Most Anticipated Movies for 2026: Odyssey, Spider-Man, Doomsday, More

2026 stands to be a strong year for cinema, with familiar franchises, family films and ambitious auteurs filling the upcoming slate.

There’s something for everyone to look forward to — from “Scream 7,” “Ready or Not 2” and “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” for the horror fans, to “Wuthering Heights” and “Sense and Sensibility” for the romantics. Kids will also relish a long list of animated titles, from the original “Hoppers,” “GOAT” and “The Cat in the Hat” to the anticipated sequels “Toy Story 5,” “Minions 3” and “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.” Beyond animation, families can also look forward to a live-action “Moana” remake and a fourth “Jumanji” film before the year’s end.

This year will also see Star Wars, Marvel and DC make splashes on the big screen as “The Mandalorian and Grogu” takes us back to a galaxy far, far away in May, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “Supergirl” swing and fly into view over the summer and “Avengers: Doomsday” brings its exhaustive list of heroes to theaters at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, two of the most celebrated filmmakers working today will return to theaters as Universal releases Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” over the summer. Both stand to be epic spectacles and potential box office juggernauts.

Here some of the most highly-anticipated films of next year:

• Greenland 2: Migration (Jan. 9)

  Image Credit: Courtesy of STXfilms

  The sequel to the 2020 disaster film “Greenland” is set after a comet strike destroyed most of Earth. In Ric Roman Waugh’s “Greenland 2: Migration,” the Garrity family, played by Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin and Roman Griffith Davis, must leave their bunker to embark on a journey across a decimated world to find a new home. 
   

• 28 Years Later: Bone Temple (Jan. 16)

  Image Credit: Screenshot courtesy Sony

  Nia DaCosta’s “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” follows Spike (Alfie Williams) after he meets Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his gang of acrobatic killers in post-apocalyptic England. Cillian Murphy briefly reprises his role as Jim from “28 Days Later.” The cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Emma Laird, Maura Bird, Erin Kellyman and Chi Lewis-Parry. Both O’Connell and Fiennes are confirmed to play major roles in the sequel. 

• The Moment (Jan. 20)

  Based on an original idea by Charli xcx, “The Moment” shows a rising pop star navigating the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut. Directed by Aidan Zamiri, the stars include Charli alongside Kylie Jenner, Alexander Skarsgard, Rachel Sennott, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Rish Shah, Jamie Demetriou, Arielle Dombasle, Hailey Benton Gates, Trew Mullen, Mel Ottenberg, Richard Perez, Isaac Powell, Tish Weinstock, Michael Workéyè, Shygirl and A. G. Cook. 

• Mercy (Jan. 23)

  Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

  Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson star in Timur Bekmambetov’s sci-fi thriller that takes place in a future plagued by rising capital crime. Pratt portrays a detective accused of murdering his wife by an AI capital court and must prove his innocence. The cast also features Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, Kenneth Choi, Kylie Rogers, Rafi Gavron and Jeff Pierre. 

• GOAT (Feb. 13)

  Image Credit: Credit: Sony Pictures Animation

  Stephen Curry lends his voice to Lenny Williamson, a giraffe, in this animated action comedy about basketball. The story follows Will, a goat voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, who dreams of playing in the professional league alongside the greatest players. The voice cast also includes Ayesha Curry, Gabrielle Union, David Harbour and Jenifer Lewis. 

• Wuthering Heights (Feb. 13)

  Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

  Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi play star-crossed lovers Catherine and Heathcliff in this period piece. Based on Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel, the Gothic love story explores themes of love, revenge and social class. The film also stars Hong Chau, Alison Oliver, Isabella Linton, Shazad Latif, with Owen Cooper and Charlotte Mellington playing a young Heathcliff and Catherine. Also set to make an appearance is Vy Nguyen as a younger Nelly Dean. Emerald Fennell serves as the film’s writer, director and producer. 

• Scream 7 (Feb. 27)

  Image Credit: Jessica Miglio

  Ghostface returns for his next kill in the seventh installment of the “Scream” franchise. “Scream 7” will feature the return of many original cast members, including David Arquette, Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley, who will all reprise their deceased characters from past films. Neve Campbell is back leading as Sidney Scott. Kevin Williamson, the creator of the series, will also direct the horror film. 

• Hoppers (March 6)

  Image Credit: Credit: Disney/Pixar

  The next Pixar movie follows a teenaged animal lover who uses an invention to take the form of a beaver and infiltrate the animal kingdom. She forges alliances with other critters to combat a human development project that encroaches on their natural habitat. “We Bare Bears” creator Daniel Chong directs an all-star voice cast of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm and Meryl Streep. 

