Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Movie Reviews 2026 – your animated guide to film.
In this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2026 it’s time for a big summer blowout as we wave goodbye to the blockbuster season. After months of fun, laughter, drama, and explosive action, from the likes of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Masters of the Universe, The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and many, many more, the season draws to a close.
But don’t worry, before we say adieu, there’s still time to talk about Coyote vs. Acme, Insidious: Out of the Further, Stop! That! Train!, Don’t Say Good Luck, and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Speaking of which…
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In cinemas…
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026)
First up this week, in horror drama, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Kris Williams is gearing up to write and direct a reboot of teen slasher series, Camp Miasma. The franchise, which is regarded as ‘problematic’ by a contemporary audience, needs some work so Kris is trying to find a new way to revive the property with modern appeal.
After arranging to meet former scream queen Billy Presley, Kris heads off to the location of the original movie to spend some time with the actress, learning more about the film and conducting research. This leads to the pair getting to know each other in various ways, as Kris learns more about the movies and herself.
Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun, and starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is a quirky little horror, which is both a satire on the genre, as well as a love letter to slasher films of yesteryear. Significant nods are made to the Friday the 13th franchise, but everything from The Shining to Sleepaway Camp is thrown into the mix, as Schoenbrun casts an eye over some of the iconic horrors of the past.
Along the way, some humour is tossed at the screen, along with a deliciously fab performance from Gillian Anderson as reclusive actress and former final girl, Billy Presley. She’s camp, eccentric, and completely mesmerising every time she’s on screen.
Outside of this, the visuals are strong, while the discussions about sex and intimacy, as well as the developing relationship between Kris and Billy, is very interesting and shapes the majority of the story. There’s something here which is very different to your standard horror, and if you’re a fan of off-beat pictures this one could really tickle your pickle.
Despite its plus points, it is fair to say Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma won’t be for everyone, and those looking for a simple slasher may come away disappointed. The picture moves a little slower than some may like, and others may feel it is carried more by atmosphere than anything else.
However, if you’re after an unusual horror-drama to get lost in, and you are always up for a marvellous performance from Gillian Anderson, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is worth your time. The film is now playing in cinemas.
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Stop! That! Train! (2026)
Next up is the farcical LGBTQ+ comedy, Stop! That! Train!. Directed by Adam Shankman, and starring RuPaul Charles, Ginger Minj, and Jujubee, the movie follows the story of a passenger-filled runaway train headed for disaster!
In the movie, after best friends Tess and DeeDee find themselves out of work at Stank Rail, they sneak onto the luxurious Glamazonian Express, where they pose as stewardesses. Unfortunately, while this seems like a significant upgrade from their previous job, they couldn’t have picked a worse time to hop on board.
The conductor of the train is incapacitated by a scorpion, leaving the train hurtling toward a huge weather phenomena known as ‘Stormaganza’! Meanwhile, with her approval ratings tanking due to the worsening train situation, US President Judy Gagwell looks to board the vehicle to get it under control.
Borrowing heavily from the Airplane! and Naked Gun playbook, but not quite pulling things off in the same way, Stop! That! Train! is a daft romp which delivers a decent share of titters, but never quite reaches the Brooke Lynn Hytes it is aiming for. The gags are there, as is a conveyor belt of comedy cameos (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jerry O’Connell, etc), but somewhere along the way the film starts to derail.
The story is too thin, while the fairly short running time proves to be a bit too long. Despite strong performances from a parade of Drag Race alumni, as well as a couple of fun song and dance routines, the novelty begins to wear off quite quickly.
That said, if you’re open to the nonsense, you’re a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and you are partaking in a couple of glasses of vino at the cinema, you’ll find this appealing enough. It’s not a must-see comedy, but if you want a few laughs while watching drag queens mess about for 90 minutes then hop on board.
Stop! That! Train! is now playing in cinemas.
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Now streaming…
Don’t Say Good Luck (2026)
Over to streaming now, where teenager Sophie Birenbaum has managed to bag a prominent role in the school musical. However, what should be a great time in her life is anything but, as Sophie’s mother is living with a terminal illness and gradually getting sicker.
Sophie’s grandmother adds to the drama by creating tension at home, while at school Sophie has to balance friendships, rehearsals, and her developing feelings for her co-star. All of this adds up to a tough time for a high school teen to navigate.
