MOTHER OF FLIES is a low-budget horror flick that plays out as a sordid endurance test for both the cast and audience, as it straddles the fence between the psychological and supernatural, without delivering on either. It’s a product of the Adams family, written and directed by John, daughter Zelda and wife Toby Poser; starring that trio, plus their other daughter, Lulu. They are not to be confused in any way with the more familiar, and noticeably superior, Addams family. The missing “d” seemingly makes quite a difference.
The plot follows a grieving woman who retreats into isolation after a personal loss, taking refuge in a decaying rural house that quickly becomes less a sanctuary than a cauldron. As her mental state deteriorates, the environment reflects it: rot creeps into every corner; flies proliferate; her own body becomes another site of infestation. That dangled suspense of insanity vs. the supernatural remains vague – presumably by design.
What could have been a marketable premise turns out confusing and dull. Scenes stretch on forever, not because they’re tense or meaningful, but because no one apparently was objective enough to do some editing. No member of the clan could snip another’s dialog or screen time without offending the rest of the household, and ruining the next Thanksgiving. The camera lingers with more familial pride than dramatic purpose. Grotesque images feel inserted or exaggerated for shock value, more than narrative enhancement.
In terms of the performances, the cast is trapped in monotones. There’s no escalation, no modulation—just suffering, presented as a moral achievement. Dialogue is mercifully sparse, but the visuals between talky bits are nothing special. They rely on tropes – rot as metaphor, insects as symbolism, silence as seriousness, etc.
By the time MOTHER OF FLIES slogs its way to the finish line, it brings more relief than enlightenment, leaving us a package that’s less disturbing than exhausting. This one’s unfortunately short on both the sizzle and the steak. All of which is really a shame. This is the family’s fourth collaboration. I haven’t seen the previous three, but note they earned favorable ratings on IMDb, which supports my belief that they have more to offer than this one displays. Enough so that I plan to check out the others.
MOTHER OF FLIES is available streaming on Shudder starting Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
From visionary Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda (MIRAI) comes a powerful, time-bending animated adventure about SCARLET, a medieval-era, sword-fighting princess on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing at her mission and finding herself gravely injured in the “Otherworld,” she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free of bitterness and rage. When confronted again by her father’s killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle: can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge?
In IMAX theaters February 6, 2026. In theaters nationwide February 13, 2026.
The St. Louis screening is on Wednesday, January 28 at 7:00pm at AMC Creve Coeur.
DC Studios’ SUPERGIRL will be in theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
Alcock stars alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.
Today James Gunn, who helmed 2025’s SUPERMAN, released this video of Momoa as Lobo via his social media outlets.
Lobo! Considering his name means “he who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it” in his native tongue, perhaps they shouldn’t have been too surprised. Lobo took his predilection for murder and mayhem along with his rocket-fueled motorcycle and went on to become the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. ” As an intergalactic bounty hunter and self-branded “Main Man,” Lobo’s gigs take him all over the universe, but he never lingers for long because there’s always someone or something else to apprehend, preferably as painfully as possible.
Craig Gillespie directs SUPERGIRL from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira and hits theaters June 26.
I would say that it’s unusual for a somber set-in-the-UK drama based on a memoir (yes, it’s all true) to be released three weeks into the new year, well past awards noms deadline, but further research has revealed that this did get a one-week run in a US theater last month to be considered for the accolades. And so far, bupkis (we’ll see early Thursday morning). Of course, that’s no reflection on this film’s quality or merits. Still, its title suggests a whimsical “nature-bonding” story ala THE PENGUIN LESSONS or countless canine sagas. Now, that species connection factors in, but the heart of the story is a woman’s emotional journey in H IS FOR HAWK.
The woman at this story’s center is a research (mostly science history) fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge named Helen Macdonald (Claire Foy). On a blustery day in 2007, she’s birdwatching in the nearby countryside. As she heads home, she phones her photojournalist father Alisdair (Brendan Gleeson) with news that she spotted a pair of goshawks (a rare sighting). Dad cuts the call short as he must head to a London assignment. That evening, at her on-campus housing home, Helen meets another academic, Christina (Denise Gough) for dinner. On the way out, Helen gets a phone call that changes everything: her adored papa succumbed to a fatal heart attack in the city. Helen’s life goes into a tailspin, indecisive about pursuing a three-year position in Germany, which squelches her new romance. She then has an epiphany and knocks on the door of an old friend named Stu (Sam Spruell). Years before, both had been ardent members of a falconry society. He’s still involved (his bird is perched in his kitchen), so Helen asks him for intel on getting back in. But she doesn’t want a falcon. Instead, Helen wants to train the more difficult, spirited goshawk. Stu hooks her up with a seller, and soon the bird she names Mabel is taking up her every spare moment. Quickly the bond between the two becomes so intense that Helen is neglecting her classes and ignoring calls and visits from friends. And then the school administrators tell her that this type of “pet” isn’t allowed in college quarters. Can Helen continue to train and hunt with Mabel? And could this be a way for Helen to escape her grief rather than facing it and moving forward with her life?
