Top Movies to Watch in 2026: The Full Preview

2026 is one of the most film-packed years in recent memory, with Marvel's long-promised multiverse crossover, the conclusion of Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy, a new Spider-Man, and Pixar's long-awaited return to Toy Story all arriving within months of each other. Whether you are a Marvel fanatic, a science-fiction devotee, or simply looking for a great night in front of the screen, this guide covers every major release you need to mark on your calendar — and explains how InfinityTV's library of 150,000+ Movies & Series keeps you watching between theatrical runs.

Why is 2026 such an exceptional year for movies?

After several years of release-date shuffles and streaming-first experiments, the major studios have returned to a strategy of large theatrical events backed by marketing budgets that dwarf most national GDP figures. The result is a calendar packed with sequels, franchise entries, and original blockbusters that reward the big screen — and then reward a second and third viewing at home.

For subscribers to InfinityTV's 22,000+ TV channels and on-demand library, the pattern is familiar: a film dominates theatres for a few weeks, then moves to premium VOD and eventually into a streaming library. With 99.9% uptime and 24/7 support, InfinityTV ensures you are never left waiting when a title becomes available to stream. You can also explore our best IPTV for movies and series guide for tips on getting the most from your VOD library.

The 10 most anticipated movies of 2026

1. Avengers: Doomsday — December 18, 2026

Avengers: Doomsday is the biggest Marvel event in years, reuniting the Russo brothers with a cast that spans every phase of the MCU and draws in characters from 20th Century Fox's X-Men universe. Robert Downey Jr. returns — not as Tony Stark, but as Victor von Doom, the armoured tyrant of Latveria. Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers. Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic, and Vanessa Kirby is Sue Storm.

The plot draws on the comic arcs "New Avengers" and "Time Runs Out," with colliding universes setting up the path toward Secret Wars territory. Expect a runtime north of two and a half hours and a post-credits sequence that will redefine the MCU for the next decade.

• Director: Joe and Anthony Russo
• Release date: December 18, 2026 (theatrical)
• Studio: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Pictures
• Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and many more

2. Dune: Part Three — December 18, 2026

Dune: Part Three adapts Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah, completing Denis Villeneuve's trilogy and following Paul Atreides years after his rise to Emperor. The film stars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, and introduces Nakoa-Wolf Momoa as Leto II and Ida Brooke as Ghanima Atreides. Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Javier Bardem all return.

Villeneuve co-wrote the screenplay with Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Y: The Last Man). Filming wrapped in November 2025 and the film will be released in IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures. The December 18 date puts it in direct competition with Avengers: Doomsday, making it one of the most extraordinary weekends in box office history.

• Director: Denis Villeneuve
• Release date: December 18, 2026 (theatrical, IMAX)
• Studio: Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures
• Source material: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert (1969)

3. Spider-Man: Brand New Day — July 31, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth Spider-Man film featuring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, set four years after the events of No Way Home. Peter now lives entirely alone, his identity erased from the memories of everyone he knew, including MJ, Ned, and Happy Hogan. The film explores what it means to be a hero with no support network, while Peter's powers undergo a surprising physical evolution.

The cast adds Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle / Punisher and Tramell Tillman, with Jacob Batalon returning as Ned Leeds. Mark Ruffalo appears as Bruce Banner. Sadie Sink joins the film in a role not yet fully disclosed.

• Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
• Release date: July 31, 2026 (UK: July 29)
• Studio: Marvel Studios / Sony Pictures / Columbia Pictures

4. Toy Story 5 — Released June 19, 2026

Toy Story 5 is a Pixar animated feature directed by Andrew Stanton, set two years after Toy Story 4. Woody, Buzz, and Jessie now share Bonnie's room with Lilypad, a tablet device with her own ideas about what is best for their kid. The story explores how the original toy community adapts to a world where screens compete with physical toys for a child's attention.

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack all reprise their roles. New cast members include Conan O'Brien, Greta Lee, Craig Robinson, and Scarlett Spears as Lilypad. Released on June 19, 2026, the film was already tracking a record-breaking opening weekend of around $160 million according to Deadline.

• Director: Andrew Stanton (co-directed by Kenna Harris)
• Release date: June 19, 2026 (in theatres now)
• Studio: Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Pictures

5. The Devil Wears Prada 2 — May 1, 2026

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites the cast of the 2006 original, with Meryl Streep returning as the formidable Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs. The sequel arrives almost twenty years after the original became a cultural touchstone. Details of the plot remain tightly under wraps, but the reunion of Streep and Hathaway alone has made it one of the most talked-about releases of the year.

• Release date: May 1, 2026
• Studio: 20th Century Studios / Walt Disney Pictures

6. Moana — July 10, 2026

Moana is a live-action Disney adaptation of the 2016 animated hit, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui and Catherine Laga'aia starring as Moana. The film follows the same core story of a young Polynesian chieftain's daughter who sails across the ocean to return the heart of Te Fiti. For a franchise that generated enormous goodwill through its original animation and music, the live-action adaptation is one of the most-anticipated Disney events of the year.

