As 2026 unfolds, The Guardian and Rolling Stone have published lists of eagerly awaited movies, spanning sequels like Dune: Messiah and Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew to originals such as The Moment and I Love Boosters. These previews showcase a mix of auteur visions, star-studded casts, and genre innovations set for theaters and streamers throughout the year.
Film critics and publications kicked off 2026 with enthusiasm for a packed cinematic slate. The Guardian's January 6 feature spotlights films like Greta Gerwig's 'Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,' a prequel to C.S. Lewis's series starring Emma Mackey as the future White Witch, Carey Mulligan as a terminally ill mother, and possibly Daniel Craig as Aslan or Uncle Andrew. Andrew Pulver praises Gerwig's shift from 'Barbie' to this 'Edenic fall' story, expressing confidence she will 'pull it off in style.'
Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune: Messiah,' the trilogy's final chapter, is slated for December, fast-tracked after 'Part Two's' success. Adrian Horton anticipates its 'gloriously strange and wonderfully vast' adaptation of Frank Herbert's weirder sequel, featuring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, despite competition from 'Avengers: Doomsday.' Rolling Stone confirms the December 18 release, noting Paul Atreides's power struggles and returning cast including Josh Brolin and Rebecca Ferguson, with Robert Pattinson joining.
Charli xcx's 'The Moment,' a mockumentary on her 'Brat' era, arrives late January. Veronica Esposito in The Guardian describes it as born from a 'confessional text of “word vomit”' to director Aidan Zamiri, starring Alexander Skarsgård with AG Cook's score. Rolling Stone calls it a 'cheeky metafictional comedy' of an 'alternate history' if she made 'all the wrong choices,' co-starring Rachel Sennott and Kate Berlant.
Other highlights include David Fincher directing Quentin Tarantino's 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth' with Brad Pitt, Boots Riley's 'I Love Boosters' starring Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, and Alejandro González Iñárritu's 'Digger' featuring Tom Cruise in a $125m dark comedy. David Robert Mitchell's 'Flowervale Street,' with Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, is set for August, potentially involving dinosaurs in a family-friendly sci-fi tale. These releases promise spectacle, satire, and fresh narratives amid economic and cultural shifts.