Directed and co-written by Julia Hart, and starring Sunny Sandler, Melanie Lynskey, and Jack Champion, Don’t Say Good Luck is a melancholic coming-of-age drama which will either work for you or it won’t depending on your current headspace and/or expectations. If you like sedate pictures which lean into character work you’ll be eating well, but if you want something with a bit more energy then you’re going to come away disappointed.
The low-level mood remains consistent throughout, as does the perpetual sense of sadness, and you’ll definitely need a box of tissues at hand for some of the more impactful moments. If this doesn’t sound like something you need in your life right now, then maybe Don’t Say Good Luck isn’t one for your playlist.
However, if you do venture into the film you’ll be rewarded by strong staging and high performances. Sunny Sandler is particularly effective in the role of Sophie, as is Melanie Lynskey as her ill mother, and the actors do a great job of making this story work.
So, there’s some gold in here if you look for it, but whether you’re going to vibe with it really does come down to personal taste. Don’t Say Good Luck isn’t an easy watch, but it certainly strikes a chord, and works well enough as a lazy Sunday afternoon drama.
Should you wish to take a look, Don’t Say Good Luck is now streaming on Netflix.
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In cinemas…
Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)
Back to the cinema now for horror sequel, Insidious: Out of the Further. Written and directed by Jacob Chase, the movie is the sixth entry in the Insidious franchise, and stars Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, and Lin Shaye.
As for the story, this one follows young mother and dental hygienist, Gemma, who discovers she can travel into the supernatural realm known as the Further, where she meets all manner of devilish demons. This results in some supernatural shenanigans which puts Gemma and her daughter in danger, and has some troubling connection to Gemma’s childhood.
If you’re a fan of the Insidious films you’ll know this is a very successful horror series. Over the past 16 years Insidious and its sequels have brought in bucket loads of cash as audiences have flocked to see each picture.
The most recent instalment, 2023’s The Red Door, was particularly profitable. Bolstered by the return of various franchise favourites (Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne Ty Simpkins, etc), horror fans lapped it up and the movie became the highest grossing entry in the series.
Will Out of the Further perform just as well? It’s entirely possible, but it might depend on what audiences want.
This one is more of a standalone affair, which doesn’t have the same cast pull that its predecessor had, nor is it tied to the Lambert family (aka the original family). However, it does offer up the usual horror hijinks that fans have come to expect, so if you like jump scares and creepy looking ghouls, dive right in.
Highlights include a gruesome dental checkup; a trio of freakish pensioners; and the return of Lin Shaye who reprises the role of Elise Rainier from previous instalments. There’s also some mileage to be had from a sequence involving a labyrinthine cushion fort.
OK, so Insidious: Out of the Further is fairly standard stuff and it isn’t likely to wow anyone who isn’t already invested in this series, but it provides a perfectly fine couple of hours of spooky entertainment. In essence, don’t raise your hopes too high and you’ll not be disappointed.
This could be the beginning of a new focus for the franchise, or it may become a one-off in the series, either way, if Insidious is your jam, Out of the Further is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
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In cinemas…
Coyote vs. Acme (2026)
And finally, sticking with the cinema for the final big movie of the summer, and it’s the live-action/animated legal comedy, Coyote vs. Acme. Directed by Dave Green and starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Luis Guzmán, Coyote vs. Acme sees Looney Tunes legend, Wile E. Coyote take Acme to court over its defective products.
For years, Wile E. Coyote has used Acme products in an attempt to capture Road Runner. But having failed countless times, it appears Acme might be the reason behind his lack of success, and something needs to be done about it.
You know, the movie business is a strange thing. One minute studios are keen to throw anything and everything at the screen, in an attempt to entice audiences into cinemas no matter what, while at other times those same studios will drag their heels when it comes to films getting made.
And then there are times when studios give the go-ahead to make a movie, scripts are written, financed, and filmed, and for reasons only they can fathom, said film sits on a shelf somewhere gathering dust with the studio refusing to release them. Which is sort of what happened with Coyote vs. Acme.
Based on a 1990 article in The New Yorker by Ian Frazier, Coyote vs. Acme had been in development for decades before it finally went into production in 2022. By 2023 the movie had been completed, and was ready to be released to the world.
