- Major franchises and star-driven sequels dominate the 2026 slate.
- Anticipated titles include Dune: Part Three, Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- Sequels like The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunite A-list casts; release dates remain tentative.
- Expect a mix of tentpoles, auteur projects and original dramas through the year.
What to expect from new movies 2026
Studios are banking on familiar names and bold finales as 2026 shapes up to be a blockbuster-heavy year. From sci-fi epics to superhero team-ups and glossy sequels, many of the biggest announcements point to films built on established brands — but there are also high-profile originals and auteur projects in the mix.
Franchise tentpoles: Avengers, Spider-Man and Dune
Marvel and its partners remain front and center. Avengers: Doomsday is billed as one of the major MCU tentpoles for 2026, promising a large-scale crossover event built around the franchise’s ongoing arcs. Close behind, Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues the web-slinger’s big-screen evolution under the shared umbrella of Sony and Marvel collaborators.
On the sci-fi front, Dune: Part Three is set to complete Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s saga. The third installment is expected to finish the cinematic arc that began with Dune and Dune: Part Two, delivering the sweeping world-building and visual scale that made the series a box-office and awards contender.
Star-driven sequels and comebacks
After a long wait, The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, tapping nostalgia while offering a fresh chapter for familiar characters. These kinds of high-profile returns — pairing A-list talent with a known property — are a recurring theme for 2026.
Other star-led projects and sequels are also penciled in across genres, from comedy and drama to action, giving audiences a steady stream of recognizable names and new collaborations.
Originals and auteur voices
Beyond franchises, 2026 will feature original films and auteur-driven projects. Titles such as The Odyssey (a large-scale original project hinted at in studio announcements) suggest that studios are balancing franchise cinema with riskier, distinctive films aimed at awards seasons and critical attention.
Release notes and what to watch
Release dates for many 2026 films remain tentative and subject to change. Studios often shift schedules for marketing reasons or to avoid competition. If you’re tracking “new movies 2026,” focus on official release calendars from studios and ticketing platforms for the most accurate dates.
Key watchlist items: Dune: Part Three for epic sci-fi fans, Avengers: Doomsday for MCU followers, Spider-Man: Brand New Day for superhero enthusiasts, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 for fans of star-driven drama-comedy. Expect more announcements and casting updates throughout the year as studios finalize their release plans.
Keep an eye on official trailers, festival premieres and studio press releases to stay current with the evolving 2026 movie lineup.
Image Referance: https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/avengers-doomsday-a-new-dune-and-more-anticipated-movies-of-2026/