• The Bride (March 6)

  Image Credit: Photo by Niko Tavernise

  Jessie Buckley is the eponymous bride of Frankenstein’s monster in this horror romance homage to classic monster movies. The formidable monstress was the title character in James Whale’s 1935 sequel to “Frankenstein,” and though her time on screen was brief, she left a cultural impact. Now, writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal is telling the bride’s full story. The film also stars Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Penélope Cruz and Annette Bening. 

• Reminders of Him (March 13)

  Based on the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, “Reminders of Him” is a romantic drama directed by Vanessa Caswill. Maika Monroe stars as a woman who, after causing a car crash that kills her husband, goes to jail for seven years. After she’s released, she hopes to rekindle a relationship with her daughter while trying to adapt to society and regain her family’s trust. Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford also star. 
   

• Project Hail Mary (March 20)

  Image Credit: Screenshot courtesy YouTube/Amazon MGM

  This Andy Weir adaptation sees Ryan Gosling play an astronaut who wakes up on a spaceship with no knowledge of his past life and a mission to save Earth. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller direct the Amazon MGM sci-fi film, and Gosling stars alongside Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub. Gosling also serves as one of the film’s producers. 

• Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (March 27)

  The sequel to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s 2019 horror hit sees the director duo reunite for another terrifying game of hide and seek. Samara Weaving returns as final girl protagonist Grace MacCaullay to face off against new opponents in this fateful and frightening twist on the familiar game. 

• The Drama (April 3)

  Image Credit: A24

  Robert Pattinson and Zendaya star as an engaged couple in this darkly comedic romantic thriller from director Kristoffer Borgli. Plot details remain elusive, but it follows the couple as they endure serious doubts and turmoil leading up to their wedding day. Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates and Zoë Winters also appear in the film. 

• The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3)

  Image Credit: Nintendo

  Mario and Luigi are returning to the big screen, this time in a cosmic adventure that goes beyond the realm of the Mushroom Kingdom. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day return to voice Mario and Luigi, respectively, while Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key and Kevin Michael Richardson reprise Princess Peach, Bowser, Toad and Kamek. Benny Safdie and Brie Larson make their series debuts as Bowser Jr and Rosalina from the renowned Nintendo franchise. Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath also return to direct the sequel from Illumination and Universal. 

• Michael (April 24)

  Image Credit: Lionsgate

  Part 1 of this highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic stars the king-of-pop’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson in the titular role. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will chronicle the first half of Jackson’s career from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his meteoric rise as a solo artist. The film also sees Colman Domingo and Nia Long star as Michael’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, respectively, as well as Miles Teller as Jackson’s attorney and manager John Branca and Laura Harrier as producer Suzanne de Passe. 

• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1)  

  Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Film Corp/Everett Collection

  Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs return to the world of high fashion for this long-awaited sequel to the 2006 dramedy. Details about the story remain elusive, but alongside Streep and Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman are confirmed to be returning from the original film, while Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux and Lucy Liu join as new characters. David Frankel also returns to the director’s chair for the sequel. 

• Mortal Kombat II (May 15)  

  Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett C

  Simon McQuoid’s follow-up to his 2021 adaptation of the titular video game, “Mortal Kombat II” will see Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage team up with other fighters to take on the evil Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford). The movie will also see the returns of Jessica McNamee’s Sonya Blade and Hiroyuki Sanada’s Hanzo Hasashi and the arrival of Adeline Rudolph’s Kitana from the game. 

• The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22)  

  Image Credit: LUCASFILM

  The first “Star Wars” movie to hit the big screen in seven years, “The Mandalorian and Grogu” gives the cinematic treatment to the leading characters from Disney+’s “The Mandalorian.” Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin will team up with Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda) in a sprawling adventure across a galaxy far, far away, directed by “Mandalorian” showrunner Jon Favreau. Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White co-star. 
   
   

• Masters of the Universe (June 5)  

  Image Credit: Getty Images

  Travis Knight will introduce Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man in this latest live action adaptation of “Masters of the Universe.” Based on the He-Man toy, comic book and television franchise of the same name, this action-fantasy adventure will feature Galitzine’s He-Man facing off against Jared Leto’s Skeletor in a battle for Castle Greyskull and the planet of Eternia. 

• Disclosure Day (June 12)  

  Image Credit: Universal Pictures

  Steven Spielberg’s next film remains shrouded in mystery, though it is confirmed to be a science fiction story involving UFOs, penned by David Koepp. Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, Wyatt Russell, Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Michael Gaston are all included in the massive cast. Universal Pictures will release the film as part of its longstanding deal with the director and his production company, Amblin Entertainment.   

