30 most anticipated films of 2026, from Toy Story 5 to Dune: Part Three

Every new year brings excitement and anticipation for a slate of cinematic experiences.

In 2026, a number of era-defining franchise films will be released, while animation fans can expect a return to familiar setting from Pixar and Nintendo. Here we look at the most anticipated films releasing in the UAE throughout the year.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 16)

Maura Bird, Jack O'Connell, and Erin Kellyman in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Photo: Columbia Pictures

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, expands the 28 Years Later universe shepherded by Danny Boyle, who returns as a producer and creative anchor. The post-apocalyptic horror picks up decades on, charting a scarred Britain, where survival is tribal and uneasy. The titular Bone Temple is a sanctuary-fortress mythologised for its ritualistic origins, built from remnants of a fallen world. The film balances dread and humanity, fractured societies and the moral cost of rebuilding when the past is literal bone.

Dead Man’s Wire (January 16)

Bill Skarsgard and Dacre Montgomery in Dead Man's Wire. Photo: Elevated Films

Dead Man’s Wire is an American crime thriller directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Austin Kolodney. Inspired by the 1977 Indianapolis hostage standoff involving Tony Kiritsis, it tracks how media attention, negotiation and police strategy turned a public confrontation into a national spectacle. Van Sant, known for outsider-driven dramas and cultural flashpoints, shaped films including Good Will Hunting, Milk, My Own Private Idaho and Elephant, often exploring subcultures, media influence and fragile egos. Bill Skarsgard leads as Kiritsis, supported by Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo and Al Pacino.

Goat (February 13)

Caleb McLaughlin in GOAT (2026). Photo: Columbia Pictures

Sony Pictures Animation's Goat is a sports comedy produced by Stephen Curry and directed by Tyree Dillihay. The voice cast also includes Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union. The film follows an underdog goat competing in the fictional sport of roarball, leaning into rivalry, teamwork and crowd-friendly comedy. Its release is timed to land in the NBA All-Star Weekend corridor and built for viewers who like competition treated as emot