GOAT

Coming out in February this year, GOAT is an animated film coming from Sony Pictures Animation. Trailers for the movie have already been released, and the key pull from that is the animation style. Sony Pictures Animation is known for innovating and adapting their animating style, having the Spiderverse movies under their belt. GOAT seems to use that same choppy animation style that we see in the Spiderverse movie, and it is blended into a bright and beautiful colour palette. The movie will follow this goat named Will as he tries to go pro in a sport called roarball (the movie equivalent of basketball). This movie looks like Zootopia but instead of rookie cops, it is a basketball underdog story. This movie looks to be like something for fans of animation, as it has a very unique art style, and quirky animation techniques. GOAT also seems to create some appeal for basketball fans too, with the film’s sport being based around basketball, and Stephen Curry featuring as a voice in this movie. I think GOAT will be an enjoyable underdog movie, enhanced with that beautiful Sony Pictures Animation touch, making this a film worth catching.

Hoppers

Another animated animal movie, Hoppers, releases in March this year. Hoppers follows the story of a girl who transfers her consciousness into that of an animatronic Beaver, and she uses this to go and communicate with animals. This movie has a very refined animation style, keeping things looking rounded and cheerful. Pixar are the ones making this movie, and I think in keeping with the Pixar theme, this movie will have a lot of laughs but also a lot of heart. While not their biggest movie coming out this year, Pixar’s Hoppers has built up a good following and could turn out to be a refreshing new animated movie. Animal lovers, and those wanting to see a classic family friendly fun flick, should definitely give Hoppers a watch.

Project Hail Mary

This upcoming project comes from Ryan Gosling, and is adapted from the novel of the same name. This movie is going to be a sci-fi thriller, following Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or what he is doing. However, he slowly pieces his memory back together, and realises that he has to stop the Earth from entering a new ice age, by saving our sun. The plot seems outlandish and wild, and that is what draws me towards this movie. Behind this complex sounding premise however, it looks to be a fun comedy movie, mixed with thriller and sci-fi elements. From the trailer, it looks like Interstellar and the Martian blended together, throwing in some more comedy effects, and stunning space visuals. This sci fi movie looks like a great ride, with some visually stunning elements, and for a sci fi nerd like me, makes it a must watch when it comes out in March.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie was wildly successful when it was released in 2023, showing that, if done right (looking at you live action Mario movie from 1993), Mario could be adapted for the big screen. Now as a follow up to that movie, Mario returns in this adaptation of the Super Mario Galaxy games. From the trailer, it looks like all the fan favourite characters from the last movie will return, but also new characters from the franchise, like Yoshi, Bowser Jr., and Rosalina. The movie also looks to be taking elements from multiple Mario games too, notably Super Mario: Odyssey and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Seeing how well the last adaptation went, and both the franchise and star power that this movie is bringing, I could see this film making over 1 billion dollars. This movie is the follow up to one of the best video game adaptation movies of all time, and I think it has the ability to surpass the original. For Mario fans, and frankly anyone who enjoys video games, this Nintendo movie coming out in April needs a watch.

Michael

I love a good movie musical biopic, and have found films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, and Better Man to be greatly entertaining. Now for 2026, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is getting his very own biopic. Starring his nephew, Jafaar Jackson, this biopic will follow the rise of the pop superstar, from his time in the Jackson 5 to his international stardom. This movie will be loaded to the brim with all of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits, guaranteeing this movie too have a stellar soundtrack. It has been stated that the movie will tackle every part of the singer’s life, and from the trailer it looks absolutely incredible. From iconic music videos like Thriller, to the recording of hit songs like Billie Jean, this movie looks like it will have it all. Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jafaar Jackson, provides a good likeness to the King of Pop, and shows off some great singing talent too. This musical biopic will definitely be something to catch, when it moonwalks into cinemas in April.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

