Best movies of 2026, and where to watch them now
2026 cinema has been a wild ride from the very start.
January gave us jaw-dropping action and musical mayhem with Greenland 2: Migration, The Rip, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. February brought spicy tales of love for better and worse with Pillion and "Wuthering Heights." March delivered a big hit with Project Hail Mary and the electrifying box office bomb The Bride! April presented provocative indies like Mother Mary and The Drama, as well as the tedious studio tentpole The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Then, came May with devils, witches, and Hutts in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Hokum, and The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Some of these are sensational. Some are major misfires. Below, we'll break down the must-sees of 2026. Whether you go wild for horror, live for comedy, thrive on sci-fi, or adore a genre mashup, this year has got something great for you.
Here's the best movies of 2026 so far.
15. The Bride!
As writer and director, Maggie Gyllenhaal took a big swing with The Bride!, a dizzying reimagining of the Universal monster from The Bride of Frankenstein. Critics were mixed on it, and despite starring Academy Award winners Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale as the Bride and her monster mate, this epic horror offering tanked at the box office.
But the world is wrong. Set in 1936 Chicago, The Bride! offers up a gangster's moll (Buckley) who is fatefully possessed by Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, who's long dead but still has things to say. So begins a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style crime spree with a besotted creature who loves movie musicals. The result is fitful, deranged, and uniquely beautiful.
Apparently, The Bride! is not for everyone. But to me, it was sensational. As I wrote in my review, "Gyllenhaal and her cast don't just dust off a classic tale for a safe money grab. (Looking at you, Disney live-action remakes!) They tear various Frankenstein iterations to bits, then create an exquisite corpse of the pieces, festooning it with elements from other films about violence, revolt, and violation. The result is a film that is utterly electrifying, sure to spark something in hearts young and old." — K.P.
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz
How to watch: The Bride! is now streaming on HBO Max.
14. Sound of Falling
Director Mascha Schilinski weaves strands of girlhood across generations in Sound of Falling, a magnificent, quiet, and powerful epic. Co-written with Louise Peter, the German director's second feature takes us into the lives of four characters living in the same German farmhouse over a century: Alma (Hanna Heckt) in the 1910s, Erika (Lea Drinda) in the 1940s, Angelika (Lena Urzendowsky) in the 1980s, and Lenka (Laeni Geiseler) in the 2020s.
Each performance is interior and complex, with Schilinski giving these women and girls deserved agency in contexts that refuse to — and their experiences are framed by a magnificent production team. As I wrote in my review, "Capturing the unpredictable, complex tempest that is girlhood onscreen is a challenge many films have wrestled with, and Schilinski assembles a deeply talented production team to make Sound of Falling feel as intimate and private as a diary." — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor
Starring: Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laeni Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, Luise Heyer, and Lea Drinda
How to watch: Sound of Falling is now streaming on MUBI.
13. Rose of Nevada
If you relished in the eccentricity of The Lighthouse and crave another salt-encrusted voyage into surrealism, get aboard Mark Jenkin's Rose of Nevada. In the third chapter of the filmmaker's Cornish trilogy (after Bait and Enys Men), time becomes a fickle friend for men of a small coastal village. When an enigmatic fishing trawler shows up 30 years after it disappeared, its sea-wisened captain (Francis Magee) is recruiting able (read: desperate) seamen. Valuing financial stability over a bit of folklore, locals Nick and Liam (George MacKay and Callum Turner) sign up as the Rose of Nevada's skeleton crew.
Not your average commercial fishing trip, the film takes the crew and the audience on a strange, harrowing ride. Jenkin weaves a captivating net that traverses time, all captured on a 1976 wind-up Bolex camera with 16mm film. It feels like something found in the trunk of an old seaside cottage, somewhat inexplicable at times but hypnotising all the same. — S.C.
Starring: George MacKay, Callum Turner, Rosalind Eleazar, Francis Magee, and Mary Woodvine
How to watch: Rose of Nevada opens in theaters on June 19.
