The 5 Greatest Movies of the Last 6 Months, Ranked

Published Nov 2, 2026, 7:20 AM EST

Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! 
On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. 
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Sign in to your Collider account

The calendar year of 2026 has proven to be extraordinary in the world of movies. From extraordinary science fiction masterpieces to instant animated classics, movie lovers have been given everything and more. While we await the highly anticipated award season showdowns, we can honor some of the greats that might be in that coveted conversation.

Over the last six months, there have been some brilliant films that have been released. From a stop-motion masterpiece that is scaring its animated rivals to a mind-blowing documentary centering on a fascinating subject, the five films on this list have been major critical and cinephile hits. What is your favorite film of the year so far?

5 'Wildwood'

Image via LAIKA Studios

From Laika, the incredible independent stop-motion production company, Wildwood has emerged as a heavy hitter as the ultimate animated film of 2026. Directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, the epic fantasy film follows a headstrong 13-year-old girl, Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), who plunges into a forbidden, magical wilderness outside Portland, Oregon, after a murder of crows abducts her infant brother. Accompanied by her classmate Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), she must navigate a secret world filled with talking animals, rogue bandits, and powerful factions on the brink of a brutal civil war. To save her brother, Prue has to find her inner strength and survive a treacherous landscape controlled by a grieving, dark sorceress, Alexandra (Carey Mulligan). A truly cinematic masterpiece, Wildwood is a pristinely crafted film that represents an unprecedented leap in the scale, technology, and narrative depth of stop-motion animation.

The dark fantasy epic took 16 years of development and over 4 years of physical production to bring to life, proving time can lead to remarkable projects. Laika used entirely new animation technologies to handle vast environments and hundreds of puppets on screen at once, creating a fluid, jaw-dropping visual style that feels truly magical. Pushing boundaries as a PG-13, the film deals profoundly with grief, family obligations, and growing up. With legendary scenes that rival some of the greatest fantasy epics in history, Wildwood reminds us of where the future of filmmaking can go in the right, capable artists. In an industry increasingly dominated by AI and digital automation, Wildwood is celebrated as a triumphant monument to handcrafted human artistry. Wildwood reminds us of the power of what we can create without bureaucratic guardrails. ​​​​​​​

4 'Coyote vs. Acme'

Image via Ketchup Entertainment

The journey to the big screen may warrant a documentary one day, but the truth is that those who fought so hard to ensure the world got to see Coyote vs. Acme were on the right side of history. Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch, the live-action-animated hybrid comedy centers on Wile E. Coyote, who decides to sue the Acme Corporation after its malfunctioning products repeatedly fail him in his pursuit of the Road Runner. Represented by a down-on-his-luck human billboard lawyer, Kevin Avery (Will Forte), Wile E. takes on his corporate nemesis in a courtroom battle. The story follows the duo as they face off against the giant conglomerate's intimidating legal team. A film that has garnered fervent passion from Looney Tunes fans, Coyote vs. Acme is sharp and heartfelt in all the right ways.

Loosely based on the 1990 New Yorker magazine article by Ian Frazier, the film’s script is a smart, touching underdog story that works for both kids and adults. The film gained massive cultural momentum and goodwill after Warner Bros. initially decided to shelve it as a tax write-off, prompting a public campaign that saved it for theaters. And that push proved worthy. Through a blend of high-energy slapstick comedy and a solid emotional core, this hybrid animation-live action concept is an utter joyride. Forte proves he’s a worthy leading man, playing off his animated counterpart well and going toe-to-toe with John Cena as Acme's slick lead counsel, Buddy Crane. Coyote vs. Acme may be the best hybrid comedy since Who Framed Roger Rabbit. ​​​​​​​

3 'The Odyssey'

Image via Universal Pictures

Christopher Nolan knows how to make a massive movie. The Odyssey is proof. In his admiration of the Homer classic, Greek king Odysseus (Matt Damon) endures a grueling, decade-long voyage across the Mediterranean, battling psychological trauma, vengeful gods, and legendary monsters to return home after the Trojan War. Meanwhile, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) must fight to preserve their kingdom against aggressive suitors vying for the throne. An extraordinary cinematic achievement, The Odyssey is hailed for its massive scale, groundbreaking technical craft, and overwhelmingly positive reception. The Odyssey is yet another notch in Nolan’s extraordinary belt.