I love Star Wars, and this movie is going to be the first Star Wars movie to come out since 2019’s Rise of Skywalker. The Mandalorian T.V show was a breath of fresh air into the franchise, styled like a western, it brought the effortlessly cool but caring Din Djarin to the universe, and his adorable sidekick Grogu (or Baby Yoda). The show ended with the return of the Mandalorians to Mandalore, and saw Din and Grogu settling down for the quiet life on Tatooine. However, by the looks of things, they are called into action to fight against the remaining imperial warlords around the galaxy. When I saw the trailer, I could just feel the goosebumps. Seeing the return of Star Wars to the big screen is an absolute treat, and in a movie which will no doubt be a galaxy wide bounty hunting adventure. The return of fan favourite characters from across the franchise will be seen in this movie, with the likes of Zeb Orrelios (Rebels), Rotta the Hutt (The Clone Wars), and Babu Frik (Rise of Skywalker), all featuring in this film. I am most excited to see the return of the Razor Crest, ATATs, and X-Wings. For all Star Wars fans this is a must see, as the galaxy far far away returns to the big screen in this western style adventure on May 22nd.

Toy Story 5

Toy Story is back again, with a new and different plot that hits surprisingly close to home. After what has felt like 2 perfect endings for the franchise, in the form of Toy Story 3 and then again in Toy Story 4, Pixar looks to have changed their minds, reuniting Woody and Buzz for another adventure. This movie will see the return of most of the fan favourite characters, with Slinky Dog, Hamm, Rex, Jessie, Bullseye, Combat Carl, and Forky all confirmed to come back. Other characters like the Potato heads remain ambiguous but likely. From the teaser, it looks like the toys will take on the threat of technology, more specifically the Ipad. We are currently living through the Ipad kid generation, making this movie definitely relatable and fitting today’s audience. Seeing how well Toy Story movies perform, I don’t doubt that this movie will have a lot of heart, a lot of meta jokes, and make a lot of money. Another addition to a timeless series, Toy Story 5 will surely be a hit when it comes out in June.

Supergirl

Superman was a surprise smash hit from 2025 (which I have reviewed already on my top films of 2025), and here comes another addition to James Gunn’s DC universe. Supergirl takes place before she meets Superman on earth, as seen in the post credits scene of Superman, as she travels across the galaxy with Krypto the Superdog. This is directly after the destruction of Krypton, so I’m sure we will see a sad Supergirl searching for some purpose, accompanied by her adorable canine. From the trailers, it looks to be a space adventure, with the Guardians of the Galaxy vibes definitely being there. For comics fans, this movie is based on the Woman of Tomorrow comic line for Supergirl, and knowing James Gunn, it will be very comic accurate. Already from the trailer, the character of Lobo can be seen, with Jason Momoa playing him, which is a perfect casting for the role. For those that enjoyed Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy, or any of James Gunn’s DC movies, Supergirl will definitely be a super time when it releases in June.

Assorted movies that we don’t know much about yet

There are still many movies on this list that we don’t have too much information about yet, but are still highly anticipated either because they are franchise heavy hitters, or they are led by famous stars. Firstly, Minions 3: Mega Minions is a sequel to the greatly successful minions franchise, which is the prequel series to the Despicable Me franchise. Not much is known about the plot, just that Gru will return in this movie, alongside the indestructible minions. Next, in October, Digger releases. Again, not much is known about the plot, beyond the fact that it is a comedy, and will see Tom Cruise star in the film. The star power alone sells it to me, but I think a good independent comedy will definitely be an entertaining piece. Lastly, Jumanji 3 will be coming out in December. Again, not much is known about the plot, besides that the main cast of video game characters will be returning, and this might be the last movie in the rebooted franchise. The reboot of Jumanji does a great job in being like a sort of sequel to the original, but modernising it and bringing it to a new audience. I enjoyed all the Jumanji movies, and I feel that Jumanji 3 will live up to its predecessors.

The Odyssey

Take a bunch of the most famous and popular actors of our time, combine that with one of the best directors of this century, and make them adapt one of the most famous stories of all time, and you get The Odyssey. This Odyssey will follow the story of Odysseus as he returns home from the Trojan War, facing many perils and challenges on the way. The cast for this movie is one of the best ensemble casts I have seen since Love Actually. The movie stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway portraying his wife, and Tom Holland portraying his son. Other actors in this film include Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, and Benny Safdie. All of them are being directed by the great Christopher Nolan, whose last movie, Oppenheimer, won best picture. He knows how to do a historical movie, and while some on the internet have criticised the costumes already for historical inaccuracies, it’s adapting a story with a cyclops in it and the armour looks cool. The whole movie is filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, adding to the cool factor of this movie. I believe this will be a beautifully done movie, with incredibly action set pieces, incredible cinematography, and superb acting. This movie will definitely be a need to watch when it comes out in July.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Tom Holland returns to the MCU in another movie playing everyone’s favourite friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. This movie’s plot has remained quite secretive, no leaks this time around, but it is rumoured to be a more street level movie. This means that it could see the integration of some of the characters from the Netflix marvel shows, and finally see Spider-Man take on some street level threats. I theorise that this movie will have Daredevil return, the Punisher, and see Spider-Man take on Kingpin in some way. It is unknown whether we will see the return of Zendaya’s MJ or Ned, but it will be awesome to see a more Tobey Maguire style Spider-Man, now that Peter lives alone and has his new suit. Any Spider-Man movie is a great time, and this one will definitely be on the watch list when it swings into cinemas in July.