12. Exit 8
Months after escaping from Exit 8, I remain ensnared in it. Genki Kawamura's haunting adaptation is more than an ode to Kotake Create's acclaimed 2023 game; it's an impeccable thriller that will have you actively participating in its labyrinthine puzzle. You'll genuinely root for Kazunari Ninomiya as a frantic man trapped in a nightmarish looping subway hallway beneath Tokyo, his only chance of escape being his ability to identify "anomalies" within this wretched corridor. A rare triumph among video game adaptations, Exit 8 is a masterpiece of production, from the meticulous sets to the dynamic cinematography and nerve-racking sound design.
As I wrote in my review, "While video game adaptations come in a range of sublime to mediocre, Exit 8 is a triumphant realisation and expansion of the original concept. Kawamura's punctilious direction and his incredibly talented cast and crew amplify this contained hallway in satisfying, chilling ways. You'll remain in this hallway long after you've left the cinema — we're all still staring blankly at that Exit 0 sign." — S.C.
Starring: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu
How to watch: Exit 8 is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
11. Send Help
Some movies are just so weird that it feels like a miracle they exist at all. Send Help is such a wonder, as it pairs A-list actress Rachel McAdams with much, much, much, much glop.
Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a genre mash-up that combines tropes from adventure and romance, horror comedies, and survival thrillers with an eat-the-rich edge. McAdams stars as a mousy office worker whose hotshot boss (Dylan O'Brien) treats like a pimple that needs to be popped. But when they end up stranded on a desert island, the power dynamics are dramatically flipped. There will be blood. And vomit, and muck, and more blood. And it will be hilarious. As I declared in my review, "It's also a rip-roaring, no-fucks-to-give good time." — K.P.
Starring: Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien
How to watch: Send Help is now on Hulu.
10. Disclosure Day
Steven Spielberg has brought audiences epic movies about extraterrestrial life touching down on Earth, from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to E.T. to War of the Worlds, and now Disclosure Day. With a screenplay from David Koepp, this sci-fi thriller stars Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor as two strangers who are united in their quest to get the truth about alien life out to the world.
As I celebrated in my review, "With Disclosure Day, I experienced the distinctive thrill of watching a master filmmaker do what he does best. The film, which focuses on a band of people's struggle to release secret information about extraterrestrial contact on Earth, is a dizzying mix of action, humor, adventure, sci-fi, and wonder. Naturally, I laughed, cried, and gasped. But more than that, Disclosure Day made me feel like I better understand the whole of Spielberg's work, and him as a person... On its surface, Disclosure Day is about aliens. But beneath that, it's about us — or more specifically, how Spielberg sees humanity itself. And while he has more faith in us than I do, I hope he's right." — K.P.
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo
How to watch: Disclosure Day is now in theaters.
9. Mother Mary
Written and directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight, A Ghost Story), Mother Mary is a velvety journey of heartache, hauntings, and healing.
Anne Hathaway stars as a pop icon known as Mother Mary, who's fallen out of the spotlight — hard. Readying for her comeback, she reaches out to Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), the fashion designer and friend who helped her craft her pop persona. While much of the film is a tense conversation in a crumbling barn repurposed as Sam's design studio, Lowery weaves in surreal flashbacks to reveal not only what came before but also how it hangs over both like a shroud they can't escape.
Rapturous visuals are bolstered by original music performed by Anne Hathaway and written and produced by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA twigs. But the best bit of all are the dueling performances of Hathaway and Coel, who are mesmerizing even in a simple scene of arguing over fabric. (The Devil Wears Prada, who?)
As I declared in my review, "Mother Mary is not only slippery, riveting, unnerving, and haunting, but also one of the most enthralling films 2026 is likely to reveal." — K.P.
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé-Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, and FKA twigs
How to watch: Mother Mary is available for rent or purchase on Prime Video or Apple TV.
