From riveting returns to slated sequels: A film lover's guide to the 2026 ahead

2026 is a feast for cinephiles around the world, with a collection of biopics, rom-coms, action, documentaries, and sequels. This year, along with the movies disclosed to release so far, book-adapted movies and iconic animated fantasy franchises are set to take a central stage.

Here are the movies that the world waits for with bated breath, as the audience await with expectations to be met and critics stand-by, with their literary weapons at their side:

. Based on Michael Jackson story, and undoubtedly one of the most awaited films of the year, Michael is set to release on April 24 and captivate the globe.

MJ's character is being played by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, with netizens pointing out the efforts taken to achieve perfect casting. Starring alongside Jaafar are Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Kat Graham, and Kendrick Sampson.

The movie showcases the king of Pop's journey in his professional and personal life, from his career's start with his brothers in Jackson 5 to the global stage. The movie is directed by Antoine Fuqua, known for his work in Training Day, The Magnificent Seven, and Olympus Has Fallen . The portrayal will heavily focus on Jackson's legacy as an artist, and reports suggest that it may address some parts of the controversies that surrounded him.

.Lights, chronicles, action! Records broken during Oscars 2026. An iconic sequel to The Devil Wears Prada , the movie will see Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprise their iconic roles.

The plot follows a turn in Miranda Priestly's (Meryl Streep) struggle to compete with her former assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), who is now a rival executive, amidst the backdrop of a decline in print media. Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) also return to the trip showing the digital's prominence in today's media landscape.

The first movie is considered a classic in the genre of comedy-drama, with The Devil Wears Prada 2 having high expectations to fulfill. The sequel celebrates 20 years of the first film's debut, and is scheduled to release on May 1.

. A Bollywood film that broke box office records, gained controversial takes, and powered by high-energy-packed discography, The Dhurandhar universe is set to take the world by storm as the sequel is expected to release on March 9 across theatres.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge will focus on Jaskirat Singh Rangi/Hamza Ali Mazari's (played by Ranveer Singh) ongoing mission to infiltrate enemy networks, as his next step eyes targetting Major Iqbal (Arjun Rampal).

His vengeance spree takes a different turn as he maintains his anonymity with his wife Yalina Jamali (Sara Arjun) and other prominent characters. The teaser released earlier this year, as many speculate that the sequel will explore Jaskirat's backstory, and his journey in becoming a spy for the country.

.Watch | YouTuber exposes illegal sale of pirated 'Dhurandhar' in Pakistan despite ban. Another film that is encompassed by scandals in South-Indian cinema, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups 's teaser stirred up wars of words across the internet. Starring Sandalwood star Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, and Tovino Thomas, the movie is scheduled to release on March 19.

The plot revolves around the story of a drug cartel in the 1980s Goa, and is directed by Geetu Mohandas, who was also the mind behind Moothon . Amidst the beaches of Goa, and the twists of human emotions, Toxic is expected to set new standards in screenplay and writing.

The teaser had garnered quite an amount of backlash, for "over-objectifying women" and "obscene content that could be extremely harmful for children and women." The Karnataka State Commission for Women had appealed to the CBFC to take required action against the film and its makers in January, as people speculate the themes the movie may potentially explore.

.'Toxic': Yash's film secures massive Rs 120 crore Andhra–Telangana deal, highest ever for a non-Telugu film. As controversies surround the film, actor-turned-politician Vijay's Jana Nayagan is yet to see a release date, as court proceedings mar its expected reactions. As the actor-politician's last film, Jana Nayagan brings back Vijay and Pooja Hegde in lead roles.

An H Vinoth directorial, the plot revolves around an ideological conflict between a populist and an authoritarian force showing aspects of a child's fear and personal revenge of characters.

KVN Productions had said it applied for a Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate on December 18 and made modifications recommended by the examining committee. However, the certificate was withheld due to a complaint by a single member of the examining committee. As of February 15, the release date of the movie is yet to be decided upon.

.Thalapathy Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' to release soon? Madras HC permits makers to withdraw plea against CBFC. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will make a thunderous return as Robert Downey Jr is reintroduced in the franchise as Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, a period of time after Iron Man's character died in the Avengers: Endgame .

The movie boasts a star-studded cast, as characters from different universes within Marvel will coexist on a single script. The livestream announcing the cast crossed over 275 million views across platforms, a milestone that went down in Marvel history.

The cast see actors reprising their roles as storylines of the X-Men. Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, Avengers, Loki, and more intersect to create cinematic history in the franchise.

