A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2026 - Episode I

2026 is about to land, and it arrives as a packed year with new films from big-time directors with names like Spielberg, Nolan, and Villeneuve, along with the return of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. It also brings significant anniversaries such as ROCKY (50 years), THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (25 years), and Pixar’s CARS (20 years). 

 

But before we get to all that, we need to get through Movie Siberia; the first two months of the year where low-expectation films are dumped to die. Here is what’s falling on the big screen for January: 

 

THE PLAGUE – In this psychological thriller, a young boy is pulled into a cruel tradition at camp. Joel Edgerton stars. 

GREENLAND 2: MIGRATION - In this sequel to the 2020 disaster film, a family leaves the safety of their underground bunker after a comet collision to find a new home. Gerard Butler (300), and Morena Baccarin (SERENITY), star. 

 

 

WE BURY THE DEAD – Daisy Ridley (THE FORCE AWAKENS), stars in this horror flick where she searches for her husband in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. 

 

 

IS THIS THING ON? – Bradley Cooper directs and stars this comedy-drama about a couple that splits and enters the world of stand-up comedy. Laura Dern and Will Arnett co-star. 

 

 

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE – The fourth installment of the 28 DAYS LATER post-apocalyptic horror series, serving as a direct prequel to 28 YEARS LATER from last year. Ralph Fiennes stars, and it is directed by Nia DaCosta (THE MARVELS). 

 

 

HAMNET – Oscar winning director Chloe Zhao (NOMADLAND), helms this historical drama centered around the marriage of William Shakespeare. It stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal (GLADIATOR II). 

 

 

H IS FOR HAWK – Claire Foy stars in this drama about a woman caring for a pet hawk after the death of her father. 

 

 

MERCY – In this unique blend of sci-fi and legal thriller, a detective stands on trial for murder, and must convince an A.I. judge of his innocence. The cast includes Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, and Annabelle Wallis. 

 

 

SEND HELP – Sam Raimi (EVIL DEAD, SPIDER-MAN), helms this survival thriller where a worker and her boss become stranded on a desert island. Rachel MacAdams and Dylan O’Brien star. 

 

 

SHELTER – Jason Statham plays a former assassin forced to kill his old employers. 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of February. 

A Reel 10: STAR WARS - THE FORCE AWAKENS

“There has been an awakening…”

 

This month marks the 10th anniversary of STAR WARS – EPISODE VI: THE FORCE AWAKENS. 

The seventh episode of the series and a legacy sequel to RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), THE FORCE AWAKENS was the first film produced by Disney after creator George Lucas sold the franchise in 2012. Picking up 30 years after the fall of the Empire, AWAKENS follows a scavenger and a former stormtrooper in their search for the vanished Luke Skywalker, with the hope that his return will fight off the First Order; the successor to the Empire. 

 

THE FORCE AWAKENS began production after Disney acquired the property from Lucas, who served as a creative consultant in the early stages. In the director’s chair would be J.J. Abrams, who had dazzled audiences with his STAR TREK revival in 2009. The script would be written Abrams, Michael Arndt, and Lawrence Kasdan…who was a co-writer on the Original Trilogy. John Williams would return to provide the score. 

 

Filming began in 2014 at Pinewood Studios in England, and on location in Abu Dhabi, and Ireland. The cast would include Daisy Ridley as the scavenger, John Boyega as the former stormtrooper, and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren; leader of the First Order. The rest of the cast would be rounded out by STAR WARS veterans Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Peter Mayhew…along with Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. 

 

THE FORCE AWAKENS would open to critical acclaim and would gross over $2 billion worldwide, becoming the biggest hit of 2015 and the third-highest grossing film of all time at the time of its release. It would be nominated for five Oscars and be followed by THE LAST JEDI (2017), and THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019). 

 

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It is rare for this Blogger to write up a 10-year anniversary, but for STAR WARS, exceptions will always be made. Long-time readers of Reel Speak know that this was the film that brought my wife and I together. And in 2019, we made the magnificent climb up the Jedi steps at the breathtaking Skellig Michael off the coast of Ireland; the now famous filming location for the new home of Luke Skywalker (read about that journey HERE). For this Blogger, THE FORCE AWAKENS flies close to the heart. 

 

From a filmmaking point of view, THE FORCE AWAKENS is a film that really moves. The editing and pacing have a rhythm to it, creating a sense of forward momentum with endless energy. Visual effects, sound editing, and John Williams’ magnificent score brings back the awe and wonder that STAR WARS does so well. 

 

In that galaxy far, far away, THE FORCE AWAKENS expands and goes deeper. It shows the impact that galactic politics and war can have on even the smallest of beings; Rey’s journey from lowly scavenger to hero of the Resistance strikes that chord inside all of us…the chord that always tells us we are meant for something more. As the first new STAR WARS film in decades, it revitalized the franchise with new heroes such as Rey, while combining them with nostalgia from the old Galactic Civil War. It honors what came before while setting up another ten years of STAR WARS content…with more films, video games, and streaming series. There was an awakening in 2015, one that brought us back into a galaxy of adventure and timeless optimism.

 

“It’s true. All of it.”

 

Rob Reiner 1947 - 2025

Actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner has passed away at 78. 

 

The son of entertainment legends Carl and Estelle Reiner, he was born in the Bronx and received his early training at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA. In the late 1960’s he acted in small roles in TV shows such as BATMAN, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, and THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. In 1971 he had his breakout role as Mike “meathead” Stivic in the sitcom ALL IN THE FAMILY. 

