Anticipated Cinematic Landscape for the Upcoming Year
Anticipated Cinematic Landscape for the Upcoming Year
Ian Carroll serves as a senior correspondent focusing on entertainment for io9, a segment within Gizmodo. Based in Los Angeles, he has a knack for film criticism and is our primary film reviewer. Stay updated on his coverage by visiting this link, or send story suggestions and tips to this email address.
The headlining act
The upcoming year will undoubtedly showcase what we've come to expect in the realm of huge Hollywood blockbusters. Expect sequels, reboots, superheroes, and so forth. However, a genre that consistently captivates audiences, even if sometimes understated, is horror. And 2026 has tons to offer in this regard. We'll see major studio productions, mid-budget fright flicks, beloved franchises making a comeback, and even prestigious filmmakers exploring the genre.
Every year, horror films perform exceptionally well at the box office, yet folks still seem taken aback. 2026 won't be one of those years. Some of the biggest titles on the horizon include Leigh Whannell's Werewolf, Guillermo del Toro's Dr. Frankenstein, and Maggie Gyllenhaal's Bride. New installments from the Predator, Final Destination, Saw, Insidious, Conjuring, and I Know What You Did Last Summer series are also in the works. Anticipated sequels for Black Phone, Five Nights at Freddy's, and M3GAN are on the horizon, too. And let's not forget about filmmakers like Steven Soderbergh, Ryan Coogler, and Edgar Wright dipping their toes in the blood. This year's not holding back on gore.
Holding our breath
Besides all the terrifying prospects for horror movies, 2026 promises to be another blockbuster year for superhero films thanks to Captain America: New Beginnings, Superman, The Fantastic Four: Newcomers, and more. (However, that's a whole different can of worms for another time.) In addition, this year will also see many films that seem like relics of another age but might also be hidden gems.
So what are we waiting for? To be pleasantly surprised. That's because, on paper, numerous releases already have a lot of question marks. For example, films like Karate Kid 2: Legends and Tron: Nemesis. While we adore the original films, will 2026 audiences flock to cinemas to witness their continuations? There's the live-action Snow White remake that feels like it's already been released and the live-action Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon adaptations. Do we really need such remakes? Even some of the biggest blockbusters, like the eighth Mission Impossible and seventh Jurassic Park, feel a bit antiquated. We hope they succeed, but history suggests otherwise.
Unconventional insights
Typically, genre films struggle to gain traction during award season, often being overshadowed by more serious fare. However, recent years have seen genre releases breaking through these barriers: Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Shape of Water, Dune: Part Two, and Black Panther. This year might be another one to push this narrative further with directors like del Toro, Coogler, Soderbergh, Danny Boyle, and Bong Joon-ho making strange sci-fi or horror movies.
People to keep tabs on
James Gunn – Gunn remains one of the few major directors who regularly interacts with fans on social media, especially given his impending Superman movie and multiple other DC projects in the pipeline. His online presence is certainly worth following.
Michael Giacchino – The award-winning composer is quite active on social media. With his work on Fantastic Four getting underway, not to mention his transition to directing, his social media is a great way to stay updated on his creative endeavors.
Jon M. Chu – After releasing one of this year's biggest hits with Wicked, Chu is gearing up for another smash in 2026 with Wicked: For Evermore. Following his victory with these two projects, he's sure to share updates on his future plans.
Jason Blum – If 2026 is indeed the year of horror, it's crucial to track the work of one of the genre's most prolific producers. Blum has a strong hand in many of the terrifying titles listed above.
Companies to monitor
Blumhouse – The sheer quantity of impressive horror films set for release in 2026 is noteworthy, with Blumhouse playing a key role in many of these productions, especially since it's now collaborating with James Wan's Atomic Monster.
Sony Animation – While 2026 had initially been slated to be the year of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, those plans have unfortunately been altered. However, with that project still in development, as well as Ghostbusters and other exciting projects in the pipeline, Sony Animation is certainly a company to watch.
Streaming Giant – Due to Netflix's tendency to not disclose its major film releases too far ahead, it's easy to overlook its significant contributions to the film industry. This trend will persist in the future with films from the Russo Brothers, del Toro, and other renowned directors. Furthermore, expect more noteworthy announcements.
A Risky Wager
In 2024, I made a bold assumption that one of the high-profile sequels set for release would garner significant award recognition. And I was right, attributing this to Denis Villeneuve's direction. For the year 2025, I'm taking another risky bet. However, it's not advisable to make the same prediction twice. Therefore, my longshot forecast for this year is that at least one of the highly anticipated blockbusters – be it a superhero film, a new Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, a Pixar project, or a Disney remake – will underperform exponentially.
Care for more io9 updates? Get the lowdown on the upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases. Stay tuned for developments in the DC Universe and all the vital information about the future of Doctor Who.
In the realm of entertainment news, senior correspondent Ian Carroll from io9, known for his film criticism and primary film reviewer role, will likely provide insights on the anticipated future movies in technology-driven storytelling and horror genres, given his position at Gizmodo.
As the future of movies unfolds, Io9's coverage will undoubtedly feature discussions on upcoming major studio productions, mid-budget fright flicks, and new installments from beloved horror series like Predator, Final Destination, and Saw. Additionally, technology's role in future movies will be a topic of interest, so keep an eye on io9 for updated analysis.