This exploration into the art and skill of falconry becomes a compelling showcase for the gifted Foy. We’ve seen her excellent supporting work in films like FIRST MAN and WOMEN TALKING, but we’ve really not seen her carry the emotional weight of a film’s lead performance (though I’m told she was excellent as Queen Elizabeth II in the streaming series, “The Crown”). Foy shows us the vibrant, engaged Helen in the early scenes of her birdwatching and lecturing her class, but with her loss we see the light in her eyes suddenly dim. Not even a romantic online fling brings that spark back, until Mabel literally swoops in. Then Foy shows us another side of Helen, with an overriding obsession that almost seals her off from the world. It’s a tricky balancing act as Helen elicits our sympathy while often frustrating us, and Foy is more than up to the complex challenges. Happily we’re treated to several flashbacks of her opposite the always engaging Gleeson as her lovably gruff, but warm and encouraging papa, perhaps a near perfect “girl dad”. It’s quite a contrast to Helen’s maternal connections with her mum, played with subtle restraint and grace by Lindsay Duncan. We see that the loss of her soulmate has drained her, though she also yearns to share the grief with her increasingly distant daughter. Spruell is strong as Helen’s her birding buddy Stu as he tries to help train Mabel while attempting to calm the always anxious Helen. Speaking of pals, Gough (so wonderful on another streaming show, “Andor”) is also very effective as co-worker confidant Christina, who wants to be a “lifeline” to her floundering chum as she tries to understand her increasing withdrawl into mania.
The impressive ensemble is guided by director Phillipa Lowthrope, working from Emma Donoghue’s screenplay adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s acclaimed memoir. Lowthrope keeps us engaged, as the backdrops suddenly switch from ancient academia to the glories of the countryside. And those scenes of Helen working (she insists that they’re partners in the hunts) with the gorgeous, intense (her glare) Mabel truly soar. A sequence in the deep woods of Mabel swooping in on a very unlucky rabbit is haunting (there’s a drone crew in the credits that were really “on their toes”). While these scenes are worthy of any lauded nature docuseries, it’s the very human drama at the center of the story that’s truly compelling. This is such a well-crafted exploration of the impact of mourning on someone grieving, though it offers no easy fixes. In less works, the introduction of an “animal partner” would be the needed “remedy”, but here we see how the distracting fixation can cut a person out of the human (rat) race. Some viewers may be a bit put off by the rather open-ended finale, but life can’t always be “wrapped up in a bow” to facilitate a desired “happy ending”. That idea and the winning performance of Foy really enables H IS FOR HAWK to spread its wings and take flight.
3 Out of 4
H IS FOR HAWK opens in select theatres on Friday, January 23, 2026
Screens! Aargh! There’s the bane of modern life, for many in the older generations (guilty, as charged), and the source of a new challenge to parents (as they must battle their offspring over “limiting screen time”). Well, according to this new thriller set in the not too distant future, the “screen reliance” will only strengthen. That’s because, in this story’s plot, they can literally be the deciding factor between life and death. By legal execution. Yes, this is a science fiction-tinged tale of crime and really quick punishment. And with this “ice cold” tech advance, there’s little room on the legal system’s “hard drive” for even a gigabyte of MERCY.
Before the mystery really kicks in, we’re treated to a brief prologue explaining this radically new and improved (?) world of 2029. It seems that crime was overwhelming the “city of angels” with entire “ever-expanding” blocks cordoned off as “red zones”, packed with the dregs (addicts, career criminals) of society. To stem the tide, the court system is given an extreme “overhaul” for those accused of capital crime (mainly murder). Every device (phones, security cameras, monitors) are linked to the “cloud” so that when a suspected assailant is observed, the police scoop them up, and whisk them to the monolith Mercy building in downtown LA. They are strapped to a chair in front of a huge screen that lets them interact with an AI judge (and no jury of their peers). They are given 90 minutes to reduce the probability of guilt icon to 92%. If that number can’t be reached, the prisoner is given a lethal shock through that chair. As the backstory ends, the main action shifts to a large empty room where a groggy Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) awakens in that dreaded chair. He is then told by digital Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) that he is accused of killing his wife Nicole (Annabelle Wallis). Raven is stunned, since he has no memory of that or of being arrested. Oh, and he’s a cop, the police detective that brought in the first person to be tried and found guilty by Mercy (which has reduced the murder rat, so far, to 68%). Things don’t look promising for him as he sees various screen grabs of him getting into a heated argument with her before “falling off the wagon” and being violently subdued (hence the poor recall) at a local “watering hole”. That ninety-minute clock is ticking fast, so Raven gets “up to speed” by contacting his AA sponsor Rob (Chris Sullivan) and his angry teen daughter Britt (Kylie Rogers), who discovered her mom’s body. With help on those mean streets from his current LAPD partner Jaq (Kali Reis) can Raven untangle this twisty “frame job” before his “trial time” runs out, and he is roasted and toasted by “ole’ Sparkey’?
