Movies - The Walt Disney Company 2026 : A Bold, Ambitious and Story-Driven Cinematic Year That Blends Legacy, Innovation and Spectacle

By Mulder, 27 december 2025

2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exhilarating cinematic years in recent memory for The Walt Disney Company, not only because of the impressive volume of releases spread across its many powerhouse labels, but because of how confidently it embraces risk, honors beloved franchises, and trusts some of the most respected voices in filmmaking to push storytelling forward. There is something genuinely fascinating in how Disney is balancing intense genre films from 20th Century Studios, massive pop-culture juggernauts from Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, deeply emotional and inventive storytelling from Pixar, and legacy sequels that carry enormous nostalgic weight. The strategy feels both fearless and calculated, as though Disney looked at the cultural landscape and decided that 2026 should not merely entertain audiences but make them feel how cinema can still surprise, thrill, scare, comfort and unite people in theaters around the world.

The year kicks off with Send Help, directed by Sam Raimi, a filmmaker whose career proves how uniquely he blends horror, humor, humanity and spectacle, from his groundbreaking work on Evil Dead to redefining comic book cinema with Spider-Man. Co-written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, produced by Sam Raimi and Zainab Azizi, and powered by the acting duo of Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, this twisted survival story places two polar-opposite colleagues stranded on a desert island, where the fight to stay alive becomes a darkly funny psychological war of ego, mistrust and desperation. With cinematography from Bill Pope, editing by Bob Murawski and music by Danny Elfman, this one already carries the DNA of a true Raimi experience: inventive visuals, mischievous energy and emotional stakes that hit harder than expected. Released by 20th Century Studios in the United States and The Walt Disney Company France in France, it feels like an early sign that Disney’s year will not be playing safe.

Just weeks later, the tension rises again with Psycho Killer, directed by Gavin Polone and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, whose name is of course forever tied to the unforgettable tone and dread of Se7en. Produced by Roy Lee, Matt Berenson, Andrew Kevin Walker and Arnon Milchan, this chilling thriller follows police officer Jane Thorne, embodied by Georgina Campbell, as she hunts a murderer known as the “Satanic Slasher”. Surrounded by a strong cast including James Preston Rogers, Grace Dove, Logan Miller and the legendary Malcolm McDowell, supported by cinematography from Magnus Nordenhof Jønck and music by Sven Faulconer, this film positions itself as a tense, atmospheric descent into obsession and fear. 20th Century Studios once again delivers something unapologetically adult and intense, reinforcing Disney’s long-standing belief in allowing each of its labels to stay true to its identity.

Animation then takes the lead with Hoppers from Pixar Animation Studios, directed by Daniel Chong, written by Jesse Andrews from a story by Daniel Chong, and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle. Here, Pixar taps into its trademark emotional intelligence while diving into bold technological and thematic ideas. With Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Kathy Najimy and an exceptional ensemble, cinematography by Jeremy Lasky and Ian Megibben, editing by Axel Geddes, and music by Mark Mothersbaugh, this story about Mabel transferring consciousness into an animal-robot beaver blends childhood wonder with philosophical questions about identity, empathy and the boundaries between humanity and technology. Pixar has always excelled when it takes children seriously, trusts adults to still be curious, and finds poetry in emotional risk  Hoppers seems perfectly aligned with that tradition.

Horror comes roaring back in March with Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, written by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, and produced by Tripp Vinson, James Vanderbilt, Bradley J. Fischer and William Sherak. With Samara Weaving returning as Grace and joined by Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Nadeem Umar-Khitab, David Cronenberg and Elijah Wood, this sequel pushes the twisted mythology even further. The idea of Grace now reaching a higher level of the sinister “game”, dealing with rival families and fighting to protect her estranged sister while the stakes become disturbingly global, is a wickedly clever evolution. Cinematography by Brett Jutkiewicz, editing by Jay Prychidny and music by Sven Faulconer promise a stylish, intense and darkly humorous experience, distributed by Searchlight Pictures. It is one of those sequels that feels narratively justified rather than commercially forced.

Fashion, power and emotional scars return to the forefront with The Devil Wears Prada 2, directed by David Frankel, written by Aline Brosh McKenna and produced by Wendy Finerman, based on the sequel novel by Lauren Weisberger. Reuniting icons Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, with cinematography by Florian Ballhaus and music by Theodore Shapiro, this follow-up dives back into the ruthless glamour of Runway Magazine and New York’s fashion battlefield. Few sequels carry this level of emotional nostalgia, cultural legacy and character history, and seeing these performers return to these now-mythical roles feels like cinema capturing lightning twice, perhaps even with a richer, more mature lens.

