The last few months of 2026 are shaping up to be a great time to go to the movies. September brings new franchise adventures and original stories, while October has horror, literary adaptations, and dramas to look forward to. November and December add some of the year’s biggest theatrical releases, along with plenty of family entertainment.
Among the biggest releases are Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, The Angry Birds Movie 3, and Doraemon the Movie: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil. Each brings something different to the big screen, from superhero spectacle and science fiction to animated adventures. Doraemon is especially interesting for Indian viewers, with its October 2 theatrical release giving local audiences a chance to experience the latest adventure in cinemas. Some release dates are confirmed, while others may still change, so it is worth checking for updates before making plans.
The excitement comes from seeing familiar worlds return alongside stories we have never experienced before. A new Marvel movie can bring the kind of spectacle that makes a theater feel special, while a smaller animated film or international drama can leave as lasting an impression. There is something satisfying about having a few big releases to look forward to, then discovering a movie that turns out to be even better than expected. For anyone who enjoys the simple pleasure of picking a film, settling into a theater, and seeing where the story takes them, the end of 2026 has plenty of movies to look forward to.
1. Avengers: Doomsday Could Make December a Major Marvel Event
Marvel Studios has set Avengers: Doomsday for December 18, 2026, making it one of the biggest releases during the holiday season. Anthony and Joe Russo are directing, with Stephen McFeely writing the screenplay. The cast includes Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom, alongside Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, and several other familiar faces. Chris Evans is especially exciting for longtime Marvel fans, as his return adds another layer of curiosity to a film already bringing together so many recognizable names.
The Russo brothers’ return is another major reason this movie has attracted attention. They previously directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, two films that became defining moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Their involvement in Doomsday adds a connection to some of the franchise’s most ambitious storytelling.
The story brings together heroes from different Marvel universes to face Victor von Doom, who is expected to be the film’s central threat. The movie will focus on how these characters deal with a danger that affects more than one world. The full plot is still under wraps, but the return of familiar heroes and the involvement of multiple universes suggest that their meeting will have major consequences.
2. Dune: Part Three Continues Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Science-Fiction Story
Nearly two decades after Paul takes control of the Imperium, the story finds him facing the consequences of that victory. His rule has brought political power, but it has not ended the conflict surrounding Arrakis and the wider empire. Old enemies return, and rebellion begins to threaten the position he fought so hard to secure. The upcoming sequence focuses on how Paul tries to hold on to power while dealing with the problems.
Completing the trilogy is a challenge in itself. Denis Villeneuve’s first two Dune films established a detailed world, a strong visual identity, and a narrative that has become one of the most closely followed science-fiction adaptations in modern cinema. The third film must bring that journey to a satisfying finale while continuing to explore the political and personal consequences of Paul’s choices.
The film is based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, the second novel in the Dune series. That book moves the plot into a more political and reflective phase, focusing on the consequences of Paul’s rule. It gives the film a strong foundation for following the darker side of the character’s journey. For fans of the books, seeing this part of Herbert’s story is one of the most interesting aspects of the upcoming release.
December 18, 2026, will bring Dune: Part Three to theaters alongside Avengers: Doomsday. Denis Villeneuve returns to direct the final chapter of his Dune trilogy, with Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures behind the release. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya lead the cast, joined by Jason Momoa, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Robert Pattinson. After two films that turned Frank Herbert’s universe into a major cinematic experience, the third installment has an opportunity to bring Paul’s story to its happy ending.
3. The Angry Birds Movie 3 Brings the Flock Back for a New Family Adventure
The first two Angry Birds movies turned a mobile game into a comedy about birds, pigs, and an unlikely friendship. The Angry Birds Movie 1 followed Red, Chuck, and Bomb as they tried to protect their island from the pigs, while the sequel brought the two sides together to face a new danger. The upcoming movie will continue that story, but this time Red has a different responsibility to take care of.
