Movies I’m Actually Excited for This Year! (2026)
Usually, I’m not someone that gets excited about movies, at least not in the last few years anyway. Everything that has come out has been live action remakes, 3D Corp slop, or sequels to things that really don’t need sequels. I feel like many movies I have liked/remember watching in the last year came from smaller studios and producers (except for Superman), but this is the first year I’ve actually felt excited for more than 1 or 2 movies coming out. So let me share those...
Michael - I know at the time of posting this has already come out, but I’m excited to see how Jaafar performs, all the trailers and behind the scenes look so good, plus it’s Michael Jackson, at least there will be good songs.
Mortal Kombat 2 - I am such a sucker for the Mortal Kombat movies, and love that they don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s a bunch of movies that are silly and I can turn my brain off. I am a little disappointed with some of the casting and costuming, but I can look past that.
Spider Noir - I know this isn’t technically a movie, but it’s a mini series, so I mean, technically it is right? Anyways, I absolutely loved Spider-Noir when the Spiderverse movie came out and I love Nick Cage, so I have been waiting and waiting for this show to come out…I honestly forgot about it for awhile, but it’s so cool that you can watch it in black and white or color, so I’m really excited!
Backrooms - I remember reading a short story about the backrooms in middle school when it was a “creepy pasta” type thing circulating through Wattpad and Quotev, then years later it was a YouTube thing. So, this movie looks really good, and I hope it stays true to the liminal space and backrooms ambiance. I hope it doesn’t lean too heavily into the “monster” aspect, and instead gives you just an uneasy feeling to watch, as if you’re also there.
The Death of Robin Hood (2026) - I know next to nothing about this movie, but I love Hugh Jackman and Robin Hood, so I’ll give it a shot...probably once it’s on streaming though. I really like most of the Robin Hood and Three Musketeer adaptions, so I hope it’s not too “knitty gritty man war” movie.
Supergirl (2026) - I absoluely loved Superman and hope Supergirl is just as good. I will say that all James Gunn movies feel the same and have the same format, but it's fun and colorful, and for the characters he’s picked so far I think it works. I’m excited for a Supergirl that is just an angsty rebellious teenager, because that’s what she is, plus depressed because she watched her home be destroyed...I’m also excited to see Jason Momoa as Lobo (even if it’s just a few seconds), because he was born for that role, and was just the wrong pick for Aquaman. I do hope that there aren’t as many side characters in this one, unlike in Superman, and we really get to focus on Kara, but it’s James Gunn so I have low hopes, but either way I know it’ll be fun!
Spider-Man: Brand New Day - I’m not really a fan of the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, mostly because they don’t feel like spiderman movies (I mean how much heavy lifting does Tony do for thse movies? And half the characters are random OC’s), but I do have hope, grnated it’s very little hope, but I hope this will be a soft reboot and that characters will be introduced that make this movie feel like a true spider man movie, not just Tom Holland in a spiderman suit every now and then. I want a good villain, maybe the real MJ or even better Blackcat to show up. I really hope this isn’t the movie that introduces Jean Grey or the X-men though.
Street Fighter (2026) - I absolutely love the vibe the posters and trailers are giving for this movie. It looks like such a stupid/fun time, and I’ve really been missing that in movies. Also the casting and the costuming looks so good! I’m actually so excited for this movie just because of the casting and costuming, the coloring, and it just looks fun...we need more of that.
Clayface - I love DC and have always loved DC, so getting to see DC not only return to its darker roots, but also choose a more obscure villain makes me very happy, even if Clayface isn’t my favorite Rogue or villain. I do hope this movie does well so we can get more villain movies, or just more Dark DC movies, but you know what? As long as I don’t see more of the Joker or Harley Quinn, I’m ok with that. It just looks like such a weird and twisted movie, and for Clayface I think that’s perfect...I just sincerly hope it doesn’t turn into a Cruella/Maleficent situation, or god forbid a Harley Quinn movie. Most of the Rogues have sad and cruel origins, but they still choose to be awful people, and I don’t want it to be any kind of redemption or “they got my story wrong” movie. I’m actually very excited for most of the DC movies that are being planned, and really really hope these characters are done justice.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping - Everyone get ready to cry! I actually really liked the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, probably more than the original 4 movies (catching Fire is probably still my favorite of those), but I feel like this one is going to be such a hard watch, just emotionally. I think the casting is 50/50, the new faces are whatever, but the actors playing younger established characters are quite good. I think just the whole premise of having double the tributes and getting to see why Haymitch is the way he is will be so interesting, I mean the book is absolutely brutal, so I hope the movie does it justice.
Avengers: Doomsday - I’m going to be honest, I haven’t really loved any Marvel movies since No Way Home. I mean I liked MOM because I love Wanda, Deadpool and Wolverine was a fun time, I watched Thunderbolts for Bucky and Yelena, but I wouldn’t say they were very well written. Sure I’ll rewatch bits and pieces, but as a whole movie I just don’t care or have forgotten because they were boring, poorly written, or totally mischaracterized the characters, and I feel that way towards a lot of the most recent MCU movies, which really sucks. The TV shows aren’t any better, and the last one I enjoyed and still rewatch is Moon Knight! I love the X-Men, so I’ll be watching Doomsday (with tissues) for them, but I genuinely don’t know how to feel about the movie as a whole, it just feels like another desperate attempt to get back the hype that Infinity War & Endgame had. I hope it’s the last of Marvel so I can finally stop caring about the Disney MCU. They seriously should've rebooted after Endgame, or given more time and effort to establishing new characters.
Jumanji: Open World - I LOVE JUMANJI! I have seen all of these movies in theatres on opening week, and love Karen Gillian, Jack Black, and Chris Hart. I have been waiting for this movie since the teaser at the end of the last one. I don’t want any spoilers. These movies are just a fun watch, the humor is so stupid, and I love seeing the settings as they attempt to tie in video game elements (half way through each movie I think they forget it’s supposed to be a video game movie but oh well). I do fear it may be a little repetitive, so I hope there’s some kind of twist. It’s like a little treat at the end of the year.
Alright and those are just my quick thoughts on the movies (and some shows) that I am excited to watch and look forward to this year!
