13 Movies for Screenwriters to Look Forward to in 2026

2025 was a year of some truly great films – from genre gems like Sinners and Weapons, the action-packed neo-Western One Battle After Another, the weepy book adaptation Hamnet, the bonkers nihilist remake Bugonia, and beguiling biopics like Marty Supreme and Song Sung Blue (the latter being my personal favorite of the year). The movies were reflections of us – flaws, fangs, songs and all. 

As much as we enjoyed 2025’s cinematic gifts, 2026 looks far more daring in terms of the risks filmmakers are willing to take. For screenwriters, it’s an especially exciting slate: we’re going to see adaptations that don’t adhere to stuffy old interpretations, sequels that dig deep into their own origins, and genre films that appear more interested in character development than spectacle.

These are the 13 films (in order of release date) that feel most likely to dominate conversations this year and prove that strong writing still matters. 

What’s always made this franchise resonate aren’t the zombies, it’s the uncomfortable recognition of ourselves when systems collapse after a catastrophe. Under the direction of super talented Nia DaCosta (Hedda), The Bone Temple pushes that idea further, as Spike (Alfie Williams) is pulled into the orbit of Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), while Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), enters a risky relationship with world-altering consequences.

Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, the film opens Jan. 16.

Emerald Fennell’s personal take on Wuthering Heights feels less like a gothic romance and more like a punk rock song about forbidden love and hormonal rages. Fennel even told the BBC that she had a “profound connection" when she first read the book when she was just 14 and wanted to recreate that connection on film. Starring Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Cathy, this version leans more into emotional extremes as the characters seem trapped in a teenage wasteland. Will it work? We can’t wait to find out! 

Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, the film releases Feb. 13. 

Set in 1930s Chicago, The Bride! is a bold, imaginative, female-centric take on the classic monster flick Bride of Frankenstein. Christian Bale plays Frankenstein’s Creature who asks for a female companion, played by Jessie Buckley (Hamnet). But this feisty, sexy, newly undead wife isn’t your average bridezilla – she’s set on creating chaos to spark social change. With Maggie Gyllenhaal at the helm, this darkly comedic musical embraces excess and rebellion with its Bonnie and Clyde vibe, while questioning who the real monsters are. 

Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, the film opens March 6.

Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone in space with amnesia, but because he’s a former scientist, he gradually realizes he may have been sent on a mission to save humanity. Oh, and there’s a robot. Based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name (Weir also wrote the book The Martian that was also made into a film with a screenplay by Drew Goddard), the story seems to offer hope to a world that may be collapsing before our eyes. This is grounded science fiction that allows even skeptics to find hope for the future of humanity. 

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and written by Drew Goddard, the film opens March 20.

After waiting two decades, The Devil Wears Prada is back and more relevant than ever. We check back in with Andy (Anne Hathaway), whom we last saw hurling her cell phone (and runway ambitions) into a fountain in Paris. But the fashion machine is still churning and now she’s a successful editor in her own right. We also find the devil herself, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), struggling to adapt to an industry that’s completely changed after the demise of print media. To make matters worse, her rival and former assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) seems to be the new devil in town. The same filmmaking team returns, ensuring that this sequel will be worth its weight in gold lamé. 

Directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, based on the novel Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger. The film releases May 1. 

A fourth season of the Disney+ TV show The Mandalorian was scheduled to go into production just as the Writers and Actors Strikes hit Hollywood in 2023. Lucasfilm decided to pivot and make a film for theatrical release instead of another eight TV episodes giving us a new wing of the Star Wars film franchise. 

At its core, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a buddy comedy that takes place in space. Now coming to the big screen, we’re hoping the relationship between Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu can soar to new heights while delivering the same sparks when the two opposites butt heads as they try to work together to achieve even bigger goals. 

Directed by Jon Favreau and written by Favreau and Dave Filoni, the movie opens May 1 only in theaters. 

Steven Spielberg made us love aliens in E.T. the Extra Terrestrial by giving them a sense of humanity. But it’s the earthlings in his new film that are struggling with what it means to be human as a big disclosure about the universe is about to hit. Starring Emily Blunt and Josh O’Conner, the film hinges on a deceptively simple question: Could humanity keep it together if we found out we’re not alone? The trailer doesn’t really offer any answers, only Spielberg’s special brand of anxiety and dread we’ve grown to love over the years. Rather than focusing on alien invasion or global catastrophe, Disclosure Day appears to explore the emotional shockwaves such a huge revelation could bring. 

Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Spielberg and David Koepp, the film opens June 12. 

Last year’s Superman briefly introduced Milly Alcock as Supergirl, and now we’re excited to experience her own epic journey that’s sure to be full of rage, one misfit dog and tequila shots. Having witnessed the destruction of her home planet Krypton firsthand, Kara Zor-El (Alcock) is dealing with some sh*t. In the trailer, she’s messy, hungover and ready for a fight – just the superhero we need in 2026! 

Directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and written by Ana Nogueira, the movie opens June 26.  

The Oscar-winning writer/director Christopher Nolan is known for tackling expansive worlds and complex subject matters, so adapting Homer’s Greek epic, The Odyssey, feels mythically appropriate. The story follows battle-ravaged Odysseus (Matt Damon), on his long and winding journey home after the Trojan War. Though it’s been twenty years, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway), still has faith her true love will return and does her best to stave off the many belligerent suitors hoping to marry her. But after all the time, travels and battles that Odysseus endures, will his devoted wife even recognize him? This classic tale explores themes of loyalty, justice and fate versus free will while giving us some of literature’s most impressive creatures like Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the goddess Circe (Charlize Theron).

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie releases July 17.

It’s hard to believe that Meet the Parents debuted way back in 2000, but Greg and Pam Focker are still going strong as a middle-aged couple with a grown son. All these years later, these talented filmmakers are magically still finding comedic fuel from the awkward horror of meeting your future in-laws for the first time. Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and Teri Polo are all back with the addition of newcomer Ariana Grande who plays the love interest for 25-year-old Henry Focker (Skyler Gisondo).

Directed and written by John Hamburg, the film opens November 25.

Instead of a logline, the IMDb frustratingly says, “Plot under wraps.” We do know that Robert Downey Jr. is pivoting to Doctor Doom in this one (instead of playing Iron Man). Chris Hemsworth also returns as Thor, and even Rebecca Romjin makes a comeback as Mystique. Whatever the plot, we’re sure to be in for an epic superhero smackdown as the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four and original X-Men team up to take down the evil Doctor Doom. 

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, written by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely, the film opens on Dec. 18.

Based on the second Dune novel, Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert, Dune: Part Three will conclude this space opera trilogy about religion, greed and a society obsessed with a mind-bending drug called spice – at least when they’re not running from giant sandworms (remember that frisky sandworm popcorn bucket? It sure had a moment on social media). The main cast, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Anya Taylor-Joy and Rebecca Ferguson all return – as does Jason Momoa, despite his character’s demise in the first film. But what’s most exciting is the addition of Robert Pattinson as the villain Scytale, a Tleilaxu Face Dancer who can change genders at will. 

Directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, the film opens Dec. 18.

Set in medieval England, a mysterious creature is stalking a small village, turning folklore into a fearful reality. Lily Rose Depp plays a young woman struggling to be accepted by the superstitious villagers because of the secrets she’s keeping. Director Robert Eggers (Nosferatu, The Witch), is known for exploring the primal fear of being ruled by forces we don’t fully understand, both within ourselves and our communities, so we’re sure the story is in capable hands.

Directed by Robert Eggers, written by Eggers and Sjón (The Northman), the film opens Dec. 25.