• Scary Movie 6 (June 12)  

  The absurdist horror movie parody franchise returns to theaters in June. Directed by Michael Tiddes, “Scary Movie 6” will bring back Marlon and Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Jon Abrahams, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Dave Sheridan and Chris Elliott from the series’ original 2000 film for more satire. Plot details are under wraps, but they will reliably poke fun at horror’s latest hits and misses. 
   

• Toy Story 5 (June 19)  

  Image Credit: Pixar

  Woody, Buzz and the gang come together for another adventure in “Toy Story 5.” Written and directed by Andrew Stanton, the film sees the toys take on a tablet, vying for playtime attention against modern tech. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Tony Hale, Blake Clark and John Ratzenberger will reprise their roles in the franchise, while Anna Faris, Ernie Hudson, Conan O’Brien and Greta Lee are set to voice original characters. 

• Supergirl (June 26)  

  The second theatrical release for DC Studios follows up on the final scene from James Gunn’s “Superman.” “Supergirl” will see Milly Alcock play the Man of Steel’s cousin, a fellow Kryptonian with a little more punk rock in her life. Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham and Jason Momoa also star in the galaxy-trotting film, directed by Craig Gillespie. 
   

• Minions 3 (July 1)  

  Image Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

  The eponymous hench-beings from the “Despicable Me” franchise return for their third standalone movie this July. Plot details are still unknown, but it will likely center around main Minions Kevin, Stuart and Bob in another zany, gadget-filled adventure. Pierre Coffin will reprise his voice-acting role as the Minions. 

• Moana (July 10)  

  Image Credit: Disney

  “Moana” is the next Walt Disney Animation movie to get the live-action remake treatment. Dwayne Johnson will reprise his role as Maui while the movie introduces Catherine Laga’aia as the titular heroine. The seafaring family musical will be directed by Thomas Kail. 

• Cut Off (July 17)  

  Image Credit: Katie Jones/Variety/REX/Shutterstock

  Jonah Hill directs, produces and stars in this upcoming Warner Bros comedy.  He co-wrote the script with Ezra Woods, which focuses on the grown-up children of wealthy parents who must learn to support themselves after they’re cut off from the family fund. Alongside Hill, Kristen Wiig, Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, Adriana Barraza, Camila Cabello, Langston Kerman and Chelsea Peretti will also star in the film. 

• The Odyssey (July 17)  

  Image Credit: Universal Pictures

  Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of Homer’s Greek epic promises a star-studded sword-and-sandals spectacle made for the big screen. The enormous cast includes Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway,  Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jovan Adepo and more as characters from the legendary poem.

• Spider-Man Brand New Day (July 31)  

  Image Credit: Sony

  Tom Holland will don the Spidey suit for his fourth standalone film in “Spider-Man Brand New Day.” The 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the last to come out before “Avengers: Doomsday,” “Brand New Day” will answer what the titular hero has been up to since the dramatic end of 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” In addition to Holland, the cast will include Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman and Marvin Jones III. Destin Daniel Cretton will direct. 
   

• Super Troopers 3 (Aug. 7)  

  Image Credit: Fox Searchlight / Everett Collection

  The Broken Lizard comedy troupe, led by director Jay Chandrasekhar, returns for a third installment in the “Super Troopers” series. The irreverent comedy series follows a team of committed, yet feckless Vermont state troopers, whose hijinks certainly stretch the definition of police work. Alongside Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske make up the rest of Broken Lizard and the series’ main ensemble. Brian Cox will also return as Police Captain O’Hagan. 
   

• PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (Aug. 14)  

  Image Credit: Courtesy of Spin Master

  Nickelodeon’s team of superheroic canines join forces for their third big-screen adventure. “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” will see Ryder, Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rocky, Rubble and Zuma team up against dinosaurs and their archnemesis, Mayor Humdinger, in the city of Adventure Bay. 

• Flowervale Street (Aug. 14)  

  Image Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

  A sci-fi film written, directed and produced by David Robert Mitchell of “It Follows” fame, “Flowervale Street” stars Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, and Christian Convery as members of a family who start noticing odd things happening in their quiet, 1980s suburban neighborhood. J.J. Abrams serves as one of the film’s producers alongside Mitchell, Hannah Minghella, Matt Jackson and Tommy Harper. 
   

• The Dog Stars (Aug. 28) 

  Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images

  The next film from director Ridley Scott is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 sci-fi novel, “The Dog Stars.” Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong star in the post-apocalyptic story of a survivor of a virus that nearly wiped out all of humanity. 