Street Fighter

I don’t know much about the Street Fighter games, or the Street Fighter movie that came out in 1994, but I do know a little about this new Street Fighter movie coming out this year. The movie looks to be including every major character from the games, with there definitely being some recognisable characters thanks to their pop culture stardom. Like it says on the tin, there will be a lot of fighting in this movie, but from the teaser trailer, the fighting looks awesome, with fight choreography looking clean and flowing like a classing kung fu flick. It also has that retro vibe, leaning into the older vibes and retro feel found in the original Street Fighter arcade game. This movie will definitely bring some incredible action and fight scenes, with some impressive KOs, giving the audience an exhilarating ride. For those looking for a classic style kung fu flick, or just another incredible video game adaptation, look no further than this movie, coming out in October.

Avengers: Doomsday

While this movie may only be coming out in December, the Russo brothers know how to build hype. The film has already been teased last year, with Doctor Doom appearing in post credits scenes, and the Fantastic Four coming to the mainline MCU timeline. The reveal that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom is already incredible, but the teaser trailers that have been released for this movie are definitely making it more exciting. I won’t spoil what happens in them here (and I urge you to watch them), but I will say that we will be seeing the return of Thor, Steve Rogers Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Namor, Shuri, M’baku (now as king of Wakanda), and the X-Men. Along with other characters returning from other MCU movies last year, this cast will be packed full. This movie is looking to top the likes of Avengers: Endgame with the cast and story. The world is currently in a state of superhero fatigue, and many believe that the MCU peaked at Endgame and has been going downhill ever since (I personally believe the peak was at Spider-Man: No Way Home). However, with the hype that Doomsday is building I think that it could be reaching for a new high. Once the Avengers: Doomsday clock runs out, and the film releases in December, it will be a must watch.

Dune: Messiah

Dune: Messiah is the third and final instalment in the Dune franchise, which tells me that it will be the best of the three. Denis Villeneuve does a great job at adapting the Dune books into these massive space operas, led by a stellar cast, and featuring an incredible soundtrack. According to the books, this next movie will see a major time jump, as Paul Atreides solidifies his power as the new ruler on Arrakis. While these movies can be hard to follow at times, it gives you space to breathe at points, letting you take in the beautiful shots of the desert planet. Timothée Chalamet spearheads this film again as Paul Atredis, and based on assumption, should be rejoined with Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Florence Pugh. This movie looks to be the finale of this stunning set of films, and as seen with Dune: Part 2, I believe it will beat the other two to become the best in the franchise. I felt Dune was very exposition heavy, Dune: Part 2 was very action heavy, so following that, Dune: Messiah should be the perfect mix of both. Regardless, it will be an amazing movie, and the movie event that will be Avengers: Dunesday (as coined by Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet) will definitely be a need to do, when it happens in December.

Conclusion

2026 looks to be a very exciting year for movies. Whether it be major franchise blockbusters, or new original movies 2026 looks to be having it all. Ranging from many different genres, like action, animation, sports, music, superhero, video game adaptation, sci-fi, or just good old comedy. I am very excited for the up and coming films for this year, and I cannot wait to see how good these movies will be. As a side note, this list was aided by a Rotten Tomatoes list of upcoming films, which features even more exciting films to come, so I recommend taking a look at it too, linked here: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-most-anticipated-movies-of-2026/. For movie fans it looks to be a good year, and I personally cannot wait to see these films hit the big screen this year.

