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New movies aren't all that common in the final full week of April 2026. Indeed, apart from the worldwide release of a biopic concerning highly controversial pop superstar Michael Jackson, plus the wider rollout of psychological thriller Mother Mary, it seems most studios are now keeping their powder dry until summer blockbuster season arrives.
Want to know which films will be part of the aforementioned event in the weeks and months ahead? Read on to see what'll be flying into a theater near you between now and the end of July (NB: new movies set to come out between August and December will be added soon).
New movies: April
Michael
Release date: out now (worldwide)
Article continues belowIt was only a matter of time before a Michael Jackson biopic was developed — and fans of the legendary and controversy-laden music megastar can now watch one with the arrival of Michael.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar as the eponymous individual, it covers his life and career prior to the wrong kind of headline-grabbing occurrences of his latter years. From his time fronting the Jackson 5 and becoming the world's biggest star, to all the behind-the-scenes drama of his formative years, Michael promises to be a must-see for his devoted fans.
Based on its 40% critical and 96% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes (RT), Michael is proving to be as divisive as the man himself. A sequel, which would likely cover the previously alluded to controversies, is yet to be officially announced.
Mother Mary
Release date: out now (worldwide)
The first of two Anne Hathaway-starring films set to arrive in the space of two weeks, Mother Mary is yet another psychological thriller, albeit one with a musical twist, from A24.
In it, Hathaway plays the titular megastar, whose need for a new dress for her forthcoming world tour puts her back in touch with estranged best friend fashion designer Sam (Michaela Coel). So begins a psychosexual game of cat and mouse in a film whose story is eerily reminiscent of the ballet-inspired Black Swan. With a 71% RT critical rating, it seems like it's one of the better A24 movies of recent times.
New movies: May
The Devil Wears Prada 2
Release date: May 1 (worldwide)
Legacy sequels have never looked so chic. That's right, the follow-up to beloved comedy-drama The Devils Wears Prada hits cinemas this May, so millennials of a certain disposition won't want to move at a glacial pace to see it.
As for what it plot entails, Anne Hathaway's Andy reunites with Runway's sharp-tongued editor-in-chief Miranda (Meryl Streep) and assistant-turned-luxury brand head Emily (Emily Blunt). Together, they'll try to shore up the struggling fashion magazine to ensure its survival in a rapidly-changing media landscape. Stanley Tucci also stars.
Hokum
Release date: May 1 (worldwide)
Severance star Adam Scott puts his Apple TV-based innie and outie to one side for this supernatural horror that'll aim to make your spin tingle with dread.
In Hokum, Scott plays Ohm Bauman, an author who travels to a remote part of Ireland to spread the ashes of his recently deceased parents. While there, he soon suspects that the accommodation he's rented is haunted. Cue night terrors, spooks, and jump scares aplenty.
Billie Eilish: Hit Me Soft and Hard
Release date: May 8 (worldwide)
Originally set to arrive in mid-March, Billie Eilish: Hit Me Soft and Hard will let the popular and award-winning singer-songwriter's fans re-experience her latest tour in an immersive 3D format
Recorded live during one of the shows for her third studio album, the concert film was directed by none other than James Cameron. You can already bet on this musical feature being a visually impressive, eye-popping experience, then.
Mortal Kombat II
Release date: May 8 (worldwide)
With its arrival now locked in for a pre-summer release (that's winter for those in the Southern hemisphere), Mortal Kombat II will aim to write its name into the growing pantheon of top-tier videogame adaptations.
This time, the focus shifts to fan-favorite character Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), whose big-screen debut was teased in one of 2021's Mortal Kombat's mid-credits scenes. Here, the washed-up movie star will have to answer the call to help Earthrealm's heroes see of Shao Khan, who wants to bring our world under his tyrannical rule.
Many of its forebear's cast have been told to "get over here!" and return for the sequel, while many new faces, including Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), Khan (Martyn Ford), and Jade (Tati Gabrielle) join the fray.
The Sheep Detectives
Release date: May 8 (worldwide)
Based on Leonie Swann's Three Bags Full book, The Sheep Detectives initially stars Hugh Jackman as George Hardy, the shepherd of a, well, flock of sheep. However, when George is suddenly bumped off one evening, it's up to his woolly cadre to solve the mystery behind his murder.