 

In the 1980’s he made the move to directing, and helmed some of the most iconic films of the last 40 years. His debut came in 1984 with the mockumentary THIS IS SPINAL TAP. Next came the coming-of-age drama STAND BY ME (1986), and the fantasy THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987). 

 

He continued to direct hits through his Castle Rock Entertainment. The romantic comedy WHEN HARRY MET SALLY from 1989 has been regarded as the best of its genre. In 1990 he would direct the thriller MISERY, which earned Kathy Bates an Oscar for Best Actress. In 1992 he helmed the ensemble courtroom thriller A FEW GOOD MEN, which was nominated for Best Picture. Other films included THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (1995), GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI (1996), and THE BUCKET LIST (2007). His final film would be THIS IS SPINAL TAP II from 2025. 

 

He continued to act and appeared in THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN (1987), SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993), PRIMARY COLORS (1998), and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET (2013). His career would bring three Directors Guild of America awards and four Golden Globes nominations for Best Director. 

 

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Rob Reiner leaves behind a legacy of films that have stood the test of time. Everyone knows the thundering courtroom sequence of A FEW GOOD MEN, the swordfights from THE PRINCESS BRIDE, the tension of MISERY, and the romance of Harry and Sally. With his perfect yet delicate balance of drama and comedy, he made films that clicked something inside of us and stayed there. With THIS IS SPINAL TAP, he drew the curtain back on the world of rock n’ roll bands, poking fun at them in an honest way that no headbanger could argue. He was the most human director we have seen in the last 40 years, and cinema will miss him. 

A Reel 20: KING KONG

“Kong! The eighth wonder of the world!”

 

This month marks the 20th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s KING KONG. 

 

An epic monster/adventure film, KING KONG was the second remake of the 1933 film, and the first film from Peter Jackson after his historic and successful THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Like the 1933 version, it followed an ambitious filmmaker who tricks his cast and crew into voyaging to the mysterious and hidden Skull Island, where they encounter prehistoric creatures and the mythical giant gorilla known as Kong. 

 

The voyage to KONG began back in 1995, when Universal Pictures approached Jackson to direct a remake of the classic 1933 film. The project stalled after a few years in development, as several monster movies were being made at the time and Jackson was planning on forging THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Once the One Ring was done, Universal came back to Jackson in 2003, who finally accepted. 

 

Filming began in 2004 in New Zealand. Naomi Watts would step into the role of Ann Darrow, and Jack Black was cast as the ambitious film director, Carl Denham. The rest of the cast would include Adrien Brody, Colin Hanks, Jamie Bell, Kyle Chandler, Evan Parke, and Thomas Kretschmann. Andy Serkis would provide the motion-capture for Kong. Howard Shore was originally hired to compose the score but was replaced by James Newton Howard. 

 

On release, KING KONG received acclaim and was a box office hit, finishing as fifth highest grossing film of the year. It would win three Oscars: Best Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects. 

 

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Peter Jackson’s KONG stomps in as a visually stunning and emotionally charged epic that elevates the classic tale. The film blends heartfelt character moments with spectacular action, delivering breathtaking sequences such as the and the dizzying finale at the Empire State Building, and Kong fighting three (!) T-Rex’s. The T-Rex fight is a cinematic stunner, followed a creepy and crawly Spider Pit sequence that is the stuff nightmares are made of. 

 

As a monster movie, it certainly delivers, and it also works as a drama and tragedy. Naomi Watts brings depth and sincerity to Ann, making a powerful bond with Kong in a love story that seems ridiculous on paper. And it’s a love story that clicks all the right boxes; they quarrel, separate, and find each other again. By embracing the Beauty and the Beast tale, and visual effects that dazzle 20 years later, Peter Jackson’s KONG has one paw in the past and one in the future. 

 

“It was beauty killed the beast..”

 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2025 - Episode XII

The final month of 2025 is upon us and it is looking to go out strong; with theatres receiving films from the horror genre, animation, and the return of the King of the Box Office. Here are the notable big screen releases for December: 

 

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 – The sequel to the 2023 horror film, based on the popular video game. Set a year after the first film, Abby reconnects with her animatronic friends, revealing the origins of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The cast includes Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, Wayne Knight, and McKenna Grace. 

 

 

KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR – Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece of revenge returns to the big screen as a single film (originally released in two parts). 

 

 

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT – The second remake of the 1984 holiday slasher film and the seventh in the series. 

 

 

 

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH – Box office King James Cameron returns with the third installment of his sci-fi series, this time with Jake Sully and his family meeting a war-like tribe who has aligned with their human enemies. The cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, and Sigourney Weaver. 

 

 

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS  - The fourth theatrical trip for this series, this time seeing SpongeBob travelling to the depths of the ocean to face off against the Flying Dutchman. 

 

 

 

THE HOUSEMAID – Paul Feig (BRIDESMAIDS), directs this psychological thriller where a young woman with a troubled past becomes a housemaid for a wealthy family. The cast includes Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. 

 

 

ANACONDA – This comedy/horror serves as a meta-reboot of the cult classic film of the same name from 1987, which tracks the adventures and mishaps of the film crew as they set out into the jungle to make that 1987 film. 

 

 

MARTY SUPREME – In this sports drama, Timothee Chalamet plays American table tennis player Marty Reisman. 

 

 

SUNG SUNG BLUE – Craig Brewer (HUSTLE AND FLOW), directs this drama about a real-life Neil Diamond impersonator and performer. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star. 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the first month of 2026.