Towards the latter half of the year, there seem to be many major films that are going to be released towards the end of 2026, but which ones seem worth the hype?
One of the biggest movies coming out later in the year on Dec. 18, is Marvel’s massive crossover; Avengers: Doomsday. This is considered one of the biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe Events of the year, because it’s bringing back the Russo brothers and Robert Downey Jr. as the villain, Dr. Doom. The movie is supposed to serve as the foundational piece for the slated-to-release sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, which is supposed to bring major battle scenes, crazy new information, and collisions with multiple Marvel Universes, including X-men, and the Fantastic Four. This is a huge moment for Marvel fans, considering the different Marvel universes are coming together into one or potentially two movies. If you’re someone who’s into the Marvel series, enjoy heavy action, or interconnected and character driven stories, this is the type of movie for you.
Another massive movie coming out on July 17, 2026, is a movie many Greek mythology fans have been waiting for: The Odyssey. The movie is based off the 800 B.C.E book “The Odyssey” by Homer, following Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who faces monsters, divine wrath, and sorcery on his voyage back home after the fall of Troy. The movie is directed by Christopher Nolan, who won an Oscar for his direction in Oppenheimer, and is featuring massive actors like Matt Daemon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, Robert Pattison as Antinous, Charlize Theron as Calypso, and Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. The movie is expected to have great graphics, acting, and storytelling, due to its $250 million budget as well. I am personally extremely excited for this movie, due to my awe of Greek mythology and the fact that a classic, well known Greek epic (that is also a book we read in Freshman Honors English) is being turned into a movie. So, if you are the type of person who loves Greek mythology, enjoys deep character development, and has a love for adventure and action, this is the type of movie for you.
Lastly, the conclusion of a dark and tragic story to Paul Atreides is being released on Dec. 18, 2026, called Dune: Part Three. The story picks up 17 years after Dune: Part 2, adapting Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah and takes place after a decade of Paul Atreides’ reign, focusing on his psychological struggles with his god-like powers, and a deadly conspiracy made by his enemies to strip Paul from his empire. This is the last part of Denis Villeneuve’s acclaimed trilogy, and it combines sci-visuals, deep philosophical but conspiratorial storyline of Frank Herbet’s Dune Messiah. The movie has continued involvement of older actors such as Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, but has new characters like Scytale played by Robert Pattinson, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa as Leto Atreides II, Ida Brooke as Ghanima Atreides, and Isaach De Bankole as Farok. As someone who’s friends with people who are huge Dune fans, this movie is supposed to have an amazing story and visuals due to it being the conclusion of the Dune trilogy, but also because it flips the traditional hero’s journey on its head, focusing on the consequences of supreme power vs. the traditional story of success. Overall, I think if you’re a Dune fan, love sci-fi, and love morally deep storytelling, this is the movie for you. Just make sure to watch the first two movies first.