Why 2026 could be the year movies beat streaming
Industry
Since I can remember, I define cinema as an extension of life itself. It's a curious thing how a reality depicted on a screen can become a part of oneself, but here we are, talking about stories that belong and, at the same time, don't belong to us. Because that's what this art is about: making ours what at first doesn't belong to us. Throughout the last few years, the cosmic journey that entails buying a ticket—or several—arriving at the place, buying popcorn—or sneaking it in a backpack—sitting in a seat and preparing to feel surprise has slowly faded before a society pervaded by conformism. Nowadays, streaming platforms grab—almost—everyone's attention and the individualism promoted on social media made us disconnect from the congregational feeling that watching a movie on the big screen naturally inspires. Life apparently isn't the same as twenty years ago, even though we want to reverse the situation.
The times they are a-changin', Bob Dylan would say, but particularly three titles that have an assured place in 2026 are convincing me otherwise. It may be too early to set my thoughts in stone and bury all doubts, but we have three of the best authors of modern cinema preparing something that may fully break the mold and completely change the outlook of how we appreciate a movie. Particularly, for the younger generation, which was raised on the basis of "binge-watching" many series and movies every week on streaming. Three beasts of epic and grandiloquent cinema that, in spite of having some opponents, it's impossible to deny the influence they exert. Three men who attract crowds of fans—and non-fans—to their events and who share a much bigger mission than any production company or name of this environment: saving cinema as it's known from an irreparable catastrophe.
THE ODYSSEY (Christopher Nolan)
There's much to talk about regarding Sir Christopher Nolan's next cinematic event. No one expected the news that the source of inspiration for a movie that's already awakening early passions in the world of blockbuster d'auteur would be one of the most important novels in the history of humanity. And it's nothing to sneeze at; his adaptation of Homer's Odyssey has everything to be one of the most spectacular experiences enjoyed on a big screen of all times. As expected, his Greek epic will have as many practical effects as possible, and the incorporation of an innovative IMAX camera specifically designed for this director's new odyssey has already been confirmed. Talking about practical effects, for the Cyclops in the cave scene, Nolan and a team of specialists in the matter created a six-feet tall animatronic puppet, and it's rumored that only the head of the colossal character is the same size as a standard human body. That's enough to justify the movie theater ticket.
Universal signed his second contract with the London native after the critical and box-office success Oppenheimer, and gave him complete creative freedom (as actor John Leguizamo said a few days ago “it's like indie cinema but with crazy money”), USD 250 million—this will be his most expensive film—and a cast that invites us to drop our jaws just by naming some stars. For the first time, Matt Damon will be the protagonist of one of Sir Christopher's works, playing Odysseus. We also have Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Anne Hathaway, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, among others. I know what you might say: a star-studded cast doesn't guarantee anything and, many times, less is more. Believe me, I think the same most of the time, but nothing can shatter the renewed hope I have in this director, who drew me to the film world just by making a totem spin eternally.
The premiere is scheduled for July 17, 2026.
DUNE: MESSIAH (Denis Villeneuve)
Unlike Nolan's next work, in the imminent conclusion of this saga presented on the big screen by the formidable Denis Villeneuve, heroism won't be the protagonist. This was already felt—largely thanks to Chalamet's performance—mostly in Dune's part two, a whimsical war story permeated with religious symbolisms and a Paul Atreides determined to be who his heart—but mostly the external influences—says he should be. There won't be a happy ending like in Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings; we are before a story that can change everything we think about the classic "character's arcs."
The third installment is set twelve years after the ending in which Paul obtains the recognition of the Fremen tribe as the "Messiah," the "Lisan Al Gaib," and declares a war between the different houses and other groups that believe he isn't the chosen one as such. In addition, there will be a tragic, romantic subplot between Chani (Zendaya), Paul (Chalamet) and Princess Irulan Corrino (Pugh). We will witness the best ending in the style of Game of Thrones, a true old-school drama.
The premiere of this trilogy's conclusion is supposedly scheduled for October 2026.
DISCLOSURE (Steven Spielberg)
After 44 years—yes, you read that right—the legendary creator of some of the most iconic movies of all time returns with an original idea of his own for his next project. Known for being an eager explorer of the unknown, this almost eighty-year-old visionary of the seventh art wants to keep delighting us with his stories. After depicting his childhood in the non-official biopic The Fabelmans, he returns to science-fiction and, specifically, to aliens. There's not much disclosed about the official plot since the secrecy is absolute, but it was confirmed that scriptwriter David Koepp will team up with Spielberg once again after eighteen years—their last collaboration was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a pretty controversial title. It was also revealed that, as always, Janusz Kaminski will be his cinematographer and Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Josh O'Connor, Wyatt Russell (Kurt Russell's son) and Colman Domingo have been confirmed to join the main cast.
What aren't they telling us? This question seems to be the focus of his next cinematic experience, solely taking into account the title. And no, it isn't The Dish, as it had been mentioned a few months ago. In the last few years, the sighting of UFos and UAPs—like NASA wants to call them now—captivated society once again with the dilemma over what is real and what isn't, what are they selling us and what is really going on? There's only one thing I'm certain about: aliens want to visit the United States and only the United States, and our dear Spielberg is weaving something truly formidable.
The premiere is scheduled for May 15, 2026.
Published on MARCH 22, 2025, 14:06 PM | UTC-GMT -3
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