The next wave of movies is shaping up to be one of the most interesting theatrical calendars in years.

Major franchises are returning, filmmakers with distinctive voices are taking on ambitious projects, animation studios are preparing potential family blockbusters, and some of Hollywood’s biggest brands are competing for attention alongside prestige dramas, horror reinventions and video-game adaptations.

The remainder of 2026 alone includes Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Clayface and the final chapter of the modern Jumanji series.

Then 2027 brings another extraordinary lineup. Greta Gerwig is entering Narnia. Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda is becoming a live-action movie. Ryan Gosling is leading a new standalone Star Wars adventure. Shrek is returning. Godzilla and Kong are preparing for another MonsterVerse battle. Disney is bringing Frozen back, while Middle-earth returns with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Release calendars can change, but these are the 25 best upcoming movies and most anticipated new films currently scheduled, ranked from No. 25 to No. 1.

25 Best Upcoming Movies at a Glance

25 Gatto — March 5, 2027
24 Ice Age: Boiling Point — February 5, 2027
23 Hexed — November 25, 2026
22 Children of Blood and Bone — January 15, 2027
21 The Social Reckoning — October 9, 2026
20 Practical Magic 2 — September 10, 2026
19 Resident Evil — September 18, 2026
18 Street Fighter — October 16, 2026
17 Clayface — October 23, 2026
16 Werwulf — December 25, 2026
15 Jumanji: Open World — December 25, 2026
14 A Quiet Place Part III — July 30, 2027
13 The Bluey Movie — August 6, 2027
12 How to Train Your Dragon 2 — June 11, 2027
11 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 — March 19, 2027
10 Godzilla x Kong: Supernova — March 26, 2027
9 Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew — February 12, 2027
8 Frozen 3 — November 24, 2027
7 Shrek 5 — June 30, 2027
6 The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — November 20, 2026
5 The Legend of Zelda — May 7, 2027
4 The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — December 17, 2027
3 Star Wars: Starfighter — May 28, 2027
2 Dune: Part Three — December 18, 2026
1 Avengers: Doomsday — December 18, 2026

25. Gatto

Expected Release: March 5, 2027
Genre: Animation, Adventure
Director: Enrico Casarosa
Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Laurence Fishburne
Studio/Distributor: Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Studios
Why We’re Excited: Pixar returns to an original world rather than relying on one of its established franchises.

Directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa, Gatto follows Nero, a scrappy black cat navigating a superstitious version of Venice while questioning the direction of his life. His circumstances become more complicated by a debt to feline mob boss Rocco and an unexpected friendship that could give him a different path forward.

The combination of Italian atmosphere, animal characters and Casarosa’s personal storytelling sensibility makes Gatto especially interesting. Mark Ruffalo voices Nero, while Laurence Fishburne plays Rocco. Pixar remains capable of producing visually distinctive original animation when it gives its filmmakers room to build new worlds, and Venice offers a particularly rich canvas for that approach.

24. Ice Age: Boiling Point

Expected Release: February 5, 2027
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Director: John Donkin
Cast: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Simon Pegg
Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Studios / Disney
Why We’re Excited: One of modern animation’s longest-running ensembles is returning to theaters.

Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie and Buck are heading back to the big screen in Ice Age: Boiling Point. The sixth main theatrical chapter reunites much of the franchise’s familiar voice cast, including Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah and Simon Pegg.

The Ice Age series has survived changing animation trends largely because of its recognizable characters and broad family humor. The bigger question is whether Boiling Point can rediscover the warmth and comic rhythm that made the earlier movies so popular.

With Scrat also back in the mix, nostalgia will inevitably be part of the appeal, but a theatrical return gives the franchise an opportunity to reintroduce itself to a new generation.

23. Hexed

Expected Release: November 25, 2026
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
Directors: Fawn Veerasunthorn, Jason Hand
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Rashida Jones, Tracey Ullman, Stephen Fry
Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Why We’re Excited: Disney is building an entirely new magical world rather than returning to an existing property.

Hexed centers on Billie, an unconventional teenager who discovers that she possesses magical abilities. Her powers lead her beyond ordinary suburban life and into Hexe, a hidden realm of witches, where she must work with her more cautious mother while confronting secrets tied to their family.

Hailee Steinfeld voices Billie, with Rashida Jones playing her mother, Alice. The voice cast also includes Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry.

