The best movies of 2026 so far include Project Hail Mary, Hoppers, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Obsession, Fjord, Toy Story 5 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. All 11 films below were released between January and early October 2026 and earned strong reviews from critics.
The list is in release order, not ranked. It covers big studio films, a Pixar original, two horror hits and the Palme d’Or winner from Cannes. Where a film has already arrived on streaming or digital, we have noted it. Availability varies by country, so check your local platforms and cinema listings.
You can find more coverage in our movies section and Hollywood news.
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Quick facts: the best films of 2026 so far
| Film | Release (US unless noted) | Director | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | 16 January 2026 | Nia DaCosta | Sony (Columbia) |
| Send Help | 30 January 2026 | Sam Raimi | 20th Century Studios |
| Hoppers | 6 March 2026 | Daniel Chong | Disney / Pixar |
| Project Hail Mary | 20 March 2026 | Phil Lord, Christopher Miller | Amazon MGM Studios |
| Obsession | 15 May 2026 | Curry Barker | Focus Features |
| Fjord | 18 May 2026 (Cannes) | Cristian Mungiu | Neon (US, UK) |
| Backrooms | 29 May 2026 | Kane Parsons | A24 |
| Disclosure Day | 12 June 2026 | Steven Spielberg | Universal |
| Toy Story 5 | 19 June 2026 | Andrew Stanton | Disney / Pixar |
| The Odyssey | 17 July 2026 | Christopher Nolan | Universal |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | 31 July 2026 | Destin Daniel Cretton | Sony |
1. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
Nia DaCosta’s sequel opened in the UK on 14 January and in the US on 16 January 2026. Ralph Fiennes returns as Dr Ian Kelson, who forms an unlikely bond with an Alpha Infected, while young Spike (Alfie Williams) is pulled into a gang led by Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).
It is one of the best reviewed films of the year, with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 81.
Why it made the list: A horror sequel that is stranger and bolder than the film before it.
2. Send Help (2026)
Sam Raimi’s survival thriller arrived in cinemas on 30 January 2026. Rachel McAdams plays an overlooked employee stranded on an island with her new boss (Dylan O’Brien) after a plane crash, and their office rivalry turns deadly.
Critics liked it, giving it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been available on video on demand since 24 March 2026.
Best for: A tense, darkly funny night in with friends.
3. Hoppers (2026)
Pixar’s original animated film opened on 6 March 2026. Directed by Daniel Chong, it follows Mabel, a college student who moves her mind into a robotic beaver to save a local habitat and accidentally starts an animal uprising. Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm lead the voice cast.
Hoppers scored 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and began streaming on Disney+ on 3 June 2026.
Best for: Families, and anyone who missed original Pixar stories.
4. Project Hail Mary (2026)
This space adventure from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, written by Drew Goddard, opened in the US on 20 March 2026. Ryan Gosling plays a science teacher who wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory and slowly works out that he has to save Earth. Sandra Hüller co-stars.
It holds 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and an A CinemaScore. In the US, it has been streaming on MGM+ since 18 June 2026.
Why it made the list: Smart, funny and moving, it is the crowd-pleaser of the year.
5. Obsession (2026)
Curry Barker’s horror film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and opened in US cinemas on 15 May 2026 through Focus Features. A music store worker buys a supernatural wish toy to make his friend fall for him, and it goes horribly wrong.
Barker has said the film cost no more than USD 750,000 to make. Critics loved it: it holds 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic.
Best for: Horror fans who like small films with big ideas.
6. Fjord (2026)
Cristian Mungiu’s drama premiered at Cannes on 18 May 2026 and won the Palme d’Or. Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve play a Romanian-Norwegian couple whose parenting comes under scrutiny after they move to her remote Norwegian hometown. The story is inspired by a real case.
It has 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, though not every critic was convinced. Neon is releasing it in the US from 9 October 2026, and it is Romania’s entry for the next Academy Awards.
Why it made the list: The year’s most talked about festival film, led by two strong performances.
7. Backrooms (2026)
Kane Parsons made his feature directing debut with this A24 horror film, released in the US on 29 May 2026. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a furniture store owner who, with his therapist (Renate Reinsve), finds an endless maze of empty rooms beneath his shop.
It scored 86% on Rotten Tomatoes and came out on digital on 14 July 2026.
Best for: Viewers who like unsettling, slow-creeping horror more than jump scares.
8. Disclosure Day (2026)
Steven Spielberg’s science fiction film opened in the US on 12 June 2026. Written by David Koepp, it follows a cybersecurity expert who steals files about extraterrestrial technology as the world edges towards a major war. Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth and Colman Domingo star.
Reviews were generally positive, with 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic.
Best for: Fans of classic Spielberg alien stories with a modern thriller twist.
9. Toy Story 5 (2026)
Andrew Stanton directed the fifth Toy Story film, which opened on 19 June 2026. Set two years after Toy Story 4, it sees Woody, Buzz and the gang compete for Bonnie’s attention after she gets hooked on a frog-themed tablet. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen return.
The film holds 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics were positive, though some questioned whether a fifth film was needed.
Best for: Families and longtime fans of the series.
10. The Odyssey (2026)
Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s epic opened in the US and UK on 17 July 2026. Matt Damon plays Odysseus on his long journey home after the Trojan War, with Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Zendaya as Athena.
It is the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, and it received wide critical acclaim, especially for Nolan’s direction. A digital and Ultra HD Blu-ray release is set for 17 November 2026.
Why it made the list: The year’s biggest big-screen experience.
11. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
Tom Holland returned as Peter Parker in this Sony and Marvel film, which opened on 31 July 2026. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, it picks up four years after the world forgot Peter Parker, with Zendaya back as MJ and Sadie Sink joining as Jean Grey. Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh and Mark Ruffalo also appear.
Reviews were generally favourable, with praise for Holland and for a more grown-up, character-led story.
Best for: Marvel fans looking for a more personal Spider-Man story.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best movie of 2026 so far?
Project Hail Mary, Hoppers and Obsession are among the highest rated, each at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, Fjord (82) and The Bone Temple (81) score highest on this list.
Which 2026 movies can I stream now?
Hoppers is on Disney+, Project Hail Mary is on MGM+ in the US, and Send Help and Backrooms are available to rent or buy digitally in many markets.
Which film won the Palme d’Or in 2026?
Fjord, directed by Cristian Mungiu and starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, won the top prize at Cannes in May 2026.
When does The Odyssey come out on digital?
Universal has set a digital and Ultra HD Blu-ray release for 17 November 2026.
For more ranked lists, browse our listicles.
Sources: Release dates and review scores from Wikipedia’s list of American films of 2026, Project Hail Mary, The Odyssey and Fjord pages on Wikipedia.
