Heading into the home stretch of the movies I’m looking forward to in the year ahead!

As 2026 heads into the fall towards the end of the year, audiences will be gifted with a variety of efforts and probably what will be one of the biggest movies of the year to wrap things up! It all culminates in what will be one hell of a year at the movies for moviegoers.

Clayface (September 11th)

Clayface will be the latest DC Universe character getting the big screen treatment. The film promises to be a much different beast than Superman and Supergirl, continuing to prove that the DCU is not a one-trick pony.

The film is Directed by Speak No Evil’s James Watkins with a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen/Clayface, an actor whose face becomes grossly disfigured. After turning to a scientist, portrayed by Blink Twice’s Naomi Ackie, his body is transformed into clay. This moment begins more unplanned horrors for Hagen.

What makes this an interesting prospect is a DCU is that it’s less bright and fun, something a bit darker. Reportedly, the movie will take a body horror route and should make it much more different from movies we come to expect from the comic book genre. This one makes the list because there is a big hope it will stick to this promise and be something incredibly fresh in a genre that desperately needs it.

Practical Magic 2 (September 18th)

The long-awaited sequel to 1998’s cult classic Practical Magic will be a must-watch for fans. Even though Practical Magic 2 arrives so many years after its predecessor, there are reasons to be excited. Most of the main cast is back, including Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest, while new blood is provided by Joey King, Xolo Mariduena, and Lee Pace.

Directed by Susanne Bier from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman and Georgia Pritchett, the sequel is reportedly based on the sequel novel The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman. However, exact plot details are under wraps for the spellbinding sequel. It will be interesting to see how far the cult status of the first film runs because Practical Magic wasn’t a huge hit when it was released in 1998, but it has gained a huge following as a Halloween favorite in the years since.

It might just be fun to hop back into witchcraft again with the Owens sisters and see if they can cast an even bigger spell on the box office for the sequel.

Verity (October 2nd)

Colleen Hoover novel adaptations have become all the rage thanks to the huge success (and controversy) around It Ends With Us and the leggy word of mouth hit, Regretting You. While Reminders of Him, another Hoover adaptation, hits screens earlier this year, Verity gets some interest because it takes on a more psychological thriller route that makes it feel a bit different from what these adaptations have offered us so far.

Directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by Nick Antosca, Verity follows a writer named Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson) who is desperately in need of work when she’s contacted by Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett). Jeremy’s wife happens to be best-selling author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway), who hasn’t been able to finish her successful book series due to a mysterious accident.

Jeremy seeks Lowen’s help to finish it, but when she comes upon a manuscript that puts Verity’s psychological well-being into question, she’ll realize that it’s all tied to her other published works. This may be more of the same from the previous Hoover film adaptations, but the premise and cast are intriguing enough to generate interest. Should it be on the good side of things, audiences may finally have one of Hoover’s works that turned into a solid film rather than one just adored by her fanbase.

Digger (October 2nd)

Digger would be exciting enough because it will get Tom Cruise into something else besides the Mission: Impossible franchise but it also brings him together with director Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu. This could be a match made it heaven for Cruise fans wanting him to take us back to the days when it he didn’t feel like a glorified stunt man and put in the work we know he can deliver on.

Digger is being described as a black comedy film, coming from a screenplay that Iñárritu wrote with Sabina Berman, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Nicolás Giacobone. According to the film’s logline, the film follows “the most powerful man in the world” who “causes a disaster and embarks on a mission to prove that he is the savior of humanity.”

There is definitely more to learn about this one, but keep in mind that Cruise has been busy with legacy films since 2018, thanks to Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible series, so it will just be exciting to see him in something fresh and new. The fact that the actor chose to embark on this original idea is enough to put it on the 2026 radar, and given the talent involved, it should definitely deliver.

The Social Reckoning (October 9th)

At first, a sequel to The Social Network, 16 years after its release, didn’t seem all that compelling, especially with David Fincher not being behind the camera. However, Aaron Sorkin, who is taking over directing duties, has assembled a cast that could deliver the same magic as its predecessor.

