Some say that the movie calendar only truly heats in the second half of the year as studios drop their biggest releases in the ber months (especially in November and December), not to mention the deluge of awards-bait movies that hope to make a splash at next year’s awards season. But we’d argue that the first half of the year is also worth keeping in the conversation.
The movies we’ve had so far during the first six months of 2026, whether they screened in cinemas or went straight to streaming, had their fair share of hits, and we collected a few of our favorites below. Some became box office sensations while others flew under the radar, but regardless, these are the movies we were glad to spend two hours watching, and you might, too.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – An Underrated Thrillride
Coming less than a year after 28 Years Later and releasing in January, a notoriously dead month for new movies, The Bone Temple underperformed at the box office, which is a shame, considering it’s a knockout piece of work. While a viewing of the first movie is required to fully enjoy this film, The Bone Temple delivers everything you’d expect from a solid horror movie while simultaneously elevating the long-running zombie franchise to new heights.
This is a dark, dreary, and dreadful film that is also surprisingly heartfelt and satisfying in every respect, with special mention to Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson, who delivers one of the most memorable performances of the year. No spoilers, but all we’ll say is that the Iron Maiden sequence is one for the books.
Hokum – A Creepy Murder-Mystery
Damian McCarthy’s Oddity is a horror-fan favorite. And with his next film, Hokum, he didn’t disappoint. Telling the story of a writer named Ohm who stays in an Irish hotel filled with all kinds of horrors, the movie captures the essence of a haunted house movie and elevates it with competent direction, cinematography, and acting. The supernatural scares here are effective, while the inclusion of murder-mystery elements is a nice touch that adds to the tension. This rollercoaster ride is one of the best horror movies of the year with its solid frights, atmospheric setting, and twisty story.
Leviticus – Haunting Queer Love Story
There are a lot of things that work in the Australian indie horror movie hit Leviticus’s favor. First, the chemistry between lead stars Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen is palpable, as they bring to life Naim and Ryan’s not-so-doomed love story with heart and a sprinkle of blood. Second, the horror here is quite effective, with tension and scares being at their best during the movie’s latter half.
Finally, the movie gets it right as an allegory of how same-sex relationships are often villainized in many parts of the world. Naim and Ryan are literally cursed by their religious community to be hunted by a demon that takes the form of what they desire the most, which is each other. But instead of being afraid of each other, the two stick it out. It just goes to show that even in the face of a demon, genuine love still wins in the end.
Midnight Girls – The OFW Life in Japan
When other movies shout their plots, this film uses its inside voice to deliver a knockout tale of purpose, friendship, and girlhood. Centering on four Filipinas living in Japan as hostesses at a club, Irene Villamor’s Midnight Girls is a well-done and well-acted slice-of-life drama. Each character is fully developed as viewers follow women navigating their own struggles and pursuits in a foreign country.
The film wisely avoids using stereotypes to tell its story, one that is filled with love, hope, and depth. Also, the movie’s interweaving of interviews from actual Filipinas who worked as hostesses in Japan adds emotional weight because it shows that these stories aren’t purely fiction but are grounded in the truth of women who have sacrificed so much to live a better life.
Obsession – Bear and Nikki’s Famously Doomed Relationship
The breakout hit of 2026, Obsession became, well, an obsession at the cinemas, and for good reason. Chief among them is the star-making performance of Inde Navarrette as Nikki, a woman who becomes the target of Bear’s One Wish Willow in his desire to be with her. It’s creepy, haunting, and a tour de force turn that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. As for director Curry Barker, who previously made movies and shorts on YouTube, he is now the next big name in Hollywood after helming a movie that is deceptively simple yet effective in scaring audiences with moments that have sparked discourse across the internet.
It turns the “crazy girlfriend” trope on its head to tell a story of what happens when insecure men try to get what they want without thinking of the needs of others. The fact that one of the best and most successful movies of the year is also an original idea makes it even better.
Project Hail Mary – A Crowd-Pleasing Space Adventure
It seems that Hollywood is only interested in sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots these days. But Project Hail Mary proved that there is still more than enough creativity left in Los Angeles. This adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel is an exciting thrill ride brimming with heart and personality. Ryan Gosling delivers what may be a career-best performance that’s made even better by the scene-stealing presence of James Ortiz’s Rocky. While there is no shortage of sci-fi movies about saving the world, Project Hail Mary is one of the best to do it with its clever blend of action, comedy, and drama.
Send Help – Rachel McAdams, Come Get Your Flowers
This movie may have been released in January, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on it. Following a boss and his employee who get stuck on a deserted island after their plane crash-lands in the ocean, Sam Raimi’s return to the horror genre is a stylish thriller that is as darkly funny as it is brutal. It has its fair share of twists and Sam Raimi-coded jump scares. But what makes the movie as good as it is is the standout performances from Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. McAdams, in particular, is in top form here as she easily commands the screen from start to finish.
