2026 has a wide assortment of movies releasing under the Disney banner, with the year set to contain some of Walt Disney Studios’ biggest films to date. Disney has been behind some of the most recognizable and lastingly beloved movie releases of all time – be that with the likes of beloved animated Disney movies such as The Lion King or Bambi, or with films from franchises like the MCU or Star Wars.
Decades after its first films, 2026 sees Disney’s release roster cover both new and familiar worlds, with 14 movies currently announced and named for the year thus far – and several unnamed releases set to potentially expand this slate even further in the coming months. That said, Disney’s current assortment of films set to release in 2026 already includes a fair share of must-watch movies.
Super Troopers 3: Winter Soldiers (August 7, 2026)
Super Troopers is a film series that has seen somewhat divided reception since its first installment in 2002, which garnered a 37% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, but netted itself a much higher 90% Popcornmeter from regular cinemagoers – though the sequel received a similar critic score and a lower 64% audience score.
As such, while it’s clear some people will be excited for the third film in the series, it’s also clear many have made efforts to enjoy the series and not meshed with it, meaning this next depiction of a fictional version of the State Vermont Troops and their escapades is more divided in its hype, even if it’s sure to be much-anticipated for those who enjoyed the previous installments.
Whalefall (October 16, 2026)
Whalefall certainly revolves around a novel concept, which sees a scuba diver who is searching for his father’s remains be swallowed by a whale, leaving him left with one hour to escape before his own certain doom. With a cast featuring Josh Brolin, Emily Rudd, Austin Abrams and Elisabeth Shue, Whalefall‘s fascinating plot is also supported by a range of talented actors.
That said, based on its premise alone, it’s clear Whalefall will be a pretty tense and fascinating affair, and is sure to contain some story moments you wouldn’t find in basically any other movie – though its October 2026 release date means we’re unlikely to hear too much more about the film for some while.
In The Blink Of An Eye (February 27, 2026)
In The Blink Of An Eye‘s story already promises to be an ambitious endeavor, with an early synopsis of the movie teasing a film that explores three vastly different but interconnected points in time, and teasing a cast that features Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, and Daveed Diggs.
The film’s Sundance Festival summary states that the movie will first explore the lives of a Neanderthal family in the prehistoric era, before then delving into the present day life of an anthropologist studying proto-human remains, and from there going to the far future and a space-farer’s efforts to confront a futuristic virus effecting plant life.
As such, while there’s still plenty of room to learn more about the film before its release, there are also plenty of reasons to already be interested in the upcoming 2026 release.
Hexed (November 25, 2026)
Hexed‘s premise – which sees a teen boy and his mother discover he has magical powers – certainly sounds like a recipe for success given Disney’s track record with other animated films with a similar concept, and given Disney movies that explore familial bonds while delving into fantastical worlds tend to be a hit more often than not with audiences.
However, we’ve seen relatively little about the movie as of yet, which means audiences aren’t as excited about the impending Fall 2026 release as they may be when more is revealed in the future – particularly as seeing the animation style and quality of the release will likely go a long way in this regard.
Psycho Killer (February 20, 2026)
One of the most interesting things about Psycho Killer is the road the film has taken thus far to get to its February 2026 release date, with the project having first been in the works in 2007, and Limp Bizkit lead singer Fred Durst announcing in 2009 he would be directing the film. However, a different path was eventually taken, with Gavin Palone instead becoming the horror movie’s director.
Centered around the story of a woman hunting down a serial killer to avenge her murdered husband, Psycho Killer looks as though it will fully capitalize on its R-rating, and should provide a suitable start to the year for horror fans – especially those who may have been waiting for at this point years to see the film come to fruition.
The Dog Stars (March 27, 2026)
With The Dog Stars adapting the 2012 novel by Peter Heller, there are already a number of people who have a decidedly stellar idea of what the story of the upcoming 2026 post-apocalypse sci-fi will be, even if the movie may choose to change some details.
That said, much like Hexed, very little has been actively shown thus far about the movie, and its promotional material seems to be set to release in the coming months, building hype more directly for the film down the line closer to its actual debut in March.
However, with Ridley Scott at the directorial helm for a heartfelt sci-fi story, and with the likes of Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong in the film’s cast, it’s hard to see how The Dog Stars could go wrong – and easy to see how it could become one of 2026’s best sci-fi movies.
Hoppers (March 6, 2026)
While Disney’s animated movies aren’t all guaranteed to be a success – despite the prominence many such releases have had across the course of the company’s history – Hoppers has certainly set a promising precedent in some of the final months before its March 2026 release.
