If you thought the first half of the year was busy, brace yourself, because the rest of 2026 is stacked. From massive theatrical blockbusters to late-night TV binges, the calendar between now and December is stacked with projects I’ve been counting down the days for.
In the coming months, we’re getting superhero epics, original sci-fi flicks, and some seriously exciting horror films. Whether it’s iconic comic book heroes clashing on the big screen, terrifying slasher prequels arriving on streaming, or long-awaited returns to dystopian worlds, there seems to be a major release landing almost every month.
To top it all off, the holiday season is set to close out the year with a bang, bringing one of the most anticipated TV reboots in recent memory with “Harry Potter,” alongside some truly beastly horror from genre mastermind Robert Eggers. If your watchlist is looking a little sparse right now, it’s time to clear your schedule and start adding these upcoming movies and shows.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ (July 31)
Starting with a film we don’t have long to wait for: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Following Doctor Strange’s memory-wiping spell at the end of “No Way Home,” the world has completely forgotten Peter Parker exists, and that emotional setup alone has me incredibly intrigued. But what has me most excited is the mystery surrounding Sadie Sink’s character, who fans have theorized could be a young Jean Grey. If that turns out to be true, I might just freak out (in the best way).
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) several years after the events of “No Way Home,” as he continues protecting New York City as Spider-Man while living a life where no one remembers Peter Parker. After a strange series of crimes begins spreading across the city, Peter is pulled into a dangerous mystery involving a powerful new threat. With his responsibilities as Spider-Man increasing, he must confront a major change that could affect his abilities.
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" hits theaters on July 31
‘The End of Oak Street’ (August 14)
I love it when movies take the leap to be original, and even more so when it’s sci-fi. “The End of Oak Street” is one of my most anticipated movies of the year, and I’m one of those people who still believe it’s connected to the “Cloverfield” franchise. J.J. Abrams is producing the movie through his company, Bad Robot. Abrams famously has a pattern of buying unique, standalone spec scripts and converting them into “Cloverfield” anthology films. Even if it’s not connected, I’m still super hyped.
The Platt family lives a quiet suburban life until a mysterious cosmic event tears their neighborhood from its original location, transporting Oak Street to an unknown world. Led by parents Denise (Anne Hathaway) and Greg (Ewan McGregor), the family must endure a strange new landscape filled with prehistoric dangers, including roaming dinosaurs, while searching for a way to survive and understand what happened to their home.
"The End of Oak Street" hits theaters on August 14
‘Resident Evil’ (September 18)
Another super exciting release is “Resident Evil,” which is based on one of my favorite video games ever. Directed by horror auteur Zach Cregger, the film abandons the previous movie continuities to tell a focused, real-time survival horror story set during the collapse of Raccoon City. Rather than adapting established video game protagonists like Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, the film takes place on the periphery of the iconic 1998 Raccoon City outbreak from an entirely new perspective, which I think is a smart move.
Set during a timeline parallel to the events of "Resident Evil 2," the film follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier making a routine delivery in Raccoon City, but the delivery goes horribly wrong. When a sudden, catastrophic viral outbreak unleashes hordes of infected monsters, the city falls into chaotic collapse. Trapped inside the sprawling disaster zone, Bryan is forced onto a desperate, harrowing foot journey across a frozen, monster-filled landscape.
"Resident Evil" hits theaters on September 18
‘Crystal Lake’ (October 15)
“Crystal Lake” is A24 and Peacock’s long-awaited TV expansion of the “Friday the 13th” universe. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane has described the 1970s-set project not as a straightforward slasher, but as a blend of a paranoid '70s psychological thriller and character drama. It seems to draw heavy inspiration from classic era-defining cinema (think “The Stepford Wives” meets “Carrie”), tracking how grief and community paranoia rot the town from the inside out.
Set in the 1950s, the story focuses on single mother Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) struggling with overwhelming grief nearly a year after her young, sickly son, Jason (Callum Vinson), tragically drowns at a local summer camp. When two mysterious strangers arrive in town digging into her past, a dark sequence of events is triggered. Soon, violent incidents begin targeting residents and camp organizers around the lake, and the local community grows increasingly suspicious.
