Winter-spring movie preview: 'Michael,' 'Scream 7,' 'Wuthering Heights,' 30 more big-screen picks

It’s shaping up to be a musical winter and spring at the movies, as Michael Jackson, Billie Eilish, Elvis Presley and Charli xcx will all be at the center of feature films in the next few months. Or maybe it’s horror season, with at least seven upcoming titles, from the horror-comedy "They Will Kill You" to "Scream 7” to yet another "Dracula." Or maybe the whole winter will be dominated by "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," a sequel whose 2023 predecessor made a whopping $1.3 billion.

However you slice it, the first quarter of 2026 looks pretty lively. There are A-list stars in sci-fi films (such as Ryan Gosling in "Project Hail Mary"), a number of romances (including "Wuthering Heights") and even a high-profile documentary, "Melania," about the otherwise publicity-averse first lady Melania Trump. And just wait until Valentine’s Day weekend, a usually snoozy but suddenly jam-packed window with five new releases, including the thriller "Crime 101” and the animated kids’ film "GOAT."

Here are 33 big movies coming this season.

JAN. 23

CLIKA

The first film produced by Latin music’s trend-setting Rancho Humilde label casts JayDee, a rising star in the corridos tumbados genre, as a young farm laborer who dreams of making music but gets caught up in a criminal underworld.

MERCY

A police detective (Chris Pratt) has 90 minutes to prove to an AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson) that he did not kill his wife. Timur Bekmambetov ("Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter") directs.

JAN. 30

MELANIA A documentary focusing on first lady Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to her husband’s inauguration in 2025. It’s the first film from director Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour") since he was accused of sexual misconduct by six women, including the actress Olivia Munn, in 2017.

THE MOMENT

Charli xcx sends up her "brat summer" self in a mockumentary featuring Alexander Skarsgård, Rosanna Arquette and Kate Berlant.

SEND HELP Following a plane crash, an underappreciated employee (Rachel McAdams) and her cocky young boss (Dylan O’Brien) attempt to survive together on a desert island. Sam Raimi ("The Evil Dead") directs.

FEB. 6

DRACULA Writer-director Luc Besson ("The Fifth Element") delivers his version of the Bram Stoker tale following 2024’s "Nosferatu" and last year’s "Dracula." The film stars Christoph Waltz ("Frankenstein") as a priest on the trail of an immortal prince (Caleb Landry Jones).

SOLO MIO Left at the altar in Rome, a groom (Long Island's Kevin James) decides to go on his honeymoon alone. Written, directed and produced by Charles and Daniel Kinnane, of the eight-sibling Kinnane Brothers collective.

THE STRANGERS — CHAPTER 3 Bryan Bertino’s nihilistic home-invasion film from 2008 was relaunched in 2024 under director Renny Harlin ("Die Hard 2”) as a standalone trilogy that now appears to be at an end. Madelaine Petsch returns as Maya, a favorite target of masked killers.

FEB. 13

CRIME 101 A jewel thief (Chris Hemsworth), an insurance broker (Halle Berry) and a police detective (Mark Ruffalo) cross paths in Los Angeles. Bart Layton, of "American Animals," directs this crime thriller based on a novella by Don Winslow ("The Force"). With Barry Keoghan, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nick Nolte.

GOAT

In an animal world where the popular sport is "roarball," a teenage goat (Caleb McLaughlin) dreams of becoming the Greatest of All Time. Basketball star Stephen Curry is a producer of this Sony animated film featuring the voices of Gabrielle Union and Nick Kroll.

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE A man claiming to be from the future (Sam Rockwell) enters a landmark Los Angeles diner and assembles a team (Michael Pena, Zazie Beetz and others) to fight a rogue AI. Gore Verbinski ("Pirates of the Caribbean") directs.

SCARLET Mamoru Hosoda’s anime, inspired by Shakespeare’s "Hamlet," focuses on a vengeful medieval princess who encounters a compassionate young man from the future. It screens in a one-week, IMAX-only run beginning Feb. 6.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi play the stormy lovers Catherine and Heathcliff in a sumptuous-looking adaptation of Emily Brontë's sole novel. Written and directed by provocateur Emerald Fennell ("Saltburn"). Original songs by Charli xcx.

