Though many dozens of 2026 movie releases are still on the way, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to 2027, as there are already several upcoming horror movies, animated sequels, upcoming Marvel films and much more with dates already locked down for when they’ll hit theaters and streaming services. We’re talking new Pixar, new Blair Witch, new Judd Apatow, new DCU movies, and at least two new Jason Statham movies. Not to mention Narnia, Dragons, and Rambo, oh my.

Scroll down to see all the biggest movies currently set to drop in 2027 — or click one of those Quick Links — with dates subject to change as studios alter their release plans. (Remember to bookmark this page to stay current, and to let us know you care, even though we won’t actually know.) Now onto the movies!

January 2027 Movie Releases

The year is starting off with the feature directorial debut from Black Swan and The Boogeyman screenwriter Mark Heyman, followed by releases starring acting GOAT Viola Davis and cinematic sports GOAT (DOG?) Air Bud. Yellowstone prequel vets Isabel May and Brandon Sklenar also have new movies on the way.

February 2027 Movie Releases

February 2027 is already shaping up to be a big month for youth-skewing fare, from the newest Ice Age movie to a CoComelon movie, with Greta Gerwig's highly anticipated Narnia feature bridging the generation gap between moviegoers.

March 2027 Movie Releases

April 2027 Movie Releases

May 2027 Movie Releases

June 2027 Movie Releases

July 2027 Movie Releases

August 2027 Movie Releases

September 2027 Movie Releases

October 2027 Movie Releases

November 2027 Movie Releases

December 2027 Movie Releases

Is it too early to start planning for 2028? Yes, yes it is.

If you like feeling immersed in your own scary movie for the fun of it (like I do), but are on a budget, you’re going to want to pay attention to the limited time deal Las Vegas’s own Universal Horror Unleashed has for a limited time.

I’ve Been To Universal’s Las Vegas Attraction, And It’s A Thrilling Good Time

Universal Horror Unleashed is a year-round version of Horror Nights that takes place in a massive warehouse. This is compared to the seasonal events that take place at Universal Studios' theme parks. After the venue opened this past August, CinemaBlend was invited to check it out, and I genuinely had such a scary fun time. Once you enter the warehouse, you’re transported into a world full of all sorts of haunting characters who not only roam around, but you can actually strike a conversation with some of them and learn about their origins, too.

The main event is its four haunted houses inside, too: Universal Monsters, Scarecrow: The Reaping, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer. But, here’s the thing: the haunted houses are longer, orchestrated to leave you more disarmed and you get to experience it with your party rather than the typical “conga line” you typically get at Horror Nights. I actually found the whole thing more terrifying than Horror Nights when I went (in a good way).

If You Want To Go On A Budget, Check Out This New Ticket Deal

The big deal happening right now for Universal Horror Unleashed is that you can grab a one-time general admission access ticket for $49 rather than its typical price that ranges from $59 to $89. And, other types of passes are discounted as well. This deal going on until April 30 will allow you to get a ticket for the attraction within the next month. So, if you’re already planning to be in Las Vegas or you were looking for a budget way to experience it, now’s the time to get tickets. You can look over the deal yourself on Universal Horror Unleashed’s website.

As a vet of the event, I definitely recommend taking advantage of this one. It will allow you to enjoy it at a lower price, and perhaps even put some of your extra money into the yummy signature drinks and food available at the attraction, or travel around Vegas. I know I'm definitely enticed by this deal, and thinking about going back now that I know about this.

If you’ve been to Horror Nights, you know that since it’s a seasonal event, it’s always going to be crowded and you can’t get away from the extra expenses, but Horror Unleashed has the benefit of off-season, and I imagine it will be an even better time right now since not everyone thinks to go right now. Happy haunts!

Viola Davis recently hosted a panel discussion with Sinners’ Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku and casting director Francine Maisler in Los Angeles, California as the movie continues to be on the awards season circuit. Check out what she had to say about the movie:

Sinners isn’t simply one of the best horror movies of last year, there’s a deep conversation to be had about its representation – not only of Black people, but multiple other minority communities, and the ways in which its message speaks to them as well. Davis continued by comparing it to a scene in The Exorcist. In her words:

Davis recalled a famous scene from the 1973 horror classic to illustrate a point about how Sinners made her feel when she watched it. As she continued:

Davis’s experience with Sinners is hauntingly detailed through these words, shared via Smith Woods on TikTok, who shared her thoughts as well. In Sinners, there’s a really apt story that beautifully weaves in themes about holding on to culture amidst appropriation, white supremacy and colonialism preying on minority communities across American history, not unlike vampires. I know I haven't been able to get out the line: "I want your stories and I want your songs" since seeing it.

