From Santa’s Return to Star Wars: 9 Upcoming Action Movies Ranked by Hype

How anticipation is assessed

The ranking weighs several signals rather than relying on one measure of excitement. These include social media attention, trailer views, pop-culture discussion and expectations within the industry. The coming months are described as a promising stretch for action fans, with releases expected in late 2026 and early 2027. The slate ranges from science-fiction adventures to violent, high-energy spectacles.

Santa returns for more chaos

In Violent Night 2, David Harbour reprises his role as a violent Santa Claus. After losing his magic for forgetting Christmas’s meaning, he encounters a village threatened by a Russian gangster.

Tommy Wirkola returns to direct, with Pat Casey and Josh Miller writing and David Leitch among the producers. Kristen Bell, Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano and Daniela Melchior join the cast; the film is set for release December 4.

A new Star Wars adventure

Star Wars: Starfighter follows a pilot played by Ryan Gosling, hired to take a mysterious youth to a Jedi refuge. The story is set in a fragmented, lawless galaxy after the First Order’s collapse.

Its self-contained story and post-Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker setting may help draw audiences. Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth and newcomer Flynn Gray are also in the cast; a worldwide IMAX release is scheduled for May 28, 2027.

Sequels bring familiar action

Jason Statham returns as Adam Clay in The Beekeeper 2, whose teaser suggests he will protect U.S. President Jessica Danforth, played by Jemma Redgrave, from rogue Beekeepers. Jeremy Irons and Emmy Raver-Lampman return, while Pom Klementieff and Adam Copeland join the cast.

The film is scheduled to reach theaters January 15, 2027. The article also notes that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire earned $572 million in 2024, while describing the franchise as having struggled to sustain pop-culture momentum despite the appeal of its giant-monster battles.