2026 is shaping up to be a monumental year for cinema, defined by massive star power, highly anticipated sequels to cult classics and visionary directors tackling classic epics. The upcoming slate offers a mix of high-stakes drama and nostalgic sequels.

Directors like Christopher Nolan and Emerald Fennell are pushing the boundaries of the IMAX format to capture everything from ancient Aegean battles to the haunting, windswept moors of Yorkshire. Whether you’re craving the razor-sharp wit of a Miranda Priestly or the dark, psychological puzzle of a Colleen Hoover thriller, 2026 is designed to pull us out of our living rooms and back into the dark, immersive magic of cinema.

Wuthering Heights

Emerald Fennell, who previously directed the critically acclaimed Saltburn, brings her distinct lens to Emily Brontë’s classic gothic romance. Starring Margot Robbie as Catherine Earnshaw and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, this adaptation will lean into the dark energy of the original material. Fans are expecting a visceral, stylized exploration of obsession just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The Bride!

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal reimagines the Bride of Frankenstein lore in 1930s Chicago. The film sees Jessie Buckley as a murdered young woman brought back to life as The Bride, alongside Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster. The film is being described as a genre-bending mix of horror and musical, which follows the pair as they ignite a radical social movement that catches the eye of the law.

The Drama

A24 brings together a pair we can’t wait to see together on the big screen—Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, who star in the psychological rom-dramedy from director Kristoffer Borgli. The story follows an engaged couple whose relationship begins to unravel in the days leading up to their wedding due to a series of unexpected twists.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

One of the most anticipated films this year is the return of Miranda Priestly 20 years later. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are all confirmed to return for this long-awaited sequel. The plot reportedly centers on Miranda navigating the decline of traditional magazine publishing, while her former assistant, Emily, is now a high-powered executive at a luxury fashion group holding the purse strings Miranda desperately needs to pull.

The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan returns to the IMAX format with a mythic action epic based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca attempting a ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. He is joined by an incredible ensemble cast including Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Zendaya as the goddess Athena.

Practical Magic 2

Another classic getting a highly anticipated sequel is Practical Magic. The Owens sisters are reuniting for a sequel to the 1998 cult classic. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as Sally and Gillian Owens, bringing their brand of magic back to the big screen. While plot details are being kept under wraps, the film aims to honour the original’s themes of sisterhood.

Verity

Based on the successful psychological thriller by Colleen Hoover, this film stars Dakota Johnson as Lowen, a struggling writer hired to finish the book series of the incapacitated Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway). While staying at the Crawford estate, Lowen discovers an autobiographical manuscript that suggests Verity’s “accidents” were anything but.

Feature image courtesy of A24.