3 Must-Watch Films Hitting Aussie Cinemas This Summer
Summer movie season is stacked, and we’ve got our eyes on three standout releases hitting Australian cinemas in early 2026. From psychological thrillers to animated fantasy revivals and gritty post-apocalyptic horror, these are the films we’ll be lining up for popcorn in hand. If you’re building your summer watchlist, consider this your guide.
No Other Choice - A Dark Thriller With Stellar Korean Talent
In cinemas across Australia January 15, 2026
If you love high-stakes Korean thrillers, No Other Choice needs to be top of your summer viewing list. The film follows Man-su, a man who seemingly has everything: a dream home, two kids, two Golden Retrievers, and a picture-perfect life. But when he’s abruptly let go after 25 years at the same paper company, everything begins to unravel.
After months of failed job applications, rising bills and mounting pressure, desperation leads Man-su down a disturbing path, one where survival means removing his competition, literally.
Starring Lee Byung-hun (yep, the terrifying frontman from Squid Game) and Son Ye-jin (yes, Crash Landing on You royalty), with direction by The Handmaiden’s Park Chan-wook, No Other Choice is shaping up to be a slick, tense psychological thriller that will leave audiences holding their breath.
Expect this one to dominate discussions in K-cinema, psychological thriller, and award-season buzz circles.
Scarlet - The Fantasy Epic We’ve Been Waiting For
Landing in Australian cinemas February 5, 2026
From acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda, the creative mind behind Wolf Children, Mirai and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, comes Scarlet, one of the most anticipated animated films of the summer.
The story follows a medieval princess seeking vengeance for her father’s death, but in the midst of her quest, she awakens in a liminal world between life and death. There she meets a young man from present-day Earth who challenges everything she believes about rage, purpose and destiny. What follows is a sweeping cross-time journey about forgiveness, future-building and reclaiming power.
Visually rich, emotionally layered and crafted by a studio with a flawless track record, Scarlet is set to be a standout release for fans of anime cinema, dark fantasy, and coming-of-age storytelling.
We Bury the Dead - Aussie Post-Apocalyptic Horror With Bite
Also releasing February 5, 2026
Two films dropping in one day? Our calendars are already blocked out.
Zak Hilditch’s We Bury the Dead throws us into a desolate, ash-choked Tasmania where the dead refuse to stay dead. Society has collapsed, survival feels like luck, not skill, and hope is a luxury no one can afford. In the chaos, Ava, played by Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Last Jedi), embarks on a desperate search to find her missing husband. What she discovers is far worse than she ever imagined.
The cast brings together local and international talent, including Mark Coles Smith, Brenton Thwaites, and Matt Whelan, making this one of the biggest Australian cinema releases of the season. If you’re hungry for gritty horror, dystopian landscapes and zombie chaos, this is a film to see on the biggest screen you can find.
Whether you’re into psychological thrillers, breathtaking animation or blood-pumping horror, 2026 is kicking off strong. Save the dates, buy the popcorn, and let us know:
Which film are you most hyped for - No Other Choice, Scarlet, or We Bury the Dead?