Sisa – The Power of Female Rage
Hilda Koronel’s acting comeback was worth the wait in this Jun Robles Lana period drama. Set during the last days of the Filipino-American war, Sisa follows its titular character, a woman who becomes a spy after the Americans killed her entire family. Pretending to be a crazy woman to ease suspicion, Sisa makes her way to an American-run camp and embeds herself in the local community of Filipinas with the hopes of securing a decisive blow to the Americans.
The acting from the movie’s women-led cast boosts the film’s already strong story. Revenge is at the heart of this tale, as it explores how these women band together to have each other’s backs and eventually fight back against their oppressors in a show of female rage. It makes for one of the most compelling Filipino movies of 2026 and a reminder that no matter the time or place, female solidarity will always be a powerful source of bravery, strength, and hope.
The Drama – Maybe You Are the Drama
What would you do if you learned your partner’s dark secret right before your wedding? That’s the conundrum explored in this spicy drama starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a soon-to-be-married couple whose wedding is thrown into chaos after a drinking game gone wrong. The writing is crisp and sharp, and the acting from the two leads is superb as the dark comedy explores how a relationship may, or may not, thrive in the face of scandal. The Drama is darkly fun all around, and reminds us how modern society has twisted morality as a weapon against others.
The Furious – An Action Spectacle From Start to Finish
You can always count on Asian filmmakers to deliver when it comes to action movies. And The Furious is one of the best of the decade. While the story is nothing new (a father rescues her daughter from child traffickers) and the script can be a bit wonky at times, it’s the adrenaline-filled action where this movie excels and soars.
It feels like everyone in this movie has S-tier kung-fu, which is not an issue when you have fight choreography, stunts, direction, and pacing this good. Each excellent fight sequence is a joy to behold. From the moment it starts, it refuses to relent. In particular, the police station sequence is one for the action movie history books in terms of how exhilarating it is.
The Sheep Detectives – 2026’s Underrated Gem
If “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover” were in movie form, it would look like The Sheep Detective. People who dismissed the film as another family movie missed out on a gem that’s funny, heartwarming, and has a surprising amount of heart. A movie about a group of sheep who try to solve the mysterious death of their shepherd might seem weird, but the film more than sticks the landing.
The whodunit at the center of the movie is compelling, with a twist you won’t see coming. But where the film shines is in its tackling of deep themes such as existential dread, death, community, and belonging in a way that kids can understand while providing depth for older viewers.
Toy Story 5 – Not Just Nostalgia-Bait
Pixar has had a great 2026 so far. They began the year with Hoppers, a fun, well-made, and charming movie about humans who can transfer their consciousness into other animals, which proved that the studio can still deliver on original ideas. But for their second release, Toy Story 5, Pixar showed that even old toys can learn new tricks. There are still stories worth telling in the Toy Story franchise, especially those handled with depth and nuance that adapt to the times.
The fifth movie focuses on the rise of technology in children’s lives, but doesn’t just say that it’s bad for kids. Instead, the conversation goes to understanding that kids will grow up, but they still need to have space to be young, imaginative, and themselves. It’s a powerful message in an increasingly digital world that rushes the new generation to adulthood and makes for a film that hits all the right notes.
For even more movies to add to your 2026 watchlist, here are a few honorable mentions:
Crime 101 – A surprisingly competent crime thriller that gets the job done.
They Will Kill You – The closest you will get to a Quentin Tarantino movie in terms of action and sheer bombast.
Michael – When the focus is on Michael Jackson and his talent, it makes for an entertaining time.
Backrooms – These backrooms are worth stepping into.
Disclosure Day – A solid, Steven Spielberg alien sci-fi thriller.
Colony – Some of the coolest zombies you’ll see in movies this year.
The Loved One – Anne Curtis’s movie comeback explores how love is driven by more than just feeling.
Exit 8 – Twists and turns abound in this Japanese thriller.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 – This long-awaited sequel gets it mostly right, especially on what it means to work in the media today.
Featured Image: IMDb (via Website)
Frequently Asked Questions
Obsession is considered 2026’s breakout hit, driven by Inde Navarrette’s star-making performance as Nikki and director Curry Barker’s effective, discourse-sparking horror direction. The film became a major cinema draw and reworks the “crazy girlfriend” trope from a new angle.
Midnight Girls, directed by Irene Villamor, follows four Filipinas working as hostesses at a club in Japan, exploring themes of purpose, friendship, and girlhood. The film incorporates real interviews with Filipina former hostesses to ground its story in lived experience.
Sisa is a Jun Robles Lana period drama marking Hilda Koronel’s acting comeback, set during the final days of the Philippine-American War. It follows a woman who becomes a spy after the Americans kill her family, exploring themes of female solidarity and resistance.
Toy Story 5 focuses on the rise of technology in children’s lives, exploring how kids can still have space to be imaginative and young in an increasingly digital world, without dismissing technology outright as harmful.
Send Help, directed by Sam Raimi, stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as a boss and employee stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. The film blends dark comedy with brutal, twist-filled horror-thriller elements.
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