Viola Davis likened Sinners' message to the moment in The Exorcist where the words “Help Me” are written on Regan’s body while she’s possessed to describe the intense feelings the movies evoked for her. Davis’ reading of the movie reminds us why Sinners may go down in history to become one of the top movies ever. There’s so much careful filmmaking from Coogler’s part that allows one to find new depth in it every time we watch it.

Along with Davis hyping up the movie during awards season, it’s a big contender this year. Sinners just won four awards at this past weekend’s 2026 Critics Choice Awards, and among the 2026 Golden Globes nominations, the vampire flick is up for seven awards. We’re also expecting it to earn some Oscar nominations as well. You can catch the Golden Globes this Sunday on CBS.

Before battling Michael Myers, Jamie Lee Curtis’ very first IMDB credit was at about 18 years old on an 1977 episode of Quincy, M.E. The Freaky Friday actress revealed on The Drew Barrymore Show that she could have been a child star after being offered a shot at one of the best horror films of all time, and why she didn’t take it:

You may not know that the famous parents of the My Girl actress are actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. The Psycho actress herself didn’t have an early start in acting, but still had a successful career for over five decades. With many child stars dealing with hardships at such a young age, it was likely a good call that Leigh chose to protect her daughter from entering an intense industry too early in life.

Even though Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t become a major child star when her mom stopped her from auditioning for The Exorcist, the talented actress got real about having no resentment towards that missed opportunity. She went on to explain why, with her reasoning relating to Drew Barrymore’s own childhood upbringing:

That’s very true, as Drew Barrymore was a child with so much personality at a young age in films like E.T. and Firestarter before she was a teen. The Scream star had a history with drugs during her early career with little protection from her family, but the Trading Places actress made sure to compliment Barrymore for the positive effect she’s continued to have with her guests and where she is now in her life.

So, The Exorcist may not have gotten Jamie Lee Curtis on the map, but she ultimately took after her mother among the greatest horror scream queens by playing Laurie Strode in the Halloween movies. She was 19 years old playing the Final Girl role, and her adult acting career has continued to flourish, filled with transformative performances and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar under her belt now.

I would say Janet Leigh made a great call not having her daughter audition for The Exorcist. Not only because Linda Blair was outstanding as Regan, but also for shielding her from the struggles child stars go through. Curtis’ career may have happened later, but it’s far from over today.

If you’ve never seen it before, I honestly don’t blame you. Because unlike The Exorcist's up-and-down film series, The Omen and its own sequels and prequels), and Rosemary’s Baby (with Roman Polanski's name attached to it), The Sentinel doesn’t have the same notoriety or fanbase.

That said, if you're a fan of the subgenre, I actually feel like The Sentinel is a must-watch for a number of reasons (as well as a must-read, but I’ll get into that shortly). Here are just a few.

The Movie Is About An Apartment That's Also A Gateway To Hell

Behind every good movie, there’s usually a good book, and The Sentinel is no exception. Based on the 1974 novel of the same name, The Sentinel is such a fantastic story that I think it’s even better than the novel version of The Exorcist. And yes, I’m dead serious.

When it comes to the film adaptation though? Well…I wouldn't go so far to call it better than The Exorcist. That said, the plot of the film is similar to the book. It's just the execution that could have used some refining.

The story focuses on a model named Alison (Cristina Raines) who moves into a brownstone apartment where there’s only one other tenant, that being a blind priest named Father Halliran (John Carradine). Halliran stares out the window all day, almost as if he’s guarding something (hence the title). Once Alison’s moved in, she starts having bizarre dreams, and once other people start moving into the apartment, things get even weirder.

The story gets a lot more tangled than that (Which I’ll get into next), but the important thing to know is that the priest is guarding the world from the gates of hell, which are located right in the apartment itself. Pretty cool, right?

It's Just As Much A Mystery As It Is A Horror Movie

The cool thing about horror flicks is that they can also sometimes double as mystery movies, such as Se7en, and Get Out (both of which I would put on a list of the best horror movies of all time). Well, there’s also a number of mysteries behind The Sentinel, with those being: Who is Father Halliran, are there really tenants in the apartment, or is Alison just envisioning them, and what role does the Catholic Church have in this building?

In time, all is revealed, but the great thing about this story is how all of it is rolled out. We get to learn a great deal about the tenants, as well as Alison’s past, which isn’t entirely made clear early on in the film.

There’s also a tangled web that involves the police, the clergy, and an evil neighbor played by Burgess Meredith who I’ll get into soon since he deserves his own section. Anyway, a lot of the mystery turns this film into a psychological horror movie (Similar to Rosemary’s Baby), as we start to learn that many of the strange occurrences aren’t so random after all.

It all culminates in an intriguing story that probably wouldn’t be as good if there wasn’t also a mystery involved.

