The 10 best movies of 2026, so far

We’re halfway through 2026. After watching 165 movies, here are my 10 best:

10. Toy Story 5

Available: Only in theatres

Quote: “The age of toys is over.”

Toy Story might be the most consistent franchise ever. It’s impressive that they have kept making these movies while maintaining a high standard. Toy Story 5 feels both fresh and familiar, with Jessie, voiced by Joan Cusack, as the star. Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) play supporting roles in a film about a young girl who struggles to make friends. Toy Story 5 also has plenty to say about cyberbullying and screen time, as Lilypad (Greta Lee), a kids’ tablet, joins the gang of toys. There are enough new ideas to make Toy Story 5 enjoyable.

9. Miss You, Love You

Streaming on: HBO Max

Quote: “You could have texted him yourself, but instead you chose to stay angry.”

Miss You, Love You could have easily been a play. Most of the drama unfolds indoors, two people dominate the running time, and it’s very talky. Allison Janney plays recently widowed Diane, and Andrew Rannells is Jamie, her estranged son’s personal assistant. There are so many mother-son issues here, with Jamie caught in the middle. He was sent to assist Diane with funeral arrangements, but is his presence actually helping? Miss You, Love You is directed by Jim Rash, who won an Oscar for co-writing The Descendants with Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon.

8. Power Ballad

Available for rent on: YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, etc.

Quote: “We’re not rockstars, Rick. We’re human jukeboxes.”

If you’re a longtime fan of John Carney, you know the drill (music, drama, and often Ireland). Paul Rudd plays Rick Power, an older American lead singer of a wedding band who once dreamed of stardom but now plays cover songs to support his family in Dublin. By chance, he performs at a wedding attended by Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), a former boy band member. An impromptu late-night jam session leads Wilson to steal one of Power’s original songs, which he turns into a massive hit. Power Ballad has a lot to say about the creative process and aging.

7. Slanted

Streaming on: Paramount+

Available for rent on: YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, etc.

Quote: “How wonderful is it to be white?”

There’s an old Margaret Cho observation about what it’s like to grow up in the United States as the child of immigrants. You feel like you spend half your day in America and the other half in a foreign country. Your parents want you to assimilate, but not too much. That push-and-pull is at the heart of Slanted. Joan (Shirley Chen) desperately dreams of being prom queen. But the Chinese American teen is having a hard time connecting with the ‘it’ crowd of white kids. Joan discovers an extreme solution in a horror flick reminiscent of Get Out.

6. Hokum

Available for rent on: YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, etc.

Quote: “There are worse things than strangers out there, yank.”

If you enjoyed Oddity, Damian McCarthy’s follow-up is even better. Hokum is as much a character study as it is a horror story. Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) is one of the year’s most unlikeable and abrasive protagonists. The successful author is a downright jerk. But he’s not a jackwagon for no reason. Bauman is a survivor of a horrible trauma, and his obnoxiousness is his protective armor. McCarthy reveals this through a tale set in a haunted hotel. This is not a knockoff of The Shining. It’s much deeper and more revealing than typical horror fare.

5. Backrooms

Available: Only in theatres

Quote: “We all have our loops. Our habits. Behaviors that keep us walking in circles.”

4. Is God Is

Chances are, you have never seen anything quite like Is God Is. The story of fraternal twins seeking vengeance on their abusive father, told in a Southern Gothic style, is fascinating to watch. Writer-director Aleshea Harris brings her play of the same name to vivid life, thanks to sharp dialogue and even sharper acting from the cast. The most famous people (Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, Janelle Monáe) don’t have the biggest roles. This movie belongs to Kara Young and Mallori Johnson, who play Racine and Anaia, respectively, and do so extraordinarily well.

3. Crime 101

Streaming on: Prime Video

Quote: “That’s the thing about walk-away money. You have to be able to actually walk away with it.”

Crime 101 feels like a Michael Mann homage, a stylish crime caper set in an urban environment and populated by memorable characters. The story follows three disillusioned people. Mike (Chris Hemsworth) is a thief who feels let down by the foster system. Sharon (Halle Berry) is an insurance broker who feels let down by corporate America. Lou (Mark Ruffalo) is a police detective who feels let down by his fellow cops. Their disappointment leads to questionable decisions and extreme danger. For Hemsworth, this performance is on par with his role as the villain Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

2. Send Help

Streaming on: Disney+ and Hulu

Available for rent on: YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, etc.

Quote: “Never mistake my kindness for weakness.”

Have you ever felt underappreciated at work? Linda (Rachel McAdams) knows your pain. She might be socially awkward, but she’s also very good at her job. When Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) takes over as CEO, it’s clear Linda is SOL. She’s going to be passed over for a promotion. However, the power dynamics shift when, on a business trip, the plane crashes and the two are marooned on a deserted island. Linda, an aspiring contestant on the reality TV show Survivor, thrives in this environment. She’s the alpha, and Bradley hasn’t got a clue. Send Help is a feminist horror survival story from Sam Raimi.

1. Obsession

Available: In theatres

Available for rent on: YouTube, Apple TV, Prime Video, etc.

Quote: “You wished for this.”

Obsession is more than a movie; it has become a cultural phenomenon. Fans are visiting the movie’s filming locations. Obsession and Backrooms are wildly successful creations by YouTubers Curry Barker and Kane Parsons that are disrupting the traditional studio system. Obsession overcomes its low budget with a simple, relatable story and excellent performances by previously unknown actors, Inde Navarrette (Nikki) and Michael Johnston (Bear). Obsession is a work of art that couples can argue about forever. When your wish for someone to fall in love with you comes true, what price will it cost?