What is the story about?
2025 was packed with multiple movie releases. The year saw many films emerge as blockbuster hits while several others missed the mark. In December 2025,
Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar stormed at the box office by shattering many records. Interestingly, the Aditya Dhar directorial set new records at the domestic as well as worldwide box office. As this year is coming to an end, we look forward to the movies that will be released next year, 2026. Before the new year begins, let us take you through a list of five films you must watch and two that you can skip in theatres!
5 films you must watch in 2026
Border 2
Border 2 is one of the most anticipated film releases of 2026. Directed by Anurag Singh, the war drama is the sequel to JP Dutta's 1997 film, Border. The second installment features Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, and Diljit Dosanjh. A few days ago, the makers of Border 2 released its official teaser online. And now, fans are looking forward to the release of Border 2. It has been scheduled for a theatrical release on January 23, 2026. Border 2's female star cast includes Sonam Bajwa, Medha Rana, and Mona Singh.
Mardaani 3
Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, Mardaani 3 will be released in theatres on February 27, 2026. The third installment marks Rani Mukerji's return as the daredevil cop, Shivani Shivaji Roy. The first few posters of Mardaani 3 were released earlier this year. And now, fans are excitedly waiting for the trailer and teaser to release on social media. The buzz is that Shaitaan fame Janki Bodiwala might be seen in the cop drama, starring Rani in the lead role.
Dhurandhar 2
After fans watch Border 2 and Mardaani 3 in cinemas, they can look forward to watching Dhurandhar 2 in theatres. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy thriller's second installment is expected to work well due to the first part's blockbuster success. Dhurandhar 2 will be released in theatres on March 19, 2026. The first part featured Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Saumya Tandon, and Sara Arjun. It earned over Rs 1000 crore (gross) at the box office.
Ramayana: Part 1
Ramayana: Part 1, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is yet another anticipated release of 2026. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, the mythological epic will be released in theatres on Diwali 2026. Other than Ranbir and Sai, the film stars Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lord Laxman, and Yash as Ravan. After Ramayana: Part 1 releases this year, the second installment will arrive on Diwali 2027. It is titled Ramayana: Part 2.
Shakti Shalini
Maddock Films' Shakti Shalini will arrive by the end of 2026. Starring Aneet Padda in the lead role, the film is a part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. It was initially set for theatrical release in 2025. And now, the makers have planned to bring Shakti Shalini to cinemas on December 24, 2026.
2 films you can skip in 2026
Happy Patel
Vir Das makes his directorial debut with Happy Patel. Backed by Aamir Khan Productions, the film stars Vir, Mona Singh, and Imran Khan. It marks Imran's acting comeback after Katti Batti. Happy Patel is scheduled to release in theatres on January 16, 2026. Only 16 days are left for the film to release. However, there's not much buzz around the project. That said, it remains to be seen how this project performs at the box office after its theatrical release.
Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past
Directed by Vikram Bhatt and Manish P Chavan, Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past is a supernatural horror film. It is a spiritual sequel to the 2011 film Haunted - 3D. The upcoming film stars Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Chetna Pande, Gaurav Bajpai, Hemant Pandey, Shruti Prakash, and others. The film is set for a big-screen release on January 30, 2026.
Well, Sunny Deol's Border 2, Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: Part 1, Rani Mukerji's Mardaani 3, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2, and Aneet Padda's Shakti Shalini are the five films you shouldn't miss watching next year. On the other hand, you can skip watching Happy Patel and Haunted 3D: Ghosts of the Past in 2026.