Sorkin, as he did with the first film, also writes the sequel, which is centered around the 2021 Facebook leak brought out by whistleblower Frances Haugen (portrayed by Mikey Madison in the film). The film is also inspired by a series of articles by The Wall Street Journal and an eight-part podcast called The Facebook Files that was released in 2021. What one had to understand is that this is less of a sequel and more of another look at how Facebook has impacted the social landscape and affected lives differently.

The film is not meant to be an examination of its continued success after the events of the first movie. Knowing that, it’s easier to get behind The Social Reckoning and with a cast that also includes Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White, Bill Burr, Billy Magnussen, Betty Gilpin, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Anne Lambe, Sierra Capri, Portia Doubleday and Tehmina Sunny, it’s very possible that, with a similar release date to its predecessor, The Social Reckoning could turn into a box office hit and an awards season player.

Street Fighter (October 16th)

This new Street Fighter adaptation of the 1987 arcade game of the same name really wasn’t on my radar until the recent release of a short teaser that actually made this thing look pretty damn good. Directed by Kitao Sakurai from a screenplay by Dalan Musson, Street Fighter is set in 1993 and follows estranged street fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken (Noah Centineo) who are thrown back into battle when they are recruited by Chun-Li (Callina Liang) for another World Warrior Tournament.

However, there is more to wanting their involvement, and it will lead to the two players having to confront their past and go head-to-head against each other. The ensemble cast for this one is stacked with Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, David Mastmalchian, Cody Rhoes, Andrew Schulz, Eric Andre, Vidyut Jammwal, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, and Jason Momoa, also getting in on the street fighting fun. There is still a shot this could turn into a disaster, but that teaser certainly eased fears a bit. Plus, it has to be better than the 1993 film, right?

Whalefall (October 16th)

Not only does Whalefall give us a Weapons reunion between Austin Abrams and Josh Brolin, but it also comes with a premise that needs to be heard to be believed. Directed by Brian Duffield, the film is based on the 2023 novel by Daniel Kraus, who also aided with the film’s screenplay along with Duffield.

The story centers on a scuba diver named Jay Gardiner (Abrams) who is on the search for the remains of his father (Brolin). While on this search, Jay is swallowed alive by a sperm whale and only has an hour to attempt his escape. Sounds like we could get shades of Castaway here, and a good survival thriller can deliver the goods with audiences sould it live up to expectations.

It’ll be great to see Abrams in another role, who was a true standout in Weapons, and with a cast that also includes Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd Whalefall could turn into one of the bigger surprises of the fall season.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20th)

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes proved that a Hunger Games film could be enjoyed without signature players such as Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson.

Once again directed by franchise mainstay Francis Lawrence, from a screenplay by Billy Ray, the film is based on the 2025 novel Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, which takes place 24 years before the events of the first Movie/Book. The film follows a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) who is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games. However, there is a twist to the rules under the name the Second Quarter Quell, which occurs every 25 years.

Each district of Panem has to send in twice as many tributes and get them to fight to the bloody end in the Hunger Games. Again, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes ended up being a solid return to these stories. So, if this story/film adaptation is half as good as its predicessor, we’ll be in good shape.

Helping out matters is an ensemble cast that also includes Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, McKenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Glenn Close. This will be the movie of November and a solid start to what will be an exciting holiday stretch at the box office.

Focker In-Law (November 25th)

There is a lot to be said about comedy sequels arriving so long after their previous film, but this fourth entry in the Meet the Parents franchise, Focker In-Law, could be one of those comedy sequel efforts that bucks the negative trend of some of these follow-ups arriving a little too late.

The previous installment, Little Fockers, was released in 2010 and is likely forgotten by most, so this sequel should feel like a fresh restart. Written and directed by John Hamburg, Focker In-Law flips the script a bit and sees Greg and Pam Focker’s (Ben Stiller and Teri Polo) son Henry (Skyler Gisondo) putting them in the position to give their soon-to-be in-laws a little hell when he chooses to marry a girl named Olivia Jones, portrayed by Ariana Grande, who appears to be his total opposite.

Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner also return as Jack and Dina Byrnes, who should see them aiding the Fockers in determining if Olivia is really good enough to join the family. There are reasons to feel good about this one, and, given its family-friendly Thanksgiving weekend release date, it could prove to be a huge hit.

Violent Night 2 (December 4th)

Violent Night became the disgruntled Santa Claus we didn’t know we needed when it turned out to be quite good and turned into a decent-sized hit. So, a sequel is more than welcome to kick off the holiday season of 2026.

