2026 vs 2027: Which Will Be the Bigger Year for Movies?
While nothing will ever reach the heights of ‘Barbenheimer,’ the next year or two are definitely shaping up to be, as the meme says, absolute cinema.
It looks like there’s going to be something for everyone: from superhero capers to huge IPs, to cinematic spectacles from some of the most respected directors in the industry. And that’s before we even consider Oscar-bait dramas, for which there will be a dime a dozen.
However, as the titles begin lining up, we’re left with one aching question: which will be the biggest year for movies? Let’s dive in.
What Major Movies Does 2026 Have in Store?
It’s only March, but we’ve already had some movies of note. Hamnet literally tore my heart out, Rental Family stitched it back together, and the less said about Wuthering Heights, the better. There’s also Project Hail Mary, a Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi film based on the book by Drew Goddard. With a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and substantial box office receipts, one critic says we might already have a contender for film of the year — but the reality is, we’ve barely scratched the surface.
There is Spielberg’s UFO film Disclosure Day, Dune: Messiah, Avengers: Doomsday and the next big Nolan flick, The Odyssey. Tangentially, Doomsday isn’t the only comic book adaptation to look forward to. Before we come face-to-face with Doctor Doom in December, we’re finally reuniting with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Brand New Day, while DC is treating us to standalone movies, Clayface and Supergirl.
As well as this, we’re getting a Star Wars addition with The Mandalorian and Grogu — but the House of Mouse isn’t stopping there. Along with the acclaimed Hoppers, we’re getting a live-action Moana and Toy Story 5. With these offerings, coupled with the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it’s clear young ‘uns will have a ball at the movies. However, there is plenty out there for adults too, including the much-anticipated Jackass 5, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Evil Dead Burn, and video game movies Resident Evil and Mortal Kombat 2.
In addition to this, there’s the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping and monster movies Godzilla Minus Zero and Werwulf.
With a line-up like that, there’s arguably never been a better time to be a film enthusiast — that is, until you’ve taken a look at everything in store for 2027.
How Do 2027’s Major Movies Compare to 2026’s?
In 2027, we’re still firmly on the sequel train, with films like Ice Age: Boiling Point, Sonic 4, Shrek 5, How To Train Your Dragon 2, The Simpsons’ Movie 2, a Minecraft movie sequel, and Gremlins 3 all set to release.
Many of these films are part of huge IPs. The good news is, 2027 is really pumping them out. Standalone movies based on mega-popular IPs The Legend of Zelda and Bluey are set to drop next year, and they’ll be in good company. Several other major IPs like Star Wars and the MCU will be returning to the big screen with Star Wars: Starfighter (starring the Ryan Gosling), an untitled MCU movie, and Avengers: Secret Wars — the thrilling climax of the MCU’s Phase 6. In addition to this, an all-new movie by Disney’s Pixar, entitled Gatto, is set for a 2027 release.
Moreover, in 2027, DC has two pretty huge movies coming out — the DCU’s Superman: Man of Tomorrow, and the non-DCU but still highly anticipated The Batman Part II.
Horror fans will also be able to revisit some iconic franchises with The Exorcist: Deceiver, The Conjuring: First Communion and an untitled Paranormal Activity sequel. Elsewhere, for fans of cinematic spectacles, Mel Gibson’s two-part Passion of the Christ sequel and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will both be ones to watch out for.
However, the most anticipated movie of 2027, at least for me, is Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. It’s not often you come across a perfect movie, but Across the Spider-Verse managed it with its breathtaking animation and exciting storyline. It has been delayed a few times before, but hopefully, we won’t have to wait much longer for the thrilling conclusion of Miles Morales’ story.
2026 vs. 2027 Movies: Which Is the Bigger Year?
So, one question remains — which year will be bigger for cinema? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a simple one.
In my opinion, based on my own personal preferences, I think 2026 takes the biscuit. The combination of Tom Holland’s return as Spider-Man, witnessing the love of my life Din Djarin in literal daddy mode, the sheer girlbossery of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and seeing what exactly the last three Phases of the MCU have been leading up to in Doomsday is pretty hard to replicate. With Secret Wars, the return of Pattinson’s slightly incel-y Bruce Wayne and Beyond the Spider-Verse, 2027 comes pretty close, though. Perhaps my mind could be changed if I were sure Beyond the Spider-Verse wasn’t going to be pushed back again.
However, it should be noted that, on a broader scale, the real deciding factor is whether these movies will match up to the dizzingly high expectations cinephiles have for them. It’s something that we can only really decide in retrospect – or, for better or worse, with nostalgia on our side.