Epic storytelling then takes a galactic turn with The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, written by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, based on the universe created by George Lucas, and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Ian Bryce. With Pedro Pascal returning and joined by Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White and Jonny Coyne, cinematography by David Klein, editing by Rachel Goodlett Katz and music by Ludwig Göransson, this film marks a historic cinematic step for a Star Wars story that began on television. Moving Din Djarin and Grogu to the big screen while deepening the New Republic era is both a reward for fans and a testament to how beloved these characters have become. Lucasfilm understands legacy storytelling, and this release might well become one of the emotional high points of the year.

Summer then belongs to Pixar again with Toy Story 5, written and directed by Andrew Stanton, produced by Lindsey Collins, featuring the beloved voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Ernie Hudson, Tony Hale, Anna Faris, Conan O’Brien, Greta Lee and Melissa Villaseñor. The idea of toys now facing irrelevance in an era ruled by electronics is not only timely but deeply poignant. Pixar has always used Woody, Buzz and the gang to explore change, loss, love and purpose. Here, the emotional core might very well revolve around identity in a digital world, which speaks as much to adults as to children.

Live-action adventure continues in Moana, directed by Thomas Kail, written by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, based on the Disney film created by Jared Bush, Ron Clements and John Musker, produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Beau Flynn and Lin-Manuel Miranda, starring Catherine Laga’aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams and Rena Owen, with cinematography by Óscar Faura and music by Mark Mancina. Returning to the spirit of courage, heritage and nature’s voice, this new cinematic journey reinforces how Moana’s story continues to resonate powerfully around the world.

Comedy returns with Super Troopers 3, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, written by Broken Lizard, produced by Richard Perello, starring Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Brian Cox, Marisa Coughlan, Hannah Simone and Iqbal Theba, with cinematography by Joe Collins. Distributed by Searchlight Pictures, it brings back the chaotic and irreverent humor fans adore, proof that Disney’s studio family still knows how to laugh loud and unapologetically.

Intensity rises in late summer with The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott, written by Mark L. Smith and Christopher Wilkinson, based on the novel by Peter Heller, produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Cliff Roberts and Mark L. Smith, starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong, with cinematography by Erik Messerschmidt, editing by Sam Restivo and Claire Simpson, and music by Harry Gregson-Williams. This post-pandemic dramatic thriller promises atmosphere, introspection and grand cinematic craftsmanship, something Ridley Scott has delivered for decades.

That emotional and visceral intensity continues with Whalefall, directed by Brian Duffield, written by Brian Duffield and Daniel Kraus, based on Daniel Kraus’ novel, produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Allan Mandelbaum and Brian Duffield, starring Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy and Emily Rudd, with cinematography by Aaron Morton and editing by Pietro Scalia. A desperate underwater rescue quest tinged with grief, time pressure and human fragility feels like the kind of high-concept emotional thriller that sticks with audiences long after credits roll.

Disney Animation then looks ready to bring magic and humor with Hexed, to be confirmed, directed by Jason Hand and Josie Trinidad, produced by Roy Conli and Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones, starring Frank Welker, Tress MacNeille, Neil Morrissey, Jim Hanks, CeeLo Green and Emilie-Claire Barlow. A clumsy teenager discovering chaos-bringing magical powers alongside his hyper-organized mother sounds like classic Disney: heartwarming chaos, humor, emotional growth and dazzling imagination.

Finally, the year prepares to close on one of the most monumental cinematic events ever attempted: Avengers: Doomsday, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, written by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely, produced by Kevin Feige, Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, starring a phenomenal ensemble including Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal and Robert Downey Jr., with cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel, editing by Jeffrey Ford and music by Alan Silvestri. This is not just a film; it is a cinematic convergence of eras, characters, emotions and generations of storytelling, and it may 
stand as one of the most ambitious superhero projects ever conceived.

2026 is not simply another slate for The Walt Disney Company; it feels like a statement of artistic confidence, creative diversity and cultural ambition. From horror to animation, from deeply personal adventures to universe-shaking epics, Disney’s studios are embracing bold voices, powerful performances and emotionally resonant narratives. It is a year where nostalgia meets innovation, where legacy meets reinvention, and where audiences are invited to rediscover why stepping into a theater, sharing stories together and being swept away by cinema still matters so much.

