Image via Janus Films By Robert Lee III Published Jul 14, 2026, 12:05 AM EDT Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Even with the year still getting prominent releases week after week, 2026 has already been an exceptional year when it comes to filmmaking of all genres and styles. From massive high-budget blockbusters like Project Hail Mary to exceptional low-budget hits like Obsession , the year has continuously found ways to deliver outstanding cinematic experiences one after another. However, the year isn't only defined by its most popular of successes, as there are also a number of amazing hidden gems released during the year.
Working outside of the traditional blockbuster or streaming avenues of marketing and release, many of these great films largely rely on word of mouth from critics and audiences in order to gain notoriety and success. While these films may be in a state of complete obscurity for general audiences nowadays, one can hope that after months of success and praise, more people can place these films on their own personal best-of-2026 lists where they truly belong.
Midori Francis in Saccharine Image via Sundance Abstract psychological horror has been a prominent trend in recent years, not just in the biggest horror blockbusters but also in the array of horror hidden gems of the 2020s . Taking it a step further with themes of body dysmorphia and the mental toxicity inherent to diet culture and eating disorders is Saccharine , which acts as the psychological horror response to rising interest in quick weight loss drugs . The dynamic body horror story brings together its elements with enough fun camerawork and paranormal concepts to make for an exceptionally impactful time.
The film follows a medical student who, on her quest to lose weight, ends up succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving eating literal human ashes. While it seems to have great success at first, she begins to be in over her head when the ghost of the person she's eating begins haunting her, forcing her to eat more and more food and eating away at her body.
Jinsei is a passionate and deeply personal feat of animation from its opening scene to the very end, telling a man's 100-year life story as his life evolves and changes between struggles, friendships, betrayals, and worldwide fame. Almost entirely brought to life by director, writer, and sole animator Ryuya Suzuki , Ji…