Rocky And Batman Great Burgess Meredith Plays A Bizarre Neighbor

When I mention Batman’s The Penguin, there are likely two images that pop in your head - That of Danny DeVito from Batman Returns, and that of Colin Farrell from the HBO series (to which I hope there’s a Season 2…even though I don’t think Colin Farrell desires that). But, do you know who first comes to my mind? Burgess Meredith, who played The Penguin in the ‘60s Batman series.

Meredith also, of course, played Mickey from the Rocky series, and real ones might know him from one of the best The Twilight Zone episodes, “Time Enough at Last,”...and, er, one of the weirdest The Twilight Zone episodes, “Mr. Dingle, the Strong”. Well, all of this is to say that Meredith had a really interesting career of both bizarre, and bold roles, and I’d say that his performance in The Sentinel is a mixture of both.

For one thing, Meredith plays a strange tenant named Charles Chazen, who in one scene, is actually hosting a birthday party for his cat. In this scene, he’s dancing and singing, but there’s an eerie quality to it. Well, it turns out that Meredith is a resident of Hell, and he wants Alison to join him.

It’s actually quite chilling. Meredith is exuberant for most of the film, but there’s a darkness to him that’s lurking at the bottom, making this one of Meredith’s most unique performances.

There Are Some Truly Spooky Visuals In This Film

Do you want to know the scariest scene in The Exorcist for me? It’s of course the spiderwalk scene down the stairs (which wasn’t even in the original theatrical release). How about The Omen? Well, obviously it’s the “It’s all for you!” scene, which I won’t even post here. For Rosemary’s Baby? Definitely the “Hail, Satan!” scene.

For The Sentinel? Well, there’s actually not one single moment that I find creepy, but rather, a series of spooky visuals that helped keep me on the edge throughout. For example, there are moments where Alison is hallucinating that her dead father is alive, and he tries to attack her, but the scene itself is shown in a way that is so off-putting and bizarre that it gives me the creeps.

There’s also Burgess Meredith’s unsettling performance, and the eerie priest who stares out the window, not looking at anything in particular (since he’s blind), but seeing evil all around him, as blindness is a trait of all of the sentinels, as we learn in the end.

There’s also the climax of the film, but that brings me to my last point, as it isn't really scary. In fact, it's really quite insulting, which I’ll get into now.

The Climax Is Quite Controversial, However, And Is Definitely The Worst Part Of The Movie

Not too long ago, I wrote about a horror movie from 1932 called Freaks, which featured actual sideshow attractions like a man with no limbs, and a series of little people. The story was controversial since it used real circus “freaks,” but at the story’s heart, it was about how these were actual human beings, and the real monsters were the people who tried to exploit them. It was actually pretty progressive in a way.

So, how is it that a movie that came out in 1977 could be so tone deaf? Because toward the end of the film, the gates of Hell open, and we’re greeted by some of its denizens. But, do you know what its director, Michael Winner, decided to do? He decided to use people with amputations and disabilities to represent demons from Hell.

And, like, eww. Just gross. I’m of course not saying that people with disabilities or amputations are gross. I’m saying that it’s gross that these people were used in an exploitative way, and it definitely pulls me out of the movie as a whole.

But, other than that, the movie is pretty good. It’s currently available to stream via Netflix subscription, so catch it now while you can if it sounds interesting to you.

And just like that, one millennial’s best horror movies became Gen Z’s “this movie’s buns.” She tells me "buns" is bad. So, let's break down my experience watching one of my favorite horror movies with my daughter.

Gen Z Attention Span VS. The Slow Burn

She wasn’t bored—just confused. To her, The Exorcist didn’t feel like a horror movie. It felt like a drama. She’s not wrong. Like a lot of the best 1970s horror movies, it builds tension slowly. There’s atmosphere, dread, mystery. You don’t even know what’s going on for the first act. But Gen Z, raised on TikTok pacing and streaming-era speed, expects horror to "start."

To my sensibilities, The Exorcist remains terrifying today, but compared to new horror movie releases, such as Weapons, Bring Her Back, and Sinners, it doesn’t quite come out swinging. Today's horror movies sometimes feel like the scares aren’t earned; they’re scheduled. That’s not just about attention span—it’s about narrative expectation. Horror’s cinematic language has changed.

The Exorcist Is All About Building Dread, Not Jump Scares

Watching it with her felt like seeing it through new eyes, because she didn’t flinch at the attic door slam or the demonic face flashes. When Regan growled in her iconic demon voice, she deadpanned: “She sounds like an old smoker.”

She’s not wrong—if you know the movie’s behind-the-scenes lore, then you’re aware that actress Mercedes McCambridge actually chain-smoked and drank raw eggs to get that sound, according to director William Friedkin. But to my daughter, it wasn’t creepy. It was kinda funny.

