Hollywood and Bollywood films and series releasing in December 2026

The global box office may have started out on a lul this 2026, but rest assured it will end with a bang! December 2026 might just test the limits of global entertainment with a long lineup of films and web series setting up some of the biggest clashes in recent memory. With Hollywood heavyweights like 'Dune: Part Three' and 'Avengers: Doomsday' arriving on the same day in theatres, to 'Jumanji 3' clashing with Shah Rukh Khan's 'King' and 'Narnia' going up against 'Harry Potter' on the digital space, the year-end holiday season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive months in box office history. Take a look:

Back in 2024, director Denis Villeneuve announced that the final chapter in his sci-fi saga, 'Dune: Part Three', will arrive in cinemas on Dcember 18, 2026. The film starring Timothee Chalamet in the lead, along with Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor Joy and Robert Pattinson, picked its release date and even booked IMAX theatres for its final instalment. However, the film found itself in the centre of a box office storm, with the Marvel blockbuster 'Avengers: Doomsday' also announcing the same release date, months later. Despite the impending clash, the makers announced that they have no plans to change their release date.

'Avengers: Doomsday', a film expected to redefine the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future, will have to pull out all stops to shake up the box office once again and aim to dethrone 'Avengers: Endgame' and 'Avatar' to take up the crown of the Highest Grossing Film of all time. Besides bringing back the Russo Brothers, the makers pulled out all stops to bring back the OG superhero cast of Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chirs Hemsworth to bring fans flocking to theatres on its opening day as it clashes headlong into 'Dune'. Both franchises command massive global fanbases, but 'Doomsday' has the current upper hand, with the film predicted to cross the USD 1 billion mark despite the high-stakes box office duel.

While both films enjoyed extended runs at the box office in the past, they will have only six days to rake in the big bucks with the arrival of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's next big action venture, 'King'. The flick, that sees SRK returning to screens after a 3-year wait, is one of the highly anticipated films of the year. Keeping in mind that the film is SRK's next big venture after the money-spinning Rs 1,000 crore blockbusters 'Jawan' and 'Pathaan'. The film will see the actor sharing screen space with daughter Suhana Khan, while also reuniting with actors like Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and many others.

On Wednesday, the makers of 'Jumanji 3', announced that the Dwayne Johnson starrer would be postponed. However, much to everyone's surprise, the film ditched its solo weekend release on December 11, for an already crowded Christmas Day release. With this, the film will not only pose as a roadblock for 'Dune: Part Three' and 'Avengers: Doomsday', but could also derail 'King' at the international box office, which played a crucial role in the film's overall box office performance.

The battle is not limited to theatres. Streaming platforms are also leaving the audience spoilt for choice. HBO on Thursday, announced the launch 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone' on Christmas Day. The highly anticipated web series adaptation of JK Rowling’s iconic books is expected to dominate global viewership by bringing back the wizarding world to a new generation, with an all-new star cast.

Netflix is also set to make the festive season a little more whimsical and magical with the release of 'The Chronicles of Narnia', another beloved fantasy franchise. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the highly anticipated adaptation will debut this year in IMAX theaters on November 26, 2026, followed by a global digital debut on December 25, 2026. The film will feature Daniel Craig and Emma Mackey in lead roles and mark the start of a new adaptation series.