Though he’s “the guy in the chair”, Pratt ably holds our interest, communicating the plight of Raven though his vocal intonations and facial expressions (no body language to read here). Plus, he’s not cruising by with his engaging charm, giving us the dramatic heft missing with much of his post-Starlord roles in direct-to-streaming shows. He can even keep us in doubt as to Raven’s guilt (most of the time). Now “the lady on the big monitor screen” (accented in black naturally), is the terrific Ferguson who we just saw reacting to screens in A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. Here’s she’s almost as limited as Pratt, since the AI judge is incapable of expressing any emotion (to a point). Yet, she intimidates with her strict adherence to protocols (and her programming), and stubbornness with Raven (raising the guilt percentage ruthlessly), though she almost smiles when called “your honor”. Sullivan embodies the caring sponsor/pal who wants to help, but thinks Raven is guilty. Ditto for Rogers, though she’s full of rage and tears. And much of that is true for Reis, who will fly into the fire for her partner, despite her pessimistic persona. There’s also some strong supporting work from Kenneth Choi as raven’s former partner and BFF, along with Jeff Pierre as a slippery stranger with a link to Raven’s wife.
Now, here’s a nifty idea on the police procedural/crime “whodunit”. Perhaps it may be the only months away dystopian future that recalls MINORITY REPORT, ROBOCOP, and the various incarnations of JUDGE DREDD (comics and films) that makes the plot seem fresh. That cynical take on tomorrow’s lawmen even provides a knowing satirical wink at the current political climate. The use of the various screens is pretty inventive as we watch Raven furiously figuring out a way to exonerate himself while tracking down the killer. Director Timur Bekmambetov juggles the various images (much like his last computer thriller PROFILE), with some reality TV-like dust-ups and some nifty gadgets (there are single-sized police copter/drones). Unfortunately he tosses these elements aside in the last twenty or so minutes to indulge in some “destruction porn” out of the FAST & FURIOUS franchise, with a dash of THE BLUES BROTHERS (I image Michael Bay telling him to “reign it in” a bit). Any semblance of subtlety and drama is replaced by near non-stop carnage and urban mayhem. It’s quite exhausting, and a real shame since there are some interesting concepts and commentary for much of MERCY.
Oscar®-nominated actor Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman announced the 98th Oscars® nominations today (Thursday, January 22, 2026), live from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills via a global livestream on Oscars.org, Oscar.com and the Academy’s digital platforms, ABC’s Good Morning America and ABC News Live, Disney+, Hulu, broadcast media and an international satellite feed.
With 16 nominations, SINNERS (released in cinemas on April 17) set the record for most nominations for a film. The previous record of 14 was shared by All about Eve (1950), Titanic (1997) and La La Land (2016). ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER saw 13 nominations while FRANKENSTEIN, MARTY SUPREME and SENTIMENTAL VALUE each saw 9. HAMNET received 8 nods. Chloé Zhao’s nomination for HAMNET is the 11th Directing nomination for a woman. She is the second woman to receive multiple directing nominations, following Jane Campion. Steven Spielberg received his 14th nomination for Best Picture, a record for an individual producer (since 1951 when producers were first named as nominees).
Warner Bros. saw the most nominations for a studio with 30.
With some nominees still to be determined, a record 74 women are currently nominated this year. The previous record of 71 was set in 2023.
Brooks and Pullman announced the nominees in two groups starting at 5:30 a.m. PT, followed by the remaining categories at 5:41 a.m. PT.
Academy members from each of the 19 branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, costume designers nominate costume designers, etc. In the Animated Feature Film, Animated Short Film, International Feature Film and Live Action Short Film categories, nominees are selected by a vote of members from all branches who opt in to participate and have met the eligibility requirements. All active members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees. Members submitted nomination ballots from 88 countries.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for Best Picture, which has 10. Active members of the Academy must view all nominated films to be eligible to vote.
Finals voting begins on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and concludes on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Visit https://www.oscars.org/oscars/voting for more information.
All rounds of Oscars voting are conducted by secret online ballot, tabulated by the independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and airs live in more than 200 territories worldwide.
Lewis Pullman and Danielle Brooks host the announcement of the 98th Oscars® nominations, on Tuesday, January 22, 2026.
Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees Timothée Chalamet Marty Supreme
Nominees Leonardo DiCaprio One Battle after Another
Nominees Ethan Hawke Blue Moon
Nominees Michael B. Jordan Sinners
Nominees Wagner Moura The Secret Agent
Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees Benicio Del Toro One Battle after Another
Nominees Jacob Elordi Frankenstein
Nominees Delroy Lindo Sinners
Nominees Sean Penn One Battle after Another
Nominees Stellan Skarsgård Sentimental Value
Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees Jessie Buckley Hamnet
Nominees Rose Byrne If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Nominees Kate Hudson Song Sung Blue
Nominees Renate Reinsve Sentimental Value
Nominees Emma Stone Bugonia
Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees Elle Fanning Sentimental Value
Nominees Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas Sentimental Value
Nominees Amy Madigan Weapons
Nominees Wunmi Mosaku Sinners
Nominees Teyana Taylor One Battle after Another
Animated Feature Film
Nominees Arco Ugo Bienvenu, Félix de Givry, Sophie Mas and Natalie Portman
Nominees Elio Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina and Mary Alice Drumm
Nominees KPop Demon Hunters Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle L.M. Wong
Nominees Little Amélie or the Character of Rain Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Nidia Santiago and Henri Magalon
Nominees Zootopia 2 Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Yvett Merino
Animated Short Film
Nominees Butterfly Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens
Nominees Forevergreen Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
Nominees The Girl Who Cried Pearls Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
Nominees Retirement Plan John Kelly and Andrew Freedman
Nominees The Three Sisters Konstantin Bronzit
Casting
Nominees Hamnet Nina Gold
Nominees Marty Supreme Jennifer Venditti
Nominees One Battle after Another Cassandra Kulukundis
Nominees The Secret Agent Gabriel Domingues
Nominees Sinners Francine Maisler
Cinematography
Nominees Frankenstein Dan Laustsen
Nominees Marty Supreme Darius Khondji
Nominees One Battle after Another Michael Bauman
Nominees Sinners Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Nominees Train Dreams Adolpho Veloso
Costume Design
Nominees Avatar: Fire and Ash Deborah L. Scott
Nominees Frankenstein Kate Hawley
Nominees Hamnet Malgosia Turzanska
Nominees Marty Supreme Miyako Bellizzi
Nominees Sinners Ruth E. Carter
Directing
Nominees Hamnet Chloé Zhao
Nominees Marty Supreme Josh Safdie
Nominees One Battle after Another Paul Thomas Anderson
Nominees Sentimental Value Joachim Trier
Nominees Sinners Ryan Coogler
Documentary Feature Film
Nominees The Alabama Solution Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman
Nominees Come See Me in the Good Light Ryan White, Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro and Stef Willen
Nominees Cutting through Rocks Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni
Nominees Mr. Nobody against Putin Nominees to be determined
Nominees The Perfect Neighbor Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu and Sam Bisbee
Documentary Short Film
Nominees All the Empty Rooms Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones
Nominees Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud Craig Renaud and Juan Arredondo
Nominees Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” Hilla Medalia and Sheila Nevins
Nominees The Devil Is Busy Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir
Nominees Perfectly a Strangeness Alison McAlpine
Film Editing
Nominees F1 Stephen Mirrione
Nominees Marty Supreme Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
Nominees One Battle after Another Andy Jurgensen
Nominees Sentimental Value Olivier Bugge Coutté
Nominees Sinners Michael P. Shawver
International Feature Film
Nominees Brazil The Secret Agent
Nominees France It Was Just an Accident
Nominees Norway Sentimental Value
Nominees Spain Sirāt
Nominees Tunisia The Voice of Hind Rajab
Live Action Short Film
Nominees Butcher’s Stain Meyer Levinson-Blount and Oron Caspi
Nominees A Friend of Dorothy Lee Knight and James Dean
Nominees Jane Austen’s Period Drama Julia Aks and Steve Pinder
Nominees The Singers Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt
Nominees Two People Exchanging Saliva Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata
Makeup and Hairstyling
Nominees Frankenstein Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey
Nominees Kokuho Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu
Nominees Sinners Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry
Nominees The Smashing Machine Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein
Nominees The Ugly Stepsister Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg
Music (Original Score)
Nominees Bugonia Jerskin Fendrix
Nominees Frankenstein Alexandre Desplat
Nominees Hamnet Max Richter
Nominees One Battle after Another Jonny Greenwood
Nominees Sinners Ludwig Goransson
Music (Original Song)
Nominees Dear Me from Diane Warren: Relentless; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
Nominees Golden from KPop Demon Hunters; Music and Lyric by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park
Nominees I Lied To You from Sinners; Music and Lyric by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson
Nominees Sweet Dreams Of Joy from Viva Verdi!; Music and Lyric by Nicholas Pike
Nominees Train Dreams from Train Dreams; Music by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner; Lyric by Nick Cave
Best Picture
Nominees Bugonia Ed Guiney & Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone and Lars Knudsen, Producers Nominees
F1 Chad Oman, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers
Nominees Frankenstein Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber, Producers
Nominees Hamnet Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, Producers
Nominees Marty Supreme Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Anthony Katagas and Timothée Chalamet, Producers
Nominees One Battle after Another Adam Somner, Sara Murphy and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers
Nominees The Secret Agent Emilie Lesclaux, Producer
Nominees Sentimental Value Maria Ekerhovd and Andrea Berentsen Ottmar, Producers
Nominees Sinners Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Ryan Coogler, Producers
Nominees Train Dreams Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, Will Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer and Michael Heimler, Producers
Production Design
Nominees Frankenstein Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
Nominees Hamnet Production Design: Fiona Crombie; Set Decoration: Alice Felton
Nominees Marty Supreme Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis
Nominees One Battle after Another Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino
Nominees Sinners Production Design: Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Monique Champagne
Sound
Nominees F1 Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Nominees Frankenstein Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern
Nominees One Battle after Another José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor
Nominees Sinners Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker
Nominees Sirāt Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas
Visual Effects
Nominees Avatar: Fire and Ash Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Nominees F1 Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson
Nominees Jurassic World Rebirth David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould
Nominees The Lost Bus Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K. McLaughlin
Nominees Sinners Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Nominees Bugonia Screenplay by Will Tracy
Nominees Frankenstein Written for the Screen by Guillermo del Toro
Nominees Hamnet Screenplay by Chloé Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell
Nominees One Battle after Another Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
Nominees Train Dreams Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Nominees Blue Moon Written by Robert Kaplow
Nominees It Was Just an Accident Written by Jafar Panahi; Script collaborators – Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, Mehdi Mahmoudian
Nominees Marty Supreme Written by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie
Nominees Sentimental Value Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Primitive War 2, the official sequel to the cult war-horror feature Primitive War, has been announced by Sparke Films, with filmmaker Luke Sparke returning as writer, director, and producer. It’s based on the book series by Ethan Pettus.
