Robert Downey Jr looking at the camera and making a shushing motion.
The House of Mouse truly knows how to get audiences to come to the theater. After a major year at the box office, with some flops sprinkled in, Disney is looking to have another mammoth year with 16 major titles across their various film divisions and subsidiaries.
From major Marvel releases to trips to a galaxy far, far away, whether blockbuster or intimate film, Disney is ready to dominate. With 16 titles dropping in theaters and on streaming this year, the hype is real. Whether you're a Pixar fanatic, an animation lover, or obsessed with thrillers, Disney has an array of options generating immense buzz around the world. To create this list, hype is gauged by the scope of the project, the individuals involved, and whether it's part of a legacy. 16 'Psycho Killer' February 20 Sometimes, the collective has a misconception that Disney is all family-friendly sunshine and rainbow content. It’s why so many uninitiated are confused about why certain titles are on the streamer. The reality is, the span of Disney has a broad reach, so films like Psycho Killer will fall under the umbrella. Written by Andrew Kevin Walker and directed by Gavin Polone in his directorial debut, Psycho Killer follows police officer Jane Thorne on her mission to take down a serial killer with a sinister agenda known as"The Satanic Slasher" after he murdered her husband, a Kansas City highway patrol officer. As Jane embarks on a dark, cross-country journey of obsession and vengeance, the killer has a twisted masterpiece planned. Psycho Killer explores the depth of the killer's depravity and a woman's mission to go to great lengths for revenge. The team behind the film, including the writer of Se7en and the producers of Barbarian, is expected to satisfy horror lovers' desires with violence and terror. In addition to Campbell and Rogers, the cast will also feature Logan Miller, Grace Dove, and Malcolm McDowell in supporting roles. If the trailer is any indication, Psycho Killer’s hype for horror fans is exponential. 15 'In the Blink of an Eye' February 27 Best known for his animated masterpieces, Andrew Stanton is returning to the live-action world with In the Blink of an Eye. Starring Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, and Daveed Diggs, the science fiction drama constructs an elegantly interwoven triptych that contemplates the essence of humanity. In the past, a Neanderthal family, displaced from their home, struggled to survive, protect the children, and use primitive tools. In the present, Claire , a driven post-grad anthropologist studying ancient proto-human remains, begins a relationship with a fellow student, Greg . In the future, on a spaceship bound for a distant planet, Coakley and a sentient onboard computer confront a disease afflicting the ship’s oxygen-producing plants. Set to premiere at Sundance, In the Blink of an Eye explores hope and life through time. The intriguing element of the film is the primary trio that leads it. It's not necessarily the combo you'd expect in a piece such as this, which makes the excitement rise. Crediting 2001: A Space Odyssey, Magnolia, and Interstellar as inspiration, the artful and poetic meditation on humanity has all the makings of a sleeper hit. After years in development, audiences will finally be able to see Stanton work his magic with live-action material again. On the bright side for Stanton, should the movie not succeed, he has Toy Story 5 coming this year, too! 14 'Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice' March 27 Heading straight to Hulu is BenDavid Grabinski’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. Set in a"criminal underworld," the buddy action comedy follows two gangsters and the woman they love, trying to survive the most dangerous night of their lives, in which a time machine is involved. Starring Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eliza Gonzalez, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is set to debut at SXSW. Described as a hilarious, stylized, R-rated action-comedy, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice has all the makings of a smash hit. Based on the premise, it sounds like the film could easily be called “Hot Tub Crime Machine,” but that’s just low-hanging fruit! Following its festival debut, Hulu and Disney+ subscribers can catch the comedy beginning March 27. 13 'Super Troopers 3: Winter Soldiers' August 7 Nostalgia is returning with a blast from the past that no one saw coming, yet couldn’t be happier about: Super Troopers 3: Winter Soldiers. The third film in the franchise, the Jay Chandrasekhar-directed comedy is written by the Broken Lizard team, including Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske. Though official plot details haven’t been revealed, it’s safe to say that whatever the return of the original Vermont state troopers will bring is another chaotic, raunchy adventure. This time, likely in frigid temperatures. Earning cult classic status following the 2001 original film, which won the Audience Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival, fans of Super Troopers will be thrilled to see returning faces. Expect to see Chandrasekhar as Thorny on screen, along with buds Heffernan, Lemme, Soter, and Stolhanske in their respective roles of Farva, Mac, Foster, and Rabbit. Also, back are Brian Cox as Captain John O’Hagan and Marisa Coughlan as Ursula Hanson. Joining the comedy include Nat Faxon as Captain Todd Markowski, Chace Crawford as Baker Buchanan, and Andrew Dismukes as Coy Burns. 12 'The Dog Stars' August 28 As far as science fiction films are concerned, when you bring on one of the genre’s greatest visionaries, your expectations reach great heights. Ridley Scott is returning with a brand-new thriller with his adaptation of Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars. The post-apocalyptic thriller is set in the aftermath of a catastrophic flu virus that nearly wiped out humanity. The film follows Hig , a crop duster pilot living on an abandoned Colorado airfield isolated in the foothills of a mountain range, and Bangley , a tough ex-marine. Together, they must navigate a dangerous, uncompromising new world as they face invaders and the hope of a better life beyond their current dwelling. With arguably one of the biggest stars of the moment in Elordi, paired with a veteran of science fiction, the film is destined to be monumental. Though Elordi did replace the originally cast Paul Mescal, the new combo may be the start of a beautiful collaboration. Joining Elordi and Brolin are Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong. Known for his visual masterpieces, the Italian-filmed thriller is destined to be a stunner. 