Best movies of 2026 (so far)

Fed up of watching an endless stream of bad movies this year? Want to sift through all the crud to find the gold?

No worries – there are plenty of excellent movies out there. From sci-fi and horror, to literary classics and animated adventures, 2026 has served up a heap of ‘em!

Below you find a run through of the best films doing the rounds. This includes movies which made their debut in 2026, or were still playing in cinemas at the beginning of the year (i.e. a few stragglers from 2025).

All the titles mentioned below are either four star or five star movies – there’s no crap here. Oh, and this post will be updated at regular intervals throughout the year.

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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) 

In this direct sequel to 2025’s post-apocalyptic horror, 28 Years Later, young survivalist, Spike, finds himself in over his head when he is adopted into the gang of the menacing Sir Jimmy Crystal. Keen to stay alive, Spike plays along with the gang as best he can, until he can find a way to escape.

Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is an impactful and compelling sequel. It has some genuine moments of terror, as well as gruesome scenes, and it leaves the door open for more.

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More of the best…

The Housemaid (2025) – A young woman with a troubled past takes a job as a live-in maid in a household which hides a disturbing secret. Directed by Paul Feig, and based on the novel of the same name by Freida McFadden, this psychological thriller stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar.

Song Sung Blue (2025) – Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson take the lead in this biographical drama from filmmaker Craig Brewer. The movie tells the story of performers Mike and Claire Sardina, who front a Neil Diamond tribute act named Lightning & Thunder.

Hamnet (2025) – Directed by Chloé Zhao and based on the novel of the same name by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet is a historical drama focusing on the life of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes Hathaway. The movie stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, with the latter picking up an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Marty Supreme (2025) – Set in the 1950s, Marty Supreme is a sports comedy-drama, about a table tennis player determined to make it in the big leagues. Josh Safdie directs, while Timothée Chalamet stars in this fast-paced picture.

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Wuthering Heights (2026) 

Brought to life via the eye of Saltburn director, Emerald Fennell, Wuthering Heights is a slick and somewhat saucy adaptation of Emily Brönte’s romantic epic. And whether you’re new to the story or you’re very familiar with the tale, there’s plenty on offer in this spirited and stylised take on the material.

The story concentrates on the simmering romance between Cathy and Heathcliff, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi taking the lead roles. However, it’s ultimately Martin Clunes who steals every scene in a marvellous turn as Cathy’s drunken father, Mr. Earnshaw.

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More of the best…

Rental Family (2025) – Directed and co-written by Japanese filmmaker, Hikari, Rental is a delightful and touching drama about an actor hired to become a ‘stand-in’ in other people’s lives. Brendan Fraser takes on the role of the ‘stand-in’, Phillip Vanderploeg, who amongst other things is hired to become an absent father to a young girl. 

The Rip (2026) – Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up for this slick action-thriller about a group of police officers from the narcotics unit, who begin to question trust and loyalty during a high stakes raid. Joe Carnahan directs.

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! (2026) – Directed by Shingo Yamashita, and based around the Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is a fantasy anime about the friendship between a high school student and a girl from the moon. 

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Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2026) 

Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski helms this sci-fi comedy about a time traveler who repeatedly returns to the past to defeat a rogue AI. The unnamed man – played by Sam Rockwell – believes he can complete his mission if he just finds the right combination of people to aid him in his quest.

Choosing patrons from a diner, the time traveler has already attempted his mission 116 times. But can the 117th attempt be the one that succeeds?

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More of the best…

Send Help (2026) – Director Sam Raimi brings the thrills for this survival horror about an undervalued employee and her boss, who become stranded on a remote island. Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien star. 

Crime 101 (2026) – Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, and Barry Keoghan star in this captivating crime thriller from filmmaker Bart Layton. Based on the book of the same name by Don Winslow, Crime 101 focuses on a thief, his rival, a cop, and an insurance investigator who all cross paths.

Hoppers (2026) – Delightful Disney-Pixar romp about a young woman who uses advanced tech to mind ‘hop’ into the body of a robot beaver, in order to save a glade from destruction. Daniel Chong directs, while the voice cast includes Piper Curda, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, and Dave Franco.

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Project Hail Mary (2026) 

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary is a feel-good sci-fi movie about a science teacher who wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. Over time he comes to realise (and remember) he is on an important mission, with the fate of the human race resting upon his success.

Starring Ryan Gosling, and Sandra Hüller, and featuring the voice of James Ortiz, Project Hail Mary is an uplifting tale about one man’s sacrifice for the greater good. The film is a delightful picture, which boasts plenty of visual splendor, and a great central performance from Gosling.

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More of the best…

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026) – Picking up directly after the events of 2019’s Ready or Not, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come continues the story of Grace MacCaullay – a young woman in a fight for survival from cult desperate to bump her off. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett direct, while Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, and Sarah Michelle Gellar star.

The Good Boy (2025) – In Jan Komasa’s thriller, The Good Boy (aka Heel) a mysterious family abduct a wayward young man in an attempt to rehabilitate him into a much more productive member of society. Stephen Graham and Anson Boon star.

Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere (2026) – In this docu-film from Adrian Choa, journalist and broadcaster, Louis Theroux throws the spotlight on the ‘manosphere’ – a worrying and expanding world of male content creators with controversial views on women, sexuality, and gender roles. Theroux uses his well-tested set of presenting skills to expose some of the truths and lies.

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The Magic Faraway Tree (2026) 

Based on a series of Enid Blyton books, and starring Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield, and Nicola Coughlan, The Magic Faraway Tree is a fantasy adventure about a British family who encounter something truly magical hidden in an enchanted forest. After relocating from the city, the Thompsons set up a new home in the countryside, where children Fran, Joe, and Beth come to meet some new friends who give them access to magical lands where wishes come true.

Directed by Ben Gregor, and written by Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2), The Magic Faraway Tree is lovely stuff. Fantasy and escapism held together with a charming story about a family reconnecting away from the hustle and bustle of life.

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this newsletter post about the best movies of 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.