There’s plenty of explosive action on your cinema screens in 2026. And if you want to plan your year around the latest releases – and why not – here’s your guide to where all the action is. In the year ahead, prepare to be thrilled and fully living life vicariously through the screen, whether you’re at the centre of a jewel theft heist or a sci-fi nightmare.
With regular releases throughout the year, that means an action-fuelled adventure landing every few weeks. AND you’ll be able to watch all these new releases when they come out as many times as you want if you sign up to Cineworld’s Unlimited membership.
So, let’s hurtle ahead to see what we’re in for…
Mercy (booking now)
A sci-fi thriller with Chris Pratt fighting to prove his innocence in real time – literally. Accused of killing his wife, he has 90 minutes to clear his name, and it’s all playing out under the cold, unblinking gaze of an AI judge.
Refreshingly, it’s a burst of action in a sprightly 1hr 39mins. If you like the paranoia and ethical knots of Minority Report or RoboCop, you’ll be right at home with this. Plus, AI! Let’s be scared. Cinema’s given us everything from adorable robots like WallE to, er… Terminator. But now we have an unfeeling piece of artificial intelligence sitting in actual judgement over a human. What will the outcome be?
Shelter (booking now)
Jason Statham. Here’s a man who knows exactly what he’s doing. Roughly 50 action movies under his karate black belt (he has one, of course). That’s a lot of stunts, many of which he performs himself.
This one leans hard into practical stunt work, filmed on real locations rather than artificial sets. No CGI here, just authentic, high-impact stuff. Must-catch moment: Statham booby-trapping a lighthouse and beach, which some have affectionately likened to a grittier Home Alone.
Crime 101 (booking now)
If you’ve been gagging to see Barry Keoghan since Saltburn, you’ll wolf down the energetic Dubliner as a psychotic biker. And if your preferred popcorn buddies are Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry or Mark Ruffalo, then you’ll get your wish too because all three star in Crime 101.
Some elements you may not be expecting are, Chris Hemsworth’s shy and surprisingly low-fi detective character, and truly edge-of-your-seat car chases. They feel almost unplanned, less like choreographed ‘moves’ and more like drivers making rapid-fire decisions. Now that we want to experience.
Mortal Kombat II (15th May)
It feels like we don’t see enough martial arts movie at the cinema. Well, sharpen your swords, because Mortal Kombat II is slicing through our schedules. And with 106.8 million trailer views in its first 24 hours, clearly the fans are ready.
Gore, magic, Karl Urban as Johnny Cage… plus the return of characters we never thought we’d see again, this video game adaptation has it all. Fights, battles, tournaments – take a ringside seat and see it on the big screen at Cineworld.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu (22nd May)
It’s going to be massive. The moment big-screen lovers and Star Wars fans have been waiting for: a return to cinema for the next chapter in the Lucas intergalactic story world.
Will it be classic Star Wars? Tick. Filmed for IMAX to pull you into the epic panoramas and explosive dramatic moments you only get from cinema? Tick. Din Djarin and Grogu still as out-of-this-world cute as ever? Tick, tick, tick.
Supergirl (26th June)
A party girl antihero with a messy past who becomes a superhero we really want to see. If you like your superhero movies laser-focused on revenge rather than saving the day, Supergirl’s your woman.
Think road trip movie, only through the galaxy. And we cannot wait to reunite with Krypto the Superdog in this upcoming DC Universe title.
The Odyssey (17th July)
Fantasy and action are beefy bedfellows, and it was only a matter of time before they collided on a truly grand scale. Christopher Nolan taking on an ancient Greek epic? Of course we’re getting a mythic action epic that’s already been dubbed a cinematic triumph. We’re here for it.
SpiderMan: Brand New Day (31st July)
Watch out for exciting alliances with other Marvel greats in future films. Will this be Tom Holland’s final outing in the cobwebs? That question hangs over Brand New Day, which sees Peter Parker try to walk – not leap – away from SpiderMan. Man. Then we witness a visceral shift as his DNA starts to mutate.
Grounded and back to basics, the camera focuses on street-level New York as Peter tries to steer his own course, alone.
Street Fighter (16th October
With the creators of the original video game heavily involved, expectations are sky high. And instead of gritty and grey, we get bizarre and bright, which is faithful to the core spirit of the game. And yes, the scene where someone beats up a car? It’s in there. We’re excited too.
The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender (23rd October
Ancient threat, epic quest, high-profile cast, and a gorgeous blend of hand drawn 2D and 3D environments. You may have seen the series; timeline wise this jumps forward to Aang and the gang as young adults. The fir--st film in a promised trilogy announced in 2021, with the TV series finishing in 2008, but this long wait looks worth it.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (20th November)
A prequel set 24 years before The Hunger Games, shining a prescient light on fake news and propaganda shaping the narrative. With double the number of districts ordered to take part, we get twice the participants, a packed arena and the bloodiest Games ever.
And yes: the origins of the Mockingjay Pin are finally revealed…
Avengers: Doomsday (18th December)
And Robert Downey Jr is back. But not as you know him. Early reports tease shocking battles and plenty of bloodthirsty action. And once you’ve watched this in December 2026, you’ll be back a year later for its sequel, Avengers: Secret War.
Fans went wild when Doctor Victor von Doom was confirmed: scientist, sorcerer, monarch, cosmic level powerhouse. And who’s steering this seismic energy? Robert Downey Jr.
See them all with Cineworld Unlimited!
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