You Have to See This: The Most Anticipated Hollywood Movies of 2026 0 21

"Project Hail Mary"

A space odyssey, an adaptation of the eponymous bestseller by Andy Weir, is set to become the main science fiction event of 2026. The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who gained worldwide recognition with the animated hit "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." The screenplay was written by Drew Goddard, who previously adapted another Weir novel - "The Martian."

The plot follows school teacher Ryland Grace, who wakes up aboard the spaceship "Hail Mary" all alone and with amnesia. Gradually, his memory returns, and he realizes the monstrous scale of his mission: the Sun of Earth is rapidly dimming due to an infection from a mysterious microorganism called "Astrophage," which will inevitably lead to global extinction. Grace becomes humanity's last hope, sent to the distant star Tau Ceti in a desperate attempt to find a solution.

In deep space, the hero discovers with surprise that he is not alone. In the Tau Ceti system, he meets "Rocky" - an alien engineer from another civilization that has faced an identical threat to its star. Despite their absolute differences in biology, language, and ways of perceiving the world, the two scientists are forced to join forces to save their home worlds. Their scientific collaboration and slowly emerging friendship become the emotional core of the entire story, turning it into a hymn to humanism, reason, and mutual assistance in the face of a universal catastrophe.

"Disclosure Day"

Director Steven Spielberg returns to large-scale science fiction. His new project is a science fiction thriller about the mass disclosure of information regarding UFOs in our time. The screenplay is written by Spielberg's longtime collaborator, David Koepp. The plot unfolds along two parallel lines: one follows a weather anchor who encounters an unexplained phenomenon live on air, while the other follows a man who decides to reveal the truth and clashes with the authorities. The star-studded cast includes Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Josh O'Connor, and Colman Domingo. A significant event will be Spielberg's 30th collaboration with legendary composer John Williams.

"The Odyssey"

An epic blockbuster that will be Christopher Nolan's first film after the triumph of "Oppenheimer." One of the most influential contemporary directors, he wrote the screenplay and took on the direction of a large-scale adaptation of the ancient Greek poem by Homer.

The plot centers around the famous ten-year return of the cunning King Odysseus of Ithaca home after the end of the Trojan War. His long and dangerous journey is filled with encounters with mythical creatures: the Cyclops Polyphemus, sirens, the monsters Scylla and Charybdis, and the sorceress Circe. While Odysseus battles the elements and the wrath of the sea god Poseidon, his faithful wife Penelope in Ithaca fends off persistent suitors, while their son Telemachus sets out to find his father.

From a technical standpoint, "The Odyssey" will be the most ambitious project in Nolan's career. With a budget of $250 million, it is his most expensive film, and for the first time, it was shot entirely on IMAX cameras with 70mm film. To achieve maximum spectacle, filming took place around the world: in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and other locations.

The film, which Universal Pictures describes as a "mythical epic action film," will be released worldwide in the summer of 2026. It promises to be one of the major cinematic events and the most anticipated foreign films of 2026.

"The Adventures of Cliff Booth"

The expansion of the "Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood" universe is being realized by David Fincher based on a script by Quentin Tarantino himself. Brad Pitt returns to his Oscar-winning role as stuntman Cliff Booth. The action takes place in 1977: Cliff, having left his previous job, now works as a "fixer" for a Hollywood studio, eliminating scandals and threats. The project's budget is estimated at a staggering $200 million. The cast also includes Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Carla Gugino. The film will be released on Netflix with a simultaneous limited theatrical release in the U.S.

"The Death of Robin Hood"

Michael Sarnoski, director of the thriller "A Quiet Place: Day One," offers a dark and "adult" revision of the classic legend. Hugh Jackman plays the role of an aging Robin Hood, who, having sustained a serious injury, finds himself in the care of a mysterious woman. The hero is forced to rethink his violent past. The film from A24 was shot on 35mm film for special visual depth. The release date of the film, which is currently a "dark horse" deserving a place on the list of the most anticipated films of 2026, is still being finalized.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew"

After the resounding success of "Barbie," director Greta Gerwig has taken on the creation of a new, large-scale adaptation of C.S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia" for Netflix. It is known that she is developing the storyline for the entire series. The first film is expected to be "The Magician's Nephew" - a prequel that tells the story of the creation of Narnia and the appearance of the lamp-post. Details of the plot are kept under strict secrecy, and the cast includes stars such as Daniel Craig and Carey Mulligan. Meryl Streep will voice the lion Aslan.

"Resident Evil"

Director of the horror film "Barbarian" Zach Cregger presents a new, completely standalone adaptation of the cult game series. The film is not connected to previous franchises and aims to return to the roots of the survival horror genre. The plot focuses on a courier who, after delivering a package to a remote hospital, finds himself trapped at the epicenter of a viral outbreak. Cregger, being a fan of the games, is working on creating a "slowly building sense of dread," inspired by the atmosphere of the original. Milla Jovovich, the star of previous "Resident Evil" adaptations, is not participating in the project.

"Digger"

In the fall of 2026, the film world will witness the release of one of the most mysterious projects, presented by Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film, long known by the title "Judy," represents a bold and unexpected creative venture for the author of "The Revenant" and "Birdman," which the director himself describes as "a wild comedy of catastrophic proportions."

The plot is kept secret; however, the published tagline gives a clue to its scale: "The most powerful man in the world embarks on a feverish mission to prove that he is the savior of humanity before the disaster he himself provoked destroys everything." Tom Cruise will star as Digger, whose work, according to Iñárritu, has revealed to the director his unprecedented acting range.

"Dune: Part Three"

Denis Villeneuve presents the final film of his epic trilogy, adapting Frank Herbert's novel "Dune Messiah." The story focuses on the tragic consequences of the jihad unleashed by Paul Atreides, who has become emperor. The hero faces conspiracies and tries to prevent the impending catastrophe foretold by his visions. According to the director, it serves as a warning about the dangers of charismatic leaders. Filming was completed in November 2025, and Robert Pattinson joined the cast in an undisclosed role. The previously announced release date should be approached with caution, as rumors suggest it may be postponed.

"Werwulf"

The author of the thrillers "The Witch" and "The Northman" Robert Eggers turns to the legend of the werewolf. His new film is a historical horror set in 13th century England. Eggers, known for his meticulous approach to historical details, is filming the movie using Middle English for maximum authenticity. The main roles are played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Melody Depp, and Willem Dafoe. The director himself describes the script as the darkest of everything he has ever written. Filming took place in the UK.

"Avengers: Doomsday"

Brothers Joe Russo and Anthony Russo have returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to shoot a large-scale sequel - "Avengers: Doomsday." Specific plot details are classified; however, it is known that the film will be a global crossover in which the Avengers, the heroes of Wakanda, the Fantastic Four, and the New Avengers will unite with the X-Men to confront Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., which already guarantees a high level of interest from viewers. It is likely that "Avengers: Doomsday" will become one of the highest-grossing film projects of 2026.