2026 Film Releases in South Africa

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Now In Cinemas

The Magic Faraway Tree is based on the beloved The Faraway Tree series of novels for children. It follows a modern family who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside. The children discover a magical tree and its extraordinary and eccentric residents.
The Drama is a romantic black‑comedy‑drama about a couple whose relationship begins to unravel when their private emotional chaos becomes the subject of a viral documentary.
In You & Me & Tuscany a drifting young chef secretly living in an empty Tuscan villa becomes entangled in a family’s romantic and generational tensions, discovering both love and the cost of reinvention.

New Releases

In Brothers Under Fire, the captain of a squadron is granted leave to attend a crewmate’s wedding in Mexico, but the festivities are ruined by a vicious cartel. A war breaks out between the surviving men and the cartel, and the captain has to lead his men to safety. In cinemas from 17 April.
Lee Cronin’s The Mummy – A horror‑driven reimagining in which a journalist’s daughter disappears in the desert and returns eight years later—changed, silent, and carrying an ancient presence within her. In cinemas 17 April

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2026 FILM RELEASES (Listed Alphabetically)

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple  / The Bride! / Charlie The Wonderdog / Cold Storage  / Crime 101 / Dead Man’s Wire / Die My Love / The Drama / EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert / F Valentine’s Day / Giant / Goat / GR 10 D / Greenland 2: Migration / Hamnet / The Heart Is a Muscle / Hoppers / How to Make a Killing / Is This Thing On? / Kiss of the Spider Woman / The Magic Faraway Tree / Marty Supreme  / Melania / Mercy  / Nuremberg / O’ Romeo / Pretty How Town / Primate  / Project Hail Mary / The Protector /Ready or Not 2: Here I Come / Reminders Of Him / Rental Family / Scream 7 / Send Help  / Shelter / The Strangers: Chapter 3 / The Super Mario Galaxy Movie / Testament of Ann Lee / They Will Kill You / Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass / Wardriver / Whistle / Wuthering Heights / Wildcat / You & Me & Tuscany

TV / STREAMING: Heated Rivals / Truth & Reason / I Swear / The History Of Sound / Merrily We Roll Along / Pillion

REVIEWS: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple / Crime 101 / Hamnet / Kiss Of The Spider Woman / Mercy / Marty Supreme / Nuremberg / Primate / Send Help /

TOP FILMS OF 2026 (Listed Alphabetically) : The Bride! / Die My Love / Hamnet / The History Of Sound / I Swear / Kiss of the Spider Woman / Marty Supreme / Merrily We Roll Along / Nuremberg / Pillion

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APRIL RELEASES

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (17 April) – A horror‑driven reimagining in which a journalist’s daughter disappears in the desert and returns eight years later—changed, silent, and carrying an ancient presence within her. As supernatural events escalate, her family uncovers a buried curse tied to a forgotten dynasty. Written and directed by Lee Cronin. Starring Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, Verónica Falcón, May Elghety, Shylo Molina, Billie Roy, and others.

In Brothers Under Fire, the captain of a squadron is granted leave to attend a crewmate’s wedding in Mexico, but the festivities are ruined by a vicious cartel. A war breaks out between the surviving men and the cartel, and the captain has to lead his men to safety. In cinemas from 17 April.

Cats in the Museum 2: Treasures of Egypt (24 April) – Vincent, Cleopatra, and Maurice return for a globe‑spanning adventure when a stolen papyrus map leads them to Egypt’s hidden tombs. Pursued by rival treasure hunters, they uncover a Genie whose powers could reshape the world. Directed by Vasiliy Rovenskiy, written by Elvira Bushtets, Fyodor Derevyanskiy & Vasiliy Rovenskiy.

Michael (24 April) A biographical drama following the life, artistry, and inner conflicts of Michael Jackson, tracing his rise from prodigy to global icon while exploring the pressures, controversies, and emotional costs of fame. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by John Logan. Atarring Jaafar Jackson (Michael), Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, Colman Domingo, and an extensive ensemble.

Mother Mary (24 April) A psychological drama about the volatile creative partnership between pop superstar Mary and avant‑garde fashion designer Sam. Their collaboration becomes an obsessive emotional entanglement, blurring devotion, exploitation, and artistic hunger. Written and directed by David Lowery. Starring Anne Hathaway (Mother Mary), Michaela Coel (Sam), Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Isaura Barbé‑Brown, Alba Baptista, Sian Clifford, FKA Twigs.

