Is this the best week at South African cinemas so far in 2026? It feels like you can make a case for it, with four vastly different, but all notable, movies opening alongside Bollywood action thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the Throwback return of all-star 1960s Bible epic The Greatest Story Ever Told (if you have four hours to spare), and a recording of stage production Le Parc, performed by the Paris Opera Ballet.
As for your other new big screen options…
Shot for IMAX, science fiction adventure Project Hail Mary is positioned to be the first mega blockbuster of the year. Based on the bestselling novel by The Martian’s Andy Weir, in Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling plays science teacher Ryland Grace, who wakes up alone on a spaceship with amnesia. As his memory returns, he realises his mission: working out how to stop a substance that’s causing the sun to die. He won’t have to do things solo, though. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, directors of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The LEGO Movie and the 21 Jump Street films, are behind the camera here.
2019 horror comedy hit Ready or Not gets a surprise, but not unwelcome, sequel this week in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Having survived the brutal “game” that resulted in the deaths of her husband and in-laws, Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) is forced into a new, double-or-nothing version of hide and seek with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton). They’re hunted by the wealthiest and most influential families on Earth, played by the likes of Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Kevin Durand and Elijah Wood. From the makers of the original, Abigail and the first two Scream reboots.
If you loved It Ends With Us, you should make time for romantic drama Reminders of Him, which is also based on a novel by Colleen Hoover. After a perfect outing with her boyfriend, Kenna (Maika Monroe) makes a life-altering mistake that sends her to prison for seven years. Post release, she tries to rebuild her life and reunite with her daughter, but her efforts are blocked by the paternal grandparents. Fortunately, local bar owner Ledger (Tyriq Withers) gives Kenna hope for a second chance, though things are very complicated there too.
On the animated movie front, there’s sequel Finnick 2: Little Monsters, an adventure out of Russia that draws on Slavic folklore – particularly the existence of furry household spirits who secretly lives alongside humans, caring for the home and protecting the family hearth. Following the original award-winning film, in Finnick 2, Finnick loses his invisibility after awakening an ancient staff’s magic. Now, all finns are in danger, and our hero, with human friend Christine, must embark on an adventure to restore his invisibility and save his people.