Karate Kid: Legends

For those unaware of the Karate Kid franchise, it follows the story of a boy learning to integrate into a new society, and in the process finds love and enemies. Through the art of karate, he is able to deal with his bullies, creating the perfect formula for the classic underdog story. The original Karate Kid is a aFor those unaware of the Karate Kid franchise, it follows the story of a boy learning to integrate into a new society, and in the process finds love and enemies. Through the art of karate, he is able to deal with his bullies, creating the perfect formula for the classic underdog story. The original Karate Kid is an all time great sports movie, and with the loveable characters of Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi, it has become a cult classic. From this first movie, a franchise has spawned, with 4 sequels, a T.V. show and a reboot. Karate Kid: Legends is the 4th, and possibly final, movie in the series and does a great job in living up to the original. This movie follows the formula well, with a loveable main character, a master of karate and kung fu as his aides, a compelling love story, and a punchable bad guy. Beyond this however, Legends ties in aspects from all areas of the franchise. The return of Daniel LaRusso was a huge draw, but even more than this, the inclusion of Jackie Chan’s character Mr Han from the reboot was the cherry on top. It brings in aspects from all of the Karate Kid movies, even including small references to the Cobra Kai T.V. show. However, you don’t have to watch the rest of the franchise to enjoy this movie. From a film stand point, I found it to be very entertaining, with awesome karate fight scenes, heartfelt emotional moments, and a great soundtrack. The setting of New York adds a different and new element to the franchise and the dual masters of Mr Han and Daniel LaRusso make for a funny and interesting pairing. If you’re after a sports movie that leaves you with that feel good feeling, wax on (or jacket on) your T.V. and give this super sequel a watch.

Superman

In a time of superhero fatigue, I found Superman to be a refreshing watch. James Gunn brings his excellent superhero formula of taking weird and unknown comics characters and turning them into beloved superheroes. In this case, I am not referring to Superman, but rather the plethora of side characters thrown in, being Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Mr Terrific. While all these characters are handled and portrayed perfectly, it’s Gunn’s handling of Superman that is incredible. There hasn’t been a successful Superman adaptation since Reeve’s version in the late 70s (sorry Henry Cavill fans), but Gunn expertly takes an unknown star and helps bring back that heroic feel to the man of steel. The Superman in this film looks like he was ripped straight out of the comics, and the whole film sets off that vibe, with the vibrant colours and amazing action set pieces. Superman’s supporting character cast is also great, with good chemistry between Superman and Lois Lane, and the inclusion of Jimmy Olsen (hooray!). Lex Luthor in this film is absolutely perfect. Top tier aura farmer, top tier ragebaiter, an overall menacing presence, a good motivation, and he definitely looks the part. The styling and characters of this film are perfect, but what about the story. That is done very well, with Superman being slightly weaker making the stakes feel higher, a great evil villain plan, and a heartwarming story about family at the core of it. For comics fans, this film is an absolute treat, with the inclusion of Krypton, the Fortress of Solitude, and Krypto the Superdog! This film is also a key cornerstone for James Gunn’s new DC universe, leaving grim and gritty and moving towards more comic book fun. Superman ties in great with other past and future projects in this universe, personally I enjoyed the Peacemaker cameo. Superman brings back the comic pizzazz to superhero movies, and is a great addition to James Gunn’s DC universe, and this movie should fly into your watch list.

F1: The Movie

After Covid, the film that brought the movie industry back was Top Gun: Maverick, giving audiences high speed thrills and adrenaline pumping action. Now take the directors, producers, and thrills of Top Gun: Maverick, but instead of planes it’s cars. That’s the F1 movie for you, and it delivers on those high speed thrills. I saw the film in IMAX originally, and that is one way to get your adrenaline flowing, as the camera movements and filming make you feel like you’re in the car. The filmmakers nailed the feel of the movie, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats as they watch the protagonist throw his car around corners at 200 mph. In terms of story, this also delivered, with the protagonist Sonny Hayes having both a comeback and underdog story. Alongside his hotheaded young teammate, Joshua Pierce, Sonny Hayes works to help a struggling F1 team stay afloat, salvaging his own career in the process. This movie delivers in so many aspects, and really shows what a summer blockbuster should look and feel like. Watching Sonny Hayes’s antics was entertaining, his rivalry and later friendship with Joshua Pierce felt very genuine, and the cast is a mix of old and new stars. However, the main selling point of this movie is the F1 racing action, and in that aspect, the movie blows it out of the park (or should I say track?). For F1 fans, it also delivers, featuring cameos from F1 drivers like Carlos Sainz Jr and Lewis Hamilton, and the settings being the different race tracks F1 takes place on. F1: The Movie proves to be an amazing racing movie, giving races, rivalry, and redemption all wrapped into one. F1: The Movie is an action packed adrenaline pumping movie, with the added bonuses of a great cast, soundtrack and story, making this a must watch movie.

