After the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a shock to the film trade, audiences’ relationship with theaters has been in a state of reset. Studios are nonetheless working to determine what, precisely, motivates folks to see one thing on the massive display screen earlier than it is out there at residence. Whereas the entire scenario remains to be in flux, there’s one factor that is emerged because the closest we have now to a certainty: IMAX.
The corporate behind the premium large-format theatrical expertise is without doubt one of the few outright winners of our present setting. At the same time as residence leisure methods get higher and higher, it stays clear to everybody that IMAX is one thing they will by no means have the ability to replicate on their TVs, and consequently, Hollywood’s battle for these restricted screens has by no means been extra aggressive.
On October 23, IMAX delivered a quarterly earnings presentation to their traders that included an anticipated 2026 launch schedule, that includes 20 of the largest and most-anticipated movies of subsequent yr. These are all of the movies set to play in IMAX, in launch order.
Mercy
Formally, the primary IMAX film to play in theaters in 2026 is Avatar: Fireplace & Ash, which is able to carry over its run after releasing in December. The primary new launch of the yr to play the largest screens arrives January 23, when Mercy releases.
The sci-fi film from director Timur Bekmambetov stars Chris Pratt as a Los Angeles detective accused of murdering his spouse. Within the distant yr of 2029, which means coming earlier than an AI choose (performed by Rebecca Ferguson) and getting simply 90 minutes to show his personal innocence utilizing each piece of digital proof at his disposal.
The Bride!
Guillermo del Toro handled us to at least one interpretation of Frankenstein in 2025, and because of some launch date shuffling, we’ll be getting one other, very totally different one subsequent yr. The Bride!, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s second characteristic as a director, releases on March 6.
Set in Nineteen Thirties Chicago, the film stars Jessie Buckley because the Bride and Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster, together with Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz. It was pushed out of 2025 amid reviews of troubling take a look at screenings, and The Bride!‘s first trailer definitely confirmed indicators of the form of distinctive, fashionable imaginative and prescient that may typically immediate these tales. Based on Sarsgaard, it is also considerably of a musical, that means audiences may very well be in for a really singular IMAX expertise.
Mission Hail Mary
Mission Hail Mary will arrive with loads of warmth when it releases on March 20. Amazon MGM used early footage to hype movie show house owners at CinemaCon, after which gave it the Corridor H remedy at San Diego Comedian-Con, the place it was acquired with a lot pleasure.
An adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel of the identical identify, Mission Hail Mary stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, an astronaut who loses his reminiscence whereas on an important mission in deep area and wakes up because the crew’s sole survivor. The movie is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, marking the duo’s return to live-action films after 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story was taken from them mid-production. Weir’s The Martian made a giant box-office hit when dropped at the silver display screen by Ridley Scott, so expectations for this one will naturally be excessive.
The Tremendous Mario Galaxy Film
Talking of field workplace expectations, the sequel to 2023’s The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film shall be trying to match the unique’s $1.3 billion worldwide gross when it releases on April 3. Just a few weeks of IMAX screens will definitely assist.
Nintendo not too long ago introduced the movie’s title is The Tremendous Mario Galaxy Film, signaling to followers that the film would dip into that collection of video games for materials this time round. No information has come by way of but on voice casting for anticipated new characters like Rosalina, however Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Pleasure, Charlie Day, and Jack Black are all set to return as Mario, Peach, Luigi, and Bowser, respectively.
Michael
Given {that a} Michael Jackson live performance doc made $268 million in 2009, a high-profile biopic can be an occasion on any launch calendar. But when Michael truly makes it to theaters on April 24, it ought to be thought of a miracle.
The Antoine Fuqua movie starring Jafaar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s personal nephew, has had a hell of a time making it to the massive display screen. After being delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, Michael filmed in early 2024 and was even previewed by Lionsgate at CinemaCon that yr, solely to be reportedly derailed by an uncovered authorized settlement that rendered the entire third act unusable. After extra filming this yr, a brand new model will supposedly be prepared, with the potential for a follow-up if this one does properly sufficient.
Mortal Kombat 2
Yet one more movie on this record that determined to make audiences wait, Mortal Kombat 2 was initially scheduled for October 24, 2025, and certain burned by way of a great portion of its deliberate advertising and marketing marketing campaign already. However, reportedly amid WB’s monetary success this yr, the studio gifted its 2026 slate one other tentpole by courting it for Might 8.
The primary film, launched amid the pandemic in 2021, and was one of many extra high-profile releases to go day-and-date to HBO Max alongside its theatrical launch. Whereas there have been some complaints, it did sufficient to get followers excited concerning the total imaginative and prescient, and Mortal Kombat 2 ups the stakes by introducing each the precise match and common characters like Johnny Cage (Karl City) and Kitana (Adeline Rudolph). Monitoring knowledge at present has it as one of many upcoming films folks most need to see in theaters, so there ought to be loads of demand for seeing bloody fatalities on an IMAX display screen.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Star Wars is coming again to theaters! Since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the storied franchise has been restricted to Disney+, regardless of many bulletins of theatrical movies that stay in numerous states of improvement. Because it seems, the primary film to make it by way of is a continuation of the largest of these Disney+ TV exhibits, dated for Might 22.
The Mandalorian & Grogu will choose up from the place The Mandalorian season 3 leaves off, persevering with the adventures of the bounty hunter Djin Djarin and the lovable, force-wielding little one that has turn out to be his loving companion. Jon Favreau, who created the collection, directs and co-writes with Dave Filoni, one of many chief members of the Star Wars TV braintrust. As a revival of the franchise’s theatrical roots, it is definitely an attention-grabbing alternative, and it stays to be seen whether or not this continued journey can draw the mass audiences that Star Wars films often do.
Toy Story 5
Pixar could also be struggling to get its originals to carry out in theaters of late, however its sequel sport is a special story. At nearly $1.7 billion, 2024’s Inside Out 2 is at present the studio’s highest-grossing film ever. Toy Story 5 shall be trying to break that file when it opens on June 19, 2026.
Regardless of having reached a number of “endings,” Pixar simply would not appear able to placing down the franchise that began all of it. And why would they? Every new movie finds its personal motive to exist, and finally ends up acquired properly by critics and audiences alike. Discovering a killer story to inform with this group of toys for the fifth time will definitely be a problem, however placing Toy Story 5 in IMAX exhibits Disney goes into the yr with full confidence of their sequel as a theatrical draw.
Supergirl
James Gunn’s Superman kicked off a brand new period for DC films this yr, and whereas it could not overpower the newfound limitations on superhero film field workplace that might change the trade calculus on the style, it did generate real pleasure. However Superman is a marquee character, and the massive take a look at for the DCU as a franchise comes on June 26, when Supergirl releases.
Launched on the finish of Gunn’s film, Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El now will get her personal movie from director Craig Gillespie, based mostly on the comedian miniseries Supergirl: Lady of Tomorrow. In contrast to the Earthbound Superman, this movie will take audiences out into the galaxy, the place Supergirl is touring alongside Krypto and will get wrapped up in a quest for revenge.
Minions 3
After final showing in 2024’s Despicable Me 4, the Minions are again for his or her third solo effort, a sequel to 2022’s Minions: The Rise of Gru. Minions 3 will debut in theaters on Wednesday, July 1, able to ship full-family, IMAX leisure over the July 4 vacation.
It isn’t at present recognized whether or not the movie shall be set within the current or proceed the adventures of younger Gru prior to now, however it should mark the return of Pierre Coffin to the director’s chair. Alongside having voiced the Minions throughout all their appearances, the French animator co-directed the primary three Despicable Me films and the unique Minions.