still active. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hey Bruce, first off: You are maybe the most passionate movie fan I’ve ever encountered. This is quite the comprehensive list and I can’t imagine how much time you put into it. I don’t watch nearly as many movies as I used to, but I’d love to have you tell me which 5 from above you are most looking forward to (just to narrow things down for us rank amateurs). 🙂
Great blog — glad I found it again!
Vance, thanks so much for the compliment about being a movie fan. I accept the honor. I had a cheat code going because in my phone’s calendar I log in every major release date, and reorder them in the calendar on those occasions the studios shuffle the scheduling. So, I already had a template date-wise…and I knew who the major stars were…so I just took a quick look for recent news in their productions and away I went. As you know, when you are doing something you love you lose all track of time. I think I tucked away my most anticipated films too far down on this post! To answer your question, aside from the four movies I have there, I would add Flowervale Street. A sci-fi survival film set in a neighborhood. J.J. Abrams (Lost television series, Star Wars movie franchise) is co-producing this one. Sounds like dinosaurs rolling down your block in the 80s…maybe a Stranger Things vibe? Those would be the fab five for me for big-screen fun. Nice to see you here!
Wow Bruce…thank you for the preview…I’ve bookmarked this page so I can look it at a few more times. My son is totally into movies so him and I plan to go next year a lot.
I know this sounds crazy…you know the one that really got my attention? The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender… When Bailey was around 5 years old in 2005…Nickelodeon had a series called Avatar: The Last Airbender and it was not just for kids…it was really good. It last three seasons and resolved itself. A horrible movie was made…a live action one…but I’m looking forward to another animation movie.
In April of 2028… 4 Beatle bio movies will be released…surely not on the same day! Each movie shows the perspective of each member. Four separate, interconnected films, with each film dedicated to a single member of the band. I don’t know how they will do it but I can’t wait to see.
Thank you, Max! My understanding is the 2026 Airbender movie serves as a continuation of that Nickelodeon series. Sounds very promising. I did hear about those Beatles bio movies, which they are referring to as a theatrical binge of sorts. I am very interested to see how that business model is received box-office wise.
Thats wonderful that it continues that one…I would love to see it because I can’t recommend the original enough…even as an adult…it really works.
I just wonder how they will release the movies? Surely not all at once…
Those Beatles movies are definitely supposed to be released in the same month, but I have not seen anything definitive about them coming out the same week. That being said, if the idea is to see them all in “binge” fashion that sounds like all at once to me.
I just don’t see that working with the Beatles movies…but who am I? That is a lot of trips to the movies. I love the concept though. I wonder how they will do it? Have overlapping time periods? It will be different for sure.
It’s a really big swing for film distribution, but with all of the concert films starting to play on movie screens everywhere and doing pretty well, I think it definitely is worth a try.
Hello and nice to “meet” you! You certainly seem to have your year planned out – I haven’t even got this year finished yet. And I know we’re nearly a month after you posted this but there is a BIG, nay, massive addition to the list…..Star Wars A New Hope should be in cinemas in February!
Thanks for checking out my blog, I’m about to scroll through some of your recent post now.
Nice to meet you here as well. I saw the notice regarding the rerelease of Star Wars for the 50th anniversary, but unfortunately we have to wait until 2027 for that. I actually saw it in a theatre in 1977, and plan to again when it comes back around. Thank you for stopping by!
Wow, that is a lot of movies, Bruce. Quote a compilation! My sweety and I used to go to the movie theatre for matinees during the week, but Covid interrupted that. We should start up again.
Thanks, Steve! Yes, Covid interrupted a lot of moviegoing, and likely still does to some extent. I hope folks continue to return to the theatres as I selfishly want to keep them around forever.
Agreed!