Building on the success of the first film, Primitive War 2 expands the scope and mythology of the franchise, pushing deeper into the Vietnam conflict zone where 1960s warfare collides with prehistoric predators. The sequel is positioned as a darker, more intense escalation — and more grounded war epic—continuing the series’ distinctive blend of military realism and survival horror.
Set in the aftermath of the original film, Primitive War 2 follows a new U.S. platoon sent into an increasingly unstable valley, where competing kill zones, rival apex predators, and secret Cold War agendas converge. As containment collapses, the mission becomes one of survival — and the cost of failure threatens to extend far beyond the battlefield.
Sparke, who also served as editor, Production designer and VFX supervisor on the first film, described the sequel as “a natural evolution of the story.”
“The first film was about discovery,” said Sparke. “This is about escalation—what happens when control is lost, when nature adapts faster than military doctrine, and when the war itself becomes secondary to what’s been unleashed.”
The original Primitive War was released internationally and quickly gained a strong following for its grounded tone, practical military detail, and distinctive approach to the dinosaur genre. The sequel aims to further cement the franchise as a unique entry in the dinosaur and war-horror space.
Series author Ethan Pettus adds, “I had a blast watching the first Primitive War film, and I’m excited to see how the sequel goes!”
Primitive War alumni are also reuniting, including Sparke’s local Queensland based production crew and producers Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke, Executive Producer Geoff Imrie and Co-Producer Alex Becconsall. Carmel and Geoff Imrie produce through their company, Let It Be Entertainment.
Primitive War 2 is currently in late development, with production targeting a 2027 release. Deals with many of the same international buyers and studios are currently being closed along with new expansions. Casting is underway and additional production details will be announced at a later date.
Luke Sparke is repped by Ben Levine at Link Entertainment, Vivek Kolli at Kolli Management and Adam Vitable at Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman.
Check out this brilliant first trailer for MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
I’m sold!
In MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Exclusively in theaters June 5, 2026 in U.S. theaters on June 5, 2026 by Amazon MGM Studios and internationally this June, by Sony Pictures International Releasing.
Nicholas Galitzine stars in MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
The 2026 film slate is indeed shaping up to be a diverse year for cinema, featuring everything from space epics and superhero blockbusters to true-life dramas and major animated sequels. Get ready for a visually stellar spectacle!
Below are WAMG’s list of the 2026 films we’re looking forward to.
SCREAM 7 – FEBRUARY 27
When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all. Directed by Kevin Williamson and starringNeve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Ethan Embry, Tim Simons and Mark Consuelos.
EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert – ONE WEEK IMAX EXCLUSIVE STARTING FEBRUARY 20 and IN CINEMAS WORLDWIDE FEBRUARY 27
Elvis sings and tells his story like never before in a new cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. The director says: “EPiC Elvis takes the audience through the journey of his life, through both classic and contemporary musical prisms, weaving unseen footage with iconic performances that have never been presented in this way. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a leap of the musical imagination and a tribute to one of the greatest performers of all time.”
THE BRIDE – MARCH 6
From Maggie Gyllenhaal (Academy Award-nominated writer/director of The Lost Daughter) and starring Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley and Academy Award winner Christian Bale comes THE BRIDE! A bold, iconoclastic take on one of the world’s most compelling stories.
A lonely Frankenstein (Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious (five-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening) to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride (Buckley) is born. What ensues is beyond what either of them imagined: Murder! Possession! A wild and radical cultural movement! And outlaw lovers in a wild and combustible romance!
The film stars Buckley, Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, with Bening, Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, and Oscar winner Penélope Cruz. Maggie Gyllenhaal directs from her own screenplay and produces alongside Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren. The executive producers are Carla Raij, David Webb and Courtney Kivowitz.
Gyllenhaal is supported behind the camera by a team of award-winning film artisans, including director of photography Lawrence Sher, production designer Karen Murphy, editor Dylan Tichenor, music supervisor Randall Poster, composer Hildur Gudnadóttir and costume designer Sandy Powell.
PROJECT HAIL MARY – MARCH 20
Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone. Stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub
Based on Andy Weir’s New York Times best-selling novel, starring Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling with Academy Award nominee Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub. Directed by Academy Award® winning filmmakers Phil Lord & Christopher Miller.
BILLIE EILISH – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) – MARCH 20
Captured during her sold-out world tour, BILLIE EILISH – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) brings an innovative new concert experience to the big screen from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation. Presented in immersive 3D, the film is directed by Academy Award® winners James Cameron and Billie Eilish.
PEAKY BLINDERS – THE IMMORTAL MAN – MARCH 20
Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders…
Academy Award® winner Cillian Murphy returns as the iconic Tommy Shelby in this epic feature film directed by Tom Harper and written by Steven Knight.
