Upcoming Hollywood Movies 2026: Release Dates, Cast & More
I watch a lot of movies, but every now and then, I come across a group of films that reminds me why I enjoy going to the theater so much.
That feeling has come back to me again this year.
There are still plenty of major Hollywood movies waiting to arrive in theaters, and what makes the rest of 2026 especially exciting is the variety. Some are huge franchise films, some come from directors whose previous work has already earned plenty of attention, and a few are based on stories that already have a loyal audience waiting for them.
That’s what inspired me to put together this list of the upcoming Hollywood movies 2026 that I think are worth keeping an eye on.
I’m not saying every movie here will become everyone’s favorite. We all have different tastes. Instead, these are movies that stood out to me because of their stories, directors, casts, franchises, or potential to deliver the kind of big-screen experience that feels worth leaving home for.
Of course, some of these movies haven’t been released yet, so their final audience ratings and box-office results are still unknown. I don’t want to pretend otherwise. Instead, I’ve focused on films with strong theatrical potential, established franchises, respected filmmakers, interesting stories, and plenty of audience anticipation.
If you enjoy discovering movies before they hit theaters, this list should give you a few titles to add to your watchlist.
And if you’re looking for more movie recommendations, you can also explore MP4Movie’s movie reviews and recommendations .
Upcoming Hollywood Movies 2026
1. Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel is bringing its biggest superheroes together again with Avengers: Doomsday. The film is expected to be one of the biggest theatrical events of 2026, with a massive ensemble cast and Doctor Doom at the center of the conflict.
Anthony Russo and Joe Russo return to direct after previously handling Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Robert Downey Jr. also returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time as Doctor Doom.
The combination of the Russo brothers, a huge cast and the return of several familiar Marvel characters makes this one of the easiest movies to put on a 2026 watchlist. Current listings give the movie a December 18, 2026 theatrical release.
If you enjoy big-screen action, you can also check out MP4Movie’s Greatest Action Movies to Watch in 2026 .
If you want to check the latest cast and production information, you can visit the Avengers: Doomsday IMDb page .
2. Dune: Part Three
Denis Villeneuve returns to Arrakis with Dune: Part Three, continuing the story of Paul Atreides after the events of Dune: Part Two.
The film draws from Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah and takes the story into a darker and more complicated stage. Paul has gained enormous political and religious power, but that power comes with consequences.
Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides, with Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem and other familiar faces returning. Robert Pattinson also joins the cast.
Villeneuve’s previous two Dune movies were praised for their visual scale and filmmaking, making the third installment one of the most anticipated science-fiction releases of 2026. The current release date is December 18, 2026.
For additional cast, release and production details, you can also check the Dune: Part Three IMDb page .
3. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
The world of Panem returns with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel set 24 years before the original Hunger Games story.
The movie focuses on a young Haymitch Abernathy and the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Because the Quarter Quell changes the usual rules, the Games become even more brutal.
Francis Lawrence returns as director, while the cast includes Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Mckenna Grace, Whitney Peak, Ralph Fiennes and Glenn Close.
The film is scheduled for November 20, 2026.
What makes this one particularly interesting is that it expands the Hunger Games universe without simply repeating Katniss Everdeen’s story.
4. Resident Evil
The Resident Evil franchise is heading back to theaters with a new adaptation directed by Zach Cregger.
Cregger attracted a lot of attention with Barbarian and Weapons, and that makes his take on the Resident Evil universe particularly interesting for horror fans.
The movie is expected to return to the survival-horror roots of the games, with the story centered around an outbreak and characters fighting to survive as the situation becomes increasingly dangerous.
The current theatrical release date is September 18, 2026.
The director is probably the biggest reason I’m interested in this one. If Cregger can bring the same atmosphere and unpredictability that made his earlier horror work stand out, this could be one of the more interesting genre movies of the year.
5. Digger
Digger is one of the more unusual movies on this list because it isn’t built around a familiar superhero or an established franchise.
The movie brings together Tom Cruise and acclaimed filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Cruise leads the cast in a story involving one of the world’s most powerful men and a major crisis that he may have helped create.
Iñárritu is known for films such as Birdman, The Revenant and Babel, while Cruise remains one of Hollywood’s biggest theatrical stars.
The movie is scheduled for an October 2, 2026 release.
For me, the combination of Cruise and Iñárritu is enough to make this one worth watching.
6. The Social Reckoning
Aaron Sorkin returns to the world of Facebook with The Social Reckoning, a follow-up to the story explored in The Social Network.
The film focuses on Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and journalist Jeff Horwitz as they investigate the company’s internal practices.
Mikey Madison plays Haugen, while Jeremy Allen White plays Horwitz. Jeremy Strong, Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin and Billy Magnussen are also part of the cast.
Sorkin writes and directs the movie, which gives it a strong connection to the sharp dialogue and character-driven storytelling associated with his earlier work.
The movie is scheduled for October 9, 2026.