FEB. 20

HOW TO MAKE A KILLING A wealthy family’s black sheep (Glen Powell) decides to kill the only relatives who stand in the way of his inheritance. John Patton Ford’s black comedy stars Margaret Qualley, Bill Camp, Topher Grace and Ed Harris.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 John Michael Finley returns as Bart Millard, front man for the Christian band MercyMe. With Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia and Arielle Kebbel.

MIDWINTER BREAK Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds play an aging couple whose vacation in Amsterdam becomes a reckoning with the past. Director Polly Findlay adapts a novel by Northern Irish author Bernard MacLaverty.

FEB. 27

DREAMS A wealthy socialite (Jessica Chastain) begins an affair with an undocumented Mexican ballet dancer (Isaac Hernández). Michel Franco’s romantic drama earned a Golden Bear nomination at last year’s Berlin film festival.

EPiC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT

On the heels of his 2022 hit biopic "Elvis," director Baz Luhrmann assembles what he’s calling "a cinematic poem" culled from 59 hours of newly discovered Presley footage from the 1970s. It screens in a one-week, IMAX-only run beginning Feb. 20.

PILLION An introverted man (Harry Melling, of "Harry Potter" fame) becomes the submissive partner of a handsome biker (Alexander Skarsgard). Harry Lighton’s kinky romcom opens first in New York City, on Feb. 6.

SCREAM 7

Having survived multiple Ghostface killers, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) realizes that her daughter (Isabel May) is the target of yet another. Writer-creator Kevin Williamson, in a franchise first, steps into the director’s chair.

MARCH 6

THE BRIDE! Frankenstein’s monster (Christian Bale) digs up a mate (Jessie Buckley) who inspires a radical social movement. Maggie Gyllenhaal’s spin on the Mary Shelley tale also features Annette Bening and Penélope Cruz.

HOPPERS Pixar’s latest centers on a girl (Piper Curda) who implants her brain in a robot-beaver and leads an animal revolution against the local mayor (John Hamm). The voice cast includes Meryl Streep and Dave Franco.

MARCH 13

THE BREADWINNER Comedian Nate Bargatze co-wrote this comedy in which he plays a stay-at-home dad trying to support his entrepreneurial wife (Mandy Moore). With Colin Jost and Kate Berlant.

REMINDERS OF HIM The latest Colleen Hoover adaptation stars Maika Monroe ("The Hand that Rocks the Cradle") as a former convict who returns to her hometown. With Tyriq Withers ("Him") and country singer Lainey Wilson, in her film debut.

MARCH 20

BILLIE EILISH — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) Director James Cameron captures the pop star during her 2024 tour. The film screens in Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D and premium large formats, according to Paramount Pictures.

PROJECT HAIL MARY

Ryan Gosling plays a schoolteacher who reluctantly becomes an astronaut — and Earth’s last hope — in this adaptation of a novel by Andy Weir ("The Martian"). The directors are Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, of "The Lego Movie."

MARCH 27

THEY WILL KILL YOU The new maid (Zazie Beetz) at a fancy high-rise learns that it houses a cult — and she’s to become the latest human sacrifice. Also with Heather Graham and Patricia Arquette.

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME Mere moments after winning a blood sport against a rich family, Grace (Samara Weaving) learns she has only completed the first level. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett return for this sequel to their 2019 horror-comedy.

APRIL 3

THE DRAMA Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play a young couple on the verge of marriage. From writer-director Kristoffer Borgli, of 2023’s surreal comedy "Dream Scenario."

THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE

Chris Pratt and Charlie Day return as the voices of plumbers Mario and Luigi, respectively, in an animated sequel to 2023’s $1.3 billion hit "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." Also with Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black and Brie Larson.

APRIL 10

YOU, ME & TUSCANY A young woman (Halle Bailey) caught crashing at an acquaintance’s Italian villa pretends to be his fiancee. Regé-Jean Page and Nia Vardalos also star in this romcom from producer Will Packer ("Think Like a Man," "Girls Trip").

APRIL 17

NORMAL Bob Odenkirk and writer Derek Kolstad, of "Nobody" fame, re-team for an action film about a small-town sheriff who accidentally uncovers a very big secret. With Henry Winkler and Lena Headey.

APRIL 24

MICHAEL The late pop superstar Michael Jackson is played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson (son of Jermaine Jackson), in Antoine Fuqua’s much-anticipated biopic. Also starring Nia Long, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo as Joe, the Jackson family patriarch. Written by John Logan ("Gladiator," "Any Given Sunday").