There’s never been a better time to be a movie fan, especially if you love checking out your local movie theaters. From re-releases of classic titles to exciting big-budget spectacles, there seems to always be something new to enjoy while munching on a bucket of popcorn. However, with the popularity of streaming and the influx of new titles arriving every week, how are you supposed to know which movies in theaters are best?
Thankfully, we’re here to help. We’ve highlighted several prominent releases currently playing in theaters. From terrific dramas to heart-pounding action films, there’s certainly no shortage of things to see whenever you head down to your local cinema. Don’t believe us? Here are just a handful of the best movies currently playing in theaters. We’ll be updating this list periodically to reflect the best-of-the-best movies as they come and go.
‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ – August 7
Deconstructing the Slasher Into Something More Devious
Jane Schoenbrun follows I Saw the TV Glow with a meta slasher that digs into the genre’s mechanics. Here, Hannah Einbinder plays an energetic young queer filmmaker tasked with directing the next entry in the long-running Camp Miasma franchise and giving it life after a series of abysmal sequels, only to become fixated on Gillian Anderson’s reclusive original star. After opening on five screens to one of the year’s best per-theater averages, Mubi has taken it nationwide after a strong reception for challenging convention norms. As Julian Roman said in his review for MovieWeb, “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma has to be viewed with an open mind and dispassionately as a work of art, and what unfolds on screen transcends any expectations anyone might have about the satire disguised as a slasher.”
‘The Brink of War’ – August 14
Reagan and Gorbachev, One Weekend
Michael Russell Gunn writes and directs his first feature, a political drama built entirely around the 1986 Reykjavík Summit. The film takes place over one weekend in Iceland, as President Ronald Reagan (Jeff Daniels) and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (Jared Harris) come remarkably close to dismantling both nations’ nuclear arsenals under pressure from outside forces. This is a talking picture in the best sense: a PG-rated, 1-hour-57-minute chamber piece focused on conversations over conflict. This one aims for authenticity, as Gunn spent years researching the summit and interviewing people who were in the room.
‘The End of Oak Street’ – August 14
The ‘It Follows’ Director Goes Prehistoric
Set in 1980s suburbia, The End of Oak Street follows the Platt family after a mysterious cosmic event transports their neighborhood. The family must then stick together to survive in an urban landscape now riddled with dinosaurs. Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor lead as parents Denise and Greg. Backed by a reported $85 million budget, an IMAX rollout, and a Michael Giacchino score, this is the rare original summer spectacle. The End of Oak Street has already been hailed as the “Best Dinosaur Movie in Decades”. This kind of grand original concept is meant to be seen on the big screen.
‘The Wrong Girls’ – August 14
Kristen Stewart’s Stoner Buddy Comedy
Dylan Meyer makes her feature directorial debut with this R-rated stoner comedy. Here, Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat play Frankie and Molly, two best friends coasting through Los Angeles on low-paying jobs and a steady supply of weed. That changes when a case of mistaken identity throws them into a surreal, darkly comedic adventure. Stoner comedies come and go, but The Wrong Girls brings sharp visual direction and tackles the genre from a female-forward perspective that is sure to develop cult status.
‘Mutiny’ – August 21
Statham Against an Entire Cargo Ship
Jason Statham plays Cole Reed, a former Special Forces operator and London Metropolitan police officer now working in private security. After his billionaire boss is murdered, Reed is framed for the killing. Seeking vengeance and to clear his name, he boards a boat to catch his target, but soon finds himself wrapped up in a conspiracy. Statham also produces here, and the movie feels perfectly poised to make some noise at the box office for action fans, with the movie being described as “John Wick meets Die Hard”. At a lean 95 minutes and rated R for strong bloody violence, Mutiny promises to entertain and keep things bloody and fast-paced.
