2026 has been a big year at the movies. Christopher Nolan made the best-reviewed film of his career. Pixar found its spark again. And a long-shelved Looney Tunes movie finally made it to theaters and won critics over.
It has been good for business too. By early August, five films had already crossed $1 billion worldwide, more than in any year since 2019.
So which films are actually worth your time? We went through critic scores and the year’s best-of lists to pick the 27 top rated movies of 2026 so far. You’ll find huge blockbusters, scary horror films, family picks and a few hidden gems from around the world.
One quick note: the scores below are Rotten Tomatoes critic scores at the time of writing. They can move up or down a point or two as more reviews come in.
The 27 Top Rated Movies of 2026
1. The Odyssey
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Matt Damon, Himesh Patel | Released: July 17
Nolan took on Homer’s ancient epic, and critics loved it. The film landed a 98% score at release, the highest of his career. It beat even The Dark Knight and Memento. Audiences showed up too, and it became Nolan’s biggest box office hit ever. If you only see one big-screen epic this year, make it this one.
2. Project Hail Mary
Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller | Star: Ryan Gosling | Released: March 20
A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory. Slowly, he learns he has to save Earth. Based on Andy Weir’s novel, the film mixes brainy science with a lot of heart and humor. Many critics called it the first great blockbuster of 2026.
3. Hoppers
Director: Daniel Chong | Voices: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Meryl Streep | Released: March 6
Pixar’s newest film follows Mabel, a young nature lover who can jump into a beaver’s mind. She uses it to help a beaver colony save its home. It is odd, funny and fresh. At 97%, it is Pixar’s best-reviewed movie since Coco.
4. Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton | Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal | Released: July 31
The world has forgotten Peter Parker, and he has to start over. Critics praised its grounded, emotional story and Holland’s best Spidey performance yet. It also became the highest-grossing film of 2026 in just seven days.
5. Resident Evil
Director: Zach Cregger | Stars: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser | Released: September 18
The Barbarian director turned the classic game into a tight, scary ride. A medical courier makes a delivery to Raccoon City’s hospital right as the outbreak hits. With 96% from critics, it is now the highest-rated video game movie ever.
6. Coyote vs. Acme
Director: Dave Green | Stars: Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor | Released: August 28
Wile E. Coyote finally sues the Acme company for all those faulty rockets. Warner Bros. shelved this one in 2023, but it was rescued and released in theaters. It mixes live action and cartoons, much like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Critics found it warm and very funny.
7. The Sheep Detectives
Director: Kyle Balda | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, voice of Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Released: May 8
When their shepherd is found dead, a flock of sheep sets out to solve the case. Think Babe meets a cozy murder mystery. It is sweet, silly and more moving than you’d expect. A great pick for family movie night.
8. Disclosure Day
Director: Steven Spielberg | Star: Emily Blunt | Released: June
Spielberg’s first sci-fi film in years asks what happens when the truth about aliens comes out. Emily Blunt got some of the best reviews of her career. Some critics felt the story wobbles, but most agreed it is a fun, big-screen thrill.
9. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Director: Nia DaCosta | Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams | Released: January
The rage virus saga continues, and it is darker and stranger than ever. Ralph Fiennes is a standout. Beneath the gore, the film asks what kindness looks like when the world has fallen apart.
10. Send Help
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien | Released: January
An employee and her awful boss survive a plane crash and get stuck on a deserted island. What follows is part survival thriller, part dark comedy, with plenty of Raimi’s trademark gore. Rachel McAdams clearly has a blast.
11. Hokum
Director: Damian McCarthy | Star: Adam Scott | Released: May 1
The Severance star checks into a haunted hotel in this Irish ghost story. It sticks to old-school scares: shadows that move, tight spaces and well-timed jumps. Fans of McCarthy’s Oddity will feel right at home.
12. Obsession
Director: Curry Barker | Stars: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette | Released: 2026
A lonely young man wishes for the girl he loves to love him back. His wish comes true, and it becomes a nightmare. This small-budget horror film turned into one of the year’s surprise hits.
13. It Ends
Director: Alexander Ullom | Distributor: Neon | Released: 2026
A group of friends takes a wrong turn onto a forest road that never seems to end. It is a creepy, clever debut that works as both horror and a metaphor for growing up. Right now it is tied for the best-reviewed horror film of the year.