Nolan fuses Homer's ancient Greek epic with his signature themes of time, fate, and human consequence. It is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX 70 mm film cameras by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, delivering a visceral, physical in-camera spectacle. Nolan knows how to bring epic scale to his epics, and The Odyssey is a visual triumph. He drops the audience into the journey in a boldly immersive approach. To match its visceral scope, Ludwig Göransson composed a pulsating, atmospheric score using custom bronze gongs and reconstructed ancient instruments like the aulos and lyre. Nolan assembles a sensational, star-studded ensemble, including Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, and Lupita Nyong'o, among others. While some may have feared it was just another school book put on screen, The Odyssey amassed over $1.8 billion worldwide, shattering box office expectations. ​​​​​​​

2 'Obsession'

Image via Focus Features

Low-budget horror is back, baby! Written and directed by Curry Barker, the supernatural horror thriller Obsession has emerged as one of the biggest hits of the year. The story follows Bear Bailey (Michael Johnston), a socially awkward music store employee who uses a supernatural novelty artifact called a One Wish Willow to make his coworker and unrequited crush, Nikki Freeman (Inde Navarrette), fall in love with him. Although the wish immediately works, it backfires horrifically as Nikki's behavior mutates into an uncanny, relentlessly fixated, and violent obsession. A tragic love story quickly spirals into a claustrophobic psychological nightmare, Obsession subverts traditional romance tropes to explore themes of control, toxic entitlement, and consent.

Hailed as a standout breakout hit, Obsession’s historic box office performance, chilling subversion of modern dating themes, and raw independent craftsmanship have proven the entertainment industry is beautifully unpredictable. Made on a shoestring budget, Obsession uses a dark, supernatural monkey's paw premise to explore brilliant modern themes. The movie ignited viral discussions, particularly regarding its dark look at the "nice guy" archetype and coercive relationships. Johnston does a remarkable job of playing the true villain of the narrative while giving Bear just enough affability to make you wonder whether you might give him the benefit of the doubt. Navarrette dazzles with a stellar physical and psychological performance that made Nikki into an instant horror icon. Barker’s tight, tension-driven direction serves as the backbone of the film. Obsession leads the charge as the pinnacle Gen Z masterpiece. ​​​​​​​

1 'You Can See Everything'

Image via A24

The biggest shock of the year isn’t actually a work of scripted fiction. It’s the jaw-dropping shock documentary You Can See Everything. The A24 documentary, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, puts disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and her partner, Billy Evans, in the spotlight. The project was filmed in the 34 days leading up to her 2023 federal prison sentence for fraud. Through an unorthodox lens, the film blurs truth and performance as Fielder and Oppenheim investigate Holmes's persistent claims of innocence and the surreal realities surrounding her final days of freedom. Regarded as one of the year's best and most original films, You Can See Everything is a movie you must see to believe.

Through its subversive structure, unprecedented access, and deep psychological complexity, You Can See Everything pushes the bounds of subject storytelling. Produced on a $7 million budget, the project operated under a unique agreement that let it be scrapped entirely if the directors didn't find a genuine angle. Fortunately, they did. Known for his uncomfortable, reality-bending performance art, Fielder finds himself visibly baffled and outmaneuvered by a subject who famously maintains her narrative against all odds. The first half of the film functions as an eerie, darkly comedic portrait of Holmes and her partner, while the second half dramatically pivots into an unpredictable, meta-cinematic deep dive into the ethics of documentary filmmaking itself. Once Amanda Seyfried enters the frame, the documentary becomes something truly mind-bending. The film shattered expectations for a documentary, grossing tens of millions globally and generating significant awards-season buzz. You Can See Everything is a mystifying stroke of genius.

You Can See Everything

Cast

• 

  Elizabeth Holmes

  Self

• 

  Nathan Fielder

  Self / Elizabeth Holmes

• Billy Evans

  Billy Evans

•