10 New Movies You Can’t Miss in 2026 – Critics’ Top Picks

The February 2026 movie calendar is packed with franchise favorites, literary revivals and fresh streaming debuts—perfect timing for winter weekends and Valentine’s Day outings. In theaters this February • Crime 101 – Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo headline Bart Layton’s stylish heist thriller, opening nationwide on February 13. • Wuthering Heights – Warner Bros. transports Emily Brontë’s classic to the big screen just in time for date night on February 14. • GOAT – Sony’s underdog sports comedy follows a college football phenom chasing “Greatest Of All Time” status; expect laughs and locker-room heart. • Scream 7 – Ghostface carves a new path of meta mayhem, keeping the long-running horror series alive for a new generation. • I Can Only Imagine 2 – Lionsgate continues the inspirational music-biopic franchise with a sequel aimed squarely at faith-based audiences. Streaming spotlights Variety’s roundup flags 17 buzzy debuts hitting living-room screens this month, led by the sweeping romance Eternity, the remastered classic Kiss of the Spider Woman, gritty indie Urchin and the dinosaur spectacle Jurassic World Rebirth. Check platform drop dates—several titles roll out weekly to keep queues fresh. Why February matters for moviegoers 1. Counter-programming: Studios slot romances and horror side by side to court both Valentine couples and thrill-seekers. 2. Award-season runoff: Prestige holdovers from December expand nationally, giving audiences a second chance before Oscars voting closes. 3. Family appeal: Mid-winter school breaks boost attendance for PG titles like GOAT and animated re-releases listed on the domestic schedule. How to choose your next watch • Love story? Pair Wuthering Heights with Eternity for a double dose of passion. • Adrenaline fix? Crime 101 in theaters, then queue Jurassic World Rebirth at home. • Jump scares? Book late-night seats for Scream 7. • Feel-good vibes? I Can Only Imagine 2 streams shortly after its limited theatrical run, perfect for family movie night. Bottom line Search volume for “new movies” spikes every February as audiences hunt for fresh entertainment. Whether you’re planning a big-screen outing or curating a streaming marathon, February 2026 delivers plenty of headline-grabbing releases ready to dominate watchlists all month long.