Original Disney Animation films are especially worth watching because they can become the studio’s next generation of long-running properties. Hexed has the ingredients for that possibility: magic, family tension, world-building and a young protagonist discovering that her identity is more complicated than she imagined.

22. Children of Blood and Bone

Expected Release: January 15, 2027
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Drama
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Cast: Thuso Mbedu, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Tosin Cole, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Regina King, Viola Davis
Studio/Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Why We’re Excited: A major fantasy adaptation with an exceptional ensemble cast.

Based on Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel, Children of Blood and Bone transports audiences to Orïsha, where magic has been violently taken from its people. A young woman sets out to restore that power while joining forces with allies connected to the ruling family.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood has assembled one of the strongest casts on this list. Thuso Mbedu leads an ensemble featuring Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Idris Elba and Viola Davis.

Hollywood has repeatedly searched for its next major fantasy saga. Rather than simply copying familiar medieval-European templates, Children of Blood and Bone has the chance to establish a visually and culturally distinct cinematic world.

21. The Social Reckoning

Expected Release: October 9, 2026
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Cast: Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin, Billy Magnussen, Bill Burr
Studio/Distributor: Sony Pictures
Why We’re Excited: Aaron Sorkin is returning to the world explored in The Social Network, but from a very different moment in its history.

Rather than recreating the founding of Facebook, The Social Reckoning is positioned as a companion piece to The Social Network. Its story draws inspiration from the events surrounding Frances Haugen and journalist Jeff Horwitz’s work on the Facebook Files.

Mikey Madison plays Haugen, Jeremy Allen White portrays Horwitz, and Jeremy Strong takes on Mark Zuckerberg.

Sorkin both writes and directs, which makes the project particularly intriguing. The original film examined ambition, friendship and power at the beginning of the social-media era. This follow-up has an opportunity to examine what happened after platforms that began as technology companies grew into institutions with enormous social influence.

20. Practical Magic 2

Expected Release: September 10, 2026
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Drama
Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing
Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Why We’re Excited: Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are returning to a cult favorite nearly three decades later.

The Owens sisters are back.

Practical Magic 2 reunites Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens in another story involving the magical legacy—and dangerous curse—surrounding their family.

Instead of functioning purely as a nostalgia project, the sequel has an opportunity to explore what generational magic means after its central characters have grown older and their family has expanded.

Susanne Bier directs, while Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams and Xolo Maridueña join returning performers including Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing.

The original Practical Magic grew significantly in reputation after its theatrical run. That enduring affection could make its sequel one of 2026’s more unusual success stories.

19. Resident Evil

Expected Release: September 18, 2026
Genre: Horror, Action
Director: Zach Cregger
Cast: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser
Studio/Distributor: Columbia Pictures / Constantin Film
Why We’re Excited: The filmmaker behind Barbarian and Weapons gets a chance to reinvent one of gaming’s defining horror properties.

Rather than simply remaking previous Resident Evil films, Zach Cregger’s version introduces an original protagonist named Bryan, a medical courier whose routine assignment becomes a nightmare when one chaotic night spirals into a fight for survival.

Austin Abrams leads the cast alongside Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser and Zach Cherry.

The intriguing part is Cregger himself. His recent horror work has demonstrated an ability to shift tone, build tension and surprise viewers without relying solely on familiar genre machinery.

Resident Evil has enormous cinematic potential because its games combine survival horror, biological nightmares, conspiracy and action. A filmmaker-driven interpretation could finally find a balance that feels distinct from both previous film continuities.

18. Street Fighter

Expected Release: October 16, 2026
Genre: Action, Adventure
Director: Kitao Sakurai
Cast: Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Callina Liang
Studio/Distributor: Legendary Entertainment / Paramount Pictures
Why We’re Excited: Capcom’s legendary fighting franchise is getting another major theatrical opportunity.

Set in 1993, Street Fighter brings Ryu and Ken back together when Chun-Li recruits them for the World Warrior Tournament. The tournament naturally provides an ideal structure for introducing a large roster of fighters while allowing the film to build toward the larger conspiracy behind the competition.

Andrew Koji plays Ryu, Noah Centineo portrays Ken, and Callina Liang takes on Chun-Li.

