Last updated: November 15, 2026. Release dates, formats and showtimes can change, so confirm with your local theater and the studios’ official pages. Dates below come from Box Office Mojo’s release calendar, Cinemark and entertainment coverage named at the end. This guide is independent, is not affiliated with any studio or theater chain, and avoids plot spoilers beyond official premises.
December 2026 is shaping up as one of the most crowded holiday movie months in years. The headline date is Friday, December 18, when Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three open on the same day. Families get The Angry Birds Movie 3 on December 23, and Jumanji 3 lands on Christmas Day. Here is every major wide release, how premium formats like IMAX are being split, and how to plan your theater trips around the holidays.
December 2026 movie release calendar at a glance
| Date | Movie | Studio / distributor | Release | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 4 (reported) | Violent Night 2 | Universal (reported) | Wide | Adults; action-comedy |
| Dec. 18 | Avengers: Doomsday | Walt Disney Studios / Marvel | Wide | Superhero fans, teens and up |
| Dec. 18 | Dune: Part Three | Warner Bros. / Legendary | Wide, IMAX exclusive | Sci-fi fans, big-screen buffs |
| Dec. 23 | The Angry Birds Movie 3 | Paramount | Wide | Families with young kids |
| Dec. 25 | Jumanji 3 | Sony Pictures | Wide | Families, action-comedy fans |
| Dec. 25 | Untitled John Tuggle Project (working title) | Paramount | Wide | Sports-drama fans |
| Dec. 25 | Werwulf | Focus Features | Limited | Adults; horror |
Box Office Mojo also lists an 80th-anniversary limited re-release of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) around mid-December. Ratings had not been posted for most of these titles when we checked, so look for MPA ratings on ticketing sites before taking younger children.
December 18: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three (“Dunesday”)
The two biggest science fiction films of the year open on the same Friday, a matchup fans have nicknamed “Dunesday.” We covered the early background in our Avengers: Doomsday vs Dune: Part Three guide; here is what has been added since.
Avengers: Doomsday
- Release: Friday, December 18, 2026, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
- Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo, who also directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
- Cast listed by Box Office Mojo: Robert Downey Jr., Pedro Pascal, Chris Hemsworth and Vanessa Kirby, as part of a much larger ensemble.
- Format: Cosmic Book News reports the film will not play in IMAX during its opening weeks because Dune holds those screens, and that Disney is promoting its own premium label called “Infinity Vision.” Ask your theater which premium screens (Dolby Cinema, 4DX, ScreenX or chain-branded large formats) will carry it.
Dune: Part Three
- Release: Friday, December 18, 2026 in North America, per Cinemark; Cosmic Book News reports the international rollout starts December 16.
- Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes, according to Cinemark’s listing.
- Director: Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Brian K. Vaughan, according to Cosmic Book News. It adapts Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah.
- Cast reported: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh and Jason Momoa return, with Robert Pattinson and Anya Taylor-Joy joining.
- Format: Cosmic Book News reports an exclusive three-week IMAX run over the holidays, with early “Dune Insider” IMAX 70mm screenings from December 14, digital IMAX from December 15, and other premium formats from December 17. IMAX 70mm is reported to be available at only about 25 U.S. locations, so those seats are likely to sell out first.
Which one should you see first?
If seeing a movie in IMAX matters to you, Dune is the one to book early, because the IMAX run is reported to be exclusive and short. Avengers: Doomsday is likely to have more total showtimes across standard and other premium screens, so finding a seat may be easier after opening weekend. If your group cannot agree, many theaters schedule both back-to-back on weekends; Dune’s 150-minute runtime plus trailers means a double feature will take most of a day.
December 23: The Angry Birds Movie 3
Paramount opens the third Angry Birds film on Wednesday, December 23, just before Christmas Eve. Box Office Mojo lists a voice cast including Jason Sudeikis, Keke Palmer, Lily James and Emma Myers. With schools on break, it is the most obviously kid-focused wide release of the month and a good choice for families with younger children who are not ready for a 2.5-hour sci-fi epic.
December 25: Jumanji 3 and Christmas Day releases
Sony moved Jumanji 3 from December 11 to Christmas Day, a shift reported in March 2026 and reflected on Box Office Mojo’s calendar. Jake Kasdan returns to direct, and Box Office Mojo lists Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Rhys Darby. Other coverage has reported more returning cast members, including Kevin Hart, which we expect the studio to confirm in its final marketing. It is the main four-quadrant family film for Christmas week.
Also on December 25:
- Untitled John Tuggle Project (Paramount, wide): a sports biography drama listed with Isabel May, Michael Shannon, David Krumholtz and David Corenswet. The title is a working title and may change.
- Werwulf (Focus Features, limited): a horror film listed with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe and Lily-Rose Depp. Limited releases start in select cities and can expand later.
Early December: Violent Night 2
TheWrap’s release calendar lists Violent Night 2 for December 4, 2026. We could not confirm the date on a second source, so check closer to the weekend. If it holds, it will be the main new wide release of early December, an adults-only alternative to holiday family fare.
How to plan your December movie trips
- Book premium formats early. With IMAX reportedly reserved for Dune and only about two dozen U.S. IMAX 70mm screens, the best seats for December 18 to January 3 will go fast.
- Go on weekdays during school break. Monday to Thursday matinees between December 21 and 31 are usually far less crowded than Friday nights and weekends.
- Use discount days. Many chains offer cheaper tickets on Tuesdays through their loyalty programs. Check whether these apply to premium formats and to new releases.
- Check runtimes before planning a double feature. Add 15 to 25 minutes of trailers and ads to each listed runtime.
- Look for the ratings. Ratings for several December titles were not yet posted when we checked, so confirm before you take children.
Still catching up on November? Our Thanksgiving 2026 movies in theaters guide lists everything opening this month, including The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, which also has a separate IMAX run and Netflix release date.
December movies and the awards race
December releases are the last chance for films to qualify for the 2027 Oscars, which honor movies released in 2026. Big crowd-pleasers rarely lead the Best Picture race, but craft categories such as visual effects, sound and production design often include December blockbusters, and Dune: Part Two earned wins in sound and visual effects in 2025. See our 2027 Oscars guide for nomination dates and early contenders.
Frequently asked questions
What movies come out on December 18, 2026?
Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three both open in U.S. theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026.
Is Avengers: Doomsday in IMAX?
Not during its opening weeks, according to Cosmic Book News, which reports Dune: Part Three has an exclusive three-week IMAX run. Avengers: Doomsday is expected to play in other premium formats. Check your theater’s listings for details.
When does Jumanji 3 come out?
December 25, 2026 (Christmas Day), after Sony moved it from December 11.
What is the best family movie in December 2026?
For young kids, The Angry Birds Movie 3 on December 23. For families with older kids, Jumanji 3 on December 25.
How long is Dune: Part Three?
Cinemark lists a runtime of 2 hours 30 minutes.
Bottom line
December 2026 builds to a huge December 18 with Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, then turns family-friendly with The Angry Birds Movie 3 on December 23 and Jumanji 3 on Christmas Day. If you want IMAX, book Dune early. For everything else, weekday matinees during school break are your best bet for good seats.
Sources
- Box Office Mojo: Domestic release schedule, Dec. 18, 2026 and Dec. 25, 2026
- Cinemark: Dune: Part Three
- Cosmic Book News: Dune: Part Three release date, cast and tickets (updated Nov. 4, 2026)
- Cosmic Book News: Jumanji 3 moves to Christmas
- TheWrap: 2026 Movie Release Schedule