Red’s new challenge is to become a father while still being the bird everyone turns to when danger strikes. Paramount’s official synopsis places him in a narrative where saving the world and dealing with fatherhood happen at the same time. That means Red cannot rush into another adventure without thinking about the family he now has to protect. The film can build its comedy around that conflict, with Red trying to handle his responsibilities at home while facing another threat.
Animation remains a big part of the appeal. The bright colors, expressive characters, and fast-paced comedy give the series a style that works especially well for younger audiences. The third installment has a chance to build on that visual identity while introducing new settings and situations for the characters to explore. For families, that familiar animated world is a major reason the film is worth watching.
Red’s character has also come a long way since the first movie. He started out as an angry outcast, but the earlier films gradually showed him becoming a more dependable friend and protector. The voice cast includes Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Rachel Bloom, Emma Myers, Keke Palmer, and Lily James, giving the returning characters and new additions plenty of recognizable voices.
The third movie is expected to introduce new characters who expand the world beyond the familiar birds and pigs. The official material has not yet revealed their names or how they will fit into the story, so their roles remain unclear. Their arrival could bring new friendships, rivalries, and conflicts that give Red, Chuck, Bomb, and Silver fresh situations to deal with.
4. Doraemon’s Underwater Adventure Reaches Cinemas
Doraemon is more than a cartoon character to many people. The familiar voice, Nobita’s everyday problems, and the endless supply of gadgets have made the series a childhood favorite for generations. Doraemon the Movie: New Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil offers audiences a chance to see the blue robot cat and his friends return to the big screen.
Nobita and his friends venture beneath the sea, where they uncover a hidden underwater world filled with strange environments and forgotten secrets. Their search brings them to a sunken ship and an ancient castle, drawing them into a dangerous mystery involving the underwater kingdom. As the threat grows, Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo must rely on their friendship, bravery, and futuristic gadgets to escape the danger and protect the people they encounter.
Music has always been an important part of the Doraemon experience, especially for fans who grew up watching the television series. The familiar opening theme, emotional songs, and iconic background music can make a new adventure feel instantly recognizable. A theatrical release gives those musical moments more room to create excitement, laughter, and emotion on the big screen.
5. Resident Evil Returns With a Fresh Horror Action Approach
The fear of opening the next door, dark corridors, and ammunition make Resident Evil a fan-favorite franchise. Players enjoy searching for supplies, solving puzzles, and deciding whether to fight a creature or save their bullets for a more dangerous encounter. The series has been around since 1996 and has become so recognizable that even people who have never played it have likely heard the name.
The earlier live-action movies followed Alice through a separate storyline involving the Umbrella Corporation and the spread of the T-virus. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City took a different approach by adapting characters and events from the original games. The 2026 film is expected to move away from both versions and introduce a new lead character and an original survival-horror situation. Instead of retelling a familiar game plot, it will use the franchise’s dark settings, dangerous creatures, and limited-resource tension to create a fresh nightmare within the same universe.
Zach Cregger directs the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten. Cregger, known for Barbarian and Weapons, said he wanted to capture the feeling of the games, moving a character from one dangerous location to another, with each stage becoming more intense. His approach also includes familiar game elements such as weapon progression, resource management, healing items, and changing environments.
A medical courier played by Austin Abrams becomes trapped in a citywide nightmare after a routine delivery coincides with a deadly outbreak. What should have been an ordinary night turns into a desperate journey through infected streets, abandoned buildings, and locations filled with mutated creatures. Bryan must keep moving while searching for a way to survive, and the trailer shows him facing zombies in the snow, struggling through violent attacks, and witnessing infected bodies falling from buildings as Raccoon City collapses around him.
6. The Social Reckoning Revisits the World of Digital Power
Unlike The Social Network, which focused on Facebook’s creation and the legal battle surrounding its founders, The Social Reckoning examines what happened after the platform became a powerful part of everyday life. The film follows Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, played by Mikey Madison, and Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, played by Jeremy Allen White, as they investigate the company’s internal practices. Their work brings them into conflict with Mark Zuckerberg, portrayed by Jeremy Strong, and exposes the damage linked to the platform’s decisions.