Video-game adaptations have entered a much stronger era creatively and commercially, but Street Fighter remains a particularly difficult property to translate. Its appeal comes from larger-than-life characters, distinctive combat styles and an international mythology that can easily become chaotic.

If director Kitao Sakurai can embrace that heightened personality without losing character stakes, this could be one of the year’s most entertaining action movies.

17. Clayface

Expected Release: October 23, 2026
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Superhero
Director: James Watkins
Cast: Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik
Studio/Distributor: DC Studios / Warner Bros. Pictures
Why We’re Excited: DC is using one of Batman’s strangest villains to explore full-scale body horror.

Clayface follows a rising Hollywood actor whose transformation strips away both his identity and his humanity. Tom Rhys Harries leads the film, with James Watkins directing from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, based on a story by Flanagan.

Rather than treating every comic-book movie as an interchangeable superhero spectacle, DC Studios appears to be using the character as the foundation for a horror thriller.

That is exactly what makes Clayface interesting.

A shape-shifting monster whose body can deform and reconstruct itself naturally belongs in horror, and connecting that transformation to performance, celebrity and identity could give the movie thematic weight beyond its genre mechanics.

16. Werwulf

Expected Release: December 25, 2026
Genre: Horror
Director: Robert Eggers
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Lily-Rose Depp
Studio/Distributor: Focus Features
Why We’re Excited: Robert Eggers tackling werewolf mythology is almost impossible for horror fans to ignore.

After The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman and Nosferatu, Eggers has established himself as one of contemporary cinema’s most committed creators of historically grounded dark worlds.

Werwulf continues that fascination.

Focus Features describes the movie as a tale involving devotion, damnation and the darkness within, while Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp and frequent Eggers collaborator Willem Dafoe headline the cast.

Eggers’ approach to supernatural material rarely feels like conventional franchise horror. His movies tend to build entire cultural environments around folklore, language, belief and fear.

That makes Werwulf one of the most intriguing upcoming horror movies—even before considering what Eggers might do visually with the mythology of the werewolf.

15. Jumanji: Open World

Expected Release: December 25, 2026
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Danny DeVito and others
Studio/Distributor: Sony Pictures
Why We’re Excited: The modern Jumanji ensemble returns for what has been positioned as the final chapter.

The latest adventure changes the rules again: instead of the characters simply entering Jumanji, the game is breaking into their world.

That premise gives director Jake Kasdan a chance to reverse the dynamic that drove Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level.

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan return alongside familiar members of the ensemble. The chemistry among those performers has always been the modern series’ strongest advantage.

With the story moving outside the game environment, Open World can combine fantasy chaos with real-world locations while potentially tying the recent films more closely to the premise of the 1995 original.

14. A Quiet Place Part III

Expected Release: July 30, 2027
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Director: John Krasinski
Cast: To be fully confirmed
Studio/Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Why We’re Excited: The main Quiet Place storyline is finally continuing.

After A Quiet Place: Day One expanded the universe through a different group of characters, A Quiet Place Part III returns attention to the main series.

The concept remains one of modern horror’s simplest and most effective: creatures with extraordinary hearing have transformed sound itself into a survival risk.

John Krasinski’s first two movies found tension not merely through jump scares but through silence, family relationships and clever visual storytelling.

The third installment now faces the challenge every successful horror series eventually encounters: expanding the mythology without weakening the terrifying simplicity of its original idea.

Paramount currently lists the theatrical release for July 30, 2027, although release dates this far out always remain subject to adjustment.

13. The Bluey Movie

Expected Release: August 6, 2027
Genre: Animation, Family
Director: Joe Brumm
Cast: Melanie Zanetti, David McCormack and returning voice talent
Studio/Distributor: Ludo Studio / BBC Studios / Walt Disney Studios
Why We’re Excited: One of television’s most acclaimed family franchises is making its theatrical debut.

Bluey has succeeded because it works on two levels. Children can enjoy Bluey and Bingo’s adventures, while adults recognize the show’s observations about parenting, relationships, growing up and family life.

That emotional balance is what gives The Bluey Movie unusually broad potential for a family release.

Series creator Joe Brumm is writing and directing, providing continuity between the show and the movie. Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack return as Chilli and Bandit.

The film follows Bluey’s family through an eventful day in which a major surprise changes their circumstances. Expanding a short-form television series into a feature is not easy, but keeping Brumm at the creative center gives this adaptation a major advantage.