Some notable characters, such as Professor Charles Xavier, Magneto, Shang-Chi, Sue Storm, Reed Richards, Anthony Mackie's Captain America, Thor, and Loki will come back to screens as a multiversal adventure awaits.

. King Khan's homecoming to the Bollywood panorama has kept fans and non-fans alike excited for his comeback, since the teaser release of King. Shah Rukh Khan will be sharing screens with his daughter Suhana Khan, who is making her theatrical debut.

King will also unite Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat as Siddharth Anand helms of direction sails. Deepika Padukone is said to make a special appearance, and Abhishek Bachchan will play an antagonist.

On November 2 last year, as the world celebrated the Baadshah's birthday, he released a teaser of the film in a post on X, where he wrote "Sau deshon mein badnaam, Duniya ne diya sirf ek hi naam."

Siddharth Anand announced that the movie will hit the theatres on December 24, coinciding with the late holiday season, as Khan depicts a new avatar.

.Bollywood pins hope on 'Dhurandhar 2', 'Ramayana', SRK’s 'King' and Salman's 'Battle of Galwan' in 2026. Homer's writing sees a new adaptation as legendary director Christopher Nolan and a cast of Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, and Robert Pattinson join to portray a version of the classic.

Nolan's directorial, which is scheduled to release on July 17, has set its stage for being one of the most glamorous films of the year, with the costumes, set design, and big names involved.

Nolan's previous hits include Oppenheimer , Interstellar , and Inception as the much-awaited adaption. The poet Homer's Odyssey and Nolan's take on the classic will follow the hero Odysseus's journey from the end of the Trojan War back to his wife in Ithaca, as he overcomes mythical and moral obstacles through seas and lands.

. Nicknamed as 'India's most expensive film', this mega-budget movie starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash is expected to premiere in the theatres during Diwali 2026.

The film is directed by Namit Malhotra, who had also worked alongside Ayan Mukherji in Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva . Ramayana is reported to have a budget of around $100 million, which is about Rs 835 crore, making it the most expensive made by India.

Colourful VFX, a star-studded ensemble of actors, music by A R Rahman and accompanied Hans Zimmer, with a stellar prelude release, this movie is highly expected to be one of Indian cinema's milestones across aspects of budget and screenplay.

. A continuation into the world of Peaky Blinders , Tommy Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy) returns to Birmingham during the World War 2 as he faces new missions to tackle and overcome. The movie is dated to be released on 6 March.

The movie is a continuation of the hit-series Peaky Blinders, and Murphy is accompanied by Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, and Rebecca Ferguson to recreate a universe, with a story based on true events.

Peaky Blinders premiered from 2013-22, a narrative spanning across six seasons. The cult-favourite will see actors returning to their characters on the big screens after the series received global acclaim. It was created by Steven Knight, who also wrote the screenplay for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man .

. After Peter Parker agreed to have the world forget about Spiderman, and try to focus on his college goals, a new adversary makes an entrance where he has to suit up and protect the ones who he holds close.

July 31 is dated to be when Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon reprise their roles as they immerse the audience into Brand New Day 's topsy-turvy universe.

The Avengers franchise fans will be having a field-year in 2026 as two franchises will see a theatrical release. This is part of the MCU's Phase Six, which is said to be the universe's concluding chapters, that began with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in 2025.

. Learning to combat a new threat to toys, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, and company have to learn to navigate around their new enemy, electronics. The Pixar production is expected to release on June 19 on 2026, taking us on a new journey on playtime.

Tom Hanks (Sheriff Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), and Joan Cusack (Jessie) return to voice the iconic characters that shaped childhoods and set a bar for storytelling in animated films. The fifth film in the franchise is written and helmed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by McKenna Harris.

Time and again, Toy Story has adapted to the trends adapted by the world during its time of release, and the fifth installment is no different. Tackling electronics in a time when it could replace offline playtime could shape perspectives of its increased usage in families to discipline children.

. Portraying the celebrated character He-Man, Nicholas Galitzine will don the armour and weapons. Discovering his legacy of alien royalty, a young man must return home to fight for his people and protect his land. The movie is expected to release on June 5 in theatres.

Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, and Kristen Wiig are also a part of the cast. The movie is directed by Travis Knight, who is known for Bumblebee (a part of the Transformers franchise)

Galitzine has huge swords to hold as he takes the legacy of He-Man forward, succeeding Dolph Lundgren in the live action of the popular comic-origin superhero.