December 2026 puts two of the biggest franchise films of the year into the same weekend, along with a run of Christmas Day openers and a handful of classic re-releases. The dates and details below come from the Box Office Mojo domestic release schedule, read on November 8. Release dates move, so confirm showtimes with your local theater before you plan a group outing.
If you are still working through November, our guide to the November 2026 movie releases in theaters covers what is playing now. This list picks up on December 4 and runs through the New Year.
December 2026 movie releases by date
The schedule lists wide releases, which open in a large number of theaters, separately from limited releases, which open in fewer. Both appear below, grouped by week.
December 4: Behemoth! and Violent Night 2
The first full weekend of the month has two wide releases from major studios. Behemoth! is a drama with music from Walt Disney Studios, listed at 2 hours 4 minutes and starring Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor and Alexa Swinton. Violent Night 2 is an action comedy from Universal Pictures, listed at 1 hour 50 minutes and starring Kristen Bell, David Harbour, Jared Harris and Joe Pantoliano.
The same date brings several smaller releases, including Tender Loving Care from Bleecker Street, a comedy drama running 1 hour 47 minutes, and Flavia de Luce: Girl Detective, a family mystery adventure listed at 1 hour 32 minutes. On December 5, Romeo + Juliet returns for a limited 30th anniversary release.
December 11 and 12: Elsinore and anniversary screenings
The second weekend is lighter on blockbusters. Elsinore from Focus Features is a wide release, a drama starring Andrew Scott, Olivia Colman, Billie Piper and Johnny Flynn, listed at 1 hour 51 minutes. George Michael: The Faith Tour, a concert documentary from Bleecker Street, also opens wide.
Limited releases on December 11 include Clarissa from Neon, The Debut from A24 with Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, and Ink from Netflix. On December 12, Moulin Rouge! returns to theaters for its 25th anniversary in a limited release.
December 18: Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday
The biggest weekend of the month has two tentpoles opening wide on the same day. Dune: Part Three from Warner Bros. stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Florence Pugh and is listed at 2 hours 20 minutes. Avengers: Doomsday from Walt Disney Studios stars Robert Downey Jr., Pedro Pascal, Chris Hemsworth and Vanessa Kirby and is listed at 2 hours 45 minutes.
The long runtimes matter for planning. If your group wants to see both, putting them on separate days is easier than trying to fit them into one afternoon. It's a Wonderful Life also returns on December 18 for its 80th anniversary in a limited release, which makes a good option for a quieter holiday outing.
December 23 to 25: Christmas week openers
The Angry Birds Movie 3 from Paramount Pictures opens wide on Wednesday, December 23, with a voice cast that includes Lily James, Jason Sudeikis, Keke Palmer and Emma Myers. It is the clearest family pick of the holiday week.
Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, brings the most crowded slate of the month, with these wide releases:
Jumanji: Open World from Sony Pictures, an action adventure comedy with Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Madison Iseman and Jack Black.
Mr. Irrelevant from Paramount Pictures, a sports drama with Isabel May, David Krumholtz, Michael Shannon and David Corenswet.
Artificial from Neon, a drama with Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, Monica Barbaro and Cooper Hoffman, listed at 2 hours 20 minutes.
Werwulf from Focus Features, a horror thriller with Willem Dafoe and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, listed at 2 hours.
December 29 to January 1
The month ends with a light schedule. BTS World Tour Arirang in Jakarta arrives as a live viewing event from Trafalgar Releasing on December 29, and Look Back from GKIDS opens in limited release on December 30. On January 1, 2027, the horror thriller Pendulum, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jena Malone and Norman Reedus, opens wide from Vertical Entertainment.
How to pick a movie for a group
Choosing one film for six people is harder than choosing one for yourself. Start by asking everyone for a single yes and a single hard no, which removes most of the disagreement before it starts. Then match the runtime to the evening, since a 2 hour 45 minute film needs a different plan than a 90 minute comedy.
Opening weekend seats for the big releases fill early, so book tickets as soon as your group agrees. A group chat is the easiest place to run the vote, post showtimes and confirm who is paying for popcorn. If you need a name for the chat, our list of movie night group chat names has plenty of options.
Tribe events in the same stretch
If you want something in person before the holidays, Tribe Events has gatherings across the South Bay this month. Poker Night on Friday, November 13 is covered in our Poker Night guide, and the full list is on the Tribe Events calendar on Luma.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest movies of December 2026? Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday, both opening wide on December 18, according to the Box Office Mojo schedule.
What opens on Christmas Day? Jumanji: Open World, Mr. Irrelevant, Artificial and Werwulf open wide on December 25.
What is the best family movie in December? The Angry Birds Movie 3 opens December 23, and Flavia de Luce: Girl Detective opens December 4.
Can release dates change? Yes. Studios move dates, so check your theater listing before buying tickets.