The Ballad of Wallis Island

This choice is a bit more of an outlandish one. It wasn’t a mainstream blockbuster hit, nor a franchise movie, and was a fairly cheap movie to make. Rather, the part in this movie I like the most is the heart and story. It follows a simple premise, with a millionaire inviting the two former members of the folk duo McGwyer Mortimer to perform a private concert for him on his island home. This movie’s comedic elements were excellent, with the dynamics between the former bandmates, and former lovers, of McGwyer and Mortimer adding lots of awkward scenes. The millionaire is also comedically great, being a shy awkward guy that loves their music, and lives a very secluded lifestyle with all his millions made through winning the lottery. Beyond the great comedy in this film, there is also a deep sense of heart and soul in this movie. Charlie, who is the millionaire, is living alone on this island, beyond the single mother and her son that work in the only convenience store, and both Mcgwyer and Mortimer encourage him towards love and to talk to her. There is also great character growth and dynamics in an emotional sense. Mcgwyer starts out as a more cynical guy, only in it for the money, showing clear signs of his struggling music career after the break up, but he goes beyond this and you feel bad for him and what the breakup did to him. On the other side of the coin, Mortimer provides a positive reinforcement and feeling throughout the movie, providing some emotional grounding. The movie may not provide you with the fully resolved happy ending that you want for them, but rather provides a fitting ending that really leaves you with a smile on your face. Pair that with a soundtrack that sounds very close to Fleetwood Mac, and you have a nice indie feel good movie that definitely lives up to its rumours.

A Minecraft Movie

This list, I feel, would be incomplete without this movie. There was a time when the Minecraft movie was thought to never come out, and was just one of those old internet conspiracies, and here it is, in all its glory. Is this movie a stupid goofy movie made for kids without any serious noteworthy film elements? Yes. Is this movie inaccurate to the game? Yes. However, was this movie not stupidly fun to watch with friends and jam packed full of references for the Minecraft community? 100% yes. Just seeing the Minecraft world and lore being put into a movie was incredible for me, and I loved reference spotting, and this movie is full of them. Ranging from famous Minecraft Youtubers like DanTDM and Technoblade to famous Minecraft lore and legends, like a Herobrine reference. While the story itself featured elements that were not accurate to the game, like Steve having elytras without going to the end, it was still incredibly fun to see Minecraft elements and game mechanics in a movie. While some elements of the design and look of the movie felt a bit off from the game, certain elements, like the Iron Golem and Creepers, looked very well done. The acting was also very funny to watch. Jason Mamoa and Jack Black fit perfectly in this film, and it feels like they’re both putting their full heart and soul into acting in this movie. I mean Jack Black’s Steve is just so perfect in such a funny way, over delivering all his lines, like ‘I am Steve’ and ‘Waterbucket, RELEASE!’. Jack Black also delivers some hilarious musical numbers, with iconic songs like ‘Lava Chicken’. However, I think the main sell of this movie was definitely the memes and the experience. Seeing this in cinemas with my friends was hilarious, and the iconic line of ‘Chicken Jockey’ became a meme sensation. The memes alone make this a worthwhile movie to watch, and I wait in anticipation for the sequel coming out next year. For those that play Minecraft, watch Minecraft Youtubers, or just enjoy video game adaptation movies, this blocky flick is definitely worth your time.

Conclusion

2025, while not being the strongest year for movies, still had some great heavy hitters. This is without mentioning the great animated movies that came out last year, a lot of which I have yet to see. It has definitely been a good year for Warner Bros. and I am excited to see what more they have in store for us this year. Looking ahead, 2026 looks to be an even better year for movies, with some franchise heavy hitters coming our way soon (with a list for those definitely on the way). This list has just been some of my personal favourites, and I know there are still some great films from last year I must watch, but for now, these are my top 5 films I would recommend watching from 2025.