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Over the first three months of the year, film studios have blessed moviegoers with a plethora of well-crafted films. From foreign features to blockbusters to indie films, here is your guide to catching up on everything you missed.
“Project Hail Mary”
The most notable film of 2026 so far is “Project Hail Mary.” Based on the book by Andy Weir, this outer-space sci-fi film starring Ryan Gosling has flooded theaters, especially those with IMAX screens.
The film follows Ryland Grace, a science teacher turned astronaut, as he traverses space to find a substance that could save humanity.
Rochester’s biggest theater, Cinemark Tinseltown, is now equipped with the ability to project film on 70mm, one of fifteen in the whole country. There is no better way to experience this year’s biggest blockbuster than to see it projected on the big screen.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
The second installment in the Super Mario film franchise, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” saw major box office success by being the biggest opener of 2026 so far. The film is projected to make over $1 billion at the box office.
However, critical ratings seem to have declined since the first installment. On movie scoring platforms such as Letterboxd, IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a grade below “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
“Hoppers”
Disney Pixar’s original film, “Hoppers,” saw a return to Pixar’s early era of creativity and storytelling. Sequels have dominated the company in recent years, and some fans felt that original storytelling had been lost within the company. Blending forest animals with sci-fi, “Hoppers” is unlike any other animated film.
“Hoppers” became the highest-grossing original animated film post-COVID-19 and saw a $46 million profit domestically in its opening weekend.
“The Drama”
“The Drama,” produced by A24, follows Zendaya as Emma and Robert Pattinson as Charlie, two lovers about to get married. However, a secret is revealed, and their wedding week spirals out of control.
Although there has been some controversy over the harsh themes in the film, “The Drama” has been a fan favorite this year. On the public movie rating platform called Letterboxd, “The Drama” scores a 3.8 out of 5.
“Send Help”
“Send Help” is iconic director Sam Raimi’s latest film. Known for the “Spider-Man” and “Evil Dead” movies, Raimi has returned to the horror genre after a long hiatus.
“Send Help” follows veteran actors Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien as an employee and boss stranded alone on an island after their plane goes down. Their toxic employee-boss dynamic is flipped upside down when McAdams’s character, Linda Liddle, dominates the island and tells Bradley, “We’re not in the office anymore.”
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”
The zombie horror flick, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” hit the big screen in January. It’s the second installment in the planned 28 Years Later trilogy, itself a sequel to the original two films in the franchise, “28 Days Later” and “28 Weeks Later.”
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is set in rural England 28 years post-zombie apocalypse. But this series begs the question: In the middle of an apocalypse, who should you be afraid of, zombies or humans?
Although this film underperformed at the box office, it received high ratings from fans, becoming the top-rated film in the series so far.
“Exit 8”
“Exit 8” is a Japanese film based on the video game of the same title.
The film follows a young man on a subway as he searches for the exit of a seemingly infinite subway tunnel. It is eerie, unsettling and blends horror with realistic struggles.
“Chime”
“Chime” is a Japanese film by iconic horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. It focuses on a chef whose life becomes suddenly violent after hearing a consistent chime.
With a runtime of only 45 minutes, the film’s protagonist quickly spirals into unease and madness, leaving you with a feeling of dread after its abrupt ending.
“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”
“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” is director Gore Verbinski’s (“Pirates of the Caribbean”) newest film. The film underperformed at the box office, only grossing around $9 million on a $20 million budget.
This film provides a satirical take on the use of AI in modern society. It blends science fiction and time travel with modern technology to make a prediction on the future of civilization with continual AI advancements. It is a fast-paced comedy that deserved more love in theaters.
“Slanted”
“Slanted” can be compared to recent Oscar-nominee “The Substance” through its cosmetic body horror aspect.
The film follows Joan Huang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant vying for prom queen. However, she is continuously disregarded by her white peers. When she is offered surgery to appear white, she jumps at the chance.
