For the last five years, this now-traditional first batch of minuscule movie reviews has reliably appeared later and later into the year; mid-May, however, is so late I’m almost getting nostalgic for the awful 2020/21 days. Back then the schedule was so dry that every new release film felt like a huge win, regardless of quality, leading up to a spring-loaded 2022 slate that launched me to 20 movies by the end of May.
Of course that’s not what’s happening right here in 2026; Pokémon’s 30th anniversary and a steadily unfolding all-time year for Capcom have simply provided ample writing material, so I haven’t had to break away too much from either my particular genre wheelhouse or the major hyped-up film releases of the year so far. I didn’t even need to look for a streaming-only movie to fill any gaps: for the second year running, these first ten films were all theatrical visits.
The release schedule is definitely about to ramp up for the American summer, but right before things really get going, here are some micro-thoughts on what I’ve seen up till now in 2026.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Return to Silent Hill
“Just play Silent Hill 2 instead, unless you’re morbidly curious.”
Wuthering Heights*
“Looks phenomenal, but that asterisk does some VERY heavy lifting.”
Shelter
“Takes the “Statham Dad Movie” template to more literal places.”
Project Hail Mary
“What if Interstallar was hilarious, heartwarming, and even better looking?”
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
“Zero character development, but visually stunning with perfectly–targeted novelty.”
The Drama
“More like The (Pitch–Black Cringe) Comedy, am I right?”
Michael
“All the usual biopic issues, albeit with FANTASTIC stage performances.”
The Devil Wears Prada 2
“Too many plot threads, but the characters are still fabulous.”
Mortal Kombat II
“Cooler fights, better structure, superior finale, still can’t top Kano.”
The Sheep Detectives
Vagrant Rant 