I feel weirdly optimistic for the movie industry in 2026. I understand that there are less people going to the movies these days for several reasons, such as streaming services and whatnot. But it does look like Hollywood is kicking things up a notch for 2026 as there are already several potential blockbuster coming out in the year.

Even as early as right now in January, there’s a lot of buzz for big budget flicks like Avengers: Doomsday, Supergirl, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Super Mario Galaxy, The Odyssey, Disclosure Day and Project Hail Mary, to name a few. There are also more than just a few movies like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat II and Godzilla Minus 0 that have a built in audience so they’re bound to get a boost in ticket sales because of that.

That’s all well and good but I’m actually excited for more than just those movies. The problem is that these movies are probably not going to get the same marketing budgets as the other flicks I just mentioned. They’ll need as much help as they can get in order for most people to even know they exist. And I’d like the help shine a spotlight on (around) five low-key movies that do deserve some attention in just the first half of 2026. Just to be extra kind, I’m going to even list them down in the order their slated to be released.

#1 Shelter (last week of January)

It has Jason Statham in it. For a some people, including myself, that’s all I need.

To say Jason Statham has been typecast as the badass guy who just wants to be left alone would be an understatement. As such, Shelter follows pretty much the plot of every recent Jason Statham flick he’s been in. He plays Michael Mason, a former assassin who just wanted to enjoy his solitude. When his former employers start hunting him down, he’s forced to go on the offensive.

Shelter follows the plot of every recent Jason Statham movie. Then again, why try to fix something that isn’t broken! His movies are the epitome of “turn off your brain and enjoy the carnage” and I’m here for it! We’ll get to see him go kick some butt in some really wicked action scenes all by his lonesome. We’ll get to see him speak in his gravely voice. We’ll get to see him just be the badass that he is. What’s wrong with that?

#2 Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (Second week of February)

Not exactly the Valentine’s movie everyone needs… but it should be something they want.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is a film about a time traveler who goes to the past. He does so in order to prevent a cataclysm and he must recruit the people he found in a diner as they will have the necessary skills to destroy the rogue AI that will destroy society as we know it.

The biggest reason Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is on this list is because of the trailer. Beyond the premise, I have no idea how the movie will go. There’s even a chance there’s a twist and the man from the future is just an insane guy giving people hope! So, I’m mainly going into this movie unsure of where it will go. But I know it’s going to be one hell of a ride!

#3 Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and They Will Kill You (last week of March)

In a cruel twist of fate, there are actually two movies that have the same general idea and are coming out at around the same time. So, I’m combining both Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and They Will Kill You in the same entry!

Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come is the sequel to Ready Or Not, which I loved! Although Grace (played by Samara Weaving) managed to survive her deadly hide-and-seek game, it appears it’s not over. And this time, other families are not just attempting to kill her but her sister Faith (played by Kathrine Newton) as well.

In They Will Kill You, a housemaid tries to find employment at one of the richest apartment buildings in New York. Little does she know that she was only hired as a “sacrifice” for the tenants to hunt. Unfortunately for the tenants, little do they know that the housemaid they hired isn’t as helpless as they initially thought.

Both Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come and They Will Kill You have the same premise: evil people stalking some girl. But their tones aren’t so similar. Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come is going to be more “classic” horror, with the heroines being more normal people unaccustomed to violence. They Will Kill You, on the other hand, is going to be much more action oriented and cheesy. Based on the trailers, both are going to be phenomenal! As they’re schedule to be released on the very same day, this might be a good double feature to go to!

#4 Normal (Third week of April)

Bob Odenkirk‘s transition to action hero is coming along nicely.

Sheriff Ulysses (played by Bob Odenkirk) is temporarily transferred to the seemingly sleepy town of Normal, Minnesota as the previous town’s sherrif just passed away. However, it appears there’s a little more to this quiet and peaceful “normal” little town than meets the eye.

Normal looks like it could be a lot of fun. As it has Bob Odenkirk, I fully expect there to be a good amount of humor amidst all of the chaotic and satisfying action. It also has a good number of positive reviews as it was already released during 2025’s Toronto International Film Festival. So, I’m coming into it with high expectations and I’m hoping for a more than just “normal” experience. See what I did there?

#5 The Sheep Detectives (First week of May)

Bet you didn’t think a story about murder can be family friendly, did you?

The Sheep Detectives follow a flock of sheep who find their shepherd murdered. Unfortunately, the police appear too incompetent to solve the mystery. As their shepherd read them all murder mystery novels, the sheep take it upon themselves to solve whodunnit. Of course, since they cannot speak and, you know, not human, the sheep detective have their work cut out for them.

I do love a good murder mystery and I also do enjoy a good lighthearted film once in a while. The Sheep Detectives do seem to fill those roles pretty well based on the trailer. I just hope the murder is actually solvable. That’s all I ask.

What other movies are you looking forward to in 2026? Let me know in the comments section below!