2026 is already off to an impressive start, delivering a number of standout films in its first few months and, depending on who you ask, even a true masterpiece or two. At Next Best Picture, our team compiled individual lists of the best films we’ve seen so far this year, which we’ve combined into a consensus ranking of our top 25 favorites. While we’re excited to see what the rest of the year brings, for those searching for something to watch right now, whether at home or in theaters, take a look at our selections below.
25. HOW TO MAKE A KILLING
THE STORY – Disowned at birth by his wealthy family, Becket Redfellow will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way.
THE CAST – Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, Topher Grace & Ed Harris
THE TEAM – John Patton Ford (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 105 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Powell’s charisma, the breezy storytelling, morally complex characters doing heinous things.
24. GOAT
THE STORY – A small goat with big dreams gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball, a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world.
THE CAST – Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nicola Coughlan, Nick Kroll, David Harbour, Jenifer Lewis, Aaron Pierre, Jennifer Hudson, Patton Oswalt, Eduardo Franco & Sherry Cola
THE TEAM – Tyree Dillihay (Director), Aaron Buchsbaum & Teddy Riley (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 100 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Electric animation, fun voice acting, a well-told sports story.
23. GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
THE STORY – A man claiming to be from the future takes the patrons of an iconic West Hollywood diner hostage in search of unlikely recruits in a quest to save the world.
THE CAST – Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor & Juno Temple
THE TEAM – Gore Verbinski (Director) & Matthew Robinson (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 134 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Gore Verbinski is back and working with his maximalist style under budget constraints. Sam Rockwell and Haley Lu Richardson’s performances. Screw AI!
22. FORBIDDEN FRUITS
THE STORY – At a mall store, Apple leads a secret witch cult with coworkers Cherry and Fig. New hire Pumpkin questions their sisterhood, forcing them to confront inner darkness or meet violent ends.
THE CAST – Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain & Gabrielle Union
THE TEAM – Meredith Alloway (Director/Writer) & Lily Houghton (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 103 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Campy, gory, fun, with a well positioned ensemble and a hilarious screenplay.
21. UNDERTONE
THE STORY – The host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way.
THE CAST – Nina Kiri, Adam DiMarco, Michèle Duquet, Keana Lyn Bastidas & Jeff Yung
THE TEAM – Ian Tuason (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 93 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Unnerving and overall brilliant sound design. An exercise in minimalist horror filmmaking. Builds tremendous tension to a terrifying climax.
20. TOW
THE STORY – Inspired by the true story of Amanda Ogle, this inspiring drama follows Amanda, an unhoused woman living in her blue 1991 Toyota Corolla as she seeks employment in Seattle. Her precarious situation escalates when her car is stolen and later impounded, with the towing company demanding exorbitant fees she can’t afford. Refusing to accept this injustice, Amanda confronts the broken system, engaging in a year-long legal battle to reclaim not only her vehicle but also her dignity. Along the way, she forms meaningful connections with other women in similar circumstances, gradually rebuilding her life and sobriety through community and persistence.
THE CAST – Rose Byrne, Octavia Spencer, Dominic Sessa, Elsie Fisher, Ariana DeBose, Demi Lovato, Corbin Bernsen & Simon Rex
THE TEAM – Stephanie Laing (Director), Jonathan Keasey & Brant Boivin (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 105 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Rose Byrne. Need we say more? Okay, how about you also get Octavia Spencer, Dominic Sessa, Elsie Fisher, Ariana DeBose, Demi Lovato, Corbin Bernsen and Simon Rex in this true story that may remind you why you love “Erin Brockovich.”
19. YES!
THE STORY – In the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Y., a jazz musician, struggles to make ends meet, until he is given a mission to create a new national anthem.
THE CAST – Ariel Bronz, Efrat Dor, Sharon Alexander, Naama Preis & Aleksei Serebryakov
THE TEAM – Nadav Lapid (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 150 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Audacious, ambitious, bold filmmaking. Go-for-broke, all-in performances from Ariel Bronz and Efrat Dor.
18. CRIME 101
THE STORY – An elusive thief, eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective trails them, hoping to thwart the multi-million dollar heist they are planning.
THE CAST – Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh & Nick Nolte
THE TEAM – Bart Layton (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 140 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Slick studio crime film with big stars. Character-driven.
17. THE RIP
THE STORY – A group of Miami cops discovers a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust as outsiders learn about the huge seizure, making them question who to rely on.
