BIG MARTY
The film follows Marty, a young dreamer from New York in 1952, who is obsessed with becoming a world champion in table tennis, a sport that was not very attractive at the time. The film tracks his obsessive, sometimes naive belief in himself, which drives him from New York to London, Paris, and Tokyo. Director Josh Safdie combines the rawness and detailed atmosphere of the 1950s with strong performances led by Timothée Chalamet, complemented by melancholic humor and a subtle romantic thread that adds another emotional layer to the story.
Premiere: January 1
Drama / Sports
USA, 2025
Director: Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Fran Drescher, Abel Ferrara
SAD SONG
Mike (Hugh Jackman) earns a living impersonating famous performers on entertainment shows. Claire (Kate Hudson), who is tired of life, chooses the same path. When they meet, a strong love ignites through bitter experiences, and they soon discover that they work well together professionally. They form a band that plays exclusively Neil Diamond songs and blaze a trail across America with his repertoire until they find themselves on the brink of fame. However, fortune is fickle, and the blows of fate hit hardest those who are just taking off. At rock bottom, it helps to have someone to lean on – like Mike and Claire.
Premiere: January 1
Drama / Biopic / Musical
USA, 2025
Director: Craig Brewer
Starring: Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Mustafa Shakir
KVIFF CLASSICS: RETURNS OF FILM LEGENDS
Following the tradition of presenting digitally restored films and film retrospectives at the Karlovy Vary festival, its organizers have decided to dedicate a separate showcase to film legends. And that in Prague. Films, creators, and actors of notable names who have left an indelible mark on the history of cinema will get a new chance to meet audiences on the big screen. Whether with those who experienced their premieres and became fans or with those who will see them for the very first time. The fourth edition of the festival of film legends will take place under the auspices of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and in collaboration with the National Film Archive at the Světozor cinema in Prague.
January 15 – 17, 2026, Světozor Cinema, Prague 1
www.classics.kviff.com
THE HEALER II
It is the year 1050. Young British doctor Rob Cole returns to his homeland with a clear goal. He dreams of building a hospital for the poor in London and applying advanced medical procedures he learned while studying with the famous Avicenna, who is now considered the most renowned doctor of his time. However, he soon faces harsh realities. His intention to treat people in ways never seen before, which examine not only the human body but also the soul, and moreover for free, is complicated not only by medieval ignorance with its pervasive prejudices but also by the king's healer, Hunne.
Premiere: January 1
Drama / Historical
DE, 2025
Director: Philipp Stölzl
Starring: Tom Payne, Emily Cox, Aidan Gillen, Liam Cunningham, Emma Catherine Rigby, Owen Teale
DREAM TEAM
Determined basketball coach Marek (Martin Hofmann) wants to quit after a failed training. However, his son Šimon (Martin Polišenský), who has a mental disability, dreams of playing in the Paralympics. Marek wants to fulfill his son's dream, but he struggles to assemble a team that meets the Paralympic criteria. At that moment, his neighbor and unsuccessful director Daniel (Jakub Prachař) comes up with a crazy plan – to create a team of healthy players who will only pretend to be disabled. And so, the expedition of fake athletes sets off to Rio.
Premiere: January 1
Comedy
CZ / SK, 2026
Director: Jonáš Karásek
Starring: Martin Hofmann, Jakub Prachař, Petra Polnišová, Sara Sandeva, Miroslav Krobot
FAMILY FOR RENT
In Tokyo, people can rent family members to fill the empty spaces in their lives. A lonely American actor (Brendan Fraser) joins this agency, unaware that it will change his life the most. What starts as a routine in costumes and carefully acted situations gradually transforms into an unexpected emotional bond with the people who pay for his presence. The film Family for Rent offers a sensitive look at loneliness, the need for closeness, and the boundary between acting and real feelings that can arise where no one expected.
Premiere: January 8
Comedy / Drama
US / JP, 2025
Director: Hikari
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Jamamoto, Akira Emoto, Shannon Gorman, Gan Furukawa
GREENLAND 2: ESCAPE
Five years after the comet impact that destroyed most of the world, the Garrity family leaves their dilapidated bunker in Greenland and sets out back to civilization. John (Gerard Butler), Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their son Nathan discover that the Earth is still covered in frost, dust, and chaos and that surviving means facing not only the wild environment but also desperate people fighting for the last resources and hope. Their journey across devastated Europe turns into a dangerous quest for a new beginning and the question of whether humanity has any future after the apocalypse.
