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| Author | Mia Blakeney |
2026 is packed full of blockbuster films, appealing to a wide range of audiences. From big awards contenders, to family favourites, to much-loved franchises, there is a lot to look forward to in H1 alone. Here are some of our top picks to get excited about in the first half of the upcoming year.
Hamnet
Release Date: 6 February
Director: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal
A major awards contender, Hamnet is the fictional story of William Shakespeare’s relationship with his wife Agnes, which inspired his famous play Hamlet. With Jessie Buckley (Women Talking, Wicked Little Letters) and Paul Mescal (Aftersun, Gladiator II) in the leading roles, this film is set to attract a largely ABC1 affluent audience.
Wuthering Heights
Release Date: 13 February
Director: Emerald Fennell
Starring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Alison Oliver, Hong Chau
Following Fennell’s viral success with Saltburn and Robbie’s significance in Barbie, this female-led/directed film is already 2026’s most talked-about literary adaptation. The trailer garnered 5.6m views in just one day, and is looking at indexing strongly toward young, affluent female audiences.
Project Hail Mary
Release Date: 20 March
Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, Sandra Hüller
Project Hail Mary is an upcoming Sci-Fi film based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian (2015), another big box office hit grossing £23m. Starring Ryan Gosling (Barbie, Fall Guy) and Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall, Zone of Interest), this original sci-fi is sure to have strong appeal, especially with 16-34 Men.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Release Date: 3 April
Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Starring: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black
This sequel to the third-biggest film of 2023 (only behind Barbenheimer) is forecasted to be another major success. While it may seem like a strongly family focused title, the first film also had strong appeal across 16-34s, delivering 16 young adult TVRs, so we’re likely to see similar numbers for this one too.
The Devil Wears Prada 2
Release Date: 1 May
Director: David Frankel
Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Sydney Sweeney, Kenneth Branagh
This sequel to the 2006 favourite sees the original star-studded cast return. Having been a hit with £14m at the UK box office, the film’s popularity has only continued to grow, with a musical opening on the West End, and online meme/clips from the film a common sight on social media. This sequel is set to be the biggest 2026 film for ABC1 Women and in high demand with brands.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Release Date: 22 May
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White
After a 6+ year hiatus, the Star Wars franchise returns to the big screen; bringing Disney+’s most watched original show to cinema for the first time. Hollywood’s hottest actor Pedro Pascal returns to the big screen again, off the back of multiple TV and Film projects in 2025 (The Last of Us, The Fantastic Four, Materialists). Directed by Jon Favreau (Elf, Iron Man, The Lion King: 2019), this is set to be the biggest blockbuster for reaching 16-34 Men in H1 of 2026.
Toy Story 5
Release Date: 19 June
Directors: McKenna Harris, Andrew Stanton
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Greta Lee, Joan Cusack
The UK’s favourite animated franchise returns to the big screen. Toy Story 3 remains the highest grossing animated film of all time in the UK (£74m) and the previous instalment, Toy Story 4 released in 2019 also grossed £66m at the UK Box Office. Whilst likely to have strong family appeal, the franchise’s longevity is likely to attract a highly engaged 16-34 adult audience, presenting opportunities for a wide range of brands.
Contact your DCM rep to get involved with these 2026 blockbusters.