Social media now affects how people get news, discuss politics, and understand public issues. Frances Haugen’s disclosures raised questions about whether Facebook knew about harmful effects on its platform and why some internal research remained private. Her decision to share that information puts the company under pressure and brings Mark Zuckerberg into the investigation.
The trailer shows Haugen deciding to reveal Facebook’s hidden information while Horwitz helps her bring the evidence to the public. Jeremy Strong’s Zuckerberg appears preparing for congressional testimony, where he insists he is no longer the young founder who once worked out of a dorm room. The footage also presents Haugen facing the pressure of taking on a company with almost unlimited resources.
7. Animals Offers a New Thriller Led by Ben Affleck
Animals is scheduled for October 9, 2026, and follows a family caught in a kidnapping crisis. Mark Kimball, a mayoral candidate, must find the ransom money after his son is taken, putting his campaign and personal life under pressure. The film offers a darker change of pace from the season’s superhero and animated releases. The upcoming thriller focuses on a desperate family trying to solve a crime before the situation becomes even more dangerous.
Ben Affleck directs, co-writes, and stars as Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball. Kerry Washington plays his wife, Abigail, while Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Ray Fisher, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Matt Gerald also appear. The screenplay was written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre, and Billy Ray, with Matt Damon among the producers.
Mark and Abigail’s son is kidnapped, and the couple must find the ransom money before the deadline expires. Because Mark has spent much of their money on his political campaign, they face the choice of selling what they own, asking for help, or revealing secrets that could damage his career. The teaser shows a threatening phone call and a masked figure, suggesting that the kidnapping is only the beginning of a larger criminal scheme.
8. Verity Adapts a Popular Thriller for the Big Screen
Colleen Hoover’s Verity began as a 2018 psychological thriller about a struggling writer who discovers disturbing secrets inside another author’s home. The book became a bestseller through its combination of family secrets, manipulation, and an ending that leaves readers questioning what really happened. Its film adaptation follows the same central mystery, with Anne Hathaway playing the famous author Verity Crawford.
Hoover’s previous movie adaptation, It Ends With Us, became surrounded by controversy during its 2024 release. Reports focused on tensions between Blake Lively and director-star Justin Baldoni, disagreements over the film’s creative direction, and criticism of how the movie’s domestic-abuse subject was promoted. The dispute later expanded into legal battles.
Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett lead Verity, with Johnson playing struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh and Hartnett portraying Verity’s husband, Jeremy Crawford. Michael Showalter directs the film, while Nick Antosca wrote the screenplay. Colleen Hoover is also involved as a producer, giving her a direct role in adapting her bestselling novel for the big screen.
The trailer uses Kylie Minogue’s song Can’t Get You Out of My Head in a slowed-down version that makes the Crawford household feel unsettling. Familiar music plays over disturbing moments, creating a sharp contrast between the song’s catchy rhythm and the danger surrounding the characters. Rather than making the scenes feel romantic, the music makes Lowen’s growing involvement with the family seem more threatening.
Lowen Ashleigh accepts a job finishing Verity Crawford’s novel after the famous author is left unable to write following a serious accident. At the Crawford family home, Lowen discovers a hidden manuscript that describes disturbing events involving Verity’s marriage, her children, and the family’s private life. The manuscript forces her to question whether Verity documented real events or created a fictional story, while her growing relationship with Jeremy makes the situation even more complicated.
9. I Play Rocky Looks at the Making of a Sports Classic
The trailer shows Stallone meeting with studio executives who doubt whether an unknown actor can carry a major boxing movie. The most recognizable moment comes when he refuses to accept a deal that would remove him from the role of Rocky. Another memorable shot recreates the famous training imagery associated with the original film, including Rocky running through Philadelphia as he prepares for the fight that could change his life.
