Big franchises are locking in 2026, and the calendar already looks crowded in the best way. Disney, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Illumination and Lucasfilm have planted flags with exact dates, which means fewer rumors and more planning for movie nights that count.
Here is the core: The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 lands 3 April 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu hits 22 May 2026, Toy Story 5 arrives 19 June 2026, Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow takes 26 June 2026, Shrek 5 rolls in 1 July 2026, the live action Moana sails to 10 July 2026, The Batman Part II darkens 2 October 2026, and Marvel’s next Avengers entry is dated for 1 May 2026. These dates come from studio calendars and trade reporting shared across 2023 and 2024 by Disney, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Illumination and the major trades including Variety, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
Meilleurs films 2026 : the big releases already dated
Studios moved fast after the 2023 strikes reset production timelines. By mid 2024, Disney dated “The Mandalorian and Grogu” for 22 May 2026, a Memorial Day corridor that Star Wars knows well, while Warner Bros. shifted “The Batman Part II” to 2 October 2026 to protect Matt Reeves’s production runway. These are fixed points in a year built for event cinema.
Families get a heavy front half. Nintendo and Illumination announced “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” for 3 April 2026 during spring, then Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” lands 19 June 2026 on a Friday that has become a Pixar habit. DreamWorks confirmed “Shrek 5” for 1 July 2026, with the original voice cast returning, and Disney set the live action “Moana” for 10 July 2026. Dates and studio attributions were shared publicly in 2024 studio schedule updates.
Superheroes crowd early summer. Marvel placed the next “Avengers” for 1 May 2026, while DC’s “Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow” holds 26 June 2026 as part of the new DC Studios slate overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran, with the date circulated by Warner Bros. in 2024.
Family hits 2026 : Super Mario 2, Shrek 5, Toy Story 5, Moana
Why this matters right now. Families plan around school breaks, and 2026 has a neat run from April into July. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” on 3 April 2026 sets up a long spring playtime, then “Toy Story 5” on 19 June 2026 and “Shrek 5” on 1 July 2026 bridge straight into summer vacations. The live action “Moana” on 10 July 2026 keeps momentum going.
One common mistake when picking what to see first is ignoring spread. These films target different age bands and nostalgia triggers. A concrete example helps: in 2023, families that staggered viewings across weekends reported lower spend peaks and better seat choices in premium formats, according to exhibitor updates shared with trades during that summer. Spacing releases reduces sellout frustration, especially for Saturday matinees.
Logical takeaway for parents and group organizers. Lock tickets early only for peak frames like opening Saturday evening or holiday eves. Otherwise, the release spacing in April and July gives room to breathe, and weekday evening shows tend to be calmer than Friday 7 pm walls.
Superheroes in 2026 : Avengers, The Batman Part II, DC’s Supergirl
Here is the puzzle everyone asked about. Marvel’s 2026 anchor is an “Avengers” film dated 1 May 2026 on Disney’s schedule, while the exact title has been in flux in trade coverage after strategy shifts reported through 2024. DC counters with “Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow” on 26 June 2026, a Tom King inspired arc that signals a tonal pivot from earlier DC phases. Warner Bros. placed “The Batman Part II” on 2 October 2026 to keep Matt Reeves’s Elseworlds path framed outside the main DC Studios timeline.
For fans burned by delays, empathy matters. The 2023 Writers Guild strike lasted 148 days and SAG AFTRA’s strike ran 118 days, which pushed writing and shoot windows into 2024 and 2025. Those official union figures explain the dominoes. Now that cameras are rolling, dating feels firmer, and marketing ramps should be clearer by mid 2025.
Solution for superhero fatigue without missing the good stuff. Pick formats by story style. “The Batman Part II” is designed for low light noir visuals that sing on Dolby Vision screens, while an ensemble “Avengers” spectacle typically leans on IMAX framing. That one shift keeps the experience fresh without cramming every opening night.
Star Wars and franchise worldbuilding : what else to expect in 2026
Lucasfilm’s “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is locked to 22 May 2026 and serves as the franchise’s big screen return. That date, communicated by Disney and Lucasfilm to trades in 2024, places the film in a crowd pleasing holiday corridor. Expect a marketing runway that starts with a teaser in late 2025, as Disney often kicks first looks six to eight months out.
Studios still hold a few cards. Additional December 2026 slots float on internal calendars, and late year prestige titles normally firm up after fall festivals the previous year. The safe bet is a blend: one or two high concept originals sliding between the July giants and the October caped crusader, then awards driven dramas in November and December.
For quick planning, this confirmed 2026 calender helps, sorted by date :
- 1 May 2026 : Marvel’s next Avengers film, Disney
- 3 April 2026 : The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, Illumination and Nintendo
- 22 May 2026 : The Mandalorian and Grogu, Lucasfilm
- 19 June 2026 : Toy Story 5, Pixar and Disney
- 26 June 2026 : Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow, Warner Bros.
- 1 July 2026 : Shrek 5, DreamWorks Animation
- 10 July 2026 : Moana, live action, Disney
- 2 October 2026 : The Batman Part II, Warner Bros.
Release dates can shift with production realities. The most reliable way to keep this list accurate is to cross check studio calendars and the trade trio that breaks date changes first, namely Variety, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. One bookmark, zero surprises.