12. How to Train Your Dragon 2

Expected Release: June 11, 2027
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Director: TBA
Cast: TBA
Studio/Distributor: Universal Pictures
Why We’re Excited: The live-action version of DreamWorks’ dragon saga is moving into one of the animated trilogy’s most ambitious chapters.

Universal has officially scheduled How to Train Your Dragon 2 for June 11, 2027.

The sequel follows the studio’s live-action reimagining of the original story and gives the filmmakers an opportunity to expand Berk’s world, introduce additional dragons and explore larger conflicts.

The second animated How to Train Your Dragon movie significantly widened the franchise’s scale while preserving the emotional relationship between Hiccup and Toothless. That balance will be critical again.

The biggest challenge for the live-action series is not simply recreating memorable scenes. It needs to justify its existence by finding cinematic details, performances and textures that give this version its own personality.

The scope of the second story provides plenty of room to do exactly that.

11. Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Expected Release: March 19, 2027
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Director: TBA
Cast: To be fully announced
Studio/Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Why We’re Excited: Sonic has become one of Hollywood’s most reliable modern video-game franchises.

The transformation of the Sonic the Hedgehog films from an infamous first trailer into a successful movie franchise remains one of recent Hollywood’s more unexpected turnarounds.

Paramount has officially scheduled the fourth installment for March 19, 2027.

The series’ strength has been its willingness to gradually bring more of Sega’s universe into live action rather than overcrowding the first movie. Each sequel has increased the scale and introduced more mythology while retaining the buddy-comedy energy that made the original accessible.

Plot details for the fourth movie remain limited, which is precisely where speculation should stop. What is confirmed is that another major theatrical Sonic adventure is on the way.

For gaming fans, that alone makes it one of 2027’s most important adaptations.

10. Godzilla x Kong: Supernova

Expected Release: March 26, 2027
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Monster Adventure
Director: Grant Sputore
Cast: Dan Stevens, Kaitlyn Dever, Jack O’Connell, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Sam Neill, Matthew Modine, Delroy Lindo
Studio/Distributor: Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
Why We’re Excited: The MonsterVerse continues to embrace giant-scale cinematic spectacle.

Godzilla and Kong are returning in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, the next installment in Legendary’s increasingly expansive MonsterVerse.

Grant Sputore directs, while Dan Stevens returns alongside newcomers including Kaitlyn Dever, Jack O’Connell, Sam Neill, Matthew Modine and Delroy Lindo.

The modern MonsterVerse has gradually evolved away from the relatively restrained atmosphere of 2014’s Godzilla and toward unapologetic science-fiction spectacle. For some viewers, that transformation has become part of the fun.

The title Supernova suggests that the scale is unlikely to become smaller this time.

The key will be finding enough human urgency to give the enormous creature sequences context while delivering the kind of visual confrontations viewers now expect from the franchise.

9. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew

Expected Release: February 12, 2027 in theaters; April 2, 2027 on Netflix
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep, Ciarán Hinds and others
Studio/Distributor: Netflix
Why We’re Excited: Greta Gerwig is tackling one of fantasy literature’s most famous worlds.

Rather than beginning with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Gerwig’s first Narnia movie adapts The Magician’s Nephew, C. S. Lewis’s origin story for the world itself.

That choice immediately distinguishes this interpretation from earlier screen versions.

Netflix has also adopted an unusual release strategy. The film opens theatrically and in IMAX on February 12, 2027, with IMAX previews beginning February 10, before arriving on Netflix on April 2.

The announced cast includes newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell alongside Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, Meryl Streep and Ciarán Hinds.

Gerwig moving from Lady Bird and Little Women to Barbie and now large-scale fantasy makes this one of the most fascinating filmmaker-franchise combinations on the calendar.

8. Frozen 3

Expected Release: November 24, 2027
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Musical, Family
Directors: Jennifer Lee, Trent Correy
Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and returning voice talent
Studio/Distributor: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Why We’re Excited: Elsa and Anna are returning in one of Disney’s biggest modern franchises.

Disney confirmed significant new details about Frozen 3 at D23 in 2026, including returning stars Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad.

Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy are directing, with Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez returning to the musical world of Arendelle.

The challenge is significant. The original Frozen became a cultural phenomenon, while Frozen II expanded the mythology and became another enormous global success.