The cast also includes Rebecca Ferguson (Dune, A House of Dynamite), Academy Award® nominee Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight), Sophie Rundle (After the Flood, Gentleman Jack) with Academy Award® nominee Barry Keoghan (Saltburn, The Banshees of Inisherin) and Primetime Emmy Award® winner Stephen Graham (Adolescence, Boiling Point).
READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME – MARCH 27
The film will have its world premiere at SXSW 2026.
Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, the film also stars Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Varun Saranga, Daniel Beirne.
THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE – APRIL 3
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is an animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros., and follows The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was released in 2023 and earned more than $1.3 billion worldwide. Both the 2023 film and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo.
The film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and will be released worldwide by Universal Pictures.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is directed by returning filmmakers Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, from a screenplay by returning screenwriter Matthew Fogel, with Brian Tyler returning to compose the score.
THE MUMMY – APRIL 17
Hot off the record-setting resurrection of EVIL DEAD RISE, writer/director Lee Cronin turns to one of the most iconic horror stories of all time with an audacious and twisted retelling: LEE CRONIN’S THE MUMMY.
The young daughter of a journalist disappears into the desert without a trace—eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare. The film stars Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, with Veronica Falcón. The film is written and directed by Cronin, and produced by James Wan, Jason Blum and John Keville. The executive producers are Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Macdara Kelleher and Lee Cronin.
Cronin is supported behind the camera by a team of sterling film artisans, including director of photography Dave Garbett, production designer Nick Bassett, editor Bryan Shaw, costume designer Joanna Eatwell, music by Stephen McKeon and casting by Terri Taylor and Sarah Domeier Lindo.
MICHAEL – APRIL 24
Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known.
The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.
Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.
Michael stars Jaafar Jackson in his feature film debut, Nia Long (Empire, The Best Man franchise), Laura Harrier (BlacKkKlansman, Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Juliano Krue Valdi (The Loud House, Arco), with Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick, Whiplash) and two-time Academy Award® nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the award-winning filmmaker of Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen and The Equalizer franchise, from a screenplay by three-time Academy Award® nominee John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), the film is produced by Academy Award® winner Graham King (The Departed, Bohemian Rhapsody), John Branca (executive producer This Is It, Thriller 40) and John McClain (executive producer This Is It, Michael Jackson Live at Wembley July 16, 1988).
DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 – MAY 1
Gird your loins. 20th Century Studios has unveiled its first glimpse of “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
Almost twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily and Nigel—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel to the 2006 phenomenon that defined a generation.
The film reunites the original main cast with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and introduces an all-new runway of characters including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B.J. Novak and Conrad Ricamora. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles as “Lily” and “Irv” from the first film.
MORTAL KOMBAT II – MAY 8
From New Line Cinema comes the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory, Mortal Kombat II. This time, the fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Karl Urban stars as Johnny Cage, alongside Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, with Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion. (Trailer)
Director Simon McQuoid returns to helm the follow up to his explosive 2021 cinematic adventure, from a screenplay by Jeremy Slater, based on the videogame created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The film is produced by Todd Garner, James Wan, Toby Emmerich, E. Bennett Walsh and McQuoid, and executive produced by Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Slater and Lawrence Kasanoff.
Joining McQuoid behind the camera are director of photography Stephen F. Windon, production designer Yohei Taneda, editor Stuart Levy and costume designer Cappi Ireland, with casting by Rich Delia and music by Benjamin Wallfisch.
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU – MAY 22
The Mandalorian and Grogu embark on their most thrilling mission yet in Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” an all-new Star Wars adventure opening exclusively in theaters May 22, 2026.
The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu. Directed by Jon Favreau, “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” also stars Sigourney Weaver and is produced by Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Ian Bryce, with music composed by Ludwig Göransson.
DISCLOSURE DAY – JUNE 12
If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people.
We are coming close to … Disclosure Day.
Universal Pictures is proud to release a new original event film created and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars SAG winner and Oscar® nominee Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place), Emmy and Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown), Oscar® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Kingsman franchise), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters, The Perfect Couple) and two-time Oscar® nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).
Based on a story by Spielberg, the screenplay is by David Koepp, whose previous work with Spielberg includes the scripts for Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Combined, those films earned more than $3 billion worldwide. Koepp also wrote the script for this 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth.
Disclosure Day is produced by five-time Academy Award® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger (The Fabelmans, West Side Story) and by Spielberg for Amblin Entertainment. The executive producers are Adam Somner and Chris Brigham.
TOY STORY 5 – JUNE 19
in the teaser, fans are introduced to the new character Lilypad, a high-tech frog-shaped smart tablet voiced by Greta Lee (“Past Lives,” “The Morning Show,” “TRON: Ares”) that makes Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs exponentially harder when they have to go head to head with the all-new threat to playtime.
Tom Hanks returns as the ever loyal cowboy Woody, Tim Allen reports for duty as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack saddles up again as the rootin’ tootin’ cowgirl Jessie. It was recently announced that Conan O’Brien will also be a part of the voice cast as the toilet training tech toy,Smarty Pants.