Here’s the thing: my kid loves horror. She’s powered through the entire Conjuring universe, Hereditary, Barbarian, and both Smiles. But she’s used to hyper-edited, adrenaline-shot horror. The Exorcist, to her, felt like a slow museum crawl.

The Devil Isn’t Very Scary To Gen Z

Halfway through, I realized something–the religious fear wasn’t really landing. I grew up in a Pentecostal household. Crucifixes, Latin prayers, and holy water weren’t just props—they were loaded symbols. But my daughter, who’s been raised secular? The iconography didn’t register as scary.

For some Gen Z, especially with ever-growing secularism, Satan isn’t terrifying. Possession feels like mythology, not a threat. Their fears live elsewhere—in surveillance, identity, and climate doom.

The Practical Effects Don’t Hold Up

Then there’s the practical effects. I still find them haunting—the spinning head, the shaking bed, the pea soup vomit. My daughter saw Spirit Halloween.

And honestly? Fair. She’s grown up with Stranger Things (available to stream with a Netflix subscription), The Last of Us, and A Quiet Place. Horror now comes in nearly flawless 4 K resolution. The seams in the 1970s effects are starting to show, now that it's 55 years old.

But near the end, something clicked. When Father Karras leaped from the window, she let out a soft “Whoa.” She didn’t fear the movie, necessarily, but she respected it. After the credits rolled, I asked if she’d watch it again. She said, “Maybe. It wasn’t really scary. Just... interesting.”

And I’ll take that because The Exorcist is interesting. It's a scary movie that lingers. And with the collapse of the original plan for the Blumhouse Exorcist trilogy, here’s hoping Mike Flanagan’s upcoming sequel can strike the balance—something that bridges the gap between old-school dread and modern terror. Something both Millennials and their Gen Z horror offspring can be scared of… together.

Hereditary (2018)

Hereditary is one of Ari Aster’s films – his directorial debut, if you can believe it. And while the movie itself is known for plenty of disturbing moments that resemble cultish behaviour and demonic possession, there are plenty of scenes that stick with you well after the credits roll, like Charlie’s head. Yes, I just put you through that.

Martyrs (2008)

This film, which premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, was a movie that sparked plenty of outrage. The film follows two young women who want revenge against those who harmed them as children, only for them to wind up in a horrible situation. The movie essentially uses torture in such an aggressive way that you have no choice but to watch it, as it’s literally the plot.

The Fly (1986)

While The Fly in itself isn’t necessarily scary (at least to me), it's one of the best sci-fi horror films, and it’s the kind of movie that made me literally gag at the end of the transformation. I don’t know – there’s just something about watching the flesh literally melt off of someone’s bones that gets to you.

In A Violent Nature (2024)

In a Violent Nature is an exciting movie. It might not be scary to some, but there are certainly some extremely gory moments that are disgusting to watch. However, what really makes this movie stand out is that it’s told entirely from the viewpoint of the killer, so you’re forced into his head to really understand where he’s coming from with killing. That’s what makes it so disturbing.

The Substance (2024)

Oh, you knew The Substance would be on here somehow. The film was so good that it was nominated for the 2025 Academy Award for Best Picture. The movie itself has plenty of great themes, and honestly, anyone should watch it. However, the big moment that might be too much for horror fans is the very end, where Sue becomes a distorted, monstrous combination of herself and Elisabeth, and it’s just a giant hodgepodge of limbs and disgustingness.

Dread (2009)

Dread isn’t about the gore but rather the psychological impact that personal trauma has on you. It follows a college student who is trying to test the causes and limits of fears, and he takes his experiments way too far. At specific points, it just feels like you’re watching people go through absolute torment. You’ll likely feel the need to seek therapy after watching this film.

Midsommar (2019)

Ari Aster is just a master of his craft, and there’s no other film I could point to than Midsommar, where you really get the chance to feel absolutely disturbed. While Midsommar is almost like a comfort movie to me (because I’ve seen it a decent amount), there’s a lot of wicked imagery in there that makes it twenty times more grotesque and fills you with a sense of dread that you can’t deny.

Tusk (2014)

Okay, so Tusk has basically become almost like a horror comedy at this point because of how ridiculous its premise is, but you can’t deny that there are moments in this movie that sit with you. I mean, the very end, just watching someone who was once a human who is essentially turned into a walrus thanks to a crazy person – that’s legit hard to watch and disgusting.

The Descent (2005)

God, okay, so I’m a horror veteran, as I said in my intro, and The Descent is one of those films that I have only watched maybe twice in my life and will stay out of my way never to watch it. The film follows a group on a cave expedition who are attacked by monsters, but what makes this movie twenty times worse is the claustrophobic atmosphere. You feel like you’re stuck in this cave with them, and it’s horrible. It’s like the air is sucked from your lungs.