A third film needs more than familiar characters and new songs. It needs a story that gives Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf a meaningful reason to reunite.

Early material has hinted at another threat connected to powerful magic, but the full narrative remains under wraps. That restraint makes sense for a movie still more than a year away.

7. Shrek 5

Expected Release: June 30, 2027
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Director: TBA
Cast: Returning franchise talent expected
Studio/Distributor: DreamWorks Animation / Universal Pictures
Why We’re Excited: The most famous ogre in animation is finally returning to headline another movie.

DreamWorks has officially dated Shrek 5 for June 30, 2027.

The original Shrek films were more than fairy-tale parodies. At their best, they mixed irreverent comedy with surprisingly sincere stories about insecurity, friendship, marriage and self-acceptance.

That combination helped turn the franchise into one of DreamWorks Animation’s defining properties.

The challenge for Shrek 5 will be determining what the franchise looks like after such a long absence. Simply repeating early-2000s pop-culture jokes would feel dated. The smarter approach would be to recognize that both the characters and the original audience have grown older.

With the right story, Shrek’s return could become both a major nostalgia event and a successful introduction to younger viewers.

6. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Expected Release: November 20, 2026
Genre: Dystopian Drama, Action, Science Fiction
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Joseph Zada, McKenna Grace, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning and others
Studio/Distributor: Lionsgate
Why We’re Excited: One of The Hunger Games’ most important unseen historical events is finally coming to the screen.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel, Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s story and centers on the 50th Hunger Games—the Second Quarter Quell.

Joseph Zada plays a young Haymitch Abernathy, while the ensemble includes McKenna Grace, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons and Elle Fanning.

Francis Lawrence returns to direct, providing continuity with much of the existing film franchise.

The story’s biggest advantage is that audiences already understand who Haymitch eventually becomes. That turns the prequel into something more tragic than a simple origin story: viewers know the emotional destination even when they do not know every step of the journey.

For longtime fans, this may be the most consequential Panem story since Katniss left the arena.

5. The Legend of Zelda

Expected Release: May 7, 2027
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Director: Wes Ball
Cast: TBA
Studio/Distributor: Nintendo / Sony Pictures
Why We’re Excited: One of gaming’s most important fantasy franchises is finally receiving a live-action feature film.

Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda has inspired generations of players through exploration, puzzle-solving, fantasy mythology and the recurring struggle involving Link, Princess Zelda and the forces threatening Hyrule.

Nintendo and Sony are bringing that universe to live action with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball.

Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad are producing, with Nintendo co-financing the film and Sony Pictures handling worldwide theatrical distribution.

The possibilities are enormous—but so are the expectations.

Zelda is not built around rapid dialogue or endless action. Atmosphere, discovery, mystery and environmental storytelling are fundamental to its identity. Translating those qualities rather than simply borrowing characters and locations will determine whether the movie truly feels like Zelda.

Nintendo currently lists May 7, 2027 as the theatrical release date.

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

Expected Release: December 17, 2027
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
Director: Andy Serkis
Cast: Andy Serkis and an expanding ensemble
Studio/Distributor: New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Pictures
Why We’re Excited: Middle-earth is returning with members of the filmmaking team behind Peter Jackson’s landmark trilogy.

Andy Serkis is directing The Hunt for Gollum while once again playing Sméagol/Gollum, placing one of the original films’ most technologically and dramatically important performers at the center of the project.

Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are also involved creatively and as producers, reconnecting the film with the cinematic Middle-earth established more than two decades ago.

Production officially began in 2026, with Warner Bros. setting December 17, 2027 for theatrical release.

The biggest opportunity is not simply revisiting familiar locations. Middle-earth works when its history feels larger than whichever characters currently occupy the frame.

A more focused story involving the hunt for Gollum could explore that world without needing to imitate the enormous scale of The Return of the King.

3. Star Wars: Starfighter

Expected Release: May 28, 2027
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Amy Adams, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings
Studio/Distributor: Lucasfilm / Walt Disney Studios
Why We’re Excited: It is an original standalone theatrical Star Wars story rather than another direct retelling of familiar events.

Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter stars Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon and takes place in a period of the galaxy that theatrical audiences have not previously explored.

Lucasfilm has described it as a standalone adventure rather than another numbered installment in the Skywalker Saga.