It all sounds a bit silly, but it seems like the kind of family-friendly film that'll delight younger viewers and have some adult humor to keep the grown-ups entertained. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Regina Hall, Chris O'Dowd, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby are the voices behind the merry flock's members.
Obsession
Release date: May 15 (worldwide)
The second horror film to hit theaters in May, Obsession tells the tale of Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic and music store employee who gets more than he bargained for.
Indeed, using a supernatural novelty toy called the 'One Wish Willow', he asks it to make his long-time crush Nikki fall in love with him. As you can already imagine, things take a dark turn from that moment on.
The Mandalorian & Grogu
Release date: May 22 (worldwide)
After a near-10 year hiatus, Star Wars returns to the big screen with this film-based sequel to one of the biggest Disney+ shows ever made.
Reuniting with its eponymous duo, The Mandalorian and Grogu sees the bounty hunter and his adopted son embark on a new quest to tackle remnants of the Galactic Empire. As the official trailer depicts above, though, they get into more than a spot of bother along the way. For more on the forthcoming flick, find out everything you need to know about The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Passenger
Release date: May 22
Not to be confused with Passengers, aka the 2016 sci-fi film starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence, this 9-minute horror is the latest in a long line of new movies that'll make you think twice about hitchhiking anywhere.
Foundation's Lou Llobell leads the cast of Passenger, which sees a young couple pursued by a demonic entity after they witness a horrifying and fatal car accident. Let's hope it doesn't include any obvious plot twists.
Backrooms
Release date: May 29 (worldwide)
Another A24, another slice of unsettling and mysterious horror. Based on the popular creepypasta known as The Backrooms, which originated on a well-known message board in 2019, one of May's new movies will actually adapt Kane Parsons' viral short film namesake, which itself took inspiration from the aforementioned internet-based legend.
Little is known about Backrooms' plot, so I can't confirm if it'll be a like-for-like big-budget remake of Parsons' movie and subsequent webseries. What I can tell you, though, is Parsons is its director, and big-name stars in Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve will star. Find out why our horror expert thinks Backrooms' first trailer is a perfect way to introduce its horror-fuelled mystery to a wider audience, too.
Power Ballad
Release date: May 29
The second music-based film from Lionsgate in as many months, Power Ballad will star Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas as Rick and Danny, who bond over their shared love for the arts.
However, when fading boyband star Danny turns one of the past-his-prime wedding singer Rick's songs into a worldwide hit, a feud erupts that threatens to overshadow their burgeoning friendship — and cause plenty of chaos in the process.
New movies: June
Masters of the Universe
Release date: June 5 (worldwide)
Less than a month after he plays a roving human reporter in The Sheep Detectives, Nicholas Galitzine returns to the silver screen to lead the all-star cast of Amazon and Sony's live-action He-Man movie.
Masters of the Universe sees Galitzine play Adam, aka the titular He-Man. Unaware that he's the crown prince of the planet Eternia, he soon gets caught up in his homeworld's struggle against nefarious sorcerer Skeletor (Jared Leto) and his legions of doom. Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin, Kirsten Wiig, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson are also involved in this reimagining of the cheesy 80s sci-fi action cartoon.
Scary Movie 6
Release date: June 12 (worldwide)
13 years after the spoof horror film franchise's last entry debuted in theaters, Scary Movie 6 will attempt to be the latest IP to take a ride on the legacy-quel train.
With series stalwarts Marlon and Shawn Wayans back for more parody-style storytelling, the movie will satirize many of the biggest horror films of recent times. Expect to see the likes of Weapons, The Substance, Sinners, Longlegs, Terrifier, Smile, Get Out, and many more made fun of, then.
Toy Story 5
Release date: June 19 (worldwide)
A movie that really didn't need to be developed after the last two films appeared to bring down the curtain on Woody, Buzz, and company, but Pixar and Disney have made it anyway.