‘Insidious: Out of the Further’ – August 21
The Further Comes to Us This Time
Amelia Eve stars as Gemma, a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in, who discovers she can cross into a world known as “The Further” and bring what lives there back with her. This puts her in the sight of demons, who want to use her ability to bring chaos to humanity. The premise is the smartest reset the franchise has attempted, with evil now making its way out rather than people being drawn in. The scares are landing with audiences too, as the sixth entry opened north of $25 million, building on The Red Door becoming the highest-grossing film in the series at $189 million, and giving the franchise a new cast and a clear plan to carry it even further.
‘Spa Weekend’ – August 21
Four Friends and Some Terrible Decisions
Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the duo behind Bad Moms and the original Hangover screenplay, write and direct this raucous R-rated comedy. Here, four lifelong friends decide they need a break from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives and reconnect. Jane (Leslie Mann), Coco (Michelle Buteau), Sophie (Anna Faris), and Mel (Isla Fisher) escape to a luxury spa retreat for a weekend that is marked by a series of very bad decisions. The pitch is a stacked cast, with Buteau coming off her own Netflix series and Mann, Faris, and Fisher already known for the chaos and hilarity a film of this ilk needs. Perfect for a night out with friends.
‘The Dog Stars’ – August 28
Ridley Scott Post-Pandemic Thriller
Ridley Scott adapts Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, with Jacob Elordi as Hig, a former civilian pilot living in the hangar of an abandoned Colorado airport years after a superflu wiped out most. He flies the perimeter in an old Cessna with his dog, keeping watch alongside hardened ex-Marine Bangley (Josh Brolin), until a distant radio transmission convinces him something better might exist out there. At a reported $110 million, this is the most Scott has spent on original science fiction in over a decade. The Dog Stars could be one of 2026’s biggest surprises.
‘Cliffhanger’ – August 28
An Unexpected But Welcome Reboot
Jaume Collet-Serra reboots the 1993 Sylvester Stallone thriller. Here, Pierce Brosnan plays Ray Cooper, a seasoned mountaineer who runs a luxury chalet with his younger daughter Sydney (Nell Tiger Free). When a weekend excursion is ambushed by kidnappers, the eldest daughter, Naomi (Lily James), escapes but faces a grueling climb. Director Collet-Serra has a proven record of making exciting features on a budget, from The Shallows to Carry On. Hopefully the reboot captures some of that cheesy 90s charm, while delivering some thrilling action when it finally lands in theaters.
‘Buddy’ – August 28
Children’s Television Turns Sinister
Inside the relentlessly colorful world of “It’s Buddy!”, a group of children spends their days singing, dancing, and helping the title character spread happiness. But when one child refuses to play along, Buddy is not pleased, and cracks begin to appear in this seemingly perfect world. Director Casper Kelly brings his particular brand of comedic and bloody chaos to the big screen for the first time, having previously done the viral short Too Many Cooks and the Adult Swim Yule Log. 2026 has been one of the best years for horror of all time, and Buddy looks to bring some of its own bloody chaos to the screen
‘Coyote vs. ACME’ – August 28
The Movie Saved by Fans
After decades of exploding dynamite, faulty rocket skates, and an abundance of anvil-related injuries, Wile E. Coyote finally takes them to court. He hires down-on-his-luck billboard attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte) to sue the ACME Corporation. This is the release story of the year: a completed $70 million film shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery in 2023 as a tax write-off, then rescued by Ketchup Entertainment for a reported $50 million after a sustained fan campaign. Whatever the film turns out to be, it’s worth catching in theaters, particularly for those who grew up with Looney Tunes.
‘Finding Emily’ – August 28
A Proper British Romcom
When lovesick musician Owen (Spike Fearn) is given the wrong number for the girl of his dreams, he teams up with driven psychology student Emily Raines (Angourie Rice) to track her down. The two join a campus-wide frenzy to find her and slowly develop feelings for each other. After opening in the UK back in May to a warm reception, Finding Emily lands stateside for those looking for a little romance on the screen this month.
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