Apple TV presents a notably lean lineup of new films for 2026, with no announced theatrical releases. This streaming-first approach raises concerns, particularly for projects boasting blockbuster potential like toy-inspired adventures and sports dramas.
Slimmer Slate Signals Shift from Cinemas
The platform schedules just six new movies for release this year, down from eight in each of the prior two years. Most titles head straight to streaming, diverging from past patterns. Only Eternity received a limited theatrical run last year before streaming availability.
High-Potential Films Overlook Box Office
Matchbox: The Movie, inspired by Mattel’s iconic toy cars, features John Cena in a lead role. Cena describes it as “a world of explosive action, heart-pounding sequences, and white-knuckle chases worthy of all of our wildest imaginings.” He adds, “Mattel teamed up with Apple and Skydance to bring to life a high-octane story inspired by everything we love about its iconic Matchbox fleet – the deep nostalgia, the minute attention to detail, the pure imagination, and feeling that you can climb into anything with an engine and push it to the absolute limit.”
Similar treatment applies to Outcome, Way of the Warrior Kid, Mayday, and The Dink. The latter taps into rising pickleball popularity, akin to interest sparked by Oscar-nominated Marty Supreme. Jake Johnson, portraying the protagonist, states, “Whether you love pickleball or you hate it with a passion, we think you’re going to love our movie that comes out on July 25.”
Way of the Warrior Kid, an adaptation of Jocko Willink’s best-selling book series, stars Chris Pratt. Pratt notes, “It’s based on the best-selling book series by Jocko [Willink], which has inspired so many kids and their parents to work harder, push themselves further, and become leaders in their community.” He compares it to “this generation’s Karate Kid with an inspiring message.”
These films combine star power, nostalgia, and spectacle—elements that typically draw theater crowds—yet streaming exclusivity persists amid high production costs and flop risks.
Pipeline Packed with Promising Projects
Several films have wrapped production, including a memoir adaptation Being Heumann about disability rights advocate Judith Heumann, biographical drama Tenzing on Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, Idris Elba’s psychological thriller This Is How It Goes, and Mark Wahlberg’s sports comedy Weekend Warriors.
Apple Studios secured rights for Sponsor, a psychological thriller starring and co-written by Jason Segel, now entering production.
Most anticipated: Martin Scorsese’s What Happens At Night, adapting Peter Cameron’s novel about an American couple adopting in Europe. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence star, marking their second Scorsese-Apple collaboration after Killers of the Flower Moon. The duo’s track record—including Gangs of New York, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street—suggests strong commercial appeal, positioning it as a prime theatrical candidate.
Recent logo updates and expansion rumors hint at evolving strategies, potentially prioritizing select big-screen releases to maximize impact.