8. Pillion
One of the most buzzed-about films of the year earned every minute of the attention. Based on Adam Mars-Jones' book Box Hill, Harry Lighton's tender, funny, and spicy debut Pillion sees Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling delivering formidable performances. Melling is a delight as demure and polite parking ticket officer Colin, who meets burly, stoic, and furiously handsome biker Ray (an outstanding Skarsgård) on Christmas Eve, of all eves.
Instantly connecting, Colin and Ray enter a Dom/sub relationship; we join them navigating kink and sexual boundaries — and attempting to explain it all to Colin's parents. Siddhant Adlakha writes for Mashable in his review, "Led by a pair of fine-tuned performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, the movie walks a fragile tonal tightrope with remarkable flair." — S.C.
Starring: Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård
How to watch: Pillion is now streaming on HBO Max.
7. Hoppers
Who knew that one of the most bonkers movies of the year (complimentary) would come from Pixar? The animation studio's latest original, Hoppers, introduces technology that "hops" human consciousnesses into fake animal bodies, allowing scientists to study wildlife up close and personal. But when animal lover Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda) uses hopping to try to save a glade near her house, she finds herself caught in an adventure wilder than she could have ever imagined.
How wild, you might ask? That would be spoiling the fun of Hoppers' third act, which is the most audacious thing Pixar's produced in years. Let's just say there's an assassination plot, a killer car chase, and a juicy riff on Invasion of the Body Snatchers that will have you thinking, "Man, they're really going for it!" (Again, complimentary.) Of course, there's some classic Pixar sprinkled in there, like a sob-worthy grandmother-granddaughter relationship and a sweet message about community. But it's Hoppers' riskiness and inventiveness that lingers, a welcome change after Pixar's last few films and sequel-heavy slate have too often played it safe. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco
How to watch: Hoppers is now available for purchase on Prime Video.
6. I Love Boosters
Writer/director Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You and I'm A Virgo) is back with an unabashedly anti-capitalist satire that's star-studded and outrageously fun.
I Love Boosters centers on a clever quartet of shoplifters (aka boosters), known as the Velvet Gang. Let by aspiring fashion designer Corvette (Keke Palmer), they steal from the stores of fashion titan Christie Smith (Demi Moore) to sell the hot goods at low prices. But like his previous works, Riley brings much more to this Afro-surrealist wonder, including skin-crawling conspiracies, a sci-fi MacGuffin, and a sexy demon in the form of LaKeith Stanfield.
Out of the film's SXSW premiere, I enthused, "Like the fashion in the film, Riley blends whatever fits his vision without apology. By delivering something this messy and marvelous, Riley makes a statement about the glory to be found outside the box. And make no mistake: I Love Boosters is glorious." — K.P.
Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, and Demi Moore
How to watch: I Love Boosters is now in theaters.
5. The Sheep Detectives
From the director of Minions: Rise of Gru and the creator of the hit TV drama The Last of Us comes a crime story about a slain shepherd (Hugh Jackman), whose homicide case must be cracked by his flock of fluffy and brave sheep, voiced by the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Chris O'Dowd.
This movie sounds like a 30 Rock joke, parodying the absurdity of Hollywood movies. However, this cozy crime thriller set in a quaint English village is not just a fun murder mystery, but also a feel-good family film and a mindful meditation about grief.
As I cheered in my review, "Incredibly, The Sheep Detectives is a real movie. Frankly, it could have been a deeply stupid movie with bad CGI animation and a predictable solution, and I still would have been pleased that it even existed at all. I just love a big swing for its bonkers ambition. But props to Balda and his kooky cast, because The Sheep Detectives is so much more than silly fun. It's a smart parody of the detective stories with a cheeky sense of humor, a sensational ensemble, and an ending so poignant that I actually teared up!" — K.P.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby
How to watch: The Sheep Detectives is now in theaters.
