The first half of 2026 has delivered some truly exceptional cinema, but it's also served up a fair share of letdowns. When a film is merely mediocre, that's one thing—but when it arrives with massive hype and fails to deliver, the sting is far worse. This year, eight movies in particular have left audiences feeling cheated, falling short of the lofty expectations set by trailers, fan anticipation, or the reputations of their creators.
From indie darlings like A24's Mother Mary to would-be blockbusters such as Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, these films prove that even a strong year for cinema isn't perfect. Some are merely passable; others are outright duds. But they all share one thing: we expected so much more.
8. Mother Mary
A dark psychological drama with musical elements, directed by David Lowery, distributed by A24, and starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel—on paper, Mother Mary had everything going for it. Yet it failed to resonate with arthouse fans. Critics praised Lowery's stylish direction and Hathaway's performance, but audiences were far less forgiving. While the film's trippy atmosphere is visually engrossing and genuinely eerie, it leans too heavily on style without enough narrative substance. It's not a bad movie, but compared to Lowery's earlier A24 works like A Ghost Story and The Green Knight, it's a clear step down.
7. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Steven Knight's Peaky Blinders is one of the greatest crime series of all time, so the feature film conclusion was long-awaited. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man arrived with massive expectations, and while critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes were kind, many fans on other platforms felt it fell short. The movie struggles to give viewers a compelling reason to care about its characters and world, delivering an ending that's merely okay. For a series that defined a decade, this finale was a letdown.
6. Iron Lung
When YouTuber Markiplier announced he was writing, directing, editing, and starring in a film adaptation of the cult horror game Iron Lung, fans were intrigued. The result, however, is a mixed bag. While it's atmospheric and immersive—and arguably one of the better video game horror movies (a low bar)—it's also repetitive, shallow, and meandering. At 127 minutes, it overstays its welcome. Markiplier shows promise as a filmmaker, but his debut leaves much to be desired.
5. Supergirl
James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe got its second film with Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, an adaptation of Tom King and Bilquis Evely's acclaimed comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Milly Alcock delivers a powerhouse performance, and the film has fast-paced energy. But it's not nearly as great as the second entry in a burgeoning cinematic universe should be. A messy story and lack of identity undermine Alcock's endearing portrayal. It's not a bad superhero movie, but it doesn't deserve the fanfare last year's Superman earned.
4. Lee Cronin's The Mummy
After the success of Evil Dead Rise, Lee Cronin got the chance to reimagine the Mummy franchise. Unfortunately, Lee Cronin's The Mummy would have been better left in its sarcophagus. Blending Egyptian iconography with exorcism horror, it might scratch an itch for those seeking pure gore, but it fails to deliver a compelling story or memorable scares. It's a disappointing misfire from a director who seemed poised for greatness.
3. The Bride!
Maggie Gyllenhaal's follow-up to The Lost Daughter was one of the year's most anticipated releases. The Bride! promised a fresh take on the Bride of Frankenstein mythos, with a stellar cast including Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. But despite strong performances, the film feels disjointed and overly ambitious, trying to juggle too many themes without landing any of them. It's a noble failure, but a failure nonetheless.
2. Scream 7
The Scream franchise has been on a roll since its 2022 revival, but Scream 7 stumbles badly. While it retains the meta-horror wit that fans love, the plot feels recycled, and the new characters lack the charm of their predecessors. Even the return of legacy characters can't save a script that relies too heavily on nostalgia rather than innovation. For a series that prides itself on subverting expectations, this entry plays it far too safe.
1. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
The biggest disappointment of 2026 is undoubtedly Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. After the beloved TV series, fans expected a cinematic event that would expand the story in thrilling ways. Instead, the film feels like an overlong TV episode, with pacing issues and a lack of stakes. While Pedro Pascal's performance and the visual effects are top-notch, the story is thin and the emotional beats fall flat. For a franchise that once defined blockbuster cinema, this is a sad low point.
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