26 must-see films coming soon

The final quarter of the film calendar is here, and studios are preparing to release their usual slew of awards season contenders for eager cinephiles. But this 2026 fall movie preview also features two of the biggest blockbusters of the year — both of which will be released on the same day.

For every Oscar hopeful like Martin McDonagh’s “Wild Horse Nine” (Nov. 6) or Jesse Eisenberg’s “The Debut” (Dec. 11), there’s a franchise continuation like “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” (Nov. 20) or a legacyquel like the “Meet the Parents” follow-up “Focker In-Law” (Nov. 25).

Then there’s Dec. 18, the day when “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three” both hit theaters. Industry watchers long expected “Doomsday” to shift its release date, especially with Warner Bros. scoring the exclusive contract with IMAX to use its screens for “Dune: Part Three.” But Disney held its ground, instead inventing its own IMAX clone called “Infinity Vision.” Now we have the closest thing to 2023’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon you’ll find on the fall 2026 movie calendar: Dunesday.

Below, you’ll find release dates for the 26 biggest movies of fall 2026, including blockbusters, Oscar hopefuls, and films starring actors with Massachusetts ties.

(Release dates are theatrical unless indicated otherwise)

September 2026 Movie Releases

“Resident Evil” (Sept. 18) 

After six “Resident Evil” films starring Milla Jovovich and a largely forgotten seventh released during the pandemic, Zach Cregger (“Barbarian,” “Weapons”) has taken over the latest adaptation of the horror video game franchise, with Austin Abrams playing a medic navigating the hordes of infected monsters in Raccoon City.

“The History of Concrete” (Sept. 18)

Filmmaker John Wilson attracted legions of fans to his self-titled HBO Show “How To with John Wilson” thanks to its amusing blend of tutorial and memoir. In expanding to feature length, the NYC documentarian is taking a similarly humanistic approach to educating viewers on concrete.

“Primetime” (Sept. 25) 

Director Lance Oppenheim examines the controversial legacy of NBC’s “To Catch A Predator” and the show’s slipshod approach to justice, with Robert Pattinson playing host Chris Hansen.

“Unabomber” (Sept. 25 on Netflix) 

Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) plays a young Ted Kaczynski, showing viewers the early days of the man’s transformation from Harvard wunderkind into the Unabomber.

More September 2026 movie releases: “Bad Apples” (Sept. 18); “The Weight” (Sept. 18); “Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom” (Sept. 18); “Charlie Harper” (Sept. 25); “Forgotten Island” (Sept. 25); “Heart of the Beast” (Sept. 25); “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother” (Sept. 25)

October 2026 Movie Releases

“Digger” (Oct. 2) 

In this pointed satire from Alejandro G. Iñárritu (“Birdman”), Tom Cruise is out of his comfort zone playing Digger Rockwell, the richest and most powerful man in the world who is also singlehandedly responsible for its imminent demise.

“Verity” (Oct. 2) 

Based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, this psychological thriller stars Dakota Johnson as a writer hired to finish the novel of a bestselling author (Anne Hathaway) after an accident leaves her incapable of writing.

“Love of Your Life” (Oct. 7 in theaters, Oct. 14 on Prime Video) 

Cambridge native Rachel Morrison, the first woman ever nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar, is in the director’s chair for this movie partially filmed in Boston, about a nurse (Margaret Qualley) whose whirlwind romance with an MIT whiz (Gabriel Basso) is marred by tragedy.

“The Social Reckoning” (Oct. 9)

Aaron Sorkin, who penned the script to “The Social Network,” is both writer and director for this follow-up, about a Facebook whistleblower (Mike Madison) who exposes the dark secrets of Facebook and its CEO (Boston native Jeremy Strong) to a Wall Street Journal reporter (Jeremy Allen White). The cast also features Bill Burr as a PR expert who, based on the trailer, mostly spends his time insulting Strong/Zuckerberg.

“Animals” (Oct. 9 on Netflix)

Originally slated to star Matt Damon, Ben Affleck both directs and stars in this Netflix drama about a Los Angeles mayoral candidate who decides to take the law into his own hands after his son is kidnapped.

“Sense and Sensibility” (Oct. 16)

Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, this adaptation stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood, alongside Esmé Creed-Miles, George MacKay, and Caitríona Balfe.

“Street Fighter” (Oct. 16) 

This knowing adaptation of the classic arcade fighting game, the combatants include Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, and Callina Liang.

“Clayface” (Oct. 23)

DC Studios is taking a dark approach with this villain origin story, making a horror/thriller about a burgeoning movie star who, after being disfigured by a gangster, undergoes an experimental treatment to restore his good looks. (Google Image Search “Clayface” if you want to find out whether or not the procedure works.)

