Best Movies of 2026

A provisional ranking of 2026 feature films publicly screened or released by 30 October 2026, researched on 31 October. First public release determines eligibility, including ticketed festival premieres: later cinema or streaming dates do not move a film to another year. Some selections therefore await wider distribution. Direction, writing, performance, sound and visual invention matter more here than box office or awards; the order compares completed films across languages, documentary, animation and live action. Films first shown in 2025, rereleases, television and titles still awaiting any public premiere are excluded. The year is unfinished, so this selection will change.