• Director: Thomas Kail
• Release date: July 10, 2026
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

7. Wonder Man — January 27, 2026 (Disney+)

Wonder Man is a Marvel Disney+ series starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, a washed-up actor who undergoes an experiment that gives him super-strength and durability. The series has a deliberately comedic tone and examines celebrity culture in the MCU. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery. A strong opening for 2026's Marvel calendar.

8. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 — Spring 2026 (Disney+)

Following the widely praised first season's reinvention of Daredevil, the second season of Daredevil: Born Again continues Matt Murdock's battle against the Kingpin — now also the mayor of New York City. Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio both return. Marvel has described the second season as more action-heavy than the first, leaning further into the courtroom drama and street-level crime that made the original Netflix series a cult favourite.

9. Wicked: For Good — Expected 2026

Wicked: For Good is the second half of Jon M. Chu's two-part adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. The first film, Wicked (2024), earned enormous critical and commercial success; the second follows the diverging paths of Glinda and Elphaba toward their fates. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo return in the leads.

10. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning — May 2026

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is the eighth and reportedly final instalment in the franchise, with Tom Cruise reprising Ethan Hunt. Production has emphasized practical stunts at an even larger scale than the previous entry, Dead Reckoning. The film was originally planned as a two-parter; the second half has now been restructured as a standalone conclusion.

How can you watch 2026 movies on InfinityTV?

Most 2026 theatrical releases will move to premium VOD and streaming platforms within 45 to 90 days of their theatrical debut. InfinityTV's 150,000+ Movies & Series library is updated regularly to include new releases as they become available, meaning subscribers do not need separate subscriptions for each studio's platform.

Here is how to get the most from InfinityTV when a film you have been waiting for becomes available:

1. Check the VOD search for the title as soon as it exits theatres — new releases are added within days of their streaming availability date.
2. Use the 4K filter for any film that was shot in IMAX or with high-end cinema cameras. Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, and Toy Story 5 will all be available in 4K HDR.
3. Set up a watchlist so you never lose track of what you are waiting for.
4. Watch on your best device — a 4K-capable television with a wired Ethernet connection delivers the highest bitrate for big event films.

For device setup tips, see our guides on best IPTV for Firestick and our IPTV free trial page. You can also explore what is coming in new movies 2026 as part of our wider coverage.

The December 18 head-to-head

Both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three open on December 18, 2026 — an unprecedented simultaneous release of two of the year's most anticipated films. Industry tracking suggests audiences will buy tickets to both in the same weekend. Box office analysts at Deadline have flagged the date as potentially the highest-grossing single weekend in cinema history.

For the home viewer, the implications are simpler: both films will be available to stream within a few months of release, and both will reward multiple viewings. Dune: Part Three is a quieter, more philosophical film about the costs of prophecy and power. Avengers: Doomsday is a maximalist spectacle designed to pay off fifteen years of storytelling. Both deserve your full attention.

2026 at the box office: the wider picture

Beyond the tentpoles, 2026 offers a rich slate of mid-budget and independent films. Animated features from Pixar and DreamWorks continue to perform strongly with families. International cinema is increasingly represented on the widest theatrical screens — Ne Zha 2 proved in 2025 that a non-English-language film can become the highest-grossing release of the year globally.

For IPTV subscribers, this expanding diversity of content is reflected in InfinityTV's international content offering. With 22,000+ channels spanning dozens of languages and regions, subscribers can access films and series that never receive theatrical releases outside their home countries — making InfinityTV one of the most genuinely global entertainment platforms available.

View plans and start your free trial to access the full library of new and upcoming releases.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most anticipated movies of 2026? The most anticipated movies of 2026 include Avengers: Doomsday (December 18), Dune: Part Three (December 18), Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31), Toy Story 5 (released June 19), The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1), and Moana (July 10). Both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three are notable for sharing the same theatrical release date, creating one of the most competitive weekends in box office history.

When will 2026 movies be available to stream? Most major theatrical releases become available on streaming platforms and premium VOD services within 45 to 90 days of their cinema debut. InfinityTV's library of 150,000+ Movies & Series is updated regularly, so new releases typically appear in the catalogue soon after their streaming window opens. Start a free trial at InfinityTV to check the latest available titles.

Can I watch Avengers: Doomsday on InfinityTV? Avengers: Doomsday is a Marvel Studios theatrical film scheduled for December 18, 2026. Once the film exits its theatrical window — typically 45 days — it will become available on Disney+ and eventually in the broader streaming market. InfinityTV's growing VOD library includes titles from major studios as they become available for streaming distribution.

Is Dune: Part Three the final Dune film? Yes. Dune: Part Three is the final installment of Denis Villeneuve's trilogy, adapting Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah. Filming wrapped in November 2025, and the film is scheduled for IMAX release on December 18, 2026, by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Where can I find a complete list of 2026 movie release dates? IMDb (imdb.com) maintains a continuously updated schedule of 2026 theatrical releases with release dates, trailers, and cast information. Wikipedia's "2026 in film" article is also a reliable reference for confirmed and upcoming releases throughout the year.