Premiere: January 8
Action / Disaster
US, 2026
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Starring: Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Amber Rose Revah, Sophie Thompson, William Abadie
WINGS OF SORROW
The film delves into the intimate space of a family shortly after the loss of a mother and wife. Grief here takes on more than just tears and silence; it materializes the moment a huge crow enters the household – not as a symbol, but as a dark, persistent presence. This sensitively directed drama works with the poetry of everyday life and the tension between reality and fantasy. A strong performance by Benedict Cumberbatch as the father anchors this visually striking film that balances on the edge of a surreal family drama and a psychological portrait.
Premiere: January 29
Drama / Fantasy
UK, 2025
Director: Dylan Southern
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Boxall, Henry Boxall, Sam Spruell, Vinette Robinson
HAMNET
When poor home tutor William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) meets free-spirited Agnes (Jessie Buckley), a strong love emerges, and they start a family with three children. William leaves for work in London while Agnes keeps the household in the English countryside, raising two daughters and a son named Hamnet. When tragedy strikes the family, not only their security but also their marriage begins to unravel. However, from pain and silence, art is born – Shakespeare finds an escape in writing the play Hamlet, which becomes a way to survive grief and make sense of loss.
Premiere: January 22
Drama / Biopic
UK, 2026
Director: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Sam Woolf, Jack Shalloo
MISSION MILLION
Mission Million kicks off a crazy night ride that begins with a single impulsive decision. Stan, in a fit of rage, steals a million euros from the company safe, only to find out shortly after that he has been promoted and must return the money unnoticed. He has only one night to do so, during which Paris transforms into a chaos filled with mistakes, improvisation, and unexpected encounters. He is helped by locksmith Hippolyte, a morally flexible ally. The film builds on a fast pace, situational humor, and a chain of disasters that can result from bad timing and a night that is too long.
Premiere: January 8
Comedy
FR, 2026
Director: Grégoire Vigneron
Starring: Christian Clavier, Rayane Bensetti, Gilles Cohen, Claire Chust, Jean-Luc Couchard
SOS
After a plane crash, only two colleagues – a woman and her arrogant boss, whose working relationship was toxic long before the fall – remain on an abandoned island. Without help, with limited supplies, and under constant pressure to survive, their necessary cooperation turns into a cruel psychological game where the roles of victim and predator constantly shift. The film draws from a nerve-wracking pace, dark humor, and the brutal simplicity of a situation where the greatest threat may not be hunger or nature, but the person standing right next to you. It is no surprise that it was directed by Sam Raimi (Evil Dead).
Premiere: January 29
Horror / Thriller
US, 2026
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien, Dennis Haysbert, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Bruce Campbell
NUREMBERG
The drama Nuremberg takes place after World War II and focuses on a psychiatrist who is to assess Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg Trials. His task is to understand their mental state and ability to stand trial, but he gradually becomes fascinated by the very nature of evil. He is most drawn into a relationship with the imprisoned Hermann Göring, portrayed by Russell Crowe. The film explores the tension between professional duty, moral boundaries, and the dangerous psychological influence.
Premiere: January 15
Drama / Historical / Thriller
US, 2025
Director: James Vanderbilt
Starring: Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Michael Shannon, Leo Woodall, Richard E. Grant, Colin Hanks
28 YEARS LATER: TEMPLE OF BONES
American director Nia DaCosta (Candyman) expands the horror universe created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in the film 28 Years Later. In this continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship, the consequences of which could change the world – meeting Spike (Alfie Williams) and Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) becomes a nightmare from which he cannot escape. The infected do not represent the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors may be even stranger and more terrifying.
Premiere: January 15
Horror / Thriller / Sci-Fi
UK / US, 2026
Director: Nia DaCosta
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Emma Laird, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry
SWINGERS
Three friends Dan, Ondřej, and Filip regularly meet at a renowned spa to entertain local guests with their band "Swingers" while enjoying a boys' trip together. Everything would go according to plan if it suddenly didn't come to light that one of them has a seven-year-old secret son at the spa, whom he must unexpectedly take care of. Instead of enjoying themselves, the swingers quickly become full-time fathers. Dan's loving wife and Ondřej's jealous partner are completely unaware of what is happening at the spa. Meanwhile…
Premiere: January 22
Comedy
CZ / SK, 2026
Director: Braňo Mišík
Starring: Martin Pechlát, Tomáš Jeřábek, Daniel Fischer, Jitka Schneiderová, Erika Stárková
SILENT HILL: NIGHTMARES
James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) returns to the mysterious town of Silent Hill after years, believing he can find his long-lost love, Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson). However, the place he once knew is now distorted, hallucinatory, and full of terrifying familiar faces that seem to reflect his own guilt and fear. James gradually loses certainty about what is real, and his search pulls him deeper into a world reminiscent of the dark underworld connected to Mary's past life. Adaptation of the legendary game Silent Hill 2.
