Moviegoers love a good thrill. Whether it’s a slasher terrorizing a final girl or non-stop violence from video game characters brought to life, audiences pack theaters for thrillers because of the adrenaline rush they get from watching the action on the big screen.
In 2026, the calendar is already set with some highly anticipated titles that are destined to get thriller lovers’ hearts pumping. Sidney Prescott is back for another round in the Scream franchise, the characters from Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat will be brought to life in new films, and Samara Weaving is returning for the sequel to her campy thriller Ready or Not. Suffice it to say, there’s something for everyone in 2026.
13
‘Dead Man’s Wire’
1/9/26
Legendary director Gus Van Sant is taking audiences to the past with his latest film, Dead Man’s Wire. The historical crime thriller dramatizes the crimes committed by Tony Kiritis in the 1970s. The film follows the terrifying case of Kirtsis (Bill Skarsgård), an Indianapolis man who kidnapped mortgage company president Richard Hill (Dacre Montgomery) with a shotgun wired to his head, demanding money and an apology for a bad business deal, turning into an eccentric folk hero amidst a media circus about capitalism and justice. The shocking real-life period piece tackles morality head-on, telling the story of the little guy versus big finance in a way that shaped public perception in one fell swoop.
Using a ’70s-style crime drama as its storytelling device, Van Sant’s film is destined to showcase a story of desperation in a quirky and timely manner. After its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, Dead Man’s Wire will have its official release at the start of the new year. If the 98% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score is any indication, audiences are going to love this authentic thriller.
12
Untitled ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ Sequel
12/11/26
Many people from my generation were quite skeptical about a reboot of Jumanji. But after the first film, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, audiences were instantly drawn to the refreshing approach to the classic story, using a video game lens rather than a board game. Well, with a third film coming at the end of 2026, it’s officially become a franchise. Set to be the final installment, the currently untitled sequel will be directed by Jake Kasdan, who helmed the first two films in this trilogy.
Technically the fifth film to have the Jumanji name and the third in the reboot franchise, the currently untitled film will feature the core cast from the previous two films: Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, and Dwayne Johnson. Also returning from the previous film will be Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Alex Wolff, and Bebe Neuwirth, who continues to play Nora Shepard, Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter’s (Bradley Pierce) aunt in the original film. With the film in production, a date is set for its theatrical release.
11
‘Psycho Killer’
2/20/26
Written by Andrew Kevin Walker and directed by Gavin Polone in his directorial debut, Psycho Killer follows police officer Jane Thorne (Georgina Campbell) on her mission to take down a serial killer with a sinister agenda known as “The Satanic Slasher” (James Preston Rogers) after he murdered her husband, a Kansas City highway patrol officer. As Jane embarks on a dark, cross-country journey of obsession and vengeance, the killer has a twisted masterpiece planned.
Promising extreme violence and terror, Psycho Killer explores the depth of the killer’s depravity and a woman’s mission to go to great lengths for revenge. With the writer of Se7en and the producers of Barbarian behind the project, Psycho Killer has all the elements set for a winter thrill, even without a cast of major stars. In addition to Campbell and Rogers, the cast will also feature Logan Miller, Grace Dove, and Malcolm McDowell in supporting roles. If the trailer is any indication, Psycho Killer is destined to become an instant horror classic.
10
‘Sleepwalker’
1/9/26
To kick off the year, Hayden Panettiere will be leading the charge in the psychological thriller Sleepwalker. Written and directed by Brandon Auman, the film follows Sarah Pangborn (Panettiere), an accomplished artist, who is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As the grieving mother experiences intense sleepwalking episodes, they blur the lines between dreams and reality, leading her into a terrifying descent into darkness. Exploring themes of trauma and guilt, the suspenseful supernatural horror feature will bring nightmares to life.
Through a horror lens, Auman’s film puts the subconscious landscape at the forefront in a gripping fashion. An intense, accelerating thriller, Sleepwalker has already painted a terrifying picture with a trailer that utilizes a haunting rendition of “Rock-a-bye Baby.” The film will also feature a cast that includes Beverly D’Angelo, Justin Chatwin, and Mischa Barton. Sleepwalker is set for wide release on January 9.
9
‘The Rip’
1/16/26
Anytime long-time besties Matt Damon and Ben Affleck appear in a film together, the hype is high. In 2026, the dynamic duo will reunite for the Netflix original film The Rip. Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, The Rip tells the story of a group of Miami cops, played by Affleck and Damon, who discover a stash of millions in cash in a derelict drug stash house, leading to distrust and betrayal as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on. Tackling greed and corruption in policing, the tense thriller has all the makings of an instant classic.
In addition to Affleck and Damon, The Rip features a stacked cast including Steven Yeun, Kyle Chandler, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Sasha Callle. Ahead of the film, Carnahan spoke to Netflix about the process of collaborating with his cast. “Working with Matt and Ben and having two distinctly talented filmmakers, as both creative allies and the studio heads, wound up being the best of both worlds,” Carnahan shared. “I’ve never had as easy an experience on a movie as I had on The Rip. They took exceptionally good care of me and backed my decisions every step of the way.” The Netflix global release is set for January 16.