“Toy Story 5” is directed by is directed by Academy Award® winner Andrew Stanton (“WALL•E,” “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory”), co-directed by Kenna Harris (“Ciao Alberto”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (“Turning Red,” “WALL•E,” “Finding Dory”). cademy Award® winner Andrew Stanton (“WALL•E,” “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory”), co-directed by Kenna Harris (“Ciao Alberto”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (“Turning Red,” “WALL•E,” “Finding Dory”).
SUPERGIRL – JUNE 26
“Supergirl,” DC Studios’ newest feature film to hit the big screen, will be in theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures, starring Milly Alcock in the dual role of Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Craig Gillespie directs the film from a screenplay by Ana Nogueira.
When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
Alcock stars alongside Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley, David Krumholtz, Emily Beecham, and Jason Momoa.
DC Studios heads Peter Safran and James Gunn are producing the film, which is based on characters from DC, Supergirl based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The film is executive produced by Nigel Gostelow, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars P. Winther. Behind the camera, Gillespie is joined by director of photography Rob Hardy, production designer Neil Lamont, editor Tatiana S. Riegel, costume designer Anna B. Sheppard, Visual Effects Supervisor Geoffrey Baumann, and composer Ramin Djawadi.
MINIONS 3 – JULY 1
While specific plot details are still under wraps, the film is expected to continue as a bridge between the prequel timeline and the original Despicable Me. Rumors suggest it may be set in the 1980s or 1990s, following the chronological progression of previous films. From director Pierre Coffin, who directed the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions movie.
Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX® film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX® film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.
The Odyssey stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron.
The Odyssey is produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan for their company, Syncopy. The executive producer is Thomas Hayslip.
MOANA – JULY 10
In Disney’s live-action adaptation of the beloved Oscar®-nominated animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people. The film is directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Thomas Kail (“Hamilton”); produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, Hiram Garcia and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and executive produced by Thomas Kail, Scott Sheldon, Charles Newirth and Auliʻi Cravalho, who voiced Moana in the animated features “Moana” and “Moana 2.”
SPIDERMAN: BRAND NEW DAY – JULY 31
Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker in his fourth standalone MCU film. Will we see see Scorpion?
THE DOG STARS – AUGUST 28
From 20th Century, The Dog Stars centers on a civilian pilot living on an abandoned airbase with his dog and an ex-Marine amid a devastating pandemic. A random transmission picked up by the pilot’s radio from his 1956 Cessna offers hope for a better life. Directed by Ridley Scott. Stars Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, Margaret Qualley. Based on the 2012 novel by Peter Heller.
One of the must-sees of 2026, audiences will finally get to see COYOTE VS ACME.
Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor and Tone Bell star in this live-action/animation hybrid film. The film centers on Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation for the countless faulty products that have hindered his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner.
After a long and controversial journey, the live-action/animation hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme is officially back on track for a theatrical release. Originally produced by Warner Bros. and famously shelved for a tax write-off in 2023, the film was “saved” by Ketchup Entertainment.
Even the film’s composer took to X to express his dismay after the film was originally canceled.
Had a lot of fun scoring Coyote Vs Acme. As no-one will be able to hear it now, due to bizarre anti-art studio financial shenanigans I will never understand, here is a bit of behind the scenes footage of our “Meep Meep” Roadrunner choir, with apologies to Tchaikovsky… pic.twitter.com/HL7h00rXpp
During Comic Con 2025, the first footage from Coyote vs. Acme featured a montage of Wile E. Coyote’s failed attempts to thwart the Road Runner, which was set to Johnny Cash’s version of the Nine Inch Nails hit “Hurt.” Later, Wile E. Coyote happens to see a TV commercial from attorney Kevin Avery, as played by Forte. (THR)
DIGGER – OCTOBER 2
Stars Tom Cruise. Directed by Academy Award-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film marks Cruise’s first collaboration with the director
Described as a “companion piece” to “The Social Network,” the new film focuses on events that take place nearly two decades after the boy-genius programmer and a troupe of tech pioneers invented what would go on to become the world’s largest social media platform. “The Social Reckoning” tells the true story of how Frances Haugen (Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets.
Horwitz’s reporting, a series of articles known as “The Facebook Files,” was published in 2021 and exposed Facebook for its harmful effects on teens and its knowing proliferation of misinformation, which contributed to acts of political violence.
Aaron Sorkin’s film stars Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Bill Burr and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg.
STREET FIGHTER – OCTOBER 16
Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!
Helmed by director Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter is set to bring the battle from the arcade to the big screen with Hadoukens, roundhouses, and all your favorite characters. Stars Noah Centineo as “Ken Masters”, Andrew Koji as “Ryu”, Callina Liang as “Chun-Li”, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai as “Akuma”, David Dastmalchian as “M. Bison”, Cody Rhodes as “Guile”, Andrew Schulz as “Dan Hibiki”, Vidyut Jammwal as “Dhalsim”, Eric André as “Don Sauvage” with Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson as “Balrog” and Jason Momoa as “Blanka”
Sony Pictures is opening Mandalay Pictures’ new action movie Archangel starring Jim Caviezel, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt and Shea Whigham on Nov. 6, 2026. This is the first we’re hearing about the project, particularly with Sony’s attachment. Plot details are under wraps.