The Wailing (2016)

There are many great South Korean horror movies, and I highly recommend The Wailing to anyone who enjoys the genre. There’s an illness that is going around in a village that is turning people into deranged, violent killers, and they must figure out how to stop it. But there is some haunting imagery in this movie that sits with you.

Possessor (2020)

Brandon Cronenberg is the son of David Cronenberg, who is known for body horror. So, like father, like son, because he directed the film Possessor. The film itself is an interesting concept about an agent who uses brain implant tech to take the identity of people in order to kill targets. Still, there’s so much body horror in this that I had to look away several times when I first watched it.

Terrifier (2016) (And It’s Sequels)

Do I even need to get into this that heavily? It’s the Terrifier movie. They’re considered the grossest ones of the last decade. Just trust me on this one. Don’t watch with a full stomach.

The House That Jack Built (2018)

The House that Jack Built is a grotesque horror film that follows the life of a serial killer who mainly targets women and uses their bodies in order to form some overarching masterpiece, believing that it’s a gift he has to create such beauty. Yes, it’s just as gross as it sounds.

The Entire Saw Franchise (2004–)

Of course, I have to put the Saw movies here. I’m the kind of person who is okay with slashers, but the Saw films have taken every movie to a new level with the games, the torture, the body-play, and so much more. It’s gotten to a point where I avoid it until it's streaming so I can pause and take a second to breathe.

Speak No Evil (2022)

I’m not referring to the 2024 remake. Speak No Evil is actually the original from 2022, and it follows a Danish family who accepts the invitation of a Dutch family they met on vacation, only for it to turn menacing very quickly. The film itself isn’t gory all the way through, but when it gets there? Ooh, boy, you better look away.

Sinister (2012)

Sinister is often considered one of the best horror films of the 2010s, and for good reason. The film itself, which follows a true-crime novelist who moves into a haunted home that begins to terrorise his family, is more of a slow-burn horror. However, the disturbing imagery that emerges as the film progresses, culminating in a big finale, makes this a tough one to watch for some.

Infinity Pool (2023)

This movie is bizarre in many ways. The central premise is about a couple who wind up in an accident and have to decide either to be executed or watch them get a clone and die. The movie itself has many moments that make you think, “What the heck did I just watch?” But it comes from a Cronenberg, so that makes sense.

Barbarian (2022)

I loved this film when it was first released. Barbarian is about a young woman who goes to an Airbnb for the weekend only to discover it harbours many sinister secrets. This movie will shock you to your core. It’ll probably also make you unintentionally laugh your head off like it did for me, but then it’ll make you jump in surprise at the amount of gore you’ll witness.

The Sadness (2021)

The Sadness essentially turns the zombie trope on its head, where a pandemic is sweeping through Taiwan. Still, instead of morphing the infected into brainless husks, they become truly twisted humans who crave violence, murder, and literally any possible bad thing you can imagine. This, of course, leads to some pretty wicked (and horrifying) gory moments.

Talk To Me (2022)

Talk to Me was one of the best films of 2022, and A24 always delivers with their horror movies. This film, about a group of teenagers who can communicate with spirits through an embalmed hand, pushes gore to new levels. While it does not feature an intense amount, the moments where gore is used are memorable and terrifying, to say the least, and will likely make you pause the film.

The Exorcist (1973)

While The Exorcist isn’t incredibly gory, there are a lot of gross scenes in it that I genuinely cannot watch because it makes me feel icky. For example, watching Regan throw up and the head-turning around is one moment that still sits with me to this day. I really don’t like to think about it.

The Human Centipede (2009)

…do I even need to talk about this?

Alright, well, because I need to put words, The Human Centipede is about a crazy man stitching up people – strangers he steals – for his deranged experiments. And it’s as disgusting as you think it is. Oh no, I’m going to be sick.

I Spit On Your Grave (1978)

I Spit on Your Grave is one of those 1970s films that genuinely attempted to push the boundaries of horror but ultimately took it too far. The film, which follows the story of a woman on a revenge quest against those who sexually assaulted her, has a brutal and horrifying thirty-minute sequence that shows not only her assault but the violence that came from it. It’s a strict watch for anyone.

Men Behind The Sun (1988)

Men Behind the Sun is terrifying for a different reason. Based on a real-life tragedy, the film is based on the horror that occurred during World War II when Japan attacked China. While the movie itself isn’t as gory as some of the others on this list, it really makes you think of what prisoners of war have gone through in modern-day history.

X (2022)

There are so many gory moments in X that I doubt I even need to elaborate on why it’s on this list. It’s undoubtedly one of the best A24 horror movies, without a doubt. The fact that it follows the tale of an adult actor who must fight for her life to escape the house makes it all the more compelling. It’s gory as heck.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

I mean, with a name like that, you know it’s going to be bad. Cannibal Holocaust is about how a film shot by a documentary crew was found, and in that film, we see a lot of deranged, twisted, and gory moments thanks to the cannibalistic tribes they ran into. This film is very dark and not for the faint of heart. That is literally all I will say.