14. The Furious
Director: Kenji Tanigaki | Stars: Xie Miao, Joe Taslim | Released: 2026
Two men go up against a huge trafficking ring to rescue the people they love. The fights are fast, brutal and brilliantly staged. Action fans should not miss it. Just don’t confuse it with another, weaker film of the same name from this year.
15. Is God Is
Director: Aleshea Harris | Stars: Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown | Released: May
Twin sisters set out to get revenge on the father who hurt their family. Based on Harris’s own award-winning play, it is bold, angry and often darkly funny. Kara Young and Mallori Johnson are both terrific.
16. The Invite
Director: Olivia Wilde | Stars: Seth Rogen, Olivia Wilde, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton | Released: 2026
Two couples, one dinner party and a lot of awkward truths. Wilde keeps things tight and twisted, and the cast is clearly having fun. Critics called it wickedly funny.
17. Josephine
Director: Beth de Araújo | Stars: Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Mason Reeves | Released: 2026
This drama looks at how a family copes after a traumatic event. It handles a hard subject with care and real empathy. Channing Tatum gives one of his most serious performances to date.
18. Union County
Director: Adam Meeks | Stars: Will Poulter, Noah Centineo | Released: 2026
Will Poulter plays a man going through addiction recovery. The film casts real program members alongside the actors, which makes it feel honest and lived-in. It is quiet, moving and hopeful.
19. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
Director: Matt Johnson | Stars: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol | Released: 2026
Two Toronto buddies just want to book a gig at a local bar. Then they accidentally invent time travel. Based on their cult web and TV series, this comedy is full of big, silly laughs.
20. The Samurai and the Prisoner
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa | Stars: Masahiro Motoki, Masaki Suda | Released: 2026
A feudal lord tries to solve a series of mysteries inside a castle under siege. Kurosawa, a master of Japanese suspense, delivers an elegant, slow-burn puzzle.
21. Fatherland
Director: Paweł Pawlikowski | Stars: Sandra Hüller, Hanns Zischler, August Diehl | Released: 2026
The Ida and Cold War director returns with a post-war story about a father and daughter. Sandra Hüller adds another strong role to her already great run.
22. Minotaur
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev | Released: 2026
The maker of Leviathan is back with a tense tale of power, secrets and corruption. Like a maze, it pulls you in deeper with every scene. It currently holds a 98% critic score.
23. All of a Sudden
Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi | Stars: Virginie Efira, Tao Okamoto | Released: 2026
The Drive My Car director sets this talky, thoughtful drama in a care home. It is gentle and full of big ideas about how we look after each other.
24. The History of Concrete
Director: John Wilson | Released: 2026
If you loved How To with John Wilson, this is a treat. His camera wanders New York and finds funny, touching links hiding in plain sight. It is a documentary unlike any other this year.
25. Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
Directors: Steve Cox, Matthew Walker | Released: 2026
Aardman’s beloved sheep is back for another farmyard adventure. With a 99% score, it is one of the best-reviewed films of the year, full stop. Kids and grown-ups will both laugh.
26. The Weight
Director: Padraic McKinley | Stars: Ethan Hawke, Russell Crowe | Released: 2026
Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe square off in this tough, gritty drama. Both actors bring real weight to their roles, and critics took notice.
27. Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert
Director: Yuen Woo-ping | Stars: Wu Jing, Jet Li, Nicholas Tse | Released: 2026
The legendary fight choreographer behind The Matrix directs this desert martial arts epic. Seeing Jet Li back in action is reason enough to watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the highest rated movie of 2026 so far?
A: Among the big releases, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey leads the pack. It opened with a 98% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the best of Nolan’s career.
Q: What is the best horror movie of 2026?
A: It Ends, Hokum, Obsession and Resident Evil all scored in the mid-to-high 90s. If you want pure scares, start with Hokum. If you want something strange and clever, try It Ends.
Q: What are the best family movies of 2026?
A: Hoppers, Coyote vs. Acme, The Sheep Detectives and Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom are all great picks for kids and adults.
Q: Which 2026 movie made the most money?
A: Spider-Man: Brand New Day became the highest-grossing film of 2026 just seven days after release. The Odyssey also passed $1 billion worldwide.
Q: Will more movies be added to this list?
A: Yes. Awards season is just getting started, so we’ll update this list as new films arrive in theaters.