Knock on Wood

Bring on the new year! Iconic filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Denis Villeneuve, Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan, Danny Boyle, Sam Raimi, Gore Verbinski, and many other icons will be gracing our screens with epic new offerings, and though it looks to be another year dominated by franchise films, there is always an extremely exciting slate of originals to put on the calendar. There are plenty of films, whether they be original, adaptations, or sequels, that we’re looking forward to this year. Here are a few, curated by our contributors.

GOAT

I know it comes out next week, but a 2026 movie I’ve been anticipating for a while is GOAT. I like Caleb McLaughlin a lot, and I’m excited to get a voice acting performance from him in his first post-Stranger Things project. Sony Animation is at the top of the game right now when it comes to animated features. Is the premise anything unique? Not in the slightest. A goat in an anthropomorphic animal world wants to be a professional fictional-sport-that’s-functionally-basketball player despite the fact that he’s considered way too small. That sounds like Chang Can Dunk. Or Rudy. Or Zootopia. Or Zootopia 2. But I like all those movies, so the derivative concept doesn’t bother me much. I am also, notably, a trans man who played competitive sports from middle school through college (though I played as a woman the entire time). Both my trans identity and my time playing sports are crucial to my identity and my development, but they’re two things that become painful to think about together. So a story about a guy who’s too small to play with everyone else joining a league and redefining the game – that’s something that makes me smile. While I do not think GOAT will set out to do some thoughtful trans allegory, I am pleased with the gender politics of this professional sports world of the film (at least, according to the trailer). The professional basketball-ish sports league is coed, and the player that Will (McLaughlin) idolizes is a woman. Those details make me hopeful that GOAT will leave space for the message to resonate across different identities and be a fun, feel-good time for a little guy like me. (Davis Mathis)

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

Whenever a film is marketed with the director’s name first, I know we’re in for an all-timer, for better or for worse. If Irish writer/director Lee Cronin’s previous films, The Hole in the Ground and Evil Dead Rise, are any indication, he has a mastery over visceral, disturbing imagery and storytelling that makes him perfect for ethereal supernatural horror. His adaptation of The Mummy does not seem to be taking many cues from previous entries in the loose franchise, and seems to be a more straightforward, standalone scary movie – a very exciting prospect, especially when you consider that the last Mummy film attempted to start an ill-fated cinematic universe. A teaser trailer is already out, and it’s mercifully short but very creepy, hinting at the bones of the story (a journalist’s daughter reappears after being missing for eight years, and the reunion very quickly devolves into a nightmare) while leaving a lot to the imagination. The cast is very international, featuring Jack Reynor (Midsommar), Laia Costa (Victoria), May Calamawy (Moon Knight), and many more. I trust in Lee Cronin, but more importantly, I trust in James Wan, who is producing the film under his Atomic Monster banner. (Rowan Wood)

In theaters April 17.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

The classic combination of space western and classic hero’s journey adventure made Star Wars so endearing, fun, and joyous. One of the few projects since Disney has taken over Lucasfilm that has captured that specific vibe has been The Mandalorian. It’s been one of the most fun areas of the Star Wars galaxy by leaning strongly into the space western vibes. Star Wars films have been in a rough spot recently, and the right injection into the arm is bringing the beloved characters of Din Djarin and Grogu to the big screen! Jon Favreau has a decent record with his directorial career and a serious passion for Star Wars, which is ready to soar on the big screen. A big screen adventure filled with Hutts, AT-ATs, and Anzellans (Babu Frik’s species!). The teaser is short, but what this trailer sells is fun and adventure, which is certainly enough to look forward to. (Shane Conto)

In theaters May 22.

