5 Upcoming Epic Movies You Cannot Miss

The epic genre is among the most singular in mainstream cinema. Although it might seem like a surefire bet at the box office, epic movies are actually rather hit-or-miss; just ask Ridley Scott's last two or three movies. The epic genre is also all-encompassing and doesn't necessarily limit itself to period or historical fantasy movies; a sci-fi can also belong to the epic genre, with the Dune duology being the perfect example.

When done right, epic movies are definitely must-see events that conquer the box office and the hearts of audiences, including both critics and fans. Luckily for everyone, 2026 has a strong slate of epic movies, many of which have the potential to become genuine cultural events and further establish the genre among modern cinema's most important. From sci-fi tragedies to sword-and-sorcery adventures, these upcoming epic movies are must-see events that you simply cannot miss.

'Masters of the Universe' - June 5

The sword-and-sorcery subgenre is everything but reliable; in fact, it hasn't had a hit in decades, since its heyday during the 1980s. This year, Travis Knight of Kubo and the Two Strings and Bumblebee fame will try his hand at the subgenre with Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the Mattel franchise. Nicholas Galitzine will star as He-Man, the prince of the planet Eternia who has been spirited away to Earth and is looking for his way back.

Joining Galitzine is an ensemble including Camilla Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, and Jared Leto as Skeletor. While having Leto as the main villain is certainly a choice, every other element here seems promising enough to have fans looking forward to Masters of the Universe. It looks like a throwback to the type of colorful cosmic adventures that we seldom see anymore, and god knows we need a dose of escapism now more than ever. Moreover, Knight's previous efforts are quite good, so at least the IP is in good hands. Moreover, the film seems to be following the Barbie formula, and that movie made over a billion in 2023. Perhaps He-Man will indeed have the power at the box office.

'The Odyssey' - July 17

If there's a director who is quite literally infallible, it's Christopher Nolan. As the follow-up to his wildly successful, Oscar-winning biopic Oppenheimer, Nolan went with a new adaptation of Homer's classic The Odyssey about Odysseus' decade-long journey back to Ithaca following the Trojan War. After playing supporting roles in two Nolan movies, Matt Damon finally gets his chance in the spotlight, leading this one as Odysseus, with Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Charlize Theron as Athena, Zendaya as Circe, and Robert Pattinson as Antonious.

Few directors enjoy the same kind of near-blind loyalty from audiences as Christopher Nolan. After decades of strong, reliable work that effortlessly blends spectacle with gravitas, Nolan has earned enough goodwill to make audiences turn up for almost anything he does. Coupled with Damon's star quality, a truly impressive ensemble cast of supporting players, and The Odyssey's standing as a literary classic, it's safe to say this movie has the potential to be 2026's greatest critical and commercial hit. Moreover, Universal recently announced that The Odyssey will play exclusively in theaters for six weeks, making it seem like an even bigger event. Only time will tell, but many have already started putting The Odyssey in their Best Picture predictions.

'Dune: Part Three' - December 18

Joining Nolan as a director who has earned the audience's trust is Denis Villeneuve, the man behind many of the greatest sci-fi epics in the last two decades. From Arrival to Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve has proven himself a master of the genre, but it was the Dune adaptations that truly cemented him as a master alongside the likes of Kubrick and Lucas. Translating Frank Herbert's daunting, seemingly unfilmable novel was no easy task, yet Villeneuve passed the test with flying colors, directing two of the greatest sci-fi epics the seventh art has ever seen.

This year, Villeneuve is finally saying goodbye to the world of Dune with the highly awaited third part of his trilogy, appropriately titled Dune: Part Three. Based on Dune: Messiah, the film will present the conclusion of the tale of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), now the Padishah Emperor, married to Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and holding Chani (Zendaya) as his lover. Joining the cast is Anya Taylor-Joy as Paul's sister, Alia, and Robert Pattinson as Scytale, a face dancer plotting to overthrow Paul. After two critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies, expectations are sky-high for Dune: Part Three. There's such confidence behind the film that it has refused to abandon its December 18 release date despite strong competition from Marvel. Will Dune: Part Three follow the footsteps of other final entries in acclaimed trilogies and finally earn Best Picture? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: it will be one of the biggest cultural events of the year.

'Avengers: Doomsday' - December 18

The MCU is out to prove that it is still the head honcho of the entertainment landscape with Avengers: Doomsday. The first Avengers movie since the game-changer that was Avengers: Endgame, Doomsday will pit Earth's Mighties Heroes against Doctor Doom, somehow played by Robert Downey Jr. How that will come to be remains under wraps, but what we do know is that the absurdly large ensemble cast will include everyone from the Fantastic Four to the New Avengers to the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers.

Of all the movies of 2026, few have more to prove than Avengers: Doomsday. It needs to make it clear that the MCU is far from dead and combat the claims of superhero fatigue that have been plaguing cinema since the pandemic changed the business in 2020. Marvel certainly pulled all the stops to make Doomsday seem like a must-watch cultural event, and considering the reaction to the studio's chair stunt and the three teaser trailers released so far, their efforts have worked. Moreover, Doomsday's not-so-friendly competition with Dune seems perfect to replicate the Barbenheimer phenomenon from 2023. Whether the film actually meets the ridiculously high expectations fans have is one thing, but at least it seems destined for box office glory. Even if it doesn't match Endgame's record-breaking number — and let's face it, it probably won't — it will at least enjoy far more commercial success than the MCU's last ten movies or so, and that's already a win.

'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew' - December 25

Details about Greta Gerwig's Narnia movie for Netflix remain tightly under wraps, but one thing is for sure: it'll be a major event in Christmas 2026. As Gerwig's follow-up to the juggernaut that was Barbie, expectations are sky-high for this reboot of the beloved franchise based on C.S. Lewis' best-selling book series. What little we know is that it will be based on The Magician's Nephew, the sixth novel in the series, but the first adventure chronologically.

Sex Education breakout Emma Mackey will play the iconic White Witch, Jadis, taking over the role that made Tilda Swinton an icon of the millennial generation. Joining her is an all-star cast that also includes Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, and even Meryl Streep, although the latter two's roles remain a mystery. Although a Narnia movie struck many as a bizarre choice for Gerwig following Barbie, the Oscar-nominated auteur is a surefire bet by now, meaning we don't have any reason to doubt her take on this fan-favorite IP will be anything less than extraordinary. Narnia: The Magician's Nephew will have a limited two-week run in IMAX theaters starting on November 26 before debuting worldwide on Christmas Day. It is not only the most anticipated Netflix movie but also one of the most promising blockbusters this year, making it a must-watch for pretty much everyone with any interest in cinema.