This probably won’t be the biggest visual spectacle of 2026, but that’s not what makes it interesting. The story, performances and subject matter are the main attractions.
7. Street Fighter
The legendary fighting-game franchise is getting another big-screen adaptation with Street Fighter.
The story follows Ryu and Ken as they enter the World Warrior Tournament, while Chun-Li becomes connected to a larger conspiracy surrounding the competition.
Kitao Sakurai directs the movie, with Andrew Koji playing Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken Masters and Callina Liang as Chun-Li.
The cast also includes Jason Momoa, David Dastmalchian, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, 50 Cent and Vidyut Jammwal.
Street Fighter has the advantage of an instantly recognizable collection of characters, but the real challenge will be turning the game mechanics and characters into a satisfying movie.
If you’re an action fan, though, this is definitely one to keep an eye on.
8. Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility brings Jane Austen’s classic novel back to the big screen in a new adaptation.
The story follows sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they deal with love, heartbreak, money and the expectations placed on them by society.
Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Elinor, while Esmé Creed-Miles plays Marianne. Caitríona Balfe, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw are also part of the cast.
Georgia Oakley directs from a screenplay by Diana Reid.
Not every upcoming Hollywood movie needs to be a superhero film or an action blockbuster.
For viewers who enjoy character-driven stories, romance and period drama, this could be one of the more interesting releases of the year.
9. Jumanji: Open World
The Jumanji franchise returns with Jumanji: Open World, bringing Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan back for another adventure.
Jake Kasdan returns as director and co-writer, while the returning cast also includes Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff and others.
The film is expected to continue the modern Jumanji storyline while introducing another major challenge for the characters.
The current U.S. theatrical release date is December 25, 2026.
The Jumanji movies have always worked best when they balance action, comedy and adventure, and this final chapter has the chance to deliver exactly that kind of holiday entertainment.
For family-friendly action recommendations, you can also check out MP4Movie’s Best Action Movies for Family Night .
10. The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss’s famous character returns in a new animated adventure with The Cat in the Hat.
This time, the Cat becomes involved in the lives of two siblings and takes them on an unexpected adventure.
Bill Hader voices the Cat, while the cast also includes Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, Giancarlo Esposito and America Ferrera.
The film is directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni and is scheduled for November 6, 2026.
The biggest advantage here is the source material. The Cat in the Hat is one of Dr. Seuss’s best-known stories, so the movie already has a familiar character and a built-in family audience.
My Take
There is still a lot to look forward to in Hollywood during the final part of 2026.
What I like most about this group of movies is the variety. You have superheroes with Avengers: Doomsday, epic science fiction with Dune: Part Three, horror with Resident Evil, action with Street Fighter, drama with The Social Reckoning, romance with Sense and Sensibility, family animation with The Cat in the Hat, and big-screen adventure with Jumanji: Open World.
Some of these movies will probably become major box-office hits. Others may surprise us with their stories or performances.
But that’s part of the fun of following upcoming movies.
We don’t know exactly which films will become the year’s biggest successes until audiences actually get to see them.
For now, these are the upcoming Hollywood movies 2026 that I think deserve a place on your watchlist.
And as these movies release, their reviews, audience reactions and box-office performances will tell us which ones truly lived up to the hype.
FAQs
What are the most anticipated upcoming Hollywood movies 2026?
Some of the biggest upcoming titles include Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Resident Evil and Jumanji: Open World. Major 2026 movie roundups have also highlighted these films among the year’s most anticipated releases.
When is Avengers: Doomsday releasing?
Avengers: Doomsday is currently scheduled for December 18, 2026.
When is Dune: Part Three releasing?
Dune: Part Three is currently scheduled for December 18, 2026.
What is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping about?
The film is set 24 years before the original The Hunger Games and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy during the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
When is Resident Evil releasing?
The new Resident Evil movie is currently scheduled for September 18, 2026.
Who is directing Digger?
Digger is directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, with Tom Cruise leading the cast.
Is The Social Reckoning related to The Social Network?
Yes. The Social Reckoning revisits the world of Facebook and focuses on whistleblower Frances Haugen and journalist Jeff Horwitz.
When is Street Fighter releasing?
Street Fighter is currently scheduled for October 16, 2026.
When is Jumanji: Open World releasing?
Jumanji: Open World is scheduled for December 25, 2026. Jake Kasdan returns as director, while Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan return to the cast.
When is The Cat in the Hat releasing?
The animated The Cat in the Hat is currently scheduled for November 6, 2026.
Which upcoming Hollywood movies 2026 are best for action fans?
Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Resident Evil, Street Fighter and Jumanji: Open World are the strongest choices on this list if you prefer action and large-scale theatrical entertainment.
Which upcoming Hollywood movies 2026 are best for families?
The Cat in the Hat is the clearest family-focused option, while Jumanji: Open World should appeal to families looking for adventure and comedy.