A Serbian Film (2010)

A Serbian Film, to me, isn’t scary, but it’s the effects of what happened because of the main character’s choices that make it worse. The central premise revolves around a retired adult actor who accepts a job for a substantial amount of money, only to be drawn into a deranged filming experience that alters everything. It’s messed up, and it's a movie I wouldn't suggest lightly. If possible, please avoid it.

Hostel (2005)

I actually watched Hostel for the first time a few years ago, and yeah, I never want to again. Ever again. The idea of travelling to a hostel and then somehow getting kidnapped and then tortured to death and having to go through absolutely horrible things is something I never want to experience. I don’t need that anxiety in my life.

August: Underground (2001)

I won’t even get into the premise of this film because it’s really horrible. It’s essentially two serial killers filming their victims and the way they kill them. It’s very messed up, very gory, and something that you really, really need to go into without anything in your stomach.

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter has given us great horror films, and while The Thing doesn’t have a crazy amount of gory moments, the ones they do have are iconic and stick with you for years. I can still vividly remember watching those legs emerge from the head of one of the characters – oh no, I’m going to be sick again.

Malignant (2021)

Malignant is a movie that is completely a slow-burn horror, but my god, it takes a turn really freaking fast at the end. You think it’s going to be a psychological thriller, but NOPE, it turns into a full-on gorefest featuring the back of a head. Yuck.

The Strangers (2008)

The Strangers, which is all about home invasion, is not there to gross you out. No, this film aims to make you squirm. It builds dread in your gut, makes you wait out as long as the victims do for the nail to drop, and unnerves you to the point where you just want to turn off the TV. I’m already shaking thinking about it.

These are just some of my picks for horror films that certainly take the cake for creepiness – or gore. Be careful about what you pick because there’s some twisted stuff online.

Need to web up a few ideas for what new movies to see this weekend and beyond? (Or will you just be going back to rewatch Spider-Man: Brand New Day to keep its record-breaking box office run going?) Our 2026 release schedule below has. you covered, from upcoming Marvel movies and new horror releases to all the book-to-screen adaptations and more heading our way.

Check out what you can find in theaters and releasing on streaming throughout the month of August - including the next big critically acclaimed horror movie - as well as everything else on the way for the rest of 2026. (We're also looking ahead to all the big 2027 movie releases.)

August 2026 Movie Releases

Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway star in David Robert Mitchell’s mysterious thriller The End of the Street, and the previously shelved Looney Tunes movie, Coyote vs. Acme will finally see the light of day (this better not be a painting on the side of a rock) when August 2026 comes around. And the newest Insidious movie is also creeping just around the corner, as is Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic survivor thriller The Dog Stars.

September 2026 Movie Releases

One of September's potentially biggest releases (not noted below) is Avengers: Endgame Encore (serving as the first official Infinity Vision release), which has extra footage added in to lay better groundwork leading into Avengers: Doomsday. Beyond that, we have the long-awaited sequel to Practical Magic, the latest action extravaganza from Deadpool 2 and Fall Guy's David Leitch in How to Rob a Bank, and TWO different movies with "runner" as the title word. (The one without the article is Alan Ritchson's new movie.)

October 2026 Movie Releases

October 2026 will likely be a big one for horror fans, but at the moment, it's shaping up to be a solid array of movies for fans of all kinds, from Tom Cruise's wild new look and accent in Digger to the DCU's first horror attempt in Clayface to the latest stop-motion epic from Laika, Wildwood. Those looking for a fight (to watch) can look forward to the latest attempt to bring Street Fighter to the big screen.

November 2026 Movie Releases

This November, YA fans can give thanks for the return of Panem with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, and the Focker family's latest foibles, with Johnny Depp also returning to the big screen with horror director Ti West for a new take on Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. We also have Sly and Rocky's returns (sorta) in the biopic I Play Rocky. Perhaps the biggest (literal) return comes from a certain fire-breathing monster, though...

December 2026 Movie Releases

The most wintery wonderland-y part of 2026 will indeed feature a visit from Santa Claus, or at least the version played by David Harbour. One of the most star-studded movies of any given year will also arrive on Christmas Day itself, with Anthony and Joe Russo's return to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday. although some fans have taken to calling it Dunesday, given the shared release date with Denis Villeneuve's third sci-fi epic.

Be sure to bookmark our upcoming 2026 movie schedule, as release dates for these films are subject to change.

In that respect, let’s let our imaginations run wild and dream up the movie or TV crossovers that would be incredible to see. Now, I cannot promise that many (or all) of these ideas are legally or even humanly possible, but why should we let that get in the way of the fun?