The cast is unusually strong: Gosling is joined by Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Amy Adams, Flynn Gray, Jamael Westman and Daniel Ings.

Levy has spoken about building the film around character, family, humor, danger and adventure—all elements closely associated with the franchise at its best.

The theatrical date is also symbolic: May 28, 2027 arrives during the 50th-anniversary period of the original Star Wars. If the movie succeeds, it could establish a fresh direction for big-screen storytelling in the galaxy.

2. Dune: Part Three

Expected Release: December 18, 2026
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, Javier Bardem and others
Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures
Why We’re Excited: Denis Villeneuve is completing one of modern science fiction’s defining cinematic trilogies.

Dune: Part Three moves the story forward significantly following Paul Atreides’ rise to imperial power.

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya return alongside Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem and Anya Taylor-Joy, with Robert Pattinson joining the ensemble.

Villeneuve again directs, while Hans Zimmer returns to compose the score.

The first two films proved that complex, large-scale science fiction can become mainstream event cinema without sacrificing visual ambition or political complexity.

The third film may be even more challenging because its material deals heavily with the consequences of power rather than the simple acquisition of it.

If Villeneuve maintains the standard of the first two installments, Dune: Part Three could become one of the rare franchise conclusions that feels both blockbuster-sized and genuinely auteur-driven.

1. Avengers: Doomsday

Expected Release: December 18, 2026
Genre: Superhero, Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr. and a large Marvel ensemble
Studio/Distributor: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios
Why We’re Excited: Marvel is preparing its biggest crossover event since Avengers: Endgame.

No upcoming movie carries quite the same combination of commercial expectation, franchise history and unanswered questions as Avengers: Doomsday.

Anthony and Joe Russo return to direct after previously overseeing Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

The biggest headline is Robert Downey Jr.’s return to Marvel—but not simply as Tony Stark. He is associated with Victor von Doom, one of Marvel Comics’ most important villains.

Marvel has also teased the involvement of characters from multiple corners of its cinematic universe, including Avengers veterans and the X-Men.

After several years of increasingly complicated multiverse storytelling, Doomsday has a major responsibility: it needs to make Marvel’s enormous interconnected universe feel urgent again rather than merely large.

That combination of stakes, returning filmmakers, major characters and sheer cultural visibility makes Avengers: Doomsday our most anticipated upcoming movie.

What Are the Most Anticipated Upcoming Movies?

The most anticipated upcoming movies include Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Star Wars: Starfighter, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, The Legend of Zelda, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Shrek 5, Frozen 3, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova. Major releases stretch from late 2026 through 2027, covering superhero films, fantasy, science fiction, horror, animation and video-game adaptations.

Upcoming Movies by Genre

Upcoming Action Movies

Some of the biggest upcoming action movies include:

• Avengers: Doomsday
• Street Fighter
• The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
• Godzilla x Kong: Supernova
• Star Wars: Starfighter
• Jumanji: Open World

Readers looking for more high-energy recommendations can also explore Meshtainment’s Best Action Movies of All Time.

Upcoming Sci-Fi Movies

Science-fiction fans have an especially strong calendar ahead:

• Dune: Part Three
• Avengers: Doomsday
• Star Wars: Starfighter
• Godzilla x Kong: Supernova
• A Quiet Place Part III

These movies range from space opera and superhero science fiction to monster spectacle and survival horror.

Upcoming Horror Movies

The upcoming horror slate offers both major franchises and filmmaker-driven projects:

• Resident Evil
• Clayface
• Werwulf
• A Quiet Place Part III

Resident Evil is particularly notable because Zach Cregger is reinventing the franchise, while Robert Eggers’ Werwulf gives horror audiences an original period interpretation of werewolf mythology.

Upcoming Superhero Movies

Among the superhero and comic-book releases on this ranking:

• Avengers: Doomsday
• Clayface

The contrast is notable. Doomsday represents enormous crossover spectacle, while Clayface approaches comic-book material through horror.

Upcoming Animated Movies

Major upcoming animated movies include:

• Gatto
• Hexed
• Ice Age: Boiling Point
• Frozen 3
• Shrek 5
• The Bluey Movie

The slate mixes original animation with some of the industry’s most recognizable family franchises.