Exploring a sci-fi story wherein main character Mabel uses a device that can ‘hop’ a human mind into an animal-like robot body and understand the speech of other animals, Hoppers‘ premise is one that promises both a wealth of cute animated moments, and an overarching storyline that has the potential to educate as it entertains, based on its plotline about Mabel trying to protect a local animal habitat.
Send Help (January 30, 2026)
Thrillers revolving around people stranded on islands are essentially a perfect combination, as has been proved time and time again with releases like Lost or The Triangle of Sadness. As such, the concept of Send Help is one that immediately seems promising, given the story hinges around a worker and her boss becoming trapped on an island after a plane crash, and the tensions that arise as a result of their previous working dynamic.
It’s also worth noting that Send Help‘s cast is led by Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, who between them have a wealth of experience that is sure to both enhance the film itself, and encourage audiences to see the movie as well.
Ready Or Not 2 (April 10, 2026)
A blood-soaked comedy horror that made full use of its R-rating, the original 2019 Ready Or Not served as something of a sleeper hit – garnering $56 million results theatrically, but then hitting the tops of streaming charts upon its later release on these platforms – with the gripping story of a woman being hunted by her fiancé’s family on their wedding day as part of a dark ritual gripping those who gave it a chance.
This – and Ready Or Not‘s solid review scores from those who watched it – go some way to explain the greater interest there seems to be in the film’s upcoming 2026 sequel, as the Ready Or Not 2 trailer has already amassed 4.7 million views. Hopefully, this means the overall positive reception to the original can result in even higher results for the sequel, which is particularly exciting to note given the 2019 film itself reportedly still made around 9 times its budget thanks to its low costs (as per The Numbers).
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1, 2026)
2006’s The Devil Wears Prada was something of a cultural cornerstone upon its release, and has retained a level of pop culture significance in the years that have passed since this time too – a detail that appears to be owed in no small part to the comedy drama having a star-studded cast, including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci.
With The Devil Wears Prada being a film whose story was seemingly entirely self-contained, the reveal that a sequel will be releasing two decades after the original is naturally news that has garnered some not inconsiderable interest, both because of the reception to the prior film, and because a sequel coming so long after hopefully suggests a truly striking follow-up story idea has been crafted in order for it to be revived in this way.
Moana (July 10, 2026)
While Disney’s live-action remakes have been a somewhat contentious topic in the past few years, it is clear they’re at the top of many people’s watch list when it comes to new releases, since their box office results tend to be notably successful.
Moana very much seems set to continue this history of success, as a live-action adaptation of one of Disney’s biggest animated movies – and as an adaptation of a story with the kind of visual spectacle that can engage cinemagoers. As the next live-action Disney remake after Lilo & Stitch‘s $1 billion box office results, it wouldn’t be surprising if Moana‘s own results also reached a billion upon its release.
Toy Story 5 (June 19, 2026)
Given countless people have now grown up watching the Toy Story series in the 30 years since the first movie released, Toy Story 5 is a 2026 Disney film that is sure to be a major release for several generations of prospective viewers.
Indeed, with Toy Story 5‘s story exploring the challenges classic toys face in an era more reliant on technology than ever before, it’s easy to see how the film’s narrative is one that could be engaging for both children and adults, and can continue the franchise’s track record of having some substantial moral messages alongside its heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, making it all the more of a can’t miss film.
The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22, 2026)
The Mandalorian & Grogu is a savvy move from Star Wars when it comes to returning to the world of movies – capitalizing on two of its most popular on-screen characters in the past few years, and bringing their adventures to theaters after spending a significant chunk of recent history endearing them to audiences, and ensuring there was a level of viewer connection that would result in the film becoming a must-see movie.
Another film-length visit to one of the most beloved sci-fi galaxies of all time is sure to attract some big results, and there’s real potential for the movie to reignite the movie side of the Star Wars franchise if it’s able to balance further character development for the titular duo alongside a suitable amount of action and dramatic sci-fi settings.
Avengers: Doomsday
Given the sheer almost unfathomable level of success Avengers: Endgame garnered, it’s not a surprise that there is an immense curiosity about the next movie in the Avengers series: Avengers: Doomsday. With there set to be a 7-year gap between these two installments, this is doubly true, since this is the longest wait between two Avengers movies since The Avengers itself released in 2012.
While there is a level of uncertainty about what to expect from Avengers: Doomsday currently – especially following the changes that were made to the fifth Avengers film in order to replace Kang with Doctor Doom in this chapter of the MCU timeline – even this has in some senses served to make Doomsday all the more of a talking point even far before its release.
With months left to build its promotional campaign further, it’s likely that Avengers: Doomsday will be one of the biggest must-watch Disney movies of 2026 whatever happens in its story, particularly since it has already promised to be one of the most wide-reaching Marvel movie crossovers – which is a high bar to cross given Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man: No Way Home came before it.