The year’s already at the halfway point. To mark the occasion, we checked in with members of the Seattle Film Critics Society for their favorite films of the year (so far) as well as their most anticipated titles yet to come.
More than fifty films appeared across our members’ lists, but there were some definite themes for first half of the year. Phil Lord & Christopher Miller’s interstellar bromance blockbuster Project Hail Mary appeared on more than half of our lists (and was at the top of several). Other common favorites include Curry Barker’s runaway hit horror Obsession, stunning Hong Kong martial arts thriller, The Furious (Kenji Tanigaki), even darker look at zombified England 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Nia DaCosta), and Pixar’s return to the nostalgia of playthings, Toy Story 5 (Andrew Stanton).
In terms of the next half of the year, a lot of titles were mentioned, but the most “most anticipated” film is Christopher Nolan’s IMAX take on The Odyssey. Close behind it in the anticipation index is Denis Villeneuve’s return to the spicy sands of Arrakis for Dune Part Three. Other frequent mentions included Digger (Alejandro G. Iñárritu), Godzilla Minus Zero (Takashi Yamazaki), Resident Evil (Zach Cregger), and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Jane Schoenbrun). In total, more than forty movies made it onto at least one critic’s list, so there’s a lot to look forward to in the remaining months of 2026.
Below, find each critic’s responses to our poll. See you at the movies!
René Sánchez (Cine Sin Fronteras)
Favorites
- All of a Sudden
- La Bola Negra
- Chicas Tristes (Sad Girlz)
- Coward
- Fjord
Coming Attractions
- Club Kid
- Digger
- La Gradiva
- The Odyssey
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Sara Michelle Fetters
(MovieFreak)
Favorites
- The Bride
- The Furious
- The Christophers
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- Again Again
Coming Attractions
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
- The Odyssey
- Digger, Godzilla Minus Zero
- Coyote vs Acme
- Evil Dead Burn
Eric Zhu (The Insert)
Favorites
- Dry Leaf
- La Libertad Doble
- Miroirs No. 3
- Victim of Circumstance
- With Hasan in Gaza
Coming Attractions
- The Dreamed Adventure
- My Wife Cries
- The Rib of the Greater Bay Area
- The Unknown
Dao
Brent McKnight
(The Last Thing I See)
Favorites
- The Furious
- Project Hail Mary
- Again Again
- The Forbidden City
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Coming Attractions
- Hope
- Cliffhanger
- Hot Spot
- Onslaught
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Chase Hutchinson (Seattle Movies Daily)
Favorites
- The Joyless Economy
- Blue Heron
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
- Filipiñana
- Once Upon a Time in Harlem
Coming Attractions
- Primetime
- Wildwood
- La Bola Negra
- Dune: Part Three
- Godzilla Minus Zero
Kathy Fennessy (Seattle Film Blog)
Favorites
- The Stranger
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
- Blue Heron
- The Christophers
- Mārama
Coming Attractions
- The Samurai and the Prisoner
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
- The Dog Stars
- Once Upon a Time in Harlem
- Fatherland
Sean Gilman (The Chinese Cinema)
Favorites
- Nemurubaka
- Henry Fonda for President
- Blades of the Guardians
- Lone Samurai
- Bushido
Coming Attractions
- Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga?
Konnor Beaulier
(Film Froth)
Favorites
- Obsession
- Project Hail Mary
- Hoppers
- Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
- Lady
Coming Attractions
- The Odyssey
- Dune Part Three
- The Dog Stars
- Resident Evil
- Digger
Justin Moore (YouTube)
Favorites
- Obsession
- Project Hail Mary
- Michael
- Send Help
- Toy Story 5_
Coming Attractions
- Avengers Doomsday
- Evil Dead Burn
- Godzilla Minus Zero
- Street Fighter
- The Social Reckoning
Matt Oakes
(Silver Screen Riot)
Favorites
- Pillion
- Obsession
- Mother Mary
- Tuner
- The Invite
Coming Attractions
- Werwulf
- Evil Dead Burn
- Resident Evil
- Digger
- Dune: Part Three
Blake Peterson (425)
Favorites
- A Poet
- Blue Heron
- Erupcja
- Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
- I Love Boosters
Coming Attractions
- Bitter Christmas
- Werwulf
- Dune: Part Three
- Artificial
- Coyote vs. Acme
Josh Bis (The SunBreak)
Favorites
- Project Hail Mary
- YES
- Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie
- Mother Mary
- Leviticus
Coming Attractions
- The Odyssey
- Wild Horse Nine
- Club Kid
- All of a Sudden
- Dune: Part Three
Warren Cantrell (Scene Stealers)
Favorites
- Project Hail Mary
- Obsession
- Dreams
- Fuze
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Coming Attractions
- The Odyssey
- Resident Evil
- The Social Reckoning
- Dune Part 3
- Werwulf
Marina Coates
Favorites
- Project Hail Mary
- Disclosure Day
- See You When I See You
- The Drama
- Toy Story 5
Coming Attractions
- The Odyssey
- The Social Reckoning
- The Dog Stars
- Werwulf
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Joseph Curtis (YouTube)
Favorites
- Project Hail Mary
- Obsession
- Color Book
- The Furious
- Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
Coming Attractions
- Avengers: Doomsday
- Dune Part 3
- The Odyssey
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Wildwood
Bob Foster (Cinema Crazed)
Favorites
- Project Hail Mary
- Obsession
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - The Furious
- Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
Coming Attractions
- Dune Part 3
- Evil Dead Burn
- Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
- Resident Evil
- Godzilla Minus Zero
Candice McMillan
Favorites
- Project Hail Mary
- The Christophers
- Send Help
- Arco
- Hokum
Coming Attractions
- The Odyssey
- Dune: Part Three
- Resident Evil
- The Social Reckoning
- Digger
Marc Morin (The Two Oh Six)
Favorites
- Toy Story 5
- The Furious
- Project Hail Mary
- Masters of the Universe
- Obsession
Coming Attractions
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day
- Avengers: Doomsday
- Forgotten Island
- Godzilla Minus Zero
- Hexed