The Sheep Detectives

Apparently, sheep make the best investigators! The Sheep Detective tells the tale of a shepherd (Hugh Jackman, of ALL people…I love it) who reads murder mysteries to his sheep. The best sheep dad ever. But when a horrible twist of fate leaves him dead (don’t worry…this is in both the trailer and the IMDB synopsis), his sheep must jump into his shoes and figure out what happened. If this crazy concept is not enough to sell The Sheep Detective, then here are a few other reasons…Bryan Cranston, Emma Thompson, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, Molly Gordon, Patrick Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hong Chau, Chris O’Dowd, Nicholas Braun, Rhys Darby, and Conleth Hill. This is one of the most impressive casts you are going to find all year, and that is no understatement. This might not be a big franchise or a big prestige film…but few have such a unique and fun concept, and that is certainly enough to get excited about in today’s cinematic landscape. (Shane Conto)

In theaters May 8.

The Odyssey

It’s Christopher Nolan making a feature adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. Nothing more needs to be said; we’re all seeing this. Don’t lie. Okay, well, as much as more doesn’t need to be said, I still want to talk about it, so here… we… go! Christopher Nolan has asserted himself, especially after the commercial and critical success of Oppenheimer a few years ago, as the preeminent, must-see director of this era in filmmaking. The Odyssey is a classic work of art that has reached legendary status and has long been considered one of the great works to have not received a proper, large-scale cinematic adaptation. The ambition in tackling one of the greatest literary works in the history of humankind, from the most visionary director working today, is nothing short of amazing. If you’re a lover of film in any way, shape, or form, you should be amped up about this adventure. Especially since there has been such a dearth of sword and sandal, Greek mythology movies for so long, a subgenre all of its own that people love to watch, but rarely does it ever feel like we get a good new entry. Combine the potential of this story in the hands of this filmmaker with a star-studded ensemble that includes the likes of Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, and more, and it’s hard not to want to throw yourself at this picture. We’ll see you all at the 70mm IMAX showings, where we can all revel in the excitement of this film together. (Heath Lynch)

In theaters July 17.

Sense and Sensibility

Yes, there are too few “original” films getting made, but there are also certain stories that deserve to be retold. Classics that touch upon the truth of being and influence generations to come. With Austen as source material, that certainly is the case. 31 years after Ang Lee’s landmark adaptation, a new Sense and Sensibility is on its way. Helmed by Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People) and supported by George Mackay (1917), Caitríona Balfe (Belfast), Frank Dillane (Urchin), and Fiona Shaw (Andor), the project promises to be a quality spectacle at the very least. Then there’s the X-factor trio of Herbert Nordrum, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, and Esmé Creed-Miles, who all may break out after memorable turns in The Worst Person in the World, Hamnet, and The Chronology of Water, respectively. While Wuthering Heights might conversely draw lots of attention, Sense and Sensibility is my pick for a timeless novel that will satisfy and sensationalize this year’s cinema screens. (Ian Hubbard)

In theaters September 11.

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom

For two films so far, this stop-motion franchise has delivered absolute joy with a bunch of sheep who don’t even say a thing. This band of resourceful sheep always gets into some fun shenanigans. First, there were some commonplace small-town romps. Then aliens. And this time? It is All Hallow’s Eve, and at Mossy Bottom Farm, there is a wild beast on the loose. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween than having some classic cinematic fun with Aardman’s iconic characters. Words are overrated, but some good old-fashioned slapstick, physical comedy, and visual gags never get old. Not much is known so far about this threequel, but its simple synopsis and the legacy of this franchise are enough of a selling point. Halloween vibes and beautiful claymation are a timeless combination, and we should all prepare for the perfection that certainly will be Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. (Shane Conto)

In theaters this fall.

Digger

Tom Cruise’s first non-franchise movie since 2017’s American Made, and it’s in an Alejandro J. Iñárritu picture…you bet I’m excited. Featuring Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Riz Ahmed, Michael Stuhlbarg and John Goodman, this starry ensemble is about all we know of the mysterious black comedy. The title teaser keeps Tom Cruise’s appearance in silhouette, though we can see that his eponymous character Digger Rockwell has a comb-over, which seems to indicate a transformative performance from the prestige actor/blockbuster star. Will Digger imitate The Revenant, which succeeded in netting its talented yet often overlooked lead the golden trophy? That remains to be seen, but the re-teaming of Iñárritu with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and editor Stephen Mirrione (who just scored a nomination for F1) makes for an awfully intriguing project, both behind the camera and in front. At the moment, Digger offers more questions than answers, but I cannot wait for October when they are finally resolved by what should be one of the most unique movies of the year. (Ian Hubbard)

In theaters October 2.