4. Hokum
To date, the scariest movie of the year is Hokum. The latest from Irish filmmaker Damian McCarthy (Caveat and Oddity) stars Adam Scott as a misanthropic American novelist who falls down a rabbit hole of folklore and horror.
You see, Ohm Bauman (Scott) has traveled to a remote hotel in Ireland for some grim business, including scattering the ashes of his deceased parents. But when a bartender who was kind to him goes missing, Ohm can't resist the urge to find her, even if he thinks the talk of a witch plaguing the hotel's honeymoon suite is "hokum."
In my review, I called Hokum "a seriously scary masterpiece," explaining, "It's a nerve-shredding, bone-rattling, scream-pulling good time, and an absolute blast to see in a theater." And in case you're on the fence, know this: This movie made me scream myself hoarse while watching it. —K.P.
Starring: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Michael Patric, Will O'Connell, Brendan Conroy, and Austin Amelio
How to watch: Hokum is now in theaters.
3. Is God Is
In a strong position to be the greatest feature directorial debut of 2026 is Is God Is. Playwright Aleshea Harris adapted her award-winning play of the same name into a scorching thriller about twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) on a vengeance-fueled road trip.
Tasked by their long-lost mother (Vivica A. Fox) to slay their vicious father (Sterling K. Brown), these sister set off on a violent journey, where they encounter wild character, horrid secrets, and an inner strength that could be the death of both of them. Beyond its engrossing story, Is God Is is swamped in rich visuals, blisteringly poetic dialogue, and performances so electric that you can feel them in your spine.
As I raved in my review, "Is God Is delivers filmmaking that is so mythic, mesmerizing, and menacing that it's easily one of the best movies of 2026." — K.P.
Starring: Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, Josiah Cross, Vivica A. Fox, and Sterling K. Brown
How to watch: Is God Is is now in theaters.
2. Project Hail Mary
When Ryan Gosling hosted Saturday Night Live in March to promote Project Hail Mary, he said, "People are saying it's like E.T. meets Interstellar, which is crazy, because those are like, what, two of the best films of all time? So they're kind of saying it’s like, what, double that?"
While it might take a bit more time to determine Project Hail Mary's all-timer status, this sci-fi blockbuster absolutely earned its spot as one of the best movies of 2026, winning over crowds and critics alike. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary lures you in with an apocalyptic premise: Earth is launching a last-ditch space mission to save our sun. Soon, though, it morphs into a rich, hopeful tale of friendship between middle school science teacher Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling) and alien Rocky (voiced and puppeteered by James Ortiz). Thanks to their heartwarming connection, some epic set pieces, and even more epic sweaters, there's really only one word that can truly sum up Project Hail Mary: Amaze! — B.E.
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce
How to watch: Project Hail Mary is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.
1. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
One of the great crimes against cinema of 2026 is that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple flopped at the box office.
Critics went wild for Hedda director Nia DaCosta's bold and brilliant sequel to Danny Boyle's resurrected zombie thriller. But audiences didn't turn out in the droves this heady blend of horror, heart, and heavy metal deserved.
Picking up the story of runaway Spike (Alfie Williams), The Bone Temple plunged us deep into the cult of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), whose bizarre introduction at the end of the last film had fans freaking out with theories. A self-styled Satanist with a fixation on torture, Jimmy Savile, and the Teletubbies, Jimmy was an instant icon in horror. But even he was awed by the uncanny stage presence of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). The gentle doctor spent most of the movie getting stoned with the Alpha undead Sampson (Chi Lewis-Parry), in sequences that were tender and funny. But the climax of this movie had theaters cheering, as Kelson embraced his inner demons with a fiery performance of Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast." And it was one of the most riveting and surprising things I've seen in a movie, ever. It was magical, chaotic, and unforgettable.
As I cheered in my review, "This horror offering — like its prequel and also like 2025's other smash horror hit, Sinners — transcends the grimier aspects of the genre to unearth something gnarly and sublime." —K.P.
Starring: Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry
How to watch: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now streaming on Netflix.