8
‘Cold Storage’
2/13/26
In 2026, Johnny Campbell will take audiences on a hilarious and horrifying journey in the upcoming Cold Storage. Based on David Koepp‘s novel, Cold Storage tells the tale of Travis “Teacake” Meacham (Joe Keery) and Naomi Williams (Georgina Campbell), two employees at a self-storage facility built atop a former military base, whose night shift transforms into a nightmare when a government-sealed parasite escapes from the underground levels. As temperatures rise, the microorganism unleashes its brain-controlling, body-busting mayhem on anything on its path. Travis and Naomi must team up with Robert Quinn (Liam Neeson), a seasoned bioterror operative, to contain the threat before it triggers humanity’s extinction. A film that combines the terrifying and grotesque with a dark sense of humor, Cold Storage may be the new camp comedy you didn’t know you needed.
The zombie-splattered trailer, which features a hilarious juxtaposition of Daniel Powter‘s “Bad Day,” refuses to be a biohazard. Instead, it’s bringing forth a spectacular team-upin which Neeson continues to prove, after Naked Gun, that playing comedically tinged heroes is his new forte. Rounding out the cast are Sosie Bacon, Vanessa Redgrave, and Leslie Manville. The film is expected to arrive the day before your Valentine’s Day date night.
7
‘Send Help’
1/30/26
In 2026, Sam Raimi is bringing audiences a survival thriller in the form of Send Help. Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, the film follows two disliked work colleagues, Linda Liddle, an underestimated employee, and Bradley Preston, her horrible boss, as they become the sole survivors of a plane crash on a deserted island. Together, they must overcome their past grievances and power dynamic to survive, turning into a dark battle of wits where the roles are suddenly reversed.
The terrifying thriller, led by two extraordinary actors, is like watching Lost meets Survivor with a horror twist, where a tropical backdrop is anything but spectacular. A film about personal and emotional transformation through shifting power dynamics, Send Help is a reminder to all bosses out there that respect and kindness are key, especially if you find yourself in this worst-case scenario. The new thriller from the Evil Dead director will be arriving on January 30.
6
‘Mortal Kombat II’
5/8/26
After the 1990s brought a critical and commercial failure to the big-screen adaptation of Mortal Kombat, the 2020s sought to rectify the disaster. If a sequel is any indicator, it worked. 2026 will see the follow-up to the 2021 film, Mortal Kombat II, set for a theatrical release on May 8. Directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, the martial arts fantasy film follows the champions of Earthrealm, now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), as they are forced into battle against one another while attempting to resist Shao Kahn’s (Martyn Ford) rule.
Expanding the lore from the video game into a major action thriller, the sequel is expected to bring intense, gory battles to the forefront, in addition to beloved characters joining the fray. Beyond The Boys‘ star taking on Johnny Cage, audiences can expect the inclusion of one of the most played characters in the game, Kitana, played by Adeline Rudolph. They’ll be joining returning stars Jessica McNamee as Sonyaa Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, and Mehcad Brooks as Jax, among others. With new production stills recently revealed, video game fans are eager for the next installment of the series.
5
‘Street Fighter’
10/16/25
I told you it was a big year for gamers! As with Mortal Kombat, the 2020s are bringing back classic games from the ’90s to breathe new life into beloved franchises. In October, audiences will be delighted with a new big-screen adaptation of Street Fighter, directed by Kitao Sakurai. The live-action feature-length adaptation will serve as an official reboot. According to Paramount Pictures, the film, set in 1993, follows estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo), who are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!
The original film, which featured Jean-Claude Van Damme, was ’90s-coded, coming directly from the decades. If the 11% Rotten Tomatoes score is any indication, it was a one-hit wonder. The new iteration will maintain the essence of the era while bringing the martial arts action to a modern audience. In addition to Koji, Liang, and Centineo, the cast will feature Cody Rhodes as Guile, Orville Peck as Vega, 50 Cent as Balrog, Jason Momoa as Blanka, Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim, Olivier Richters as Zangief, Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Roman Reigns as Akuma, Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, Eric André as Don Sauvage, Mel Jarnson as Cammy, Rayna Vallandingham as Juli, and Alexander Volkanovski as Joe. After the character portraits were released, the film’s buzz skyrocketed, and rightly so!
4
‘Werwulf’
12/25/26
One year ago, Robert Eggers brought a classic horror film to life in the visionary stunner Nosferatu. Eggers is returning to the world of folk horror with the period drama Werwulf. Set in England in the 13th century, a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside as local folklore becomes a terrifying reality for the villagers within. Reuniting Nosfertu stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson, the highly anticipated film will continue his reign of putting his stamp on terrifying horror archetypes, following vampires and witches.
Though Eggers had originally intended to film Werwulf in black and white, he changed course. Co-written with Sjón, who also contributed to The Northman, the script will feature dialogue that was true to the time period. If his previous body of work is any indication, the upcoming film is destined to be another fascinating film. Werwulf is expected to scare audiences on Christmas Day 2026.