Summer 2026 Movie Preview: The Biggest Films You Won’t Want to Miss

Cold Storage, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, Wasteman, and The Moment are among the top-quality movies opening in cinemas this week!

It is yet another terrific week for movie fans at the cinema. The selection of what’s on offer is more than enough to keep any cinephile happy. Leading the line are the releases of Liam Neeson in Cold Storage and Sam Rockwell in the Gore Verbinski-directed Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die. But that’s not all. If those two films don’t interest you, you can catch the Charli XCX movie, The Moment, and the gritty prison drama, Wasteman. There’s plenty to keep you entertained over the weekend and beyond.

COLD STORAGE

Studio Canal- Released Friday 20th February

Synopsis: Two employees at a self-storage company have the wildest shift of their lives when a parasitic fungus that was sealed by the government escapes. As the temperature rises underground, the highly contagious and rapidly mutating microorganism starts to multiply as it unleashes its brain-controlling, body-bursting terrors on the facility’s inhabitants – human and otherwise.

Cast: Georgina Campbell, Joe Keery, Sosie Bacon, Vanessa Redgrave, Lesley Manville, and Liam Neeson

Director: Jonny Campbell

Cert: 15

Our editor, Phil Roberts, had fun with the film, saying in his three-star review:

“Overall, Cold Storage is a fun, gory horror-comedy that lives up to the hype. With standout performances from Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, Liam Neeson, and Lesley Manville, the film more than delivers enough quality to establish itself as a new horror classic. With its nostalgic B-movie style, clever screenplay, and rich production values, the movie is the ultimate Friday night popcorn horror experience. It’s a light, breezy comedy that will leave you smiling as you exit the theater. With its quick 99-minute runtime and great entertainment value, what more could you ask for?”

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE

Entertainment Film Distributors- Released Friday 20th February

Synopsis: Claiming to be from the future, a man takes hostages at a Los Angeles diner to recruit unlikely heroes to help him save the world.

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple

Director: Gore Verbinski

Cert: 15

I loved the film, saying in my four-star review:

“A complete mindf**k, hilarious, colourful, and totally bats**t crazy, Gore Verebinski’s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is superb entertainment. It hits the ground running and hardly stops. It delivers a brilliant night at the movies, one that the audience will have loads of fun with. Despite some heavy plotlines and comments on the world we live in today, it is light in tone, often comedic, and totally out there. It is one of those time loop movies that actually makes a lot of sense, despite the outrageous premise of it all. To be honest, we fall into the trap of actually believing what we are seeing could turn out to be true. Or is it a trap, or a chilling prediction for what lies in store for us in the future?”

THE MOMENT

Universal Pictures- Released Friday 20th February

Synopsis: As her arena tour debut looms, a pop star finds herself caught inside the afterglow of a breakout summer under the mounting pressure of what it costs to stay on top.

Cast: Charli XCX

Director: Aidan Zamiri

Cert: 15

WASTEMAN

Lionsgate- Released Friday 20th February

Synopsis: Follows parolee Taylor, whose fresh start hopes are jeopardised by cellmate Dee’s arrival. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own parole chances.

Cast: David Jonsson and Tom Blyth

Director: Cal McMau

Cert: 18

I saw the film at last year’s BFI London Film Festival, and enjoyed it, saying:

Wasteman is a brutal, gripping British prison drama that doesn’t skimp on the violence or harshness inside the cells.

David Jonsson and Tom Bly excel as cellmates, one meek, the other a psychopath. The film is raw and compelling viewing. #BFI #LFF”

ALSO RELEASED THIS WEEK

COLLECTIVE MOMOLGUE

Sovereign Films- Release date: Friday 20th February 

Cert: U

FUKUSHIMA

Dogwoof- Release date: Friday 20th February

 Cert: TBC

MAN ON THE RUN

Met Film- Release date: Friday 20th February

Cert: 15

THE SECRET AGENT

MUBI- Release date: Friday 20th February

Cert: 15

We saw the film at the BFI London Film Festival, with Phil saying of the film:

“Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent is a bold and enticing slice of cinema. Wagner Moura expertly leads a great ensemble cast through the web of corruption in Brazil.

Although the finale fell flat for me, the charming thriller is a worthy addition to the #LFF watchlist.”

Plan your next visit to your local cinema with these great new releases.

 

 

 

 

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