10 Must-See Action Movies Of 2026: From Superheroes To Sequels

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2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for movies, and it’s not getting enough attention! We can expect new installments in popular franchises like Dune, Scream, and The Hunger Games, plus adaptations of classics like The Odyssey.

Action movies are expected to dominate the box office in 2026. We can look forward to highly anticipated sequels, three big superhero films, and fresh releases from directors like Guy Ritchie. In fact, there are so many promising action movies coming out that it’s hard to pick just ten!

In The Grey – TBA

Guy Ritchie is a remarkably consistent director in Hollywood. While not all of his films are massive successes or critical darlings, they all clearly showcase his unique style. Though many of his movies share common elements, he occasionally surprises audiences with something completely different, such as his live-action version of Aladdin.

Ritchie, the director of The Covenant, is collaborating with Jake Gyllenhaal once more on a new film called In the Grey. The movie centers around two experts in rescue operations who must help a negotiator get out of a perilous predicament.

Guy Ritchie consistently delivers action that’s both inventive and a blast to watch, and I expect this new film will be no exception. Plus, the cast is incredible – Jake Gyllenhaal is joined by Henry Cavill, Eiza González, and Rosamund Pike. The only downside? We don’t have a release date for In the Grey just yet, which is a real bummer.

Shelter – January 30

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Following the success of the 2008 film Taken, we’ve seen a rise in action movies featuring everyday people unexpectedly thrust back into dangerous, violent pasts. Popular examples include Nobody, The Equalizer, and John Wick.

Jason Statham has become known for starring in action thrillers about tough guys with hidden pasts, as seen in movies like The Beekeeper, Wrath of Man, and A Working Man. His upcoming film, Shelter, continues this trend: he plays a retired hitman who must confront his old crew to safeguard a young woman.

Although the movies don’t really break any new ground, they’re still enjoyable. You can expect plenty of action, and Jason Statham is always fun to watch.

Mortal Kombat II – May 8

One of the most anticipated action sequels coming in 2026 is Mortal Kombat II. The first movie, released in 2021, generated a lot of excitement among fans of the video game series, as the trailer promised to capture the spirit of the original games.

Although the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie didn’t become a huge hit with audiences, it stayed true to the video games and featured plenty of action. The sequel looks to deliver more of the same, and it’s adding Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, the popular character known as a confident actor who’s also a skilled fighter.

Mortal Kombat II features the characters you loved from the first game and promises even more of the exciting action that made it so popular. The new characters sound interesting, and those involved with the film say there’s significantly more fighting in this sequel, which is building a lot of anticipation.

Masters Of The Universe – June 5

It’s hard to get too excited about a Masters of the Universe movie actually coming out in 2026. A film based on the classic Mattel toy line has been in the works for years – even director John Woo was involved way back in 2007!

Despite having a confirmed release date, details about the Masters of the Universe movie are still scarce. We haven’t seen any trailers or images yet, but the film boasts a strong cast, including Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Duncan, and Alison Brie as Evelyn Powers.

Turning animated movies and TV shows into live-action films is often risky, and it’s especially challenging to remake something people loved from the 1980s. While the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie could go either way, we’re definitely curious to see how it turns out.

Supergirl – June 26

James Gunn’s first DC Universe movie, Superman, was a success in 2025. The film included a brief appearance by Milly Alcock as Supergirl, hinting at her own standalone movie, scheduled for release in the summer of 2026.

Look, as a big superhero movie fan, I always go in hoping for another inspiring hero like Superman, but Supergirl is…different. She’s carrying a lot of baggage, having witnessed the tragic end of her home planet. What’s really cool, though, is the movie actually draws heavily from the ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ comic book run, and that series was amazing – critics and fans loved it!

Craig Gillespie appears to be a great fit as director for this ambitious space adventure. The film promises a powerful performance from Alcock, more of the beloved Krypto, and plenty of intrigue surrounding Jason Momoa’s character, Lobo. Many believe this could be a truly exceptional superhero film with a female lead.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day – July 31

Fans are really excited for the next Marvel movie. While 2025 brought successful films like Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, everyone is especially looking forward to Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man is Marvel’s most popular hero, and his past movies have done very well, suggesting this new one will too. Plus, it’s been a while – since 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home – since we’ve seen Tom Holland as Peter Parker, making this release even more anticipated.

Details about the new Spider-Man movie are still emerging, but the cast is shaping up to be exciting! Mark Ruffalo and Jon Bernthal will be appearing as Hulk and The Punisher, and Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are back for more. Plus, Sadie Sink is joining the cast in a currently undisclosed role. It looks like it’s going to be a massive film.

Street Fighter – October 16

Like Mortal Kombat II, we’re looking forward to the new Street Fighter movie. It’s another adaptation of the popular video game series, bringing its characters to life on the big screen. The previous movie from 1994 wasn’t well-received initially, but it’s gained a dedicated following over time.

The latest Street Fighter game appears to be embracing the over-the-top humor and playful style that fans loved in the original. The characters have unique and exaggerated designs, the fights promise to be entertaining, and the roster is incredibly diverse and eccentric.

The movie features a diverse cast including actors Jason Momoa, David Dastmalchian, and Noah Centineo. It also stars professional wrestlers Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Hirooki Goto, plus rapper 50 Cent and martial artist Rayna Vallandingham, among other talents.

Violent Night 2 – December 4

2022 brought a fresh take on Christmas action movies with Violent Night. The film presents a unique story about Santa Claus – he’s not just a jolly gift-giver, but an immortal Viking warrior who has to save a rich family from a group of terrorists on Christmas Eve.

The movie did reasonably well in theaters and critics generally liked it. Surprisingly, a sequel is coming out in December 2026! David Harbour will return as Santa, and Kristen Bell will join the cast as Mrs. Claus.

Daniela Melchior, Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, and wrestler MJF are all joining the cast. If it lives up to the first movie, Violent Night 2 promises to be a really entertaining action film when it comes out in 2026.

Jumanji Sequel – December 11

Jumanji is a hugely popular movie franchise, and its success has been surprisingly consistent. Starting with the original film in 1995 and followed by a continuation in the early 2000s, the series was revitalized with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level. Both of these newer films earned over $800 million at the box office.

The last two Jumanji movies came out two years apart, but fans haven’t seen a new one since 2019. Good news – a new Jumanji film is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 11th.

Details about the story are still scarce, but the main stars—Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart—are all returning. Nick Jonas, Danny DeVito, and Awkwafina will be back too, and this time, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cher are joining the fun, promising an exciting adventure!

Avengers: Doomsday – December 18

Custom image by Diana Acuña

Few movies in 2026 are generating more excitement than Avengers: Doomsday, across all genres. While anticipation is strong, it’s not quite at the peak it reached with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe was at its most popular.

Recent releases like Thunderbolts and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day are generating a lot of buzz. A particularly exciting part is the return of Robert Downey Jr., though this time he’ll be playing the villain Doctor Doom instead of his famous role as Iron Man. That alone is enough to make people want to see it.

The movie boasts a huge cast, bringing together familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe – like Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, and Sebastian Stan – with stars from the original X-Men films, including Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. Everyone is excited and speculating about how all these characters will come together in Avengers: Doomsday.

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2025-12-25 18:05