Once again directed by Tommy Wirkola, from a screenplay by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, not a lot is known about Violent Night 2 just yet, but the more we see of David Harbour’s Viking immortal warrior taking down mercenaries to save Christmas in his own violent way, I think moviegoers will be all for it. \

What is known is that Miller said there will be a “western influence” to the film and that 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street will also be a big inspiration. I’m all in for this combo and Kristen Bell joining the cast as Nicomund the Red’s wife of 5 months, Mrs. Claus, and other solid names such as Daniela Melchior, Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, Maxwell Friendman, and Andrew Bachelor.

Jumanji 4 (December 11th)

While Dwayne Johnson may be switching his focus to more serious fare, it’s great to see him returning to one of his better mainstream efforts with the Jumanji franchise for its fourth installment. The film arrives six years after Jumanji: The Next Level ended with the audience seeing creatures from the game loose in the real world. So, here’s hoping that the next installment picks up where that movie left off.

Directed by Jake Kasdan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, this is said to be the final film of the franchise as we know it. So, let’s hope they go out with a fun bang for fans old and new. In addition to Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Brian, Madison Iseman, Danny DeVito, Rhys Darby, Bebe Neuwirth, and Lamorne Morris all return from the previous installments, while Brittany O’Grady, Burn Gorman, and Dan Hildebrand join the cast.

Avengers: Doomsday (December 18th)

Avengers: Doomsday could arguably turn into the biggest box office hit of the year. However, some fans are cautiously optimistic about this film since some of the recent MCU films haven’t been up to par in their opinion. Also, Robert Downey Jr., whose Tony Stark/Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame, returning as Dr. Doom has some scratching their heads. But, something tells me that we need to trust what Russo Brothers are cooking up here, especially since their Marvel efforts are far and beyond their best films.

Written by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely, Avengers: Doomsday’s plot is heavily under wraps, but a series of teasers have recently been released that the Russo Brothers say aren’t mere teasers but clues to what’s to come. The mystery of it all is what has me most intrigued as is the management of a HUGE cast that also includes Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huera Mejia, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, and Pedro Pascal.

Just allow all the names to soak in and keep in mind that there are rumors that even more familiar faces might show up. Even the most jaded of MCU fans have to be stoked about this one. It almost guaranteed they, and the hardcore fans, will be seated with anticipation on opening day.

Dune: Part Three (December 18th)

Should none of these films flee this release date, the December 18th weekend at the movies could prove to be hugely epic with the release of Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. Once again directed by Denis Villeneuve, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts, Dune: Part Three is based on Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel Dune Messiah.

Although it’s unclear how much of the novel will be adapted or if it will be more of an inspiration, Dune: Part Three is expected to conclude the story arc for Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), and it will take place 12 years after the events of Dune: Part Two. Villeneuve has also said that it will depict the initiation of the “Holy War,” with cast members such as Rebecca Ferguson stating that the script for the film is “phenomenal.”

Returning from the first two films are Zendaya, Florence Pugh (busy weekend for her should these release dates hold), Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh Brolin, and Ferguson, while they’ll be joined by a returning Jason Momoa, who was in the first film, Ida Brooke, and Robert Pattinson. Here’s to hoping that the ending of this epic space opera holds up because it will go down as one of the best sci-fi trilogies put to film. In Denis Villeneuve we trust.

Werwulf (December 25th)

Director Robert Eggers proved that audiences will come out for a bit of darkness when his film Nosferatu was released on Christmas Day of 2024 and turned into his biggest hit to date. He’ll attack the holiday again with Werwulf, a period horror film that reunites some of the Nosferatu cast with the likes of Lily Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Willem Dafoe.

Precise plot points are under wraps, but it’s said to be set during 13th-century England and focuses on a mysterious creature who, once believed to be mere folklore, becomes a horrifying reality as it begins to stalk the countryside at night. Eggers does those period pieces better than most, and Nosferatu was such a winner for me that once this movie was announced, I was already all in for it. With Ralph Ineson also a part of the cast, Werwulf could turn into another holiday hit for Eggers.

Here’s to one hell of a year at the movies! With all of these choices, movie fans will be eating very well in 2026.

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