More October 2026 movie releases: “Other Mommy” (Oct. 9); “Fjord” (Oct. 9); “Musk” (Oct. 16); “Whalefall” (Oct. 16); “Crawlers” (Oct. 16); “A Talent for Murder” (Oct. 23); “Wildwood” (Oct. 23); “Wicker” (Oct. 23); “Klara and the Sun” (Oct. 23); “Ali G: Who Iz I?” (Oct. 23); “Fatherland” (Oct. 23); “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” (Oct. 23)

November 2026 Movie Releases

“Wild Horse Nine” (Nov. 6)

In what feels like a return to the themes (and plot) of his debut film “In Bruges,” writer-director Martin McDonagh helms this black comedy about two CIA agents (John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell) dispatched to Easter Island in the 1970s.

“Godzilla Minus Zero” (Nov. 6)

In a follow-up to 2023’s Oscar-winning creature feature “Godzilla Minus One,” director Takashi Yamazaki returns to Japan in the immediate aftermath of World War II.

“Being Heumann” (Nov. 6 in theaters, Nov. 13 on Apple TV)

Cambridge native and Oscar-winning director Siân Heder (“CODA”) is back with this biographical drama about the life of disability rights activist Judy Heumann (Ruth Madeley), who passed away in 2023 after a lifetime of advocacy.

“I Play Rocky” (Nov. 13)

Fifty years after “Rocky” was first released in theaters, director Peter Farrelly (“Green Book”) brings us a movie about the making of the iconic underdog story, with Anthony Ippolito playing a young Sylvester Stallone.

“Madden” (Nov. 18, on Prime Video)

David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”) brings us the life story of John Madden, with Nicolas Cage playing the legendary coach and broadcaster and Christian Bale as late Raiders owner Al Davis.

“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” (Nov. 20)

The second entry in this “Hunger Games” prequel series follows a young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) as he competes in the 50th annual Hunger Games under the watchful eye of President Snow (Ralph Fiennes).

“Focker In-Law” (Nov. 25)

Sixteen years after “Little Fockers,” and 26 after “Meet the Parents,” Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro are back, but this time it’s Stiller who is skeptical of the fiancé (Ariana Grande) of his son (Skyler Gisondo).

‘The Further Mis-Adventures Of Cliff Booth’ (Nov. 25 in theaters, Dec. 23 on Netflix)

David Fincher takes the reins from Quentin Tarantino for this “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” sequel, with Brad Pitt reprising his role as the titular stuntman.

More November 2026 movie releases: “Club Kid” (Nov. 6); “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat” (Nov. 6); “Possible Love” (Nov 6 on Netflix); “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” (Nov. 13); “How to Rob a Bank” (Nov. 13); “Paper Tiger” (Nov. 13); “Elsinore” (Nov. 20); “Josephine” (Nov. 20); “Minotaur” (Nov. 20); “Hexed” (Nov. 25); “Ava DuVernay’s 14th” (Nov. 27)

December 2026 Movie Releases

“Behemoth!” (Dec. 4)

Fans of film scores should know that writer-director Tony Gilroy (“Andor,” “Michael Clayton”) enlisted nine different composers to contribute to this film, about a prolific cellist (Pedro Pascal) who takes up composing film scores professionally upon moving back to Los Angeles.

“Ink” (Dec. 11 in theaters, Jan. 8 on Netflix)

Danny Boyle (“Trainspotting”) takes on the origin story of infamous British tabloid The Sun, following editor Larry Lamb (Jack O’Connell) as he learns how to push boundaries under owner Rupert Murdoch (Guy Pearce).

“The Debut” (Dec. 11)

Jesse Eisenberg both directs and has a supporting role in this musical comedy about a New Jersey housewife (Julianne Moore) who takes a role in a local stage production, only for her life to unravel as she works to appease her exacting director (Paul Giamatti).

“Avengers Doomsday” (Dec. 18)

It would be easier to list the actors not in this upcoming Marvel epic. Not only are stars of the MCU’s most lucrative period like Robert Downey Jr. and Sudbury native Chris Evans returning, so are just about every other superhero over the last half-century, including the X-Men.

“Dune: Part Three” (Dec. 18)

The second half of “Dunesday” is the third (and final?) part of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi saga, in which adherents of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) have spread the ruler’s jihad far and wide across the known universe. Set 20 years after “Dune: Part Two,” Paul’s reign has left him with many enemies.

“Werwulf” (Dec. 25) 

After the success of releasing director (and Boston native) Dave Eggers’ vampire flick “Nosferatu” on Christmas Day in 2024, Focus Features is once again targeting Dec. 25 for his latest, an old English take on the classic werewolf story.

More December 2026 movie releases: “La Bola Negra” (Dec. 2 on Netflix); “Above the Below” (Dec. 4); “Violent Night 2” (Dec. 4); “The Gallerist” (Dec. 4); “Clarissa” (Dec. 11); “Ray Gunn” (Dec. 18 on Netflix); “The Angry Birds Movie 3” (Dec. 23); “Jumanji: Open World” (Dec. 25); “Mr. Irrelevant” (Dec. 25); “Artificial” (Dec. 25)