MAY RELEASES

  • The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1) reunites director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna with the original cast—Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. The story follows Miranda Priestly as she approaches retirement, forcing an unexpected reunion with Andy Sachs, now returning to Runway, while Emily Charlton—once an assistant, now a formidable rival—stands in their way as the fashion world shifts under the pressures of digital media and new power players.
  • Fuze ( May 1) is a 2025 British crime‑thriller heist film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Ben Hopkins, starring Aaron Taylor‑Johnson, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha‑Raw, Sam Worthington, Saffron Hocking, Elham Ehsas, and Honor Swinton Byrne. The story unfolds in London after the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb on a construction site triggers a massive evacuation, during which a group of criminals—led by diamond expert Karalis—attempt an audacious jewel heist under the cover of the chaos.
  • Beast (May 1) is an upcoming American–Australian sports action drama set in the world of mixed martial arts, directed by Tyler Atkins and written by Russell Crowe and David Frigerio, starring Daniel MacPherson, Russell Crowe, Luke Hemsworth, Bren Foster, Mojean Aria, Kelly Gale, and Amy Shark. The story follows former MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, who is forced back into the cage when his brother’s life is threatened; reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he prepares for one final, brutal showdown against reigning ONE Championship fighter Xavier Grau.
  • The Sheep Detectives (8 May) is an upcoming British‑American mystery‑comedy directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin, adapted from Leonie Swann’s bestselling 2005 novel Three Bags Full. The film stars Hugh Jackman as George Hardy, a shepherd mysteriously found dead, with Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Tosin Cole among the human cast, while the flock of sleuthing sheep are voiced by Julia Louis‑Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby. The story follows the sheep—who have secretly learned everything about detective work from the novels George read aloud to them—launching their own investigation into his murder, navigating human suspects, farm politics, and their own woolly quirks.
  • Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) (8 May) is an immersive 3D concert film captured during Billie Eilish’s sold‑out world tour supporting her 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft, and is co‑directed by Academy Award winners Billie Eilish and James Cameron. The film showcases full live performances, behind‑the‑scenes moments—including intimate interactions with fans and emotional exchanges with her brother Finneas—and brings Cameron‑level visual scale to Eilish’s stage production.
  • Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition (8 May) is a feature‑length documentary directed by Malcolm Venville and produced by Dominic Freeman, releasing worldwide in cinemas on 7 May 2026, that chronicles Iron Maiden’s extraordinary five‑decade rise from East London pubs to becoming one of the most influential heavy‑metal bands in history. The film features extensive new interviews with the band as well as on‑camera reflections from admirers including Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich, and Chuck D, exploring the group’s cultural impact, global fanbase, and relentless touring legacy. It also debuts new key art by illustrator Albert “Akirant” Quirantes, and arrives during Iron Maiden’s massive Run For Your Lives world tour, which includes over 50 shows and a special celebration event, EddFest, at Knebworth Park.
  • Mortal Kombat II (8 May) is an upcoming American martial‑arts fantasy sequel directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, based on the iconic video‑game franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The film brings back much of the 2021 cast—including Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada—while adding major newcomers such as Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, and Tati Gabrielle as Jade. Set during the long‑awaited Mortal Kombat tournament, the story pits Earthrealm’s champions against the rising tyranny of Shao Kahn, forcing uneasy alliances and brutal confrontations as the fate of Earthrealm hangs in the balance.
  • Obsession (15 May) is a supernatural horror film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker, starring Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter, with James Harris, Haley Nicole Johnson, Christian Mercuri, and Roman Viaris producing. The story follows Bear, a shy music‑store employee who buys a mysterious supernatural toy called the One Wish Willow and uses it to wish that his longtime crush Nikki will love him more than anything—only to discover that the wish twists her personality into something terrifying and obsessive.
  • Top Gun – 40th Anniversary (15 May) is a special theatrical re‑release of Tony Scott’s 1986 classic, returning to cinemas on 13 May 2026 to celebrate four decades of the film’s cultural impact, with Tom Cruise once again headlining as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The anniversary event marks the film’s fourth major theatrical run, following its original 1986 debut, the 2013 3D re‑release, and the 2021 reissue ahead of Top Gun: Maverick.
  • Bear Country (15 May) is an action‑thriller directed by Derrick Borte and written by Borte and Daniel Forte, adapted from Thomas Perry’s 2010 crime novel Strip. The film stars Russell Crowe as Manco Kapak, a weary Los Angeles club owner whose plans for a quiet exit from the criminal world collapse after a violent robbery pulls him into a tightening web of cartel threats, double‑crosses, and a mysterious newcomer posing as a buyer. Shot in Queensland, Australia, with the Gold Coast doubling for L.A., the film features an ensemble including Kartiah Vergara, Nina Dobrev, Teresa Palmer, Aaron Paul, Luke Evans, and Daniel Zovatto, following Kapak as he’s forced to navigate escalating violence and shifting loyalties in a city where every ally might be a trap.
  • Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu (22 May) is an action‑adventure film directed by Jon Favreau and co‑written by Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Noah Kloor, continuing the story of the hit Disney+ series. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin alongside Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White, with music by Ludwig Göransson and production by Lucasfilm. Set in the era of the New Republic, the story follows Djarin and his apprentice Grogu as they are enlisted to help stabilise the galaxy after the fall of the Empire, confronting scattered Imperial warlords and entering a new chapter that blends bounty‑hunter grit with the moral weight of protecting a fragile peace.
  • Tuner (22 May) is a crime‑thriller directed by Daniel Roher and written by Roher and Robert Ramsey, starring Leo Woodall, Havana Rose Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, and Jean Reno. The story follows Niki White, a gifted young piano tuner whose meticulous ear reveals an unexpected talent for cracking safes, pulling him into a dangerous criminal underworld that threatens his budding romance with composition student Ruthie and his mentorship under veteran tuner Harry Horowitz.
  • Passenger (22 May) is a horror film directed by André Øvredal and written by T.W. Burgess and Zachary Donohue, starring Melissa Leo, Jacob Scipio, and Lou Llobell. The story follows a young couple on a van‑life road trip who witness a horrific accident—only to find themselves hunted by a relentless, demonic stalker who follows them across every mile of their journey.
  • Backrooms (29 May) is an supernatural sci‑fi horror film directed by Kane Parsons and written by Will Soodik, based on Parsons’ viral Backrooms web‑series and the original creepypasta. The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia, and follows a therapist who enters an otherworldly liminal dimension to search for her missing patient.

Disclosure Day is an upcoming sci-fi thriller centred on the revelation of extraterrestrial life, generating massive buzz with its teaser trailers and star-studded cast. Set for release on June 12, 2026, the film explores humanity’s reaction to undeniable proof of non-human intelligence (NHI), blending suspense with profound questions about truth and fear.

FILMS RELEASED IN 2026