Toy Story And Small Soldiers

The first, and still one of the best, Pixar movies, Toy Story, showed us the world from the point of view of sentient toys in 1995. Three years later, Small Soldiers offered the same perspective, but with more of an edge and a more realistic approach. Seeing Woody (Tom Hanks) and other innocent children's playthings crossing paths with Major Chip Hazard (Tommy Lee Jones) and his AI-powered, militaristic action figures sounds like one wonderfully warped animated flick, if you ask me.

The Office And Parks And Recreation

As recalled by MovieWeb, co-creators Michael Schur and Greg Daniels initially conceived Parks and Recreation as a spin-off of The Office before it turned into its own separate and equally beloved TV sitcom. Still, there is no reason why Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and his former Dunder-Mifflin co-workers could not somehow cross paths with Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and other Pawnee residents in a mockumentary-style special.

Drive And Fast And Furious

A famous example of misleading movie marketing is 2011's slow-burn, Neo-noir thriller Drive, which one woman assumed would be more of a high-octane action thriller like the Fast and Furious movies, inspiring her to file a lawsuit, according to The Guardian. Honestly, I see this as a reason to give the people what they want and release a movie that sees Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew facing off against Ryan Gosling's Driver.

Succession And Yellowstone

Having both premiered in 2018, Jesse Armstrong's Succession and Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone would become subjects of comparison, with some even calling the Paramount Network hit "Succession with cowboy hats." I think seeing the wealthy and vindictive Roys indulging in a rivalry with the also wealthy and vindictive Duttons would make for one epic feature-length special or miniseries.

21 Jump Street And Men In Black

Among the hypothetical crossovers presented here, not all are too much of a stretch from the realm of possibility. In fact, there were actual plans for a film called MIB23, which would have brought Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) from the 21 Jump Street movie into the world of the Men in Black franchise. Unfortunately, plans were scrapped in 2019, but I still have hope this insane sci-fi/comedy mash-up could work.

Poker Face And The Thing

Imagine if human lie detector Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) from the Peacock original TV show Poker Face was trapped in one place with a group of people who may or may not be shapeshifting extraterrestrial organisms in disguise, like the 1982 horror movie classic, The Thing. She would be the only one who could suss out the imitators, but the rest of the group might be too paranoid to confidently trust her judgment. I think Rian Johnson should give John Carpenter a call.

Star Wars And Marvel Cinematic Universe

As a fan of both the Star Wars movies and of Guardians of the Galaxy, I love the idea of seeing the cosmic warriors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe visit George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. Considering both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm are owned by Disney, this intergalactic epic is entirely possible, as long as the timeline is respected, of course.

RoboCop And Terminator

Omni Consumer Products' half-man, half-machine crime-fighting tool has crossed paths with Skynet's mechanical killer before, but only on the pages of a Dark Horse comic book series from Frank Miller. Why Hollywood has not yet tried its hand at a movie that pits the hero from RoboCop against any of the antagonistic cyborgs from the Terminator franchise is beyond me.

James Bond And Jason Bourne

The Matt Damon-led Jason Bourne movies are often cited as the inspiration for the James Bond franchise's grittier tone, especially after Daniel Craig took over as 007. If there could be a way to get the American amnesiac assassin and the suave MI6 agent together in a room (which would likely be destroyed by the end), that could make for one of the best spy movies ever.

Sherlock And Doctor Who

Two of the BBC's most popular series, Sherlock and Doctor Who, both involve a highly intelligent, fashionable, and sometimes arrogant protagonist who is accompanied by a reliable companion. For that and many other reasons, I think it would be amazing to see them come together in a special or miniseries in which Holmes, hitting a wall with a case that defies logic, finds unexpected help from The Doctor.

DC Universe And Marvel Cinematic Universe

The two biggest comic book publishing companies in the world have not always been rivals and have indulged in creating stories that see DC heroes and Marvel heroes fighting side by side. Considering his strong ties to the MCU, it can't be out of the question for DC Studios head James Gunn to at least call a meeting with Kevin Feige to discuss bringing this kind of crossover to the big screen, which might end up being the greatest superhero movie ever made.

John Wick And Kill Bill

While largely differing in tone, the John Wick movies and Quentin Tarantino's two-part Kill Bill saga are pretty similar in concept, following two retired, legendary assassins waging a vengeful war on those who wronged them. Who is to say that Keanu Reeves' gun-fu master and Uma Thurman's The Bride never crossed paths in their deadly heyday?

The Evil Dead And The Exorcist

Two of the most popular franchises of demonic possession movies, The Exorcist and The Evil Dead, could not be more different from one another, which is exactly why I want to see them converge. In my pitch, grown-up Regan MacNeill's (Linda Blair) expertise in devilish activity is enlisted to help with a new case, but when it spirals out of control, the only one who can help is chainsaw-headed Deadite hunter, Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell).