However, at the last minute, Warner Bros. had other ideas. The studio was keen to make significant financial cuts to save money and figured some of its unreleased films would make for great tax write-offs if they never saw the light of day.
A live-action Batgirl movie was first for the chop, followed by the animated children’s film, Scoob! Holiday Haunt. The third film to be written off as a tax loss was Coyote vs. Acme.
As a result of Warner Bros.’ decision to save money, Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt were stopped mid-production, leaving the films only partially complete. However, in the case of Coyote vs. Acme, the movie was already in the can, so the completed picture was put out of the way, with the aim being to never release it.
Well, that was until various creatives heard about this decision, and along with director Dave Green (as well as members of the public) voiced their utter displeasure/disappointment/anger towards the studio. This in turn made Warner Bros. have a rethink.
From here, the film was shopped around to various distributors, to allow Warner Bros. to make some money back. This eventually led to Ketchup Entertainment picking up the distribution rights in 2025, and putting it into cinemas in 2026.
So, Coyote vs. Acme playing on the big screen or even being seen by the public is something that almost didn’t happen. For some movies, it can be an uphill battle to get them in front of an audience, but in the case of Coyote vs. Acme it was almost impossible.
But it’s here now, and after all the hassle and all those years waiting, was it worth it? In short: Yes.
Coyote vs. Acme is a humorous, heartfelt, and whacky romp, which leans more into Who Framed Roger Rabbit territory than it does Looney Tunes Back in Action. As such, if you’re a fan of the former, you’re sure to get something enjoyable out of this picture.
Not only does it include a fair bit of Wile. E. Coyote and Road Runner action, but there’s plenty of involvement from the rest of the Looney lot too. But most important of all, there’s a strong story to hook it on.
This isn’t just a cartoon caper made up of random skits and a paper thin narrative, there’s an interesting case, some investigative work, and an ongoing battle between wild animals. Plus, there are various nods to the classic cartoon shorts of yesteryear for good measure.
Now, of course the movie is part legal drama so it may not win over the youngest members of the audience all the time, but there are enough appearances from Bugs and Co. to keep things ticking along. How Warner Bros. could look at this film and consider binning it off beggars belief.
The studio has put out some rubbish in the past, but Coyote vs. Acme doesn’t fall into this category. There are laughs, there is a plot, and there is an opportunity to catch up with old friends from the past. What more could you want or need?
If you were one of the voices calling on Warner Bros. to do the right thing by this film, be sure to give it your support now. Coyote vs. Acme is proof that studios regularly make bad decisions and that pester power does work… sometimes.
Anyway, should you wish to take a look, Coyote vs. Acme is playing in UK cinemas now, and will arrive in US cinemas next week.
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Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
The End of Oak Street (2026)
“…especially recommended for those disappointed by the more recent Jurassic World films. The End of Oak Street is far slicker and far scarier than any of those movies, and it has more depth too.”
The Odyssey (2026)
“Films like The Odyssey are few and far between, and they certainly don’t have the same scope and scale, or this level of detail. The hard work that has gone into this picture speaks for itself.”
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
“While the inclusion of various Marvel heroes and villains, as well as a more comic book accurate costume, could easily suggest Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a lighter affair than what we’ve seen before, this is far from the case. What we have this time around is a Spidey film which is aging up with its audience and presenting a more compelling take on the character.”
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week, which this week goes to Coyote vs. Acme. The live-action/animated comedy brings plenty of fun to the big screen, as well as some Looney Tunes nonsense.
And if you like Coyote vs. Acme you may wish to check out this trio of classic Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner shorts:
- Fast and Furry-ous (1949)
- Beep, Beep (1952)
- Going! Going! Gosh! (1952)
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s all for this week, as well as this summer, but don’t worry, while the summer blockbuster season may now be at an end, you’ll be pleased to know the spooky season is just around the corner. And it will be bringing some heavy hitters, including Practical Magic 2, Resident Evil, and Clayface amongst others.
Plus other big titles on the horizon over the next couple of months include The Uprising, Heart of the Beast, Primetime, Fall 2: Deadpoint, Verity, Digger, Matchbox: The Movie, Street Fighter, and Wildwood. You really can’t afford to miss it.
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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