This time around, the iconic toys have to contend with the arrival of new high-tech playthings. Indeed, Bonnie gets a touchscreen table named Lilypad for her eighth birthday, and it isn't long before our heroes find themselves on the periphery of playtime once more. Unsure how to handle the villainous Lilypad, Buzz and Jesse reach out to Woody for help — and everyone's favorite cowboy reunites with the group to tackle the new threat.
Supergirl
Release date: June 26 (worldwide)
The second DC Universe (DCU) movie to arrive as part of DCU Chapter One, this comic book movie marks the first time that Supergirl will have appeared on the big screen in over 40 years.
Heavily inspired by the graphic novel Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, it'll follow Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El after she's enlisted to help young warrior Ruthye track down and kill the space pirate who murdered Ruthye's father.
For more on one of this year's most exciting new movies, find out everything we know so far about Supergirl. Then, check out my Supergirl cast and character guide to see who'll join Alcock on-screen. Oh, and read my Supergirl trailer breakdown article for more on what to expect from the DC Studios film.
New movies: July
Minions & Monsters
Release date: July 1 (worldwide)
The babbling, yellow-hued gift that keeps on giving for Universal, Minions & Monsters sees the former return for their next big-screen outing — one that'll likely make over $1 billion globally, too.
Set years before their 2015 self-titled film, the Minions somehow find themselves cast in a monster movie that's seriously short of terrifying creatures. Cue the group embarking on a quest to track down a whole host of colorful beasts to star opposite them in what's set to be an incredibly metatextual movie.
The Invite
Release date: July 3 (worldwide)
Described as a dark comedy, The Invite stars Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen as Angela and Joe, a married couple going through a tough time in their relationship. However, when their neighbors (Edward Norton and Penelope Cruz) invite them to partake in their now-weekly orgies, things quickly spiral out of control.
This A24 flick earned rave reviews at this year's Sundance Film Festival in January. Hopefully, that early positive word of mouth will hope this one to become the increasingly popular studio's next big-screen hit.
Moana
Release date: July 10 (worldwide)
The latest Disney live-action remake that's left people scratching their heads over whoever asked for it, Moana re-teams us with the titular heroine and demigod Maui — once again played by Dwayne Johnson — as they set sail to turn the tide against Te Kā, a volanic demon that threatens Moana's island home.
It's only been a decade since the original animated film wowed audiences worldwide, so it's a bit early for a reimagining of it, right? RIGHT?! Nonetheless, if it brings in the big bucks for Disney, the House of Mouse will certainly be singing "You're welcome" to itself...
Rosebush Pruning
Release date: July 10 (worldwide)
Indie studio Mubi will continue to try and position itself as the new A24 with its latest film offering Rosebush Pruning.
Billed as a satirical tragicomedy thriller, it stars Callum Turner as Jack, who causes something of a ruckus within his immediate family when he brings him new girlfriend Martha (Elle Fanning). The reason? Jack's family is hiding a dark secret that involves the protagonist himself. You won't find spoilers for what that is here, though, so my advice is to go and see one of July's new movies when it hits a cinema screen near you.
The Odyssey
Release date: July 24 (worldwide)
Largely expected to be one of the biggest new movies of 2026, The Odyssey sees film auteur Christopher Nolan step behind the camera for his silver screen adaptation on Homer's ancient Greek epic.
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the high fantasy action flick will chronicle the Ithican king's years-long journey to return home to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) following the end of the Trojan War. Jon Bernthal, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, and Mia Goth are among its A-list ensemble. Expect this one to make an aboslute stack of cash at the worldwide box office.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Just two weeks after his substantial supporting role in The Odyssey, Tom Holland will throw on his Spider-Man spandex once more for the iconic Marvel hero's fourth solo adventure in the MCU.
Set five years after its forebear, Spider-Man: Brand New Day sees Peter Parker grapple with an increasing sense of isolation as he fully throws himself into his friendly neighborhood persona and attempts to keep New York City safe amid the rapid rise of numerous supervillains. Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Sadie Sink, and Mark Ruffalo are part of its starry cast.
For more on Spider-Man 4 ahead of its late July launch, find out everything we know so far about Spider-Man: Brand New Day — including how it might set up this year's only other Marvel Phase 6 film in Avengers: Doomsday.
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