From visionary auteurs to horror disruptors, some of cinema’s biggest directors are returning to the big screen in a major way this year. Whether it’s Christopher Nolan pushing the boundaries of IMAX filmmaking, Steven Spielberg revisiting sci-fi spectacle or Denis Villeneuve closing out the Dune saga, these filmmakers are delivering cinematic events audiences won’t want to miss.

Steven Spielberg – Disclosure Day

Releasing June 11

Few directors carry the legacy of Steven Spielberg, whose films like Jurassic Park and Jaws helped define the modern blockbuster. Disclosure Day sees Spielberg return to the sci-fi genre, exploring how society reacts when aliens are no longer speculation, but reality. Starring Emily Blunt and Colin Firth, the film combines suspense with the scale and wonder audiences have come to expect from Spielberg’s sci-fi films.

Steven Spielberg promotes *Disclosure Day* at the Universal Pictures and Focus Features presentation during this year’s CinemaCon convention.

Christopher Nolan – The Odyssey

Releasing July 16

Nolan has built his reputation on ambitious, large-scale filmmaking with titles like Inception, The Dark Knight and Oppenheimer. His ability to blend complex narratives with blockbuster spectacle makes The Odyssey one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Reimagining the classic Greek epic, the film marks a major filmmaking milestone as the first movie shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Nolan’s work on The Odyssey is the culmination of a journey that began with The Dark Knight becoming the first feature film to utilise IMAX cameras for select action scenes, meaning audiences can expect nothing less than groundbreaking visuals and immersive sound from this blockbuster event.

Christopher Nolan promotes *The Odyssey* at the Universal Pictures and Focus Features presentation during this year’s CinemaCon convention.

Zach Cregger – Resident Evil

Releasing September 17

Zach Cregger became a breakout success with his 2022 directorial debut, Barbarian. The horror thriller about a woman uncovering a terrifying secret beneath her Airbnb, earned critical acclaim for its originality and tension. Cregger then returned in 2025 with another critically acclaimed horror film, Weapons, which saw Amy Madigan take home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Now, Cregger takes the reins of Resident Evil, the iconic survival horror franchise that began as a video game before becoming a global film series. With Cregger at the helm, audiences can expect a darker, more atmospheric take that leans into suspense and character-driven horror over the action-heavy approach the franchise has become known for.

Amy Madigan and Zach Cregger at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu – Digger

Releasing October 1

Alejandro G. Iñárritu is best known for his intense, visually ambitious films such as Birdman and The Revenant, both of which earned him Academy Awards for Best Director. Arriving to the big screen later this year, Digger ends Iñárritu’s 11-year feature film hiatus. Starring Tom Cruise in his first non-action role in years, audiences can expect a bold, thought-provoking dark comedy that combines sharp commentary with the immersive storytelling Iñárritu is famous for. Speaking at CinemaCon recently, Iñárritu praised Cruise’s performance, saying audiences know him for "the stunts, the planes, the jumps”, but described taking on this new character as “another kind of fearless.”

Leonardo DiCaprio and Alejandro G. Iñárritu pose after winning Best Actor and Best Director at the 88th Academy Awards for *The Revenant.*

Aaron Sorkin – The Social Reckoning

Releasing October 8

Aaron Sorkin is best known for his razor-sharp screenwriting and culturally defining stories, most notably A Few Good Men and The Social Network, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Sorkin now fills the director’s chair for The Social Reckoning, a companion piece to The Social Network set nearly two decades later. Based on the true story of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and Jeff Horwitz from The Wall Street Journal exposing the platform’s most guarded secrets, the film continues Sorkin’s exploration of technology, power and influence through the sharp dialogue and layered storytelling that have defined his career.

Aaron Sorkin attends a photo call for *The Social Reckoning* at CinemaCon 2026.

Denis Villeneuve – Dune: Part Three

Releasing December 17

Villeneuve has cemented his reputation as one of modern sci-fi’s most visionary filmmakers through acclaimed titles including Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune saga. Renowned for his breathtaking visuals and immersive world-building, he continues to push the boundaries of large-scale cinematic storytelling. Following Dune: Part Two becoming the fourth biggest IMAX release of all time in Australia, anticipation is sky-high for Dune: Part Three, the epic conclusion to the saga that is set to deliver another visually spectacular and emotionally rich cinematic experience.

The visionaries behind 2026’s biggest movie events.