• Sense and Sensibility (Sept. 11)  

  Image Credit: Getty Images for Kering

  A beloved Jane Austin novel once again gets the big screen treatment with Focus Features’ forthcoming adaptation of the author’s “Sense and Sensibility,” set to star Daisy Edgar-Jones as the eldest Dashwood sister, Elinor. The story follows the sisters as they navigate love and loss after their father’s death leaves them penniless. Esmé Creed-Miles, Caitríona Balfe, Frank Dillane, Herbert Nordrum, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw round out the cast, with Georgia Oakley directing. If the film is anything like its predecessors — Focus and Working Title also collaborated on the critically-acclaimed “Pride & Prejudice” adaptation in 2005 and “Emma” in 2020 — audiences are in for a treat.  

• Clayface (Sept. 11)  

  Image Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Max

  The shape-shifting supervillain Clayface is the latest DC Universe character to make it to the big screen in Warner Bros.’ feature from “Speak No Evil” director James Watkins. Joining the likes of “Superman” and the upcoming “Supergirl,” “Clayface” will be the third film released as part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe. The live-action film will star Tom Rhys as the titular Clayface, and while plot details remain mysterious, it’s been described as a “The Substance”-style body horror.  

• Practical Magic 2 (Sept. 18)  

  Get ready to channel your inner witch: The long-awaited sequel to the 1998 classic “Practical Magic” is hitting theaters in 2026, bringing Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock back as spellbinding sisters Gillian and Sally Owens, Dianne Wiest as Aunt Jet and Stockard Channing as Aunt Frances. Franchise newcomers include Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod, and “Bird Box” filmmaker Susanne Bier is set to direct. While plot details are still under wraps, audiences can expect more witchcraft, magic and Midnight Margaritas.  

• Verity (Oct. 2)  

  Image Credit: Getty

  Following successful turns with “It Ends With Us” in 2024 and “Regretting You” in 2025, the best-selling psychological thriller “Verity” is the latest Colleen Hoover novel to get a film adaptation. The star-studded cast includes Anne Hathaway as the titular Verity Crawford, Josh Harnett as her husband Jeremy Crawford and Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, a writer hired to complete a successful series written by Verity before a mysterious accident left her unable to complete them. Michael Showalter is set to direct.  

• Digger (Oct. 2)   

  Image Credit: Variety via Getty Images

  “Digger,” the action film from “The Revenant” director Alejandro González Iñárritu, will see Tom Cruise step into a non-legacy film for the first time in recent years: the actor’s been busy with roles in “Mission: Impossible” films and “Top Gun” since 2018, making the film all the more buzzworthy. Per the film’s IMDb logline, the plot will follow “the most powerful man in the world” as he “causes a disaster and embarks on a mission to prove that he is the savior of humanity.” Cast members also include Riz Ahmed, Robert John Burke and Emma D’Arcy. 

• The Social Reckoning (Oct. 9)  

  Image Credit: Sorkin/Madison/White/Burr: Getty / Strong: Gilbert Flores for Variety

  Director Aaron Sorkin returns to the story of Facebook 16 years after his acclaimed film “The Social Network” with “The Social Reckoning,” a companion film set to tell the story of how young engineer Frances Haugen and Wall Street Reporter Jeff Horowitz blew the whistle on the platform’s most guarded secrets. Academy-award winner Mikey Madison will play Haugen, “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White will play Horowitz and “Succession” star Jeremy Strong will lead as Mark Zuckerberg.  

• Street Fighter (Oct. 16) 

  Image Credit: Paramount (Courtesy of YouTube)

  The latest in a long list of videogames that have made it to the big screen is director Kitao Sakurai’s “Street Fighter,” adapted from the 1987 arcade game of the same name. The film will follow estranged street fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) as they return to combat for the World Warrior Tournament. Described as a “brutal clash of fists, fate and fury,” the movie boasts a stacked cast: Eric André, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Jason Momoa and Orville Peck will also appear. 

• The Cat in the Hat (Nov. 6) 

  Image Credit: Warner Bros.

  The cat in the hat is back, this time as the lead character in his mischievous animated theatrical feature film debut. Alessandro Carloni, who previously worked on “Kung Fu Panda” and “How To Train Your Dragon,” and Erica Rivinoja, whose credits include “Trolls” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,” will direct the film, which is also the first to be released under Bill Damaschke’s relaunched Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Bill Hader leads as the cat, with other cast members including Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson, America Ferrera and Bowen Yang.  