Send Help

Directed by Sam Raimi
Written by Damian Shannon, Mark Swift
Produced by Sam Raimi, Zainab Azizi
Starring  Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien
Cinematography : Bill Pope
Edited by Bob Murawski
Music by Danny Elfman
Production companies : 20th Century Studios, Raimi Productions
Distributed by 20th Century Studios (United States), The Walt Disney Company France (France)
Release date : January 30, 2026 (United States), February 11, 2026 (France)
Synopsis : The sole survivors of a plane crash, Linda Liddle and Bradley Preston now find themselves stranded on a desert island. For these two colleagues who are polar opposites, the time has come to overcome past grievances and work together to try to escape. Except that in the end, the battle for survival becomes a disturbing and cruelly funny trial of strength, where each wants to outsmart the other...

Psycho Killer

Directed by Gavin Polone
Written by Andrew Kevin Walker
Produced by Roy Lee, Matt Berenson, Andrew Kevin Walker, Arnon Milchan
Starring  Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, Grace Dove, Logan Miller, Malcolm McDowell
Cinematography : Magnus Nordenhof Jønck
Music by Sven Faulconer
Production companies : Regency Enterprises, New Regency, Constantin Film, Vertigo Entertainment, Pariah
Distributed by 20th Century Studios (United States)
Release date : February 20, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Following the murder of her husband, police officer Jane Thorne wants to track down a serial killer known as the Satanic Slasher.

Hoppers

Directed by Daniel Chong
Written by Jesse Andrews
Story by Daniel Chong
Produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle
Starring  Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Kathy Najimy, Eduardo Franco, Melissa Villaseñor, Ego Nwodim, Vanessa Bayer, Sam Richardson, Aparna Nancherla, Nichole Sakura, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Steve Purcell, Karen Huie, Tom Law
Cinematography : Jeremy Lasky, Ian Megibben
Edited by Axel Geddes
Music by Mark Mothersbaugh
Production company : Pixar Animation Studios
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Release date : March 4, 2026 (France), March 6, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Mabel, a teenager with a passion for animals, jumps (literally!) at the chance to try out a revolutionary new technology that allows her to communicate with them in a completely new way... by slipping into the skin of an adorable female beaver. Designed by visionary scientists, this device allows human consciousness to be transferred into the bodies of lifelike animal robots. Mabel then embarks on a unique adventure full of discoveries in the heart of the animal kingdom.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Written by Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy
Produced by Tripp Vinson, James Vanderbilt, Bradley J. Fischer, William Sherak
Starring  Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Nadeem Umar-Khitab, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood
Cinematography : Brett Jutkiewicz
Edited by Jay Prychidny
Music by Sven Faulconer
Production company : Radio Silence Productions
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures (United States), 
Release date : March 25, 2026 (France), March 27, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Peu après avoir échappé à l’attaque sans merci de la famille Le Domas, Grace découvre qu’elle vient d’atteindre un nouveau niveau dans ce jeu cauchemardesque – et elle aura à ses côtés sa sœur dont elle s’était éloignée, Faith. Elle n’aura qu’une seule chance pour à la fois survivre, protéger sa sœur et revendiquer le Haut Siège du Conseil qui gouverne le monde. Cette fois, quatre familles rivales la traquent pour s’emparer du trône, et celle qui l’emportera aura le pouvoir absolu.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Directed by David Frankel
Written by Aline Brosh McKenna
Based on Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger
Produced by Wendy Finerman
Starring  Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci
Cinematography : Florian Ballhaus
Music by Theodore Shapiro
Production companies : Wendy Finerman Productions, Sunswept Entertainment
Distributed by 20th Century Studios (United States)
Release date : April 29, 2026 (France), May 1, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Miranda, Andy, Emily, and Nigel dive back into the ruthless and glamorous world of Runway magazine and the streets of New York, where elegance is a formidable weapon.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Directed by Jon Favreau
Written by Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni
Based on Characters by George Lucas
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Ian Bryce
Starring  Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Jeremy Allen White, Jonny Coyne
Cinematography : David Klein
Edited by Rachel Goodlett Katz
Music by Ludwig Göransson
Production company : Lucasfilm
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios (United States, France)
Release date : May 20, 2026 (France), May 22, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : The fall of the evil Galactic Empire has precipitated the dispersal of imperial warlords across the galaxy... To protect everything the Rebellion fought for, the young New Republic decides to call upon the legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu...

