The article previews the most anticipated movies of 2026 across various genres including superhero, horror, sci-fi, and animation, highlighting key titles like Greenland 2, 28 Years Later sequel, Scream 7, and The Devil Wears Prada 2, among others, with release dates and brief descriptions.
Superman has become the first superhero film of 2025 to surpass $600 million globally, marking a significant milestone for DC Studios and signaling a potential resurgence for superhero movies despite ongoing audience fatigue. The film, directed by James Gunn, has performed well domestically and internationally, outperforming recent Marvel releases and reviving interest in the DC brand.
DC's new 'Superman' film, directed by James Gunn, aims to revitalize the struggling DC franchise amid box office challenges and political debates, with expectations of strong international earnings and a fresh approach to the iconic hero's American symbolism.
Kraven the Hunter, the latest and possibly last film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, does not feature any post-credits scenes, marking a departure from previous entries. The film, which received a poor review from IGN, is criticized for its lackluster execution and failure to effectively utilize Spider-Man characters. With the future of Sony's Spider-Man Universe uncertain, the absence of post-credits scenes suggests a lack of direction for potential sequels.
Ryan Reynolds playfully shared a photo of himself in his Deadpool costume to mark the completion of filming Deadpool 3, expressing gratitude to the cast and crew. The upcoming movie will feature a crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine. Reynolds and Jackman have long discussed the possibility of a Deadpool-Wolverine film, and the new installment is eagerly anticipated by fans.
The success of non-sequel, non-superhero films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, directed by acclaimed filmmakers with creative freedom, marked a shift in Hollywood. These films achieved box office success and resonated with audiences, while big-ticket superhero films like Black Adam and Thor: Love and Thunder received lukewarm responses. The triumph of these films, along with the varying degrees of success of other star filmmakers like David Fincher, Ridley Scott, and Martin Scorsese, highlights a growing demand for original and cerebral storytelling in a landscape dominated by franchises and IP adaptations. However, while these successes may indicate a desire for diverse films, the industry still heavily relies on box office profits, and the true value of these films lies in their artistic merit.
James Gunn defends the cast of Superman: Legacy, explaining that he is building a whole universe and believes that characters should have a reason to be in a movie, rather than just making meaningless cameos. Gunn criticizes the trend of "Cameo Porn" in recent superhero films and aims to create an elegant story without shoehorning characters in. Despite the superhero fatigue in the industry, Gunn and Peter Safran are rebooting the DC Universe under their creative vision, with Gunn's Superman: Legacy set to release in 2025.
Actor Jacob Elordi explains why he turned down an audition for the role of Superman, stating that it was "too dark" for his liking. Despite admiring actors like Christian Bale and Heath Ledger in superhero films, Elordi has no interest in starring in one himself, preferring to make movies that he would personally enjoy watching. He also expresses his dissatisfaction with starring in The Kissing Booth series and addresses criticism of being pretentious for caring about the quality of his work.
Marvel's automatic connection with casual movie fans has diminished, prompting discussions on how Disney can reignite excitement for superhero films. Alan Horn, former head of Disney's film unit, expressed confidence in the audience's continued interest as long as the films have compelling storylines, heart, humor, and are well executed.
Actor Jacob Elordi revealed in an interview with GQ magazine that he turned down an audition for Superman, stating that he doesn't see himself in a superhero film anytime soon. Elordi also expressed his dislike for the Netflix "The Kissing Booth" franchise, calling the movies ridiculous and not universal. Despite the trilogy's success on Netflix, it received negative reviews from critics. Elordi's co-star Joey King has defended the films, saying she is proud of them regardless of the criticism.
Ezra Miller's film "The Flash" is on track to become one of the worst-performing superhero films in history, with a worldwide gross of less than $250 million against a budget of $400 million. The film's poor performance can be attributed to the controversy surrounding Miller, including allegations of abusive behavior and bizarre actions. Miller has faced accusations of assault, violent behavior, and grooming a teenager. Despite these controversies, Miller has continued to deny the allegations and criticize the media for spreading false claims. The decision not to recast Miller in the film has raised questions about DC's handling of the situation.
Chris Hemsworth expressed disappointment over unfavorable comments made by Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino about actors in superhero films, saying "there goes two of my heroes I won't work with." Hemsworth, who recently starred in Thor: Love and Thunder, reflected on the future of his career and the impact of MCU films on the industry. Despite the criticism, Hemsworth still considers Scorsese and Tarantino his heroes and would work with them in a heartbeat. Tarantino had previously called out the "Marvel-ization of Hollywood," while Scorsese has been vocal against Marvel films, saying he doesn't see them as cinema.
The sequel to Shazam, Fury of the Gods, opened at number 1 at the box office but underperformed with a net of about $30 million domestically against an estimated $35-40 million, and a $210 million production/marketing budget. The slowdown in audience excitement for the film franchise could be due to less than glowing reviews, superhero fatigue, a murky marketing campaign, the lack of name-brand superheroes, or the recent shakeup at DC Studios.