2026 is lining up to be a monster year for sci-fi movies, with a bunch of new ideas, returning franchises, and book adaptations all set to hit our screens later this year. Here's every upcoming sci-fi movie we're excited for in 2026.
Project Hail Mary is the biggest space movie on the horizon, with Ryan Gosling blasting off into the unknown to save the world in March. This adventure is based on the book of the same name, which was written by The Martian author Andy Weir. Given how excellent that adaptation was, we're extremely hyped for this one.
Looking further out, it's going to be a big year for intergalactic heroes, with Supergirl, He-Man, and even Mario heading out into the cosmos. And the creator of some of the best sci-fi movies of all time, Steven Spielberg, is gracing us with another project in Disclosure Day.
We’ve gathered up everything you need to know — including release dates, cast lists, plot synopses, and more — so you can mark your calendar accordingly. We haven't forgotten the small screen either; check out our rundown of the upcoming sci-fi TV shows for 2026, too.
OK, enough chatter, it's time to blast off. Read on below to see every upcoming sci-fi movie for 2026.
Project Hail Mary — March 20, 2026
Release date: March 20, 2026 | Cast: Ryan Gosling, Milana Vayntrub, Liz Kingsman, Sanda Hüller | Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller | Where to watch: Theaters
Probably our most anticipated sci-fi movie on this list, Project Hail Mary is based on the book by Andy Weir, aka the guy who wrote The Martian. Yeah, you can see why we're excited now, right?
Having recently read Project Hail Mary, I’m incredibly intrigued to see how it translates onto the big screen. Heads up, don’t even watch the trailer if you don’t want to ruin the book. It spoils a very big plot point.
Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) is a science teacher and former biologist who is approached to save Earth after an unknown entity causes the Sun to lose its brightness, threatening a world-ending catastrophe. As he finds himself in space alone and afflicted by amnesia, in true vibes of Interstellar and Moon, Ryland must keep his mission on track while living in isolation. It’s a little hard to save Earth when you’ve got your own mortality staring you in the face. We're super hyped for this one.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — April 8, 2026
Release date: April 1, 2026 | Cast: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key | Director: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic | Where to watch: Theaters
It's a-me, Mario. Well, not me obviously, it's Chris Pratt once again jumping into the role of everyone's favorite Italian plumber, and this time he's going to space!
As it turns out, Bowser Jr is a real chip off the old block, and Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach have to race into outer space to stop his shenanigans. Along the way, they'll meet up with some more fan favorite characters, including Yoshi and Princess Rosalina. Is it high-concept sci-fi? No, but it should be a barrel of laughs and definitely one to take the kids to see.
Mortal Kombat II — May 8, 2026
Release date: May 8, 2026 | Cast: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson | Director: Simon McQuoid | Where to watch: Theaters
The 2021 Mortal Kombat movie was way better than it had any right to be, and that has us hyped for this sequel right out of the gate. You know what increases that hype? Karl Urban as Johnny Cage.
From the trailer, we know that Cage is a washed-up 90's movie star who gets reluctantly pulled into a "war for the fate of your world." It's a tale as old as time, as Cage has to team up with his fellow goodies and use his martial arts skills to protect Earthrealm (that's us) from the evil alien forces of Shao Kahn.
If he doesn't say the "those were five hundred dollar sunglasses, asshole" line, we riot!
The Mandalorian and Grogu — May 22, 2026
Release date: May 22, 2026 | Cast: Pedro Pascal, Jeremy Allen White, Sigourney Weaver, Jonny Coyne | Director: Jon Favreau | Where to watch: Theaters
Din Djarin and Grogu are embarking on their next adventure, and this time they're heading to the big screen, leading Lucasfilm’s movie slate for 2026. While you may be waiting for The Mandalorian season 4, instead, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a feature-length movie standing in its place, though the plot currently remains firmly under wraps (and the trailer gave very little away).
There’s plenty to pick up from when we look at where The Mandalorian season 3 left us, but what we do know for sure is that Director Jon Favreau is back at it alongside Dave Filoni. There are also new characters in the shape of Sigourney Weaver as a Rebel and Jeremy Allen White joining as the voice of Rotta the Hutt, son of Jabba. The life of a lone bounty hunter isn’t so lonely when you’ve got your apprentice Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, keeping you company.
Masters of the Universe — June 5, 2026
Release date: June 5, 2026 | Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin | Director: Travis Knight | Where to watch: Theaters
The Masters of the Universe first hit the big screen way back in 1987, with the big man, Dolph Lundgren, donning the iconic tiny pants of He-Man. Now Hollywood is taking another swing at it, though they've been taking their sweet time. Reportedly in development since 2007, there’s been a lot of rumored He-Man castings and director swaps, but it all finally kicked off in 2024.
For 2026, He-Man returns to Eternia, his home planet, to defeat the evil Skeletor after being reunited with his magical Power Sword. Instead of Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella, though, it’s Nicholas Galitzine and Jared Leto alongside other big castings you’ll recognise from other superhero franchises.
