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As a sci-fi lover, it’s an understatement to say I’m excited for the rest of 2026. Not only are there some great-looking movies on the way, but the release calendar is packed with sci-fi goodness. A huge chunk of that comes from superhero spectacles like “Supergirl,” “Avengers: Doomsday” and the new “Spider-Man” (all of which I’m hyped for), alongside titles like “Godzilla Minus Zero” and the long-awaited “Masters of the Universe.”
We also can’t forget Ridley Scott’s post-apocalyptic “The Dog Stars,” or J. J. Abrams’ mysterious new sci-fi epic starring Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell. There’s so much going on this year that it’s honestly overwhelming in the best way, because pretty much all of them are on my watchlist. Still, there are a few sci-fi movies I’m especially excited about and need to fangirl over.
Of course, it’s just knowing what movies are worth looking out for in the coming months. So if you’re a sci-fi fan looking to build your 2026 watchlist even more, these five are the best place to start.
Article continues below‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’
I have to start with what looks like a cute, fun and charming film set in one of the most iconic franchises. “The Mandalorian and Grogu” represents a major moment for Lucasfilm, as it will be the first Star Wars feature film since 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie brings the hit Disney+ series to the big screen for the first time. It also features sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White in a voice role as Rotta the Hutt. I’m confident this will stand out during a particularly competitive Memorial Day weekend.
After the fall of the Empire, scattered Imperial warlords continue to threaten stability across the galaxy. The fledgling New Republic enlists the help of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), the Mandalorian bounty hunter, and his young apprentice Grogu to assist in tracking down remaining Imperial forces. As they travel through dangerous territories, they take on missions involving covert Imperial facilities and criminal networks. Their journey places them at the centre of a struggle to secure the galaxy’s fragile peace.
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” hits theaters on May 22
‘Backrooms’
Distributed by A24 and produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster, “Backrooms” is perhaps the most unique theatrical release of the year. It is directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, who turned his viral YouTube found-footage series into a major studio production. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, the film explores the "liminal horror" aesthetic, which is unsettling with endless yellow hallways and non-Euclidean spaces. It’s crazy to think this whole idea originated from a single image and a short, scary description that blew up online.
A therapist, Dr. Mary Kline (Reinsve), discovers a mysterious doorway in the basement of a furniture showroom while investigating the disappearance of a patient. Crossing through, she enters the Backrooms, an endless labyrinth of identical yellow-lit corridors and abandoned office-like spaces. As she explores deeper, she attempts to locate her missing patient while going through unstable regions of the environment and avoiding unknown entities within it.
“Backrooms” hits theaters on May 29
‘Disclosure Day’
June brings the release of “Disclosure Day,” Steven Spielberg’s first science-fiction project centered on extraterrestrial life in over two decades. The film is based on an original story by Spielberg with a screenplay by David Koepp, reuniting the duo responsible for “Jurassic Park” and “War of the Worlds.” Spielberg’s return to this subject is seen as him finally satisfying a lifelong interest in space. He has said the film’s ideas connect to a fascination that has “haunted him for decades.”
Kansas City meteorologist, Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), begins experiencing unexplained phenomena during live broadcasts, including signals and patterns that suggest contact beyond Earth. She is soon drawn into a larger government response involving cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor), who uncovers a whistleblower claim about coordinated efforts to reveal extraterrestrial activity. Meanwhile, corporate leader Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth) works to contain the spreading information, while defector Hugo Wakefield (Colman Domingo) pushes for full public exposure.
“Disclosure Day” hits theaters on June 12
‘The End of Oak Street’
“The End of Oak Street” could very much be a secret “Cloverfield” movie. If that turns out to be the case, I might freak out in the movie theater, but if it’s revealed before then, I’ll just freak out from the comfort of my own home. Of course, it’s all just speculation. Directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot, this film takes place in a suburban neighborhood that is mysteriously "pinged back to prehistoric times," resulting in what trailers describe as "Spielbergian thrills" involving dinosaurs in suburbia.
Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, it sees the Platt family experience a sudden cosmic event that removes their neighbourhood from its normal surroundings and places it in an unknown, hostile environment. As they try to understand what has happened, they discover their entire street has been displaced, leaving them cut off from the world they once knew. Facing unfamiliar terrain and the reveal of dinosaurs, the family works together to find a way to survive and possibly return home.
“The End of Oak Street” hits theaters on August 14
‘Dune 3’
The year concludes with what fans are calling the “Dunesday” clash: the simultaneous release of “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune 3” on December 18. While I’m very excited for the return of Marvel’s superheroes to the big screen, I can’t leave out the final installment of “Dune,” which is pure sci-fi at its core. Based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, the film serves as the conclusion to Villeneuve’s popular trilogy and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Robert Pattinson.
Now ruling as Emperor, Paul Atreides (Chalamet) faces the consequences of the empire built in his name after a galaxy-spanning holy war. Political factions within the Imperium begin plotting against him, including the Bene Gesserit, the Spacing Guild, and the Bene Tleilax. A conspiracy forms involving a shapeshifting agent named Scytale (Pattinson) and other operatives who attempt to destabilise Paul’s rule from within. The events unfold years after his rise to power.
“Dune 3 hits theaters on December 18
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