This winter, The Walt Disney Company has an exciting slate of movies for a wide variety of audiences: those looking for adventures, laughs, thrills, and, a chance to return to the vast worlds of Zootopia and Pandora. And, looking ahead to 2026, Disney’s theatrical slate highlights the best of what The Walt Disney Studios has to offer across its banners, including Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney Live Action, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures.
Predator: Badlands helped round out Disney’s fall releases this year, pushing Disney past the $4 billion mark at the global box office for the fourth consecutive year, as the film achieved the Predator fanchise’s strongest global opening ever. Predator: Badlands is now on the brink of becoming the highest grossing movie of the nearly 40-year old franchise, both domestically and globally.
The following films wrap up 2025 and kickstart the new year with some of the industry’s most highly-anticipated releases. Here’s what not to miss from The Walt Disney Company this winter:
- Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2 — November 26
- 20th Century Studios’ Ella McCay — December 12
- 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash — December 19
- Searchlight Pictures’ Is This Thing On? — December 19
- Searchlight Pictures’ The Testament of Ann Lee — December 25
- 20th Century Studios’ Send Help — January 30
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2
Release Date: November 26
As film fans head to movie theaters this holiday season, they’ll have the option to return to an exciting land full of unique animal characters with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2, the follow up to the Oscar-winning Zootopia, which grossed over $1 billion during its 2016 theatrical run.
The beloved rookie cop duo Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) find themselves at the center of a brand-new case that tests their partnership, challenges the city’s long-standing assumptions, and welcomes back a herd of characters who made their debut in the previous film, along with some new friends they make along the way.
Recently, Disney debuted the official music video for Zootopia’s next pop anthem, “Zoo,” performed by Shakira, who reprises her role as Gazelle in the film.
20th Century Studios’ Ella McCay
Release Date: Dec. 12
Ella McCay is a heartwarming new film that is equal parts hilarious and introspective.
Emma Mackey, Disney Legend Jamie Lee-Curtis, and Ayo Edibiri are a few of the powerhouses that comprise Academy Award winning writer/director James L. Brook’s comedy for the holiday season.
The film centers on the titular character, Ella McCay who, after becoming governor, leans into the chaos of family drama while still trying to balance her work life.
20th Century Studios’ Avatar: Fire and Ash
Release Date: Dec. 19
Disney Legend James Cameron delivers one of the most anticipated cinematic events of the year with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the next chapter in the Avatar franchise.
Following the soaring success of Avatar: The Way of Water — which stands as the third highest-grossing films of all time — this new installment brings fans up close to the escalating conflict on Pandora where they will recognize familiar friends and encounter dangerous threats.
Experiencing Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX will be an immersive experience just like Avatar fans have come to expect from the imaginative franchise.
Searchlight Pictures’ Is This Thing On?
Release Date: Dec. 19
Is This Thing On? is a sharply observed, deeply personal drama that cleverly blends humor and heartbreak.
At the center is Alex Novak (Will Arnett), who seeks new purpose in the New York comedy scene, navigating the gap between the person he is onstage and the one he’s trying to become off it. As his career teeters between breakthrough and burnout, he’s forced to confront an impending divorce with his wife (Laura Dern) and the long-avoided truths that got him to where he is now.
Bradley Cooper directed Searchlight Pictures’ Is This Thing On? — which was the closing night film at this year’s 63rd New York Film Festival.
Searchlight Pictures’ The Testament of Ann Lee
Release Date: December 25
The film, by award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold, captures the mystical, yet agonizing world of the Shakers through more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall and an original score by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg.
Thomasin Mckenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Matthew Beard, Scott Handy, Viola Prettejohn, Jamie Bogyo, David Cale, Tim Blake Nelson, and Christopher Abbott also star.
20th Century Studios’ Send Help
Release Date: January 30
In this darkly comedic, psychological thriller from director Sam Raimi and 20th Century Studios, Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) and Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien) are workplace rivals who find themselves stranded on a deserted island after surviving a plane crash.
Bradley, who is Linda’s snarky and demeaning boss, is in for an unexpected twist of fate when an even playing field of survival of the fittest (and most intelligent) breaks down his power dynamic with Linda, forcing the two to either work together or get revenge.
Disney’s impressive theatrical slate this winter and in the new year is an enticing list of diverse films for a variety of filmgoers.
The 2026 theatrical slate will continue to delight and thrill fans as it premieres the next list of must-see movies:
- Pixar’s next original animated comedy Hoppers hits theaters on March 6.
- Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars debuts on March 27.
- The deadly sequel to Searchlight Picture’s Ready or Not, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, on April 10.
- The Devil Wears Prada 2 on May 1 will see the iconic return of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci.
- On May 22, Star Wars’ notorious Mandalorian makes his silver screen debut in The Mandalorian and Grogu.
- Disney and Pixar will release Toy Story 5 on June 19.
- Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday lands in theaters December 18.
- Disney Live Action releases Moana on July 10.
- On Nov. 25, Walt Disney Animation Studios will release Hexed.