THE CAST – Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins & Kyle Chandler
THE TEAM – Joe Carnahan (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 112 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Ben and Matt are back together in a crime film with Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler. The main duo’s chemistry makes this an entertaining crime film to throw on Netflix.
16. LATE SHIFT
THE STORY – Floria, a nurse, works with great dedication and professionalism on the surgical ward of a Swiss hospital. Despite the hectic pace, Floria manages to look after a seriously ill mother and an old man urgently awaiting a diagnosis with just as much care and expertise as she does when attending to a private patient with all his special demands. But then she makes a disastrous mistake, and the shift threatens to run completely off the rails. A nerve-racking race against time begins.
THE CAST – Leonie Benesch, Sonja Riesen, Urs Bihler & Margherita Schoch
THE TEAM – Petra Volpe (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 92 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Leonie Benesch’s fiercely emotive lead performance. Petra Volpe’s lively and immersive direction. The relevance of its socially motivated narrative.
15. DEAD MAN’S WIRE
THE STORY – The morning of February 8, 1977, Anthony G. “Tony” Kiritsis, 44, entered the office of Richard O. Hall, president of the Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun wired with a “dead man’s wire” from the trigger to the Hall’s head. This is the true story of the stand-off that took the world by storm as Tony demanded $5 million, no charges or prosecution, and a personal apology from the Halls for cheating him out of what he was “owed.”
THE CAST – Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Colman Domingo, Al Pacino & Cary Elwes Myha’la
THE TEAM – Gus Van Sant (Director) & Austin Kolodney (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 105 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Bill Skarsgård’s unhinged performance. Dacre Montgomery’s continued impressive display of range. Gus Van Sant telling a true crime thriller centered on its characters.
14. OUR HERO, BALTHAZAR
THE STORY – When ultra-wealthy NYC teenager Balthy makes dramatic gun control videos to impress his activist crush. When an online troll targets his content, Balthy becomes convinced he’s communicating with a potential school shooter and embarks on an ill-advised journey to Texas to confront him.
THE CAST – Jaden Martell, Asa Butterfield, Chris Bauer, Jennifer Ehle, Anna Baryshnikov, Noah Centineo, Becky Ann Baker, Avan Jogia & Pippa Knowles
THE TEAM – Oscar Boyson (Director/Writer) & Ricky Camilleri (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 91 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – The emotionally complex and psychologically damaged performances from Jaden Martell and Asa Butterfield. A thorny topic that the film invites conversation on.
13. MIROIRS NO.3
THE STORY – On a weekend trip, Laura survives a car crash. Unhurt but shaken, Laura is taken in by a local women who witnessed the accident, and cares for her. Despite her families resistance, they enter into a routine.
THE CAST – Paula Beer, Barbara Auer, Matthias Brandt & Enno Trebs
THE TEAM – Christian Petzold (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 86 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Petzold’s remarkable restraint and confidence in his storytelling. Paula Beer’s subtlety and beauty.
12. THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTIMIST
THE STORY – A father-to-be tries to figure out what is happening with all this AI insanity.
THE CAST – Daniel Roher
THE TEAM – Daniel Roher & Charlie Tyrell (Directors)
THE RUNNING TIME – 103 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – The energetic editing. The human connection to Roher and his existential fears of both becoming a parent and a father. AI 101 For Dummies…But Still Essential.
11. THE MOMENT
THE STORY – A rising pop star navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut.
THE CAST – Charli XCX, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Gates & Alexander Skarsgård
THE TEAM – Aidan Zamiri (Director/Writer) & Bertie Brandes (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 103 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Charli XCX’s star-power continues to rise in Hollywood with an amazing, captivating performance. Captures the chaotic, intentionally dizzying feeling of the Brat era, which fans are sure to love. Alexander Skarsgård’s goofy and over-the-top work.
10. PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION
THE STORY – Poppy wants to explore the world and Alex prefers to stay home with a good book, but somehow they are the best of friends. They live far apart, but for a decade they have spent one week of summer vacation together.
THE CAST – Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Lukas Gage, Miles Heizer, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jameela Jamil, & Lucian Laviscount
THE TEAM – Brett Haley (Director); Yulin Kuang, Nunzio Randazzo & Amos Vernon (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 117 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – An endearing “friends-to-lovers” story. Great chemistry between stars Emily Bader and Tom Blyth. Who doesn’t love these vacation spots?
9. WUTHERING HEIGHTS
THE STORY – Tragedy strikes when Heathcliff falls in love with Catherine Earnshaw, a woman from a wealthy family in 18th-century England.