"Crystal Lake" drops on Peacock on October 15
‘Clayface’ (October 23)
“Clayface” brings one of Gotham City's most tragic villains into DC Studios’ main lineup with a visceral, Cronenberg-esque R-rated body horror origin story. Written by horror mastermind Mike Flanagan, this film stands out as one of the most unconventional moves DC Studios has made so far. The newest trailer shows some seriously grotesque physical side effects, like Matt Hagen’s eyelids melting together in a mid-flight airplane bathroom. Yes, it sounds gross, but it also looks like a solid horror flick.
Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is a rising Hollywood actor whose career and face are violently destroyed when a local mob boss leaves him disfigured. Desperate to restore his appearance, Matt agrees to an experimental medical procedure administered by fringe scientist Dr. Caitlin Corr (Naomi Ackie). The treatment successfully repairs his face, but causes unexpected biological side effects. His body mutates into malleable, shapeshifting clay, granting him the ability to manipulate his physical form at will.
"Clayface" hits theaters on October 23
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ (November 20)
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” brings audiences back to Panem for the fifth big-screen installment in the franchise. The scale and lore depth of this film make it one of the most ambitious entries in the franchise to date. Lionsgate backed it with a record budget exceeding $150 million, matching the massive world-building required for a 48-tribute Quarter Quell. This very much has the paranoia-fueled 1970s psychological thriller aesthetic, and I’m here for it.
Set 24 years before the original trilogy, the prequel centers on a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) during the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell. To mark the milestone, the Capitol alters the rules by demanding double the usual number of tributes, forcing 48 teenagers into the arena. Reaped alongside three fellow District 12 tributes — including Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) — Haymitch is torn from his family and girlfriend.
"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" hits theaters on November 20
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ (December 18)
I had to include “Avengers: Doomsday” on this list considering it’s one of the biggest Marvel events in years. This marks Marvel Studios' return to massive, event-level crossovers. Directed by franchise veterans Anthony and Joe Russo and scripted by Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron, the film serves as the penultimate chapter of the Multiverse Saga. The central existential threat facing all reality is Victor von Doom, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU in the heavily accented, ruthless, and complex villainous lead role.
“Avengers: Doomsday” follows major hero factions — including the Earth-616 Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men — across three distinct universes put on a catastrophic collision course. As dangerous multiverse-shattering “incursions” threaten to annihilate their respective worlds, these disparate hero teams must join forces. Together, they converge to stand against Victor von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), a brilliant, magically-armored mastermind wielding immense cosmic and mystic power who seeks to subjugate reality itself.
"Avengers: Doomsday" hits theaters on December 18
‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (December 25)
Season 1 of HBO’s massive decade-long Harry Potter TV series adapts “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” The ambition behind this new adaptation goes far beyond simply re-filming the 2001 movie. With an eight-episode order for season 1, the creative team has the breathing room to deliver the most comprehensive on-screen version of J.K. Rowling’s debut novel to date. The direction leans into the subtle horror and isolation of an 11-year-old boy entering a world that is just as dangerous as it is magical.
On his 11th birthday, mistreated orphan Harry Potter (Dominic McLaughlin) discovers he possesses magical powers and receives an invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Leaving his non-magical life behind, Harry enters a hidden, extraordinary realm alongside new friends Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) and Hermione Granger (Arabella Stanton). As he adapts to his studies and investigates mysterious occurrences within the castle, Harry uncovers a secret subterranean vault guarding an ancient, power-granting artifact.
"Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone" drops on HBO Max on December 18
‘Werwulf’ (December 25)
![WERWULF - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters Christmas - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cmjpadVj-Vk/maxresdefault.jpg)
Can you tell I love horror now that we’ve reached the end of the list? The final pick, “Werwulf,” sees director Robert Eggers turn his maniacal focus to wolf lore. This time, the story is set in 13th-century England around the year 1300, during the absolute tail end of the country’s wild wolf population, and centers on an unnamed, deeply tormented farmer. It seems like the narrative digs deep into medieval superstition, panic surrounding Satanic shape-shifting, and the primal horror of human-to-animal metamorphosis. It’s going to be wild.
A farmer (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) suffers under a curse that violently contorts his body into a monstrous wolf. As brutal nighttime attacks terrorize a remote medieval village, suspicion spreads rapidly throughout the isolated community. The farmer desperately tries to hide his affliction to protect his wife (Lily-Rose Depp) and children from his own savage transformations. Meanwhile, a relentless hunter (Willem Dafoe) arrives in the village determined to track down and slaughter the beast.
"Werwulf" hits theaters on December 25
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