I Play Rocky is directed by Peter Farrelly, the filmmaker behind Green Book, with a screenplay by Peter Gamble. Produced by Baha Productions and Fireside Films, with Amazon MGM Studios handling theatrical release. Farrelly also serves as a producer alongside Toby Emmerich, Christian Baha, Paul Currie, and Michele Weiss, bringing the film together as a behind-the-scenes drama about the making of the original Rocky.
Anthony Ippolito plays a young Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky, bringing the actor’s determination to the screen as he fights to make Rocky on his own terms. The film explores Stallone’s refusal to sell the screenplay unless he could portray Rocky Balboa himself, despite studios wanting a more established star and offering him large sums to step aside. Ippolito’s performance focuses on the pressure behind that decision, showing how Stallone risked his career to protect the character and prove that an unknown actor could lead the film.
10. Focker-in-Law Revives a Familiar Comedy Franchise
Ariana Grande first gained major attention as Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon’s Victorious, where she played a sweet but often confused teenager whose unusual comments and exaggerated reactions created many of the show’s funniest moments. She later reprised the character in Sam & Cat, proving that her comedy could carry scenes beyond her music career. In Focker-in-Law, that experience gives her a strong foundation for handling the awkward family arguments, embarrassing situations, and quick comic exchanges expected from the franchise.
The film also brings back the familiar ensemble that made the Meet the Parents franchise popular. Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, and Owen Wilson return to the family comedy. With Grande joining the cast, the movie could appeal to both longtime fans and audiences looking for a light comedy to watch with family or friends.
The plot centers on Henry Focker, Greg and Pam’s grown-up son, who plans to marry Olivia Jones, a former FBI hostage negotiator. Greg becomes suspicious of Olivia and starts investigating whether she is the right person for Henry, a position once occupied by Jack Byrnes. The trailer also shows Greg trying to compete with Olivia during a cycling trip, while Jack appears far more impressed by her.
11. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth Extend a Memorable Character’s Story
In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Cliff Booth worked as Rick Dalton’s driver, stunt double, and closest friend, but his own past remained largely unexplained. The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth picks up in 1977, when Booth is working as a Hollywood studio fixer and using his experience, connections, and willingness to get physical to deal with problems that executives cannot solve themselves. The new setting moves him away from Rick’s career and places him inside the dangerous business of protecting Hollywood’s powerful figures.
The film has obvious appeal for both Tarantino and Brad Pitt fans. Pitt returns to the role that earned him an Academy Award, while Tarantino writes the screenplay and expands the alternate version of Hollywood introduced in the earlier movie. Viewers can expect the same combination of crime, dark humor, celebrity culture, and unusual characters, although David Fincher directs the new story instead of Tarantino.
The setting also gives the continuation a different atmosphere. Instead of returning to 1969, the film takes place in Los Angeles in 1977, a period when Hollywood was changing, and the city’s entertainment industry was becoming more aggressive and commercial. Booth’s work as a studio fixer places him around scandals, threats, and powerful people trying to protect their reputations.
12. Practical Magic 2 Returns to a Beloved Fantasy World
The 1998 film Practical Magic introduced Sally and Gillian Owens, sisters from a family of witches who inherit powerful magic along with a curse that prevents them from finding lasting love. Practical Magic 2 continues their story nearly three decades later, as the Owens family faces another threat connected to its magical bloodline. The sequel also shifts attention toward the next generation, with Sally’s daughters Kylie and Antonia becoming part of the family’s supernatural legacy.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as Sally and Gillian, while Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest reprise their roles as Aunt Frances and Aunt Jet. The new cast includes Joey King as Kylie Owens, Maisie Williams as Antonia Owens, Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod. Bringing back the original sisters while introducing younger Owens women allows the sequel to connect the first film’s audience with a new generation of characters.
Sally and Gillian face another threat to the Owens family when an old curse returns and places the younger generation in danger. Kylie and Antonia must begin understanding their inherited abilities while dealing with the consequences of the family’s magical history. The conflict also puts pressure on the sisters’ relationship with their daughters, forcing them to confront secrets and rules that have shaped the Owens women for generations.