Inception And A Nightmare On Elm Street

When you think about it, Leonardo DiCaprio's Dom Cobb from Christopher Nolan's Inception essentially has the same job as Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Just imagine how much more challenging his team's adventures through the subconscious would be with Robert Englund's sadistic, badly burned boogeyman invading the same dream.

Alien, Predator, And Jurassic Park

You know what I think the Alien vs. Predator movies were missing? Dinosaurs. Putting these two fearsome extraterrestrials in yet another battle, but while trapped on one of the prehistoric animal-infested islands from the Jurassic Park films, could result in one of the most exciting entries from any of these franchises. You would not even need human characters to make it work because seeing both the Predator and the Xenomorph knocked down a peg by the T-Rex as a common enemy would be more than enough.

Ghostbusters And Casper

We already know that Casper and the Ghostbusters exist in the same universe, thanks to Dan Aykroyd's cameo as Ray Stantz in the Friendly Ghost's 1995 live-action feature adaptation of the animated series. I am sure Casper would happily help the paranormal exterminators take on a few evil spirits, even after an awkward misunderstanding were to happen when they first meet.

Mad Max And Dredd

The great thing about post-apocalyptic movies is that each has a different, intriguing interpretation of what a dystopian society would look like. However, what if the Wasteland from George Miller's Mad Max movies existed just across the (dried up) pond from Mega City One in Dredd? The gritty, visually stunning possibilities are endless.

Blade And Twilight

Allow me to make one thing clear: I am not suggesting that Marvel Comics' vampire hunter, originally played on the big screen by Wesley Snipes, should show up in the Twilight movies just to see Robert Pattinson's Edward, Kristen Stewart's Bella, and other bloodsuckers get slaughtered. I actually think Blade's presence could give the persistent haters of the films based on Stephanie Meyer's YA novel series a reason to treat the franchise with a little more respect.

Indiana Jones And Marvel Cinematic Universe

Since Disney owns both Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, I wonder if anyone there has ever tinkered with the idea of putting a character like Indiana Jones in the MCU. I mean, he and Steve "Captain America" Rogers would have been alive around the same time and, as staunch anti-fascists, probably would have gotten along great. I doubt Harrison Ford's casting as Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Brave New World would cause much confusion, either.

Monk And Psych

The USA Network used to run promos bringing characters from their respective series together, including one in which Tony Shalhoub's eponymous detective from Monk suspects that Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) is not a real psychic. It makes me wish that we could have seen an official crossover episode that would have seen plenty of funny bickering between the carefree Shawn and someone as neurotic as Adrian Monk, who at least might have gotten along with Gus (Dulé Hill).

Power Rangers And Godzilla

By combining their respective, animal-shaped vehicles into one large Megazord, the Power Rangers have managed to face off against bizarre creatures of all sizes, which means they could realistically take on Godzilla. However, if I were to pitch this crossover, the rangers would eventually have to join forces with the King of the Monsters after an even larger creature emerges to wreak havoc on Angel Grove.

Bill & Ted And Wayne's World

Perhaps we never saw Bill S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) take Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) on a trip through time because we are not worthy of such an excellent idea. Then again, if Myers and Carvey can still get together for Wayne's World reunions on SNL and Reeves and Winter could come back for 2020's Bill & Ted Face the Music, who says it doesn't have potential?

Dirty Harry And Death Wish

I think the greatest Dirty Harry movie we never saw would have put Clint Eastwood's Lt. Callahan on the case of a murderer targeting the most vicious gangs in San Francisco, which would turn out to be Charles Bronson's Paul Kersey from Death Wish. Inevitably, I think Harry would be lured into an alliance with the vengeful vigilante, coming to believe that his more permanent methods of justice align with his own.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer And Sabrina The Teenage Witch

It's a shame that there was never any attempt to make an official crossover between Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Sarah Michelle Gellar and the Melissa Joan Hart-led Sabrina the Teenage Witch while they were still on the air. The coming-of-age supernatural series may have differed dramatically in tone, but that is just what would have made the collaboration such a blast.

Harry Potter And The Dresden Files

If fans of the Harry Potter movies have ever been interested in trying out something a bit darker and grittier, there is another literary modern-day wizard with the same first name: Harry Dresden, played by Paul Blackthorne on the SyFy series, The Dresden Files. I think it would be fun to see J.K. Rowling's The Boy Who Lived helping author Jim Butcher's Chicago-based P.I. solve a grisly mystery in which magic is involved.

The Munsters And The Addams Family

They may have been on different networks and produced by opposing studios, but how in the world has there never been an attempt to introduce the Munsters to the Addams Family? I would even be open to getting the actors from Rob Zombie's reboot movie to star alongside the cast of Netflix's Wednesday if it meant getting just a glimpse at these creepy, kooky families finally coming together.