South by Southwest is not the only annual genre fest out there by any means, but its equal focus on film, music, and tech makes it nearly unmissable for many a genre fan. The Austin-set fest has almost too much to offer, however you slice it: Building one’s schedule feels like a perpetual exercise in killing your darlings. Even on the film side, audiences are spoiled for choice, with tech-forward documentaries, speculative sci-fi, and gnarly horror all ripe for the viewing.
It may be overwhelming, but SXSW’s catalogue also offers so much to look forward to. With the festival just around the corner, Inverse has gathered its must-see big screen picks under one banner. Whether you’re an AI doomist or a gore hound searching for a new final girl to root for, these are the top films to look out for at SXSW 2026.