• The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Nov. 20)  

  Image Credit: Lionsgate

  Ever since Haymitch Abernathy was introduced to the “Hunger Games” universe, fans have yearned to see his backstory come to life. Next year, their prayers will be answered. “The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaping” will bring audiences back to Panem once more, this time on the morning of the 50th Hunger Games’ reaping. Francis Lawrence will return to direct, and Joseph Zada will play Abernathy. Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons and Elle Fanning round out the star-studded cast, as do Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson who are rumored to reprise their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.  

• The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender (Oct. 9)  

  Image Credit: Courtesy of Nickelodeon

  Aang and the gang are back together — this time years after the long-lost Avatar sought to master the four elements to maintain the order of the four nations. Plot details are still under wraps for the forthcoming animated film, though it has been confirmed that Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun and Eric Nam will headline the voice cast. William Mata and Lauren Montgomery are set to co-direct.  

• Focker in Law (Nov. 25) 

  In the fourth film in the “Meet the Parents” franchise, “Focker in Law,” Greg and Pam Focker (Ben Stiller and Teri Polo) continue the familial tradition of terrorizing soon-to-be in-laws when their son, Henry (Skyler Gisondo), decides to marry a woman they deem his total opposite. Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner return as Jack and Dina Byrnes, while Ariana Grande joins the cast as Olivia Jones in her first post-“Wicked” role. John Hamburg directs.  

• Hexed (Nov. 25)  

  Image Credit: Disney

  “Hexed” will join Walt Disney Animation Studio’s long list of original features as No. 26 next year — the first non-sequel to join the lineup since 2023’s “Wish” (both “Moana” and “Zootopia” got sequels in 2024 and 2025, respectively). Directed by Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand, the film will follow an awkward teen as his magical powers transform his (and his Type-A mother’s) life. Roy Conli and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones are producing. 

• Violent Night 2 (Dec. 4)  

  Image Credit: Universal

  “Violent Night” is getting a sequel right on time for the holidays in 2026, reuniting audiences with David Harbour’s disgruntled Santa Claus as he taps into his warrior past to restore Christmas spirit. This time around, the action film will follow Santa Claus stuck in a New Jersey mall, where he must overthrow a crime lord and his henchmen. Tommy Wirkola returns to direct the sequel.  

• Jumanji 4 ( Dec. 11) 

  Image Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Co / Everett Collection

  Six years after “Jumanji: The Next Level” sent audiences back into the game’s jungle, the wait for the fourth installment of the franchise will finally end next year. Director Jake Kasdan returns for the film, as does Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart. Though, for those familiar with the franchise, it’s unclear just who will be playing Jumanji as them: thus far, the first and second installment have both followed a group of real-life teenagers who enter the game as one of the adult avatars, adding a comedic body-swap twist to the adventure films.  

• Avengers: Doomsday (Dec. 18) 

  Image Credit: Michael Buckner

  “Avengers: Endgame” directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo are teaming up once again for “Doomsday,” the latest in the franchise set to unite various Marvel superheroes including Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Ant Man (Paul Rudd) amongst many, many others. Robert Downey Jr. is also returning, though this time as the villain Doctor Doom, not Iron Man, which ignited fan theories around potential multiverse plot lines despite the actual events of the film being a tightly kept secret.  

• Dune: Part Three (Dec. 18) 

  Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

  Denis Villeneuve’s uber-successful “Dune” franchise will expand once again with “Dune: Part Three,” confirmed to be an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel “Dune Messiah.” In comparison to the first two films (“Dune” and “Dune: Part Two” are both adapted from Herbert’s first novel), the third film is expected to be tonally darker, picking up 12 years after “Part Two’s” conclusions with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) now the universes’ emperor. Florence Pugh will return as Princess Irulan, as will Zendaya as Chani.  

• Angry Birds 3 (Dec. 23)  

  Image Credit: Courtesy of Sony

  Everyone’s favorite feathered friends are back in action in “Angry Birds 3.” “The Angry Birds Movie 2” alums John Rice and Thurop Van Orman return as director and writer, respectively. Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Rachel Bloom, Keke Palmer and Tim Robinson are just a few of the big names attached to the project, along with influencers Jimmy Donaldson (aka MrBeast) and Salish Matter.  

• Werwulf (Dec. 25)  

  Robert Eggers’ forthcoming folklore feature will trade vampires for werewolves as “The Northman” director brings audiences another period horror film featuring “Nosferatu” cast members Lily Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Willem Dafoe. While details are few and far between, the movie will be set in medieval Britain, following local villagers as the creature stalks their countryside. Eggers has said “Werewulf” is his darkest horror movie yet — heightening anticipation for the film.