THE CAST – Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, Owen Cooper & Ewan Mitchell
THE TEAM – Emerald Fennell (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 136 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Gorgeous visuals from Linus Sandgren. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s performances and sizzling chemistry. Fennell’s unique vision and take on the classic story updates it for a new era, while making it feel personal.
READ OUR REVIEW
8. READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME
THE STORY – After surviving one deadly game, Grace and her sister Faith must now outrun four rival families competing for a powerful throne – winner takes all.
THE CAST – Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng & Varun Saranga
THE TEAM – Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett (Directors), Guy Busick & R. Christopher Murphy (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 108 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – More of what you got from the first, but we loved the first so what is there to complain about? Kathryn Newton is a great addition. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy receiving showcase roles in a Radio Silence film? Oh, we’re so ready!
7. EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT
THE STORY – Baz Luhrmann returns to the subject of his most audacious film. Free of contemporary interviews with experts, critics, or other stakeholders, the film is propelled by recently discovered archival footage shot at the beginning of the famed performer’s Las Vegas residency. Originally intended to last a few weeks at the International Hotel, the 1969 engagement was shockingly lucrative, and stretched on for over seven years.
THE CAST – N/A
THE TEAM – Baz Luhrmann (Director)
THE RUNNING TIME – 96 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – A dazzling IMAX experience. Stunning visual/audio restoration. Perfectly compliments Luhrmann’s Oscar-nominated feature narrative film on the King of rock n’ roll.
6. HOPPERS
THE STORY – A 19-year-old animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world beyond her imagination.
THE CAST – Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Eduardo Franco, Aparna Nancherla, Sam Richardson, Melissa Villaseñor, Isaiah Whitlock Jr., Ego Nwodim, Vanessa Bayer & Meryl Streep
THE TEAM – Daniel Chong (Director) & Jesse Andrews (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 104 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Pixar storytelling at its (almost) best. Wonderful animation. Very, very funny with high energy and a big environmental friendly heart.
5. SEND HELP
THE STORY – A woman and her overbearing boss become stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. They must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it’s a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive
THE CAST – Rachel McAdams & Dylan O’Brien
THE TEAM – Sam Raimi (Director), Damian Shannon & Mark Swift (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 113 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Sam Raimi is back in sick-o mode! One of Rachel McAdams’ best performances and Dylan O’Brien is with her every step of the way in this scorching hot psychological battle of wills.
4. PILLION
THE STORY – A directionless man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
THE CAST – Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling, Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp, Jake Shears & Anthony Welsh
THE TEAM – Harry Lighton (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 106 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling deliver tremendous performances in this hugely entertaining exploration of a topic not often discussed in cinema: BDSM relationships.
3. NIRVANNA: THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE
THE STORY – When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008.
THE CAST – Matt Making dumb seem clever, and clever seem silly, Matt Johnson and company take their mockumentary shtick to new and dizzying heights, literally. & Jay McCarrol
THE TEAM – Matt Johnson (Director/Writer) & Jay McCarrol (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 95 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – The funniest film of the year so far. Destined to become as much of a cult classic as the show that inspired it. Who needs a large budget or permits when you have the brilliant, dizzying talent of Johnson and McCarrol?
2. 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE
THE STORY – Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship with consequences that could change the world as he knows it, while Spike’s encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can’t escape.
THE CAST – Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman & Chi Lewis-Parry
THE TEAM – Nia DaCosta (Director) & Alex Garland (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 109 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – More thematic weight than the last installment, commentating on humanity’s nature and religious fervor. Captivating performances with endearing and menacing portrayals from Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell, respectively. DaCosta honors what came before while making this all her own.
1. PROJECT HAIL MARY
THE STORY – Science teacher Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth. As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing the sun, and save Earth. An unexpected friendship may be the key.
THE CAST – Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung & Milana Vayntrub
THE TEAM – Phil Lord, Chris Miller (Directors) & Drew Goddard (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 156 Minutes
WHY WE LOVE IT – What’s not to love? A near-perfect crowd-pleaser. Awe-inspiring technical work. A brilliant adaptation of an already beloved book. Clear and confident direction from Phil Lord & Chris Miller on a large but also intimate scale. Ryan Gosling’s flawless turn is both hilarious and heartbreaking.
What has been your favorite film from the first three months of 2026? What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year? Please let us know in the comments section below or on our X account.