Will Eubank directs (Land of Bad, Underwater) from a script by Chris Papasadero and Oscar nominee Randall Wallace (Braveheart, We Were Soldiers). Pic is produced by David Zelon and William Sherak. Peter Guber is executive producing. Eubank recently directed Land Of Bad starring Liam Hemsworth and Russell Crowe and Underwater starring Kristen Stewart.
TOHO and GKIDS have officially locked in theatrical dates for Godzilla Minus Zero. The new film will open in Japan on November 3, 2026, with a wide North American release following just days later on November 6, marking a rare near-simultaneous rollout for a Japan-produced Godzilla feature.
The November 3 release date carries clear historical weight. It is the same day the original Godzilla debuted in Japanese theaters in 1954, a date now celebrated annually as Godzilla Day. The choice also echoes Godzilla Minus One, which opened on November 3, 2023 in Japan, and went on to become the highest-grossing Japan-produced Godzilla film worldwide, earning more than $116 million and winning the Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects.
Godzilla Minus Zero once again brings back Oscar®-winning filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki, who returns as director, screenwriter, and VFX supervisor. Plot details remain tightly guarded, but production is currently underway at Toho Studios, with ROBOT producing and visual effects handled by SHIROGUMI Inc. The project was first announced in November 2024, with its title revealed a year later during Godzilla Fest 2025.
THE GREAT BEYOND – NOVEMBER 13
J.J. Abrams’ upcoming sci-fi film, officially titled The Great Beyond, starring Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega, is confirmed for a November 13, 2026, release in IMAX theaters. The secretive Warner Bros. project also features Emma Mackey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophie Okonedo, and Merritt Wever, with Abrams writing, directing, and producing the mysterious big-screen event, his first directorial feature since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
EBENEZER: A CHRISTMAS CAROL – NOVEMBER 13
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is an upcoming horror-tinged adaptation of Dickens’ classic, directed by Ti West (known for X, Pearl) and starring Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge, set for a November 13, 2026 release by Paramount, with a cast including Ian McKellen, Tramell Tillman, Daisy Ridley, and Rupert Grint, promising a darker, psychologically intense take on redemption with atmospheric visuals.
THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING – NOVEMBER 20
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Directed by Francis Lawrence Lawrence has helmed four previous films in the Hunger Games franchise – every film since Catching Fire.
It stars an ensemble cast that includes Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Glenn Close.
MADDEN – NOVEMBER 26
Inspired by a true story, MADDEN follows the football legend from Super Bowl glory with the Raiders to revolutionizing the game with Madden NFL. Directed by David O. Russell, the film stars Nicholas Cage and features Christian Bale, Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney, Sienna Miller, and Shane Gillis.
JUMANJI 3 – DECEMBER 11
Jake Kasdan is back in the director’s chair. While specific plot details are being kept under wraps, the film is expected to pick up after the cliffhanger at the end of The Next Level, where Jumanji’s animals and game elements began crossing over into the real world.
(L-R) Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar (Kevin Hart), Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) and Professor Shelly Oberon (Jack Black) star in Columbia Pictures’ JUMANJI 3 (Photo by Hiram Garcia)
AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY – DECEMBER 18
Directed by the Russo brothers, this Marvel Cinematic Universe event features the return of Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, the XMEN and an extensive cast of heroes facing off against Doctor Doom, Robert Downey Jr.
Avengers: Endgame, which marks Downey’s return to Marvel, and Chalamet’s Dune: Part Three both hit movie theaters Dec. 18
Robert Downey Jr. said during a Q&A he moderated for Timothée Chalamet’s movie Marty Supreme that he and Chalamet are coining the day their next movies release “Dunesday” “We both have films opening on December 18, and we decided to coin it — we’re thinking Dunesday.”
Timothée Chalamet and Robert Downey Jr. in a ‘Marty Supreme’ Q&A tonight in Los Angeles.
“We both have films opening on December 18th, and we decided to coin a name for it. We’re thinking 'DUNESDAY'.” pic.twitter.com/2DLAecKojv
Denis Villeneuve’s final entry in the trilogy follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) 12 years after the events of the second film.
Returning cast members include Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides, and Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck. Jason Momoa is also set to reprise his role as Duncan Idaho (as a ghola), and Robert Pattinson has joined the cast in an undisclosed role, rumored to be the villain Scytale.
Directed by Robert Eggers (The Witch, Nosferatu) and is described as a brutal, atmospheric historical thriller set in 13th-century England. It will star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, and Willem Dafoe.
On a remote coastal island, a reclusive man (Statham) rescues a young girl (Breathnach) from a deadly storm, drawing them both into danger. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his turbulent past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption.
Shelter stars Jason Statham (The Beekeeper, A Working Man), Bodhi Rae Breathnach (Hamnet), Naomi Ackie (Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody), and Academy Award nominee Bill Nighy (Living).
Shelter is directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Greenland, Angel Has Fallen) andproduced by Black Bear, Punch Palace Pictures, CineMachine, and Stampede Ventures.
