Rankiew

The 11 most iconic movies of 2026 (so far): from The Odyssey to Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, Michael and Project Hail Mary: the 11 most iconic movies of 2026 so far, the year Nolan took Homer to IMAX.

By Rankiew · · 7 min read

2026 is not over yet, but it has already earned its place in film history. Christopher Nolan took Homer's Odyssey to IMAX, Peter Parker swung through a city that no longer remembers him, Woody and Buzz faced a talking tablet, and Michael Jackson's story became the biggest biopic ever made. A schoolteacher woke up alone in deep space, Miranda Priestly returned to the runway and a Romanian director won his second Palme d'Or.

These are the 11 movies of 2026 that have left the deepest mark so far.

The 11 most iconic movies of 2026

1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

After the spell that made the whole world forget who he is, Peter Parker lives alone in New York, fighting crime on the streets as a hero with no one to share his secret, until a new threat forces him to face enemies and allies he never expected.

Why is it iconic? Destin Daniel Cretton took over the franchise with Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, plus Jon Bernthal as the Punisher and Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, in a more grounded and personal Spider-Man story.

Awards: One of the biggest opening weekends in history and the highest grossing film of 2026 so far, with more than 2 billion dollars worldwide.

Legacy: It proved that Spider-Man is still the most popular superhero on the planet.

2. The Odyssey (2026)

After the fall of Troy, the king Odysseus tries to return home to Ithaca and to his wife Penelope, facing gods, monsters, storms and temptations on a journey that lasts ten years.

Why is it iconic? Christopher Nolan adapted Homer as the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, with Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron.

Awards: More than 1.5 billion dollars at the box office and some of the best reviews of Nolan's career.

Legacy: IMAX tickets for its opening sold out a full year in advance, and it became the theatrical event of the year.

3. Toy Story 5 (2026)

Bonnie gets a new gift, Lilypad, a frog shaped smart tablet, and becomes obsessed with it. Jessie, Woody, Buzz and the gang must find out how toys can compete with a screen that seems to know everything.

Why is it iconic? Andrew Stanton, with McKenna Harris as co-director, brought Pixar's most beloved toys back for a story about childhood in the age of screens, with Greta Lee as the voice of Lilypad.

Awards: More than 1 billion dollars at the box office.

Legacy: It turned a very modern fear of parents into a story for the whole family.

4. Michael (2026)

The life of Michael Jackson, from the Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana, to the peak of his career as the King of Pop, with the music, the dance and the pressure of fame from an early age.

Why is it iconic? Antoine Fuqua cast Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, in the lead role, and recreated famous concerts and music videos on a grand scale.

Awards: The biggest opening weekend for a biopic and the highest grossing biopic in history, surpassing Oppenheimer.

Legacy: It filled theaters around the world, although many critics pointed out that it leaves out the abuse allegations against the singer.

5. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)

Mario and Luigi leave the Mushroom Kingdom for an adventure among the stars, where new allies and the menace of Bowser's family await them across the galaxy.

Why is it iconic? Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic followed the 2023 hit with the voices of Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day and Jack Black, and a cosmic version of the world of Nintendo.

Awards: Like the first film, it passed 1 billion dollars at the box office.

Legacy: It confirmed Mario as one of the strongest families in animated cinema.

6. Project Hail Mary (2026)

Ryland Grace, a science teacher, wakes up alone aboard a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. Little by little, he discovers that he is humanity's last hope to stop a microorganism that is dimming the Sun, and that he is not the only one out there.

Why is it iconic? Phil Lord and Christopher Miller adapted Andy Weir's novel with Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, and created in Rocky one of the most charming aliens in recent cinema.

Awards: One of the biggest science fiction hits of the decade, with excellent reviews.

Legacy: The friendship between Grace and Rocky became one of the most beloved duos of the year.

7. The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026)

Twenty years later, Miranda Priestly faces a fashion and media world turned upside down by the decline of print magazines, and her path crosses again with Andy Sachs and Emily Charlton.

Why is it iconic? David Frankel brought back Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci for a sequel that fans had been waiting for two decades.

Awards: One of the biggest live action hits of the year.

Legacy: It proved that Miranda's stare is still the most feared in the fashion world.

8. Hoppers (2026)

Mabel, a young animal lover, uses a new technology to transfer her mind into a lifelike robotic beaver. Living among the animals, she discovers secrets of the animal world and a plan that threatens their home.

Why is it iconic? Daniel Chong made one of Pixar's funniest original films, with Jon Hamm as the town's mayor.

Awards: A box office success and one of the best reviewed animated films of the year.

Legacy: It showed that Pixar can still create original worlds that win over audiences.

9. Wuthering Heights (2026)

On the Yorkshire moors, Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan taken in by her family, live a wild and destructive passion that will mark both families for generations.

Why is it iconic? Emerald Fennell reinvented Emily Brontë's classic with Margot Robbie as Catherine, Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and original songs by Charli XCX.

Awards: A box office hit released on Valentine's Day weekend.

Legacy: It divided critics and readers, and it became one of the most discussed films of the year.

10. Fjord (2026)

Mihai, a Romanian, and Lisbet, a Norwegian, live with their children in a remote village in Norway. The strict and religious family is accused of child abuse, and the children are taken away by the authorities, which turns the village and the country against them.

Why is it iconic? Cristian Mungiu made a tense drama about faith, community and the power of the state, with Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve.

Awards: Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the second of Mungiu's career.

Legacy: It made Mungiu one of the few filmmakers to win the Palme d'Or twice.

11. The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, and his young apprentice Grogu take on a dangerous mission for the New Republic as the remnants of the Empire still threaten the galaxy.

Why is it iconic? Jon Favreau took the duo from the series to the big screen, with Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver.

Awards: More than 160 million dollars worldwide in its opening weekend.

Legacy: It marked the return of Star Wars to theaters for the first time since 2019.

Why was 2026 such an important year for movies?

2026 has been a year of giant events in theaters: Spider-Man, The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Michael and Mario all passed or approached the billion dollar mark, and audiences returned to cinemas in numbers not seen in years.

At the same time, Cannes crowned Fjord, and the year still has a few weeks to surprise us.

What is your favorite movie of 2026?

What is your favorite movie of 2026 so far? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews, create lists and start clubs with your friends.

More from the series: The most iconic movies of 2025

#iconic movies#2026 movies#2020s movies#best movies#film history