Susanne Bier directs Practical Magic 2 from a screenplay credited to Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel. The film is based on The Book of Magic, Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel that expands the Owens family. Goldsman and Pritchett’s screenplay brings Hoffman’s magical family mythology to the screen while continuing the characters introduced in the original film. Practical Magic 2 is scheduled to open in theaters in September 2026, rather than November 25.
13. Wildwood Brings Stop-Motion Fantasy to the Fall Calendar
Unlike computer-animated family films, Wildwood uses Laika’s signature stop-motion process, with hand-built puppets, miniature sets, and individually photographed movements that bring its enchanted forest to life. The film is directed by Travis Knight, who previously helmed Kubo and the Two Strings, and comes from the studio behind Coraline and Missing Link. Its physical animation style is especially suited to the story’s eerie woodland setting, where talking animals, hidden settlements, and supernatural dangers can feel tangible rather than digitally created.
Prue McKeel’s baby brother, Mac, is carried away by a murder of crows from their home near Portland, Oregon, forcing her to enter the forbidden forest known as Wildwood. She ventures into the wilderness with her classmate Curtis, who becomes her companion as they search for Mac and try to understand why the crows took him. Inside Wildwood, they encounter talking animals, strange magical forces, secret communities, and powerful figures who make the rescue mission far more dangerous than Prue expected.
The voice cast includes Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Prue and Jacob Tremblay as Curtis. Carey Mulligan voices Prue’s mother, while Awkwafina, Mahershala Ali, and Angela Bassett are also part of the cast. Their performances give the characters distinct personalities, from Prue’s determination and Curtis’s nervous humor to the more mysterious figures living inside Wildwood.
The forest setting gives Wildwood its strongest visual identity. Instead of placing the characters in a familiar city or brightly colored fantasy kingdom, the film uses dense woodland, hidden settlements, and shadowy paths to create a world that feels beautiful but dangerous. That environment supports the story’s central contrast between Prue’s ordinary life and the secret world she enters.
14. Clayface Offers a Different Kind of DC Movie
DC Studios is coming off a mixed period. Superman helped launch the new DC Universe, while Supergirl received weaker reviews and underperformed at the box office. Lanterns could improve the studio’s momentum with its grounded detective story about John Stewart and Hal Jordan before Clayface reaches theaters on October 23, 2026.
Clayface is also a less familiar name to general audiences than major Batman villains such as the Joker, Harley Quinn, or the Penguin. Although the character has appeared in several Batman adaptations, he has rarely received the same level of attention outside comic-book circles. Giving him a standalone movie allows DC Studios to introduce the character to a wider audience while moving beyond the usual stories about Gotham’s most recognizable criminals.
The character’s unusual abilities give the film a different foundation from a conventional superhero origin story. Clayface can reshape his body, imitate others, stretch his limbs, and transform his appearance, making it difficult to know who he really is. Those powers can support disturbing scenes involving physical transformation, identity, and the loss of control over one’s own body, which explains why the project is being positioned as a body-horror film rather than a traditional costumed adventure.
15. Street Fighter Brings a Legendary Video Game Rivalry to the Big Screen
Resident Evil is not the only video game franchise heading to theaters in fall 2026. Street Fighter is also making its return to the big screen, bringing characters such as Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li into a live-action martial arts adventure. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film is scheduled for release on October 16, 2026.
The World Warrior Tournament brings Ryu and Ken back together for a series of one-on-one martial arts battles, with each fighter using a distinct fighting style and special technique. Chun-Li recruits them to compete while investigating a dangerous conspiracy connected to the tournament. Their mission becomes difficult when the competition forces the former friends to confront old disagreements and question whether they can trust each other.
Andrew Koji plays Ryu, Noah Centineo portrays Ken Masters, and Callina Liang takes the role of Chun-Li. The cast also includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Roman Reigns as Akuma, and Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim. Liang’s casting gives Chun-Li an important place in the story, particularly because the character brings Ryu and Ken together and helps drive the film’s central conflict.