11 'Hexed' November 25 Original Disney animated classics in the 21st century have been anything but predictable. You have films like Frozen and Encanto that reinvigorated moviegoers, then you had Home on the Range, which nearly killed hand-drawn animation for good. For Disney’s late-calendar-year entry, they’ll be releasing Hexed. The film follows an awkward teenage oddball and his Type-A mom, who discover his weirdness is actually hidden magic, transporting them to a secret upside-down world where magic can run free. An all-new original Disney story, Hexed was announced as the fall title at Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney in Orlando, Florida. Aside from a title, basic story, and directors Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand, much of the project appears to be under wraps. That’s either a bad thing, as the company is nervous about the product, or it’s about to be a spectacular mega hit that will change the future of Disney animation again. We’re pulling for the latter, naturally! 10 'Hoppers' March 6 Pixar has a big year with the return of a beloved IP, but first comes their original film of the year, Hoppers. In the Disney animated version of a body-swap film, after a group of scientists invents a way to"hop" human minds into lifelike robotic animal bodies, Hoppers follows an animal lover named Mabel as her mind is transferred into a robotic beaver. Her mission is to thwart a construction company's plot to destroy the local animal habitat. Mabel must communicate with the animals and save their habitat from destruction. Directed by Daniel Chong, Hoppers is the perfect film for animal lovers of all kinds. To elevate the comedy, Hoppers employs a masterclass of voice actors, including Jon Hamm, Bobby Moynihan, Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Kathy Najimi, Melissa Villaseñor, Vanessa Bayer, Sam Richardson, and more. With so many changes coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, should the film take off, perhaps your new favorite characters might appear in the theme park! With original Pixar films being a mixed bag as of late, the premise here is worth the hype. Disney and talking critters tend to bode well. 9 'Whalefall' October 16 Josh Brolin will be quite busy in 2026 with another major film adaptation of a novel. This time it’s Daniel Kraus’ Whalefall. Directed by Brian Duffield, the survival thriller follows Jay Gardiner , a scuba diver, as he searches for his father's remains in the ocean. Jay is suddenly swallowed alive by a sperm whale, leaving him an hour to find a way to escape. After giving up on life, the young man is surprised to find a reason to live in the most dangerous and unlikely of places. An utterly claustrophobic yet thrilling premise, Whalefall has already earned such hype by simply being described as The Martian meets 127 Hours. Subscribe for in-depth Disney film coverage and previews Discover deeper Disney-slate analysis; subscribe to our newsletter for curated casting updates, trailer breakdowns, and film-by-film insights across Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars projects, helping you stay informed on the studio's biggest cinematic stories. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. In the world of publishing, Kraus’ novel earned immense buzz, receiving acclaim from readers and literary enthusiasts alike. It was inevitable that a film adaptation would arrive, and now, book lovers will see what it looks like as it comes to fruition. In addition to Abrams and Brolin , the cast will include Elizabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, and Emily Rudd. Though not a horror film, Whalefall will arrive just in time for spooky season. 8 'Send Help' January 30 One of the most versatile actresses of our generation is Rachel McAdams. Nearly two decades ago, she played the epitome of mean and beautiful, Regina George, in Mean Girls. Now, she’s flipping the script and playing a meekish, frumpy office worker in the upcoming thriller Send Help, which will make surviving high school look like a cakewalk. She stars opposite another chameleon in Dylan O’Brien, who goes from affable internet boyfriend to despicable boss from hell in this thriller. Send Help tells the story of Linda Liddle, an underestimated employee, and Bradley Preston, her horrible boss, as they become the sole survivors of a plane crash on a deserted island. Together, they must overcome their past grievances and power dynamics to survive, turning into a dark battle of wits in which the roles are suddenly reversed. The film is essentially Lost meets Survivor with a terrifying twist, where the tropical setting is anything but serene. A film about personal and emotional transformation through shifting power dynamics, Send Help is a reminder to all bosses out there that respect and kindness are key, especially if you find yourself in this worst-case scenario. The film is in capable horror hands, with Sam Raimi at the helm. 7 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come' March 27 Following the major success of the comedy-horror-thriller Ready or Not, Samara Weaving will reprise her role as Grace MacCaullay in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. How does Grace find herself fighting for her life again? Here's how. The sequel follows her, the sole survivor of the brutal"game" that resulted in the death of her husband and in-laws, who learns that her victory comes with a price. The wealthiest and most influential families on Earth, part of the High Seat of the Council, have to kill her in a new game or risk losing their power and fortunes. Grace refuses to participate but is pulled in with no choice when she learns that Faith , her younger sister, has been marked for death. Vying to protect her at all costs, it's another round of survival in a bloody, gory, hilarious story. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the follow-up film has fans already excited thanks to the brilliant recently released trailer. Fighting for survival and power, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come will feature Sarah Michelle Gellar, Olivia Cheng, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood, among others. While we can’t call her a Disney Princess, Weaving certainly is our modern scream queen! We can’t wait to see how this killer game turns out.
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