Clayface

James Gunn’s incipient DC universe has already given us an excellent film and two great series, but there’s still a long road ahead. Clayface is the second of this year’s slate of DC films – the first is Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl, which hits theaters in June – but it’s the one that seems infinitely more interesting to me. Though we haven’t seen anything but photos from the set (and even those don’t tell us very much), we do know that James Watkins (Speak No Evil) is directing and that the script is written by Hossein Amini (Drive) and my personal favorite horror filmmaker, Mike Flanagan. That alone rockets my expectations into the stratosphere, but the character of Clayface also lends itself to an extraordinarily gnarly body horror story about self-image and desperation. While I don’t expect Watkins’ film to delve too deep into the extreme when it comes to that imagery, I do expect a textured, nuanced examination of those themes, and knowing the previous work of all involved, I have a strong feeling that’s exactly what we’ll be getting. Tom Rhys Harries, who I know from the recent Doctor Who episode “Dot and Bubble,” stars as Matt Hagen, an up-and-coming actor whose face is disfigured in an encounter with a gangster. Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17), Max Minghella (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Eddie Marsan (The World’s End) co-star. (Rowan Wood)

In theaters October 23.

Wildwood

The newest story from Laika, the studio that brought us Coraline, is sure to be a frontrunner for Best Animated Feature next year. In fact, every movie they’ve ever made has been nominated for the award, and I doubt Wildwood will break the streak. Based on the acclaimed children’s novel by Colin Meloy (frontman of the Decemberists), the stop-motion animation style will blend absolutely naturally with the aesthetics of fantastical Portland. This, in addition to the cinematography of six-time Academy Award nominee Caleb Deschanel, and the fact that they’ve been working on the project for a decade, I believe we’re in for a masterclass in painstaking craft, the likes of which we’ve not seen since Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. The atmosphere will be crystallized into lived-in perfection by the scoring of Dario Marianelli, who scored Pride and Prejudice and Atonement. And if that’s not enough, the film boasts an ensemble of Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Charlie Day, Jake Johnson, Maya Erskine, and Tantoo Cardinal, and that’s leaving out the other half. There are a million reasons why Wildwood will impress, so hop on the hype train now! (Ian Hubbard)

In theaters October 23.

Avengers: Doomsday

Alright, real talk – we need to see if this is where the MCU comes to die. While there have been great entries in the MCU in the throes of this Multiverse Saga, including Thunderbolts*, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, by and large, this saga has been an unmitigated failure since Avengers: Endgame seven years ago. While some of these failings have been out of Disney’s hands, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the WGA strike, the House of Mouse if also responsible for a ton of their own issues by prioritizing quantity over quality, over-pushing Disney+ shows, and not building new heroes and leaving new great characters, like Shang-Chi, out to dry with one movie and then never touching them again. Now we have the first new Avengers flick since Trump was in office…the first time, and next to nothing has been done to build up this story, this new threat, other than releasing a bunch of promo videos about how Robert Downey, Jr. is back to play Doctor Doom. I would love nothing more than to see all this work out, but, at the same time, I have very little faith. So, it’s time to watch this trainwreck. For better or for worse, we need to see this, so we can all fall back in love with the MCU, or all finally let go of what once was and move on. (Heath Lynch)

In theaters December 18.

Werwulf

Robert Eggers’ commitment to telling period-accurate horror stories reached a new height with his critically and commercially successful adaptation of Nosferatu, and he is not wasting any time in returning to the well of folk horror for his new feature (which will once again be released on Christmas Day!). Set in 13th-century England, the film stars much of Eggers’ growing ensemble (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson) and features a medieval village stalked by a mysterious creature. Another returning face is Sjón, the Icelandic playwright who co-wrote The Northman (my favorite Eggers film), another sign that Werwulf will be one for the history books. (Rowan Wood)

In theaters December 25.