Advertisement
Hollywood in 2026: from movies and bigger China focus to ‘Dunesday’, here’s what to expect
Hollywood faces a pivotal year of change in 2026, with the potential Netflix/Warner deal, AI actors and nostalgia fever among key factors
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Predicting the movie business is a fool’s errand, but with a new year under way, let us start with a moment of cautious optimism: 2026 could be a great year for cinema.
Last year, with artificial intelligence (AI) encroaching on the industry and ticket sales still trailing pre-pandemic levels, there was much soul-searching. This year, cinema is boldly heralding the theatrical experience, with heavyweights Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg and Denis Villeneuve all back with new films.
Behind the scenes could be just as dramatic as what unfolds on screen, as the film and television landscape continues to shift at a breakneck pace.
Advertisement
Here are eight key things to look out for.
1. Sundance sunset
This year’s edition of the Sundance Film Festival – which runs between January 22 and February 1 – is poised to be a bittersweet one. This marks the first Sundance since the death of its founder, actor-director Robert Redford, who died in September 2025, and the last to take place in Park City, in the US state of Utah, its home since its inception.
Next year, the festival renowned for showcasing the best of independent cinema – Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh and the Coen brothers all launched their careers there – moves to Boulder, in Colorado.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x