Discover the 20 most anticipated films at SXSW 2026. From Ready or Not 2: Here I Come to I Love Boosters, get the full details here.
The South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 Film & TV lineup is a combination of high-octane sequels, star-studded indies, and the kind of genre-bending cinema that only makes sense after a midnight screening. Here are the 20 most anticipated films we’re tracking at SXSW 2026 – in no particular order.
Heavy Hitters & Highly Anticipated Sequels
The Headliners section at SXSW is where the festival proves it can go toe-to-toe with Hollywood’s biggest stages, offering a first look at the projects set to dominate the cultural conversation for the rest of the year. Whether it’s a long-awaited horror sequel or a high-fashion heist, these are the red-carpet premieres that define the festival’s scale.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
- The Vibe: Survival horror with a wicked sense of humor.
- Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Elijah Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kevin Durand.
- Synopsis: After surviving her first wedding night from hell, Grace (Weaving) is pulled back into the Le Domas family’s twisted legacy when a new adversary emerges. This time, she’s joined by her younger sister (Newton) in a high-stakes escalation of the “Most Dangerous Game.”
I Love Boosters
- The Vibe: Fashion-forward heist thriller.
- Cast: Keke Palmer, Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Naomi Ackie, Will Poulter.
- Synopsis: Director Boots Riley returns with a stylish tale of a seasoned ring of shoplifters who set their sights on a predatory fashion mogul (Moore) who has built an empire on exploitation.
Power Ballad
- The Vibe: An uplifting music-driven comedy.
- Cast: Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Wunmi Mosaku, Billy Magnussen.
- Synopsis: A washed-up wedding singer (Rudd) and a fading boy band star (Jonas) strike up an unlikely friendship over a late-night jam session. The harmony sours, however, when one of them turns their shared song into a chart-topping hit.
Normal
- The Vibe: Kinetic neo-Western.
- Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey.
- Synopsis: Written by Derek Kolstad (John Wick), the film stars Odenkirk as an unassuming substitute sheriff in a sleepy town. When a bank robbery goes south, his “troubled past” proves to be exactly what the town needs—and fears.
Genre Disrupters
SXSW has long been the gold standard for elevated genre, and the 2026 selection pushes the boundaries of horror and action into surreal new territory. From supernatural queer narratives to high-octane thrills, these films utilize traditional tropes to explore deeper social anxieties and visceral human emotions.
Pretty Lethal
- The Vibe: Ballerina-slasher-action.
- Cast: Uma Thurman, Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds.
- Synopsis: Five rival ballerinas on their way to a competition find themselves stranded at a sinister inn run by Devora (Thurman). To survive the night, they must weaponize years of brutal dance training—turning pointe shoes and discipline into tools for survival.
They Will Kill You
- The Vibe: Action-horror-comedy.
- Cast: Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, Tom Felton, Heather Graham.
- Synopsis: Produced by the Muschiettis (IT), the story follows a woman (Beetz) who takes a housekeeping job in a prestigious NYC high-rise, only to discover the residents are part of a cult responsible for decades of disappearances.
Hokum
- The Vibe: Folk horror.
- Cast: Adam Scott.
- Synopsis: From Damian McCarthy (Oddity), this follows a grieving horror novelist who retreats to an Irish inn, only to find himself haunted by local legends and a very real, very terrifying witch.
Leviticus
- The Vibe: Supernatural queer horror.
- Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen.
- Synopsis: Two boys in a conservative Christian town are subjected to a conversion ritual that goes horribly wrong, unleashing a spiritual entity that takes the form of what they desire most.
Dark Comedies & Twisted Indies
The Narrative Spotlight and Competition sections offer a playground for bold, independent voices who aren’t afraid to find humor in the macabre. This year’s indie slate feels particularly sharp, leaning into themes of class warfare, identity theft, and the messy volatility of modern relationships.
Forbidden Fruits
- The Vibe: Neon-soaked mall-gothic.
- Cast: Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain, Gabrielle Union.
- Synopsis: Behind the counter of a mundane mall store, Apple (Reinhart) leads a secret witch cult alongside her coworkers. When a new hire named Pumpkin begins to question the group’s “sisterhood,” the coven must confront their own inner darkness—or face a violent end.
The Shitheads
- The Vibe: Chaotic road-trip comedy.
- Cast: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Kiernan Shipka.
- Synopsis: Two low-level grifters are hired to transport a spoiled teen to rehab. They soon realize the kid isn’t a drug addict, but a sociopathic social media star who has a plan to make their lives a living hell.
Kill Me
- The Vibe: Murder mystery dark comedy.
- Cast: Charlie Day, Allison Williams, Giancarlo Esposito.
- Synopsis: Jimmy (Day) wakes up next to a dead body with no memory of the night before. He teams up with a cynical witness (Williams) to solve the crime before the law—or the actual killer—catches up.
The Sun Never Sets
- The Vibe: Alaskan romantic drama.
- Cast: Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith.
- Synopsis: Joe Swanberg directs this story of a woman (Fanning) who travels to Alaska for space from her boyfriend, only to run headfirst into her ex.
Midnight Wildcards
For those who prefer their cinema with a side of adrenaline and a dose of the uncanny, the festival’s after-hours programming remains its beating heart. The Midnight and Narrative Spotlight sections this year are particularly stacked, leaning heavily into high-concept psychological thrills and visceral creature features.
Whether it’s a satirical take on digital-age obsession or a blood-soaked reimagining of traditional coming-of-age rituals, these selections represent the boldest, most unapologetic voices in the 2026 lineup.
- Obsession: A music store employee uses a supernatural toy to make his crush fall in love with him, leading to terrifyingly consequences.
- Never After Dark: A wandering medium guides spirits in a country house, only to realize her greatest threat is a living inhabitant.
- Fifteen: A Mexico City quinceañera reimagined as a blood-soaked creature horror.
- Buddy: A brave girl and her friends must escape a twisted children’s television show.
- Imposters: A desperate mother brings her missing son back through occult means, but her husband begins to suspect the boy is… something else.
- Brian: A high-stakes, exquisitely awkward comedy about a teenager with mental health struggles running for class president.
- Love Language: A star-studded rom-com that promises to subvert every trope of the genre.
- Over Your Dead Body: Samara Weaving and Jason Segel star as a dysfunctional couple who head to a remote cabin to supposedly reconnect, but each has secret plans to kill the other.
SXSW 2026 is poised to be a definitive year for bold, boundary-pushing cinema. Whether you’re here for the high-octane thrills of a studio blockbuster or the quiet, unsettling brilliance of a midnight indie discovery, this year’s slate offers a visceral reminder of why we congregate in the dark.
Grab your badge, caffeinate accordingly, and we’ll see you in the front row.