Before we even knew it, 2026 is already half over! In some ways, that should be a reason to celebrate, as I don’t know many of us who would be willing to claim these past six months have been ones to fondly remember.
Then again, the film industry has experienced its best year since the pandemic, with big blockbusters propping up the box office. Unfortunately, I still can’t fully get behind the sentiment that 2026 has been a great year for movies so far. Of the 65 films I’ve seen, only a handful have stood out as worthy of remembrance, with the bulk wasting valuable physical time and mental energy.
Luckily for me, this article is devoted solely to the best of the best, with a few likely to stick around throughout the latter half of the year. Viewing options have been provided for each title should you feel motivated to check them out, which I highly recommend.
10. “Crime 101”
Simply by being a crime film set in Los Angeles that puts a weary cop and a calculating thief on a climactic collision course, the comparisons to Michael Mann’s “Heat” are rampant and obvious for “Crime 101.” Then again, despite “Heat” being the pinnacle of its genre, it doesn’t have a monopoly on Los Angeles-based crime, especially when other entries like “Chinatown,” “Colors,” and “Point Break” already staked their claim. “Crime 101” probably won’t ascend to that level of notoriety, but it also won’t be an odd duck to be mentioned in the same sentence.
At 140 minutes, Bart Layton’s adaptation of Don Winslow’s story unfolds patiently, letting its characters converge both physically and philosophically. Tension steadily builds as their paths intersect, with the camera seamlessly shifting between them. It’s understated but skillful filmmaking, executed with quiet confidence and craftsmanship.
Where to watch: Prime Video
9. “Rose of Nevada”
“Rose of Nevada” continues Cornish filmmaker Mark Jenkin’s complete refusal to mold himself to the standards of modern filmmaking. Just as he did with his previous two features, he goes ultra-low tech by shooting on scratchy 16mm and recording all sound in post-production. It’s as if this were a lost film that had just been unearthed on an abandoned island, rotting away for years until being saved at the last minute.
The story of two fishermen (Callum Turner and George MacKay) who are mysteriously transported back in time is told with a hypnotic sense of mystery. Most of the time, you have no idea what you were watching, but you can’t help but be endlessly transfixed by it. The beckoning of Hollywood doesn’t seem to be having much effect on Jenkin, promising more distinctly singular work from this accomplished underground artist.
Where to watch: Currently in theaters
8. “Eagles of the Republic”
As the final entry in his Cairo Trilogy after “The Nile Hilton Incident” and “Cairo Conspiracy,” Tarik Saleh’s “Eagles of the Republic” once again sets its moral sights on the moral rot within Egypt’s power structure. George Fahmy (Fares Fares, who’s led all three films in the trilogy), the country’s biggest movie star, is persuaded to star in a propaganda film for the current authoritarian regime. Things quickly descend into chaos, with Fahmy having to reckon with sleeping in the bed he’s made, although Saleh is smart enough to know that our modern world has built safeguards so that true evil never gets its full comeuppance.
Where to watch: Online rental
7. “The Sheep Detectives”
Taking some inspiration from modern whodunnits like the “Knives Out” films and the English whimsy of “Paddington,” screenwriter Craig Mazin spins a yarn that is both simple enough to keep straight and complex enough that it doesn’t immediately reveal itself. Rated PG, this story of talking sheep solving their shepherd’s murder is entertainment for the whole family that respects the intelligence of each member. Kids will be entertained by the talking animals and slapstick humor, while parents will be surprised by how invested they are in the plot and emotions. It’s a perfect day at the farm, luckily without the usual smells.
Where to watch: Prime Video
6. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”
It’s devilishly and depressingly fitting that 2026 began with a film set in an unstable wasteland. Zigging instead of zagging, screenwriter Alex Garland and director Nia DaCosta don’t continue to pile on the human-induced grotesquerie that this franchise often bathes in, nor do they take the easy route of making this next installment bigger than the previous one. “The Bone Temple” slides down a register, containing all events within a few days and only a couple of hundred yards.
Initially, “28 Weeks Later” was my favorite in the franchise, thanks to its ability to pull back the lens and take a macro view of the epidemic. Now, “The Bone Temple” has ascended to the top by doing the exact opposite. Garland and franchise helmer Danny Boyle have coyly teased a third entry in this new series, which this film supports in its conclusion. Both the creatives and the audience deserve to see this through, not becoming a memento mori of what could have been. The ball is entirely in your court, Sony.
