It’s been almost two weeks since Disney made the bombshell announcement that their long-awaited fifth Avengers movie,Avengers: Doomsday, would be delayed by seven months, from its original May 2026 date to December of that year. The news shocked the entertainment business, not only for what it meant for the MCU but because it instantly turned December 2026 into arguably the most crowded month movie-wise in recent memory.
A total of four other major blockbusters are receiving theatrical releases during the month, plus a Netflix release that might be a true power player. They range from long-dormant animated classic franchises coming back to the rodeo to prestigious, auteur-driven remakes of well-known IP. No movie has moved so far, not even the highly anticipated sci-fi epic opening on the same day asDoomsday. We’re still over a year away from seeing these event movies, but we can already say with confidence that we are far more excited for some.This list will rank every major theatrical movie release of December 2026based on how hyped up we are for them. Some, we’ve been waiting years to see; others seemingly came out of nowhere. The fact remains, not every blockbuster is created equal.
6’Ice Age 6' (2026)
Release Date: June 21, 2025
Details about the upcoming sixth entry into theIce Agesaga remain vague; we don’t even have an official plot. We do know the main cast, includingRay Romano,John Leguizamo,Dennis Leary,Simon Pegg, andQueen Latifah, will be back to voice their now-iconic roles of Manny, Sid, Diego, “Buck” Wild, and Ellie. However, the film’s writer and director are still unknown.
It’s been almost two years since the film’s announcement, so it’sa bit odd that we don’t have more details. However,the long-runningIce Agefranchiselost its luster long ago, probably somewhere between its fourth and fifth entries. The series isnot as funny or as fresh as it once was, becoming overshadowed by other, better-performing and received animated franchises. It’shard to be truly excited about the sixth entry in a series that has been on the steady decline, especially in a month that offers such an embarrassment of riches when it comes to cinematic entertainment.
5’Jumanji 3'
Release Date: August 02, 2025
Few, if anyone, expected theJumanjireboot to be actually good, let alone successful. However, 2017’sJumanji: Welcome to the Jungledefied the odds and grossedover $900 millionon a $90 million budget. Its sequel, 2019’sJumanji: The Next Level, was also successful, even if itgrossed $100 million lessat the worldwide box office. Both movies received solid reviews, but even the film’s defenders admitted the formula was wearing thin by the time the sequel came out.
A thirdJumanjimovie once seemed like a no-brainer. However, the series will have spent seven years away from the big screen by the time the third entry premieres, so we have to wonder if it’ll be too late.Jumanji 3will supposedly bethe last film in the series, giving it something of a must-watch quality. However, with such intense competition at the theaters,will anyone truly prioritize a thirdJumanjimovie over the rest?It’s a sweet and well-meaning series, butit doesn’t exactly scream “cinematic event,“which is what the other entries on this list do. Unfortunately,Jumanji3will seem like a “this can wait until streaming” case for many viewers.
Streaming Date: June 02, 2025
Greta Gerwigraised millions of eyebrows when she announced her follow-up to the billion-dollar-grossing 2023 critical and commercial hitBarbiewould be a new entry in theNarniauniverse… for Netflix. It’s an odd career move, for sure, but Gerwig has earned our respect and trust after directing three modern classics back-to-back-to-back. Casting has been underway for the last few months, withEmma Mackeynabbing the coveted role of the White Witch, with Oscar nomineeCarey Mulliganjoining shortly after.
The film will seemingly be an adaptation ofThe Magician’s Nephew, thus making it a prequel. In a bold move from Netflix, it will have a two-week IMAX run starting on Thanksgiving Day before its streaming debut on Christmas Day. In a fair world, Gerwig’s Narnia would be a proper cinematic event, especially because Netflix bafflingly scheduled Volume 2 ofStranger ThingsSeason 5 for Christmas Day, too.Narniaseems to havea few things working against it, including the fact thata Netflix release makes it seem less important than the next three big movieson this list, one of which will come out only two days before and will surely make more of a splash.
3’Shrek 5’
Release Date: June 12, 2025
TheShrekfranchise was a staple of the 2000s. Critically acclaimed and wildly successful, the first two movies are widely considered masterpieces of the animated medium, credited with reinventing and launching a new age of pop culture-dipper, self-aware, laugh-a-minute animated content. Still, it must be said thatShrek the Thirdand especiallyShrek Forever Afterdid significant damage to the series' reputation, sending it into hibernation for over fifteen years.
Nothing stays truly dead in Hollywood, though, and now,Shrekis coming back for a fifth adventure.Mike Myers,Eddie Murphy, and the recently un-retiredCameron Diazare reprising their iconic roles of Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona, this time joined byZendayaas Shrek and Fiona’s daughter, Felicia. No details about the plot have been revealed, only a small sneak peek featuring a new animation style thatprompted a wildly divided response from the internet. Still, it’shard to imagine a world where a newShrekmovie does poorlyat the box office, especially at a time when nostalgia is so prevalent. With a prime holiday release date and over a decade of absence,Shrek 5is perfectly positioned to dominate families' holiday plans well into the New Year.
2’Avengers: Doomsday'
Marvel is going through a tough time. Once the reigning franchise in Hollywood, the MCU is now all peaks and valleys. Movies likeThunderbolts*are critically acclaimed and loved by those who actually watch them, yet still can’t match the absurdly high commercial standard set by their predecessors. On the contrary, efforts likeCaptain America: Brave New Worldwere disappointing on both the critical and commercial fronts, and the jury is still out for the upcomingThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
And yet, it’s undeniable that Marvel still occupies a large role in our pop culture space. The cast announcement forDoomsday, an over three-hour live-stream, dominated the conversation, and both fans and critics are paying close attention to the film’s every development.Doomsdaywill end a seventeen-month MCU drought on the big screenwhenit premieres on July 29, 2025. It will feature the much-debated return of the saga’s founding father, a now-Oscar-winningRobert Downey Jr., and will feature an absurdly large cast, including the X-Men from the now-defunct 20th Century universe. In short, there’s just too much happening with this movie, turning it intoa true cinematic event that feels like a must-watch.Doomsdayfeels like something you simply have to watch in theaters to be part of the larger conversation.
Avengers: Doomsday
1’Dune: Messiah' (2026)
Few directors are more worthy of our trust thanDenis Villeneuve. The Oscar nominee has helmed many of the movies that can be considered modern sci-fi masterpieces, fromArrivalandBlade Runner 2049to, of course, theDuneduology. His latest effort, 2024’sDune: Part Two, was a resounding box office and critical success, cementing the franchise, based onFrank Herbert’s notoriously unyielding novels, as a true modern cinematic phenomenon.
The last entry in the trilogy,Dune: Messiah, will be Villeneuve’s last, making it an absolute must-watch on the biggest screen possible. Asthe last entry in a saga that has defined the last decade of sci-fi,Dune: Messiahwill be at the top of most audiences' viewing lists, even those who didn’t watch the first two entries at the movie theater.Villeneuve’s track record, plus the saga’s prestige and the cast’s cache, makeDune: Messiahthe absolute reigning champion when it comes to December 2026 movies. The other contenders are worthy, but they simply can’t compare to Villeneuve’s masterpiece.
Dune: Part Three
NEXT:I’m a Diehard MCU Fan, and I Think These 10 Things Can Totally Happen in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