Upcoming Family Movies

Families have plenty of major theatrical options ahead, including:

• Shrek 5
• Frozen 3
• The Bluey Movie
• Ice Age: Boiling Point
• Gatto
• Hexed
• How to Train Your Dragon 2
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Upcoming Movies by Release Period

September–December 2026

The final months of 2026 are packed with major new movie releases:

• Practical Magic 2 — September 10
• Resident Evil — September 18
• The Social Reckoning — October 9
• Street Fighter — October 16
• Clayface — October 23
• The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — November 20
• Hexed — November 25
• Dune: Part Three — December 18
• Avengers: Doomsday — December 18
• Jumanji: Open World — December 25
• Werwulf — December 25

December 18 is particularly remarkable, with Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday currently positioned for the same North American release date.

Early 2027

Early 2027 brings:

• Children of Blood and Bone — January 15
• Ice Age: Boiling Point — February 5
• Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew — February 12
• Gatto — March 5
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4 — March 19
• Godzilla x Kong: Supernova — March 26

Summer 2027

The 2027 summer season includes several potential global blockbusters:

• The Legend of Zelda — May 7
• Star Wars: Starfighter — May 28
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 — June 11
• Shrek 5 — June 30
• A Quiet Place Part III — July 30
• The Bluey Movie — August 6

Late 2027

The second half of 2027 includes some extremely valuable franchises:

• Frozen 3 — November 24
• The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — December 17

Release dates remain subject to studio changes, particularly for movies scheduled more than a year in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best upcoming movies?

The best upcoming movies currently include Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Star Wars: Starfighter, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, The Legend of Zelda, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Shrek 5 and Frozen 3.

What are the biggest movies coming soon?

Among the biggest movies still scheduled for 2026 are Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Jumanji: Open World, Street Fighter, Resident Evil and Clayface.

What are the most anticipated movies of 2026?

Our most anticipated remaining 2026 releases are Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Jumanji: Open World, Werwulf, Clayface, Street Fighter and Resident Evil.

What major movies are coming in 2027?

Major 2027 movies include The Legend of Zelda, Star Wars: Starfighter, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Shrek 5, Frozen 3, The Bluey Movie, A Quiet Place Part III and The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Which upcoming movies have confirmed release dates?

Most films in this ranking currently have studio-announced theatrical dates. However, movie schedules frequently change because of production requirements, competition, distribution strategy and other factors. Always check the latest studio announcement before making theatrical plans.

What upcoming superhero movies should I watch?

Avengers: Doomsday is the biggest superhero release on this ranking. DC’s Clayface offers something very different by approaching a comic-book character through horror and psychological transformation rather than conventional superhero action.

What upcoming horror movies should I watch?

Horror fans should watch for Resident Evil, Clayface, Robert Eggers’ Werwulf and A Quiet Place Part III. Each approaches horror differently, ranging from survival horror and body horror to historical supernatural storytelling and science-fiction suspense.

Can upcoming movie release dates change?

Yes. Movie release dates frequently change, sometimes even after a studio has announced a specific day. Production delays, scheduling conflicts, competing releases, post-production requirements and changes in distribution strategy can all result in a movie moving to another date.

The Upcoming Movie Calendar Looks Exceptionally Strong

The most exciting thing about the next movie cycle is not simply the number of franchises returning. It is the variety of filmmakers and approaches involved.

Denis Villeneuve is completing his Dune trilogy. Greta Gerwig is reinventing Narnia. Robert Eggers is exploring werewolf horror. Nintendo is taking The Legend of Zelda into live action. Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling are opening another corner of the Star Wars universe. Marvel is attempting another enormous Avengers crossover, while DC is experimenting with horror through Clayface.

At the same time, Frozen, Shrek, Bluey, Sonic, How to Train Your Dragon, The Hunger Games, Godzilla, Jumanji and The Lord of the Rings are all preparing significant new theatrical chapters.

Not every highly anticipated film ultimately delivers, and release calendars will inevitably shift. But based on what has officially been announced, movie audiences have an unusually deep collection of blockbusters, genre films and filmmaker-driven projects ahead.

Bookmark Meshtainment for updates as release dates, trailers, casting announcements and new upcoming movies are confirmed.

For more recommendations, continue with Meshtainment’s 50 Best Movies of All Time, Best Action Movies of All Time, Best Sci-Fi Movies, Best Horror Movies, Best Superhero Movies, Best Netflix Series to Binge-Watch, and Most Anticipated Video Games Coming Soon.