Disclosure Day — June 12, 2026
Release date: June 12, 2026 | Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo | Director: Steven Spielberg | Where to watch: Theaters
Steven Spielberg knows a thing or two about making good sci-fi movies. The legendary director brought us classics like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET, and War of the Worlds, and now he's at it again with Disclosure Day.
The trailers we've seen so far have been quite coy with the plot, but we know that extra-terrestrials make contact with a selected few people on Earth, while promising to go public to the entire world. Despite being about aliens revealing themselves, it looks like this will be a very human story centered on the ramifications of finding out we're not alone in the universe.
We are beyond excited for this one. Hit us with magic one more time, Steven.
Toy Story 5 — June 19, 2026
Release date: June 19, 2026 | Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Greta Lee, John Ratzenberger.
You can argue about whether Toy Story counts as sci-fi in the comments all you like, but we're in charge of this ship, and we say it counts because of a certain space ranger named Buzz Lightyear. And as we can see in the trailer, Toy Story 5 has like 50 of them.
The central story seems to be extremely prescient, too, focusing on the increasing role that smart devices have in young kids' lives, and how traditional play has been usurped in favor of screen time. We'll be rooting for Buzz, Woody, and the gang to show that dastardly tablet who's boss when it drops on June 19.
Supergirl — June 26, 2026
Release date: June 26, 2026 | Cast: Milly Alcock, Eve Ridley, Jason Momoa, David Krumholtz | Director: James Gunn | Where to watch: Theaters
Another movie that’s suffered a tumultuous start is Supergirl. After first being introduced in The Flash in 2023, the plans for a standalone Supergirl got all mixed up in the DC Studios leadership change, which resulted in James Gunn and Peter Safran being appointed as co-CEOs. But now it’s back on track, adapting the 2021-22 comic book miniseries, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Whilst that was the movie’s original title, the extra part got dropped; Superman was just Superman after all.
Just as Marvel has the MCU, DC Comics is now steering its DCEU into the DCU, and Supergirl, the second movie after Superman, will be part of the Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate.
Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, is celebrating her 21st birthday with a trip. Unlike any average human being who may take a flight for a long weekend, Supergirl is traveling the galaxy with her dog, Krypto, until she meets a young girl and witnesses a tragedy that sets her on a murderous quest for revenge.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day — July 31, 2026
Release date: July 31, 2026 | Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Sadie Sink | Director: Destin Daniel Cretton | Where to watch: Theaters
It feels like a seriously long time since we got a Spider-Man movie (if you’re not counting the animated Spider-Verse titles), and for Tom Holland’s version of Spidey, it actually has been a long time. The first three Holland Spider-Man movies came out with only two years in between. Now, five years on, Peter Parker is finally coming back for a Brand New Day, the first in what is planned to be a whole new trilogy for the web slinger.
This time around, Peter is supposed to be focusing on his college years, but unfortunately, as a superhero, there’s always an opportunity to suit up. And none more so than when he’s called to protect the people he loves the most.
Plot details are pretty light on this one, but after his mind-wiping shenanigans in the last movie, we're expecting the b**** who's been to space to have some more grounded adventures. You know, just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Avengers Doomsday — December 18, 2026
Release date: December 18, 2026 | Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Pedro Pascal, Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby | Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Where to watch: Theaters
If we’re talking about long time gaps between franchise movies, how about Avengers? We saw the Avengers culminate in Endgame back in 2019, and while the title feels conclusive, it’s not over (nothing is over!). I can’t quite believe I’m saying it’ll have been 7 years since we had an Avengers movie, but the drought will end in December 2026, when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters.
Doomsday will center around a new villain, Doctor Doom, who you may well recognize from other MCU movies as Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr., taking on a new face after Iron Man’s demise.
The Avengers movies are always big ensemble affairs when it comes to the cast, but this time, Marvel is really going all out. We've got original Avengers, New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Wakandans, and X-Men all teaming up in one MCU movie. Apparently, it takes a lot of heat to go up against Doom.
Dune: Part Three — December 18, 2026
Release date: December 18, 2026 | Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Jason Momoa | Director: Denis Villeneuve | Where to watch: Theaters
Frank Herbert’s Dune novel was the basis of the two movies that came before this, but with more source material needed, Part Three moves onto Herbert’s Dune Messiah for the final instalment to this epic sci-fi saga. Production kicked off in July with the main cast confirmed to return, but despite strong rumors around Robert Pattinson becoming the new villain Scytale, there’s no confirmation… yet.
Paul ‘Muad’Dib’ Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has led his people and hopes to readjust humanity’s position into a more viable and abundant future, but there are other conspiracies in place set out to see him fail.
Like the previous two parts, it’s a huge undertaking, but with director Denis Villeneuve continuing to spearhead the project, there are great plans to craft a darker Maud’Dib and add this title to the collection of the best Dennis Villeneuve sci-fi movies.
