Easter Weekend at the Movies 2026

Easter Weekend at the Movies 2026 — Your Complete Cinema Guide Easter weekend is one of the biggest movie-going periods of the year — schools are out, families are together, and Hollywood always delivers its biggest spring offerings to match. 2026 is no exception. This Easter, cinemas are packed with options ranging from a record-breaking animated sequel to a Ryan Gosling sci-fi phenomenon — plus a few hidden gems worth seeking out. Here's your complete guide to what's playing this Easter weekend, who it's for, and whether it's worth your time and money. 🎮 The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — The Must-See of Easter 2026 Now in Cinemas | Rated PG | 2hrs approx | IMAX & RealD 3D available The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened to $34.5 million on its first day — the best opening Wednesday in April ever — and has already earned an A CinemaScore from audiences with a 91% Rotten Tomatoes audience score. Deadline Mario and Luigi's birthday party for Princess Peach sparks a galactic adventure, sending the brothers into space to stop Bowser Jr.'s wicked ambitions and save Rosalina. Nintendo With Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Donald Glover as Yoshi, and Brie Larson as Rosalina NBC — the cast alone is worth the price of admission. Who It's For: Families, Nintendo fans, and anyone who loved the 2023 original. Best experienced in IMAX or RealD 3D for the space sequences. Verdict: Critics are mixed at 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences don't care — and frankly, neither should you. This is pure, joyful cinema made for the Easter holiday crowd. 🚀 Project Hail Mary — The Blockbuster You Need to Catch Before It's Gone Now in Cinemas | Rated PG-13 | IMAX available If you haven't seen it yet, Easter weekend is your last big chance before The Super Mario Galaxy Movie dominates every screen in town. Project Hail Mary stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a man who awakens on an interstellar spacecraft with no memory of how he came to be there — directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir. Wikipedia The film holds a remarkable 95% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and has grossed $334.8 million worldwide as of April 1, 2026 — making it the second highest-grossing film of the year. Wikipedia Project Hail Mary only dropped 32% from its debut weekend, signalling the film will have staying power — and it's shaping up to be 2026's first true blockbuster. The Oscar-nominated Gosling is front-and-centre as a school teacher on a desperate mission to save the planet, earning early awards chatter for his performance. Variety Who It's For: Sci-fi fans, fans of The Martian, date nights, and anyone who appreciates big, original filmmaking. For long stretches, Gosling is the only human on screen — and it's riveting. Verdict: A near-perfect film. See it in IMAX if you can. This is the kind of movie that reminds you why cinemas exist. 🎭 The Drama — The Surprise Wildcard Now in Cinemas | Opening This Weekend A Great Awakening tells the true story of an unlikely friendship that resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history, as Reverend George Whitefield sparks the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering proclamation of liberty. Movie Insider Opening this Easter weekend, it's well-timed for faith-based audiences looking for something meaningful alongside the blockbuster fare. Also new this weekend, The Drama and Papa Bear provide lighter counterprogramming — the latter following a father magically transformed into a bear on a family cabin trip, offering something genuinely fun for younger children who may find Mario Galaxy a little intense. Who It's For: Faith-based moviegoers, families with younger children, and anyone seeking something beyond the blockbusters. 📺 Easter Weekend Streaming & TV — For Staying In Not everyone wants to brave the cinema crowds over Easter. Here's what's worth watching at home: ABC is airing its annual broadcast of The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston on Saturday, April 4, at 8/7c — a classic Easter tradition. Hallmark premieres A Season to Blossom on the same evening, following an aspiring writer who returns to her late grandmother's bookstore and rediscovers her roots and a love worth staying for. TV Insider TCM is hosting an Easter movie marathon on Sunday, April 5, including Easter Parade and King of Kings. Streaming options include Hop on HBO Max, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on Apple TV, and Jesus of Nazareth on Tubi and Plex. TV Insider 🗓 What's Coming After Easter — Mark Your Calendar Easter is just the beginning of what's shaping up to be a phenomenal spring cinema season. April still has plenty ahead — including Exit 8 on April 10, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved J-horror based on the viral video game; The Cristophers featuring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel under Steven Soderbergh's direction; Normal on April 17 with Bob Odenkirk in a dark action comedy co-written with Nobody's Derek Kolstad; and the Michael Jackson biopic Michael on April 24, directed by Antoine Fuqua with Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. MovieWeb The summer movie season is almost here — and 2026 is already shaping up as one of the best years for cinema in recent memory. For more entertainment coverage, movie reviews, and everything happening in pop culture and tech, visit digital8hub.com — your go-to destination for what's worth your time in 2026 and beyond.