Where to watch: Netflix
5. “Toy Story 5”
On its face, “Toy Story 5” is another sequel for Pixar, a growing trend where the milking of brands pays for the increasingly infrequent ventures into original storytelling. For as simultaneously cynical and accurate as that statement might be, it doesn’t consider the wealth of talent within the studio, both new and returning, that keeps these materials fresh for worldwide audiences. You probably won’t find a better family film all year, or a franchise that consistently exceeds its already mighty expectations.
Where to watch: Currently in theaters
4. “The Invite”
Across the entire timeline of cinematic history, has there ever been one instance where a dinner party has gone exactly as planned? That theme of misfortune continues with “The Invite,” an adaptation of the 2020 Spanish film “The People Upstairs,” pitched through a prism of manic anxiety. The initial bickering between hosts Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) increases in tempo as they race against the clock to get ready. While still being hilarious on its own terms, it’s a relatable window into a decaying relationship verging on incurable.
In all of us is a desire to be desired, a yearning that proves our self-worth. Validation is a potent drug, one that can’t be administered by yourself. Wilde doesn’t handle these later dramatic scenes with as much skill as the earlier comedic ones, but the hard work she and the writers put into these characters still makes it land with a bit of a punch. In a summer blockbuster season ruled by giant tentpoles overfilled with noise and visual effects, this is a smart and funny party you’ll want to attend.
Where to watch: Currently in theaters
3. “Hokum”
For as much as it takes for “Hokum” to establish itself, writer/director Damian McCarthy successfully holds our attention through scintillating imagery and established plot points. And then once it gets going, it becomes one of the creepiest films of recent memory. McCarthy yet again slows things way down, gradually upping the ante through impeccable craftsmanship. Our eyes are attracted to the few pools of light, with evil lurking in the space between them and the darkness. Was that a woman that Ohm saw, or just his nerves playing a trick? We ask ourselves the same question, that is, until McCarthy unravels what’s been going on.
I had no expectations that “Hokum” would reinvent the horror genre, specifically its occult and folk horror subgenres. I was correct in my assumption, yet this film still ranks as one of the best in its class. It’s old-school terror delivered through assured filmmaking, anchored by a sturdy lead performance. I arrived home after the movie and dared not look into any dark room, as my imagination had been corrupted. A feeling like that is when you know you’ve seen a truly scary movie.
Where to watch: Online rental
2. “The Love That Remains”
One of modern life’s most normal problems is divorce, which is at the center of this film. Except this isn’t a divorce of anger or resentment, just a falling out of love. It’s as if the pendulum had swung away from the feelings that originated this relationship, with just enough momentum to make us feel like it could swing back that way again. As the title alludes, there is still love between Anna and Magnús, just not enough for them to live together with their three children: Ída, Ágúst and Grímur.
For many families, this is the way things are. Things go up and down, with unexplainable moments that stick out from the overall tapestry. Writer/director Hlynur Pálmason gently captures that roller coaster, with Harry Hunt’s melodic piano easing us along. There’s laughter, sadness and a lovingly playful dog. What more could you need in life?
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel
1. “Disclosure Day”
“If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?” That’s the simple question that spurred Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” into existence. It’s the famed filmmaker’s newest foray into extraterrestrial life, a subject he’s explored from countless angles throughout his filmography. Here, he inverts the battle, probing the possibility of cohabitation in a world so steeped in division.
Acting as an old-school chase film, Spielberg and his longtime crew capture the results with an electrifying rhythm. Janusz Kaminski’s camera swirls from one expertly blocked frame to the next, many stealthily combined in a single take. It simultaneously looks simple and complicated, the mark of a maestro who can compress and translate his genius for the audience.
A summer blockbuster wrestling with profound ideas is nothing new for Spielberg, who has consistently merged intelligence with popcorn entertainment. You’ll also be asking some literal questions afterward, with the slightly goofy plotting and convenient reveals showing their true face once the movie magic is behind you. But great magicians always know how to keep the audience believing while performing their tricks, and Spielberg has done it again on an enormous scale. It feels great to have summer movie season once again in safe hands.
Where to watch: Currently in theaters
