2026 movies to add to your watchlist

As much as I wish I could watch a movie every single day of the year, I go back and forth with being a movie person. Life gets in the way, and I find myself not wanting to sit down and watch a film. But, there are many times when I am encapsulated by a movie I finally turn on. 2026 has a huge list of movies coming that are going to blow up my Letterboxd account. Here are the ones to look forward to watching. 

Backrooms

Directed by Kane Parsons, a 20-year-old YouTuber known for his Backrooms short film series, the upcoming film “Backrooms” may go down as the movie of my life. I have been obsessed and connected to the backrooms phenomenon for years, and I have waited so long for a movie or show about it. Many people have expressed nerves about the film and whether or not it will live up to the excitement. I have a lot of hope for it, especially because it is being produced and distributed by A24, a company that has made a ton of successful films I love. The movie stars Mark Duplass and Chiwetel Ejiofor and comes out May 29. 

Toy Story 5

Although an incredibly familiar movie franchise with a ton of longevity, I will never get tired of new Toy Story films. The fifth film in the franchise comes out June 19, and trailers have already confirmed its excellence for me. The newfound villain is an iPad, which is incredibly fitting for the time we are in today. Despite Woody’s balding head shown in the trailer, I think the fifth movie will be one everyone wants to see this summer.

The Drama

Starring none other than Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, the two have already shown great onscreen chemistry based on teasers. Their characters, Emma and Charlie, are engaged, but they face a shocking test to their relationship during their wedding week. This film is also being produced and distributed by A24, making me even more excited to see it. The posters for this movie are incredibly eyecatching and A24 has also been promoting it as a real wedding for fans, which is great marketing. It released April 3.

Michael

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, who has made movies such as The Equalizer, “Michael” is an musical biopic about Michael Jackson, famously known as the king of pop. I am normally not the biggest fan of biopics, but this is one I do not want to miss. The movie will follow Michael Jackson’s story from the Jackson 5 to his solo career. Most interestingly, he will be played by his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson. It released April 24.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

After five long years, the Spider-Man franchise is finally releasing a new film. I will never forget the day I saw “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in theaters and broke down into tears at the ending of the film, where Peter Parker is forgotten by everyone. I have been waiting for the next film for a long time, and I am looking forward to this one as much as the last. “Brand New Day” will star Sadie Sink, famous for her role as Max Mayfield in “Stranger Things.” I am always itching to see Sink in more films. She is rumoured to play Jean Grey from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but nothing has been explicitly confirmed. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” releases July 31.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

As a sequel to the famous 2006 film, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” was released May 1, starring familiar faces like Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt. The first film is 2000s perfection, and I am wondering if this new one will live up to it. Miranda Priestly (Streep), who is nearing retirement in this film, is competing against Emily Charlton (Blunt) in the era of declining print media. The theater will definitely see me present for this release.