Toy Story 5

Written and directed by Andrew Stanton
Produced by Lindsey Collins
Starring  Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Blake Clark, John Ratzenberger, Ernie Hudson, Tony Hale, Anna Faris, Conan O'Brien, Greta Lee, Melissa Villaseñor
Production company : Pixar Animation Studios
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Release date : June 17, 2026 (France), June 19, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis  : Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the rest of the gang will see their work challenged when they discover that what today's children are obsessed with is called... electronics!

Moana

Directed by Thomas Kail
Written by Jared Bush, Dana Ledoux Miller
Based on Disney's Moana by Jared Bush, Ron Clements, John Musker
Produced by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Beau Flynn, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Starring  Catherine Laga'aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui, Frankie Adams, Rena Owen
Cinematography : Óscar Faura
Music by Mark Mancina
Production companies : Walt Disney Pictures, Seven Bucks Productions, Flynn Picture Co.
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Release date : July 8, 2026 (Fran,ce), July 10, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Answering the call of the ocean, Vaiana ventures beyond the reef of her island of Motunui for the first time. Accompanied by the famous demigod Maui, she embarks on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people...

Super Troopers 3
Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Written by Broken Lizard
Produced by Richard Perello
Starring  Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Brian Cox, Marisa Coughlan, Hannah Simone, Iqbal Theba
Cinematography : Joe Collins
Production companies : Broken Lizard Industries, Cataland Films
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures (United States)
Release date : August 7, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : In Vermont, near the Canadian border, five police officers—Thorny, Farva, Mac, Foster, and Rabbit—try their best to keep order.

The Dog Stars
Directed by Ridley Scott
Written by Mark L. Smith, Christopher Wilkinson
Based on The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
Produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Cliff Roberts, Mark L. Smith
Starring  Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong
Cinematography : Erik Messerschmidt
Edited by Sam Restivo, Claire Simpson
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams
Production companies : 20th Century Studios, Scott Free Productions
Distributed by 20th Century Studios (United States), The Walt Disney Company France (France)
Release date : August 26, 2026 (France), August 28, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : In the near future, when an unnamed pandemic has decimated American society, Hig, a pilot, lives on an abandoned air base in Colorado with his dog and an ex-marine. When a random transmission comes through the radio of his 1956 Cessna, the voice awakens deep within the pilot the hope that a better life exists outside their tightly controlled perimeter...

Whalefall
Directed by Brian Duffield
Written by Brian Duffield, Daniel Kraus
Based on Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
Produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Allan Mandelbaum, Brian Duffield
Starring  Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, Elisabeth Shue, John Ortiz, Jane Levy, Emily Rudd
Cinematography : Aaron Morton
Edited by : Pietro Scalia
Production companies : Imagine Entertainment, 3 Arts Entertainment
Distributed by 20th Century Studios (United States), The Walt Disney Company France (France)
Release date : October 14, 2026 (France), October 16, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : A scuba diver is searching for the remains of his deceased father, who was swallowed by a sperm whale. He has only one hour left before he runs out of oxygen.

Hexed (To be confirmed)
Directed by Jason Hand, Josie Trinidad
Produced by Roy Conli, Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones
Starring  Frank Welker, Tress MacNeille, Neil Morrissey, Jim Hanks, CeeLo Green, Emilie-Claire Barlow
Production companies : Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (United States), Walt Disney Company France (France)
Release dates :  November 25, 2026 (France)
Synopsis : A clumsy teenager and his hyper-organized mother discover that what makes him unique may well be magical powers capable of turning not only their lives upside down, but also the secret world of spells...

Avengers: Doomsday

Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Written by Michael Waldron, Stephen McFeely
Based on Avengers by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Produced by Kevin Feige, Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring  Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Robert Downey Jr.
Cinematography : Newton Thomas Sigel
Edited by Jeffrey Ford
Music by Alan Silvestri
Production companies : Marvel Studios, AGBO
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios (United States), The Walt Disney Company France (France)
Release date : December 16, 2026 (France), December 18, 2026 (United States), The Walt Disney Company France (France)
Synopsis : NC