Premiere: January 21
Horror
US / UK / FR / DE / RS, 2026
Director: Christophe Gans
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Hannah Emily Anderson, Eve Macklin, Evie Templeton, Pearse Egan
EVIDENCE OF GUILT
Evidence of Guilt takes place in the near future, where detective Chris Pratt's character is accused of murdering his wife. Instead of a classic trial, he faces a trial led by the artificial intelligence system MERCY, embodied by Rebecca Ferguson, which must decide his guilt or innocence. The detective has only 90 minutes to present evidence, dispel doubts, and challenge his own creation, in which he was involved. The tension rises with every minute, and the case turns into a fight for truth, justice, and survival.
Premiere: January 22
Sci-Fi, Crime / Drama / Thriller
US, 2026
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Chris Pratt, Annabelle Wallis, Kali Reis, Kylie Rogers, Kenneth Choi
FLOOD
The film Flood by debuting director Martin Gonda tells a story from Czechoslovakia in 1980. Mara is 15 and dreams of becoming a pilot and leaving village life. Her father Alexander, a Rusyn farmer and widower, insists that she stay home and continue working the family land. When the valley is set to be flooded for the construction of the Starina water reservoir, both must come to terms with the loss of home and family heritage. At the same time, they seek a way to mutual reconciliation amidst the struggle between tradition, identity, and the desire for freedom.
Premiere: February 5
Drama / Historical
SK / CZ / PL / BE, 2026
Director: Martin Gonda
Starring: Sára Chripáková, Jozef Pantlikáš, Katarína Babejová, Vladimíra Štefániková, Michal Soltész
PATH OF CRIME
Set against the backdrop of sun-bleached Los Angeles, the film Path of Crime tells the story of an elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth), whose risky heists on the iconic Highway 101 baffle the police. When he decides this will be his last job, his path crosses with that of an insurance broker (Halle Berry), who herself stands at a crossroads in her life and forces them to cooperate. A determined detective (Mark Ruffalo) decides to solve the case and embarks on a risky operation that further raises the stakes of how it will end.
Premiere: February 12
Crime / Thriller
US, 2026
Director: Bart Layton
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte
PARASITE FROM THE COLD STORAGE
Teacake (Joe Keery) and Naomi (Georgina Campbell) work in an ordinary warehouse located on the site of a former American base. However, during a night shift, they discover that a dangerous parasitic fungus was hidden under the building years ago. Once it escapes, it begins to spread rapidly, changing its hosts and controlling their minds and bodies. What started as a mundane shift turns into a fight for survival. Hope only appears with the arrival of a former agent for combating biological threats (Liam Neeson), but time is short and a catastrophe looms that could affect all humanity.
Premiere: February 19
Comedy / Horror
US / UK / FR, 2026
Director: Jonny Campbell
Starring: Liam Neeson, Georgina Campbell, Joe Keery, Sosie Bacon, Lesley Manville, Darrell D'Silva
SCREAM 7
The seventh installment of the cult horror series returns to its roots and once again centers on Sidney Prescott. After years of relative peace, she has built a new life, which is soon disrupted by the return of Ghostface, this time targeting the most sensitive – her family. A significant draw is the return of Kevin Williamson, the screenwriter of the original installments, who takes on directing this time. Scream 7 bets on meta humor, tension, inventive deaths, and a detective game with a clear question: who is hiding under the mask this time? The series thus reminds us once again that it is not just a bloody slaughter but a cleverly constructed horror that entertains and surprises.
Horror / Comedy
Premiere: February 26
Director: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Joel McHale, Isabel May, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mckenna Grace, Anna Camp, Matthew Lillard
KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS
The new series from the world of Game of Thrones returns to Westeros about 90 years before the battle for the Iron Throne. It follows the journey of wandering knight Ser Duncan the Tall and his clever squire Egg at a time when the Targaryens still hold the throne and dragons are not just legends. Instead of grand battles, the series focuses on a more intimate narrative, emphasizing character, honor, and the consequences of decisions. The story touches on themes of power, responsibility, and class differences, showing Westeros from a more civil yet personal perspective. Knight of the Seven Kingdoms promises a return to the roots of the famous world – with a smaller scale, greater emotions, and heroes who are just becoming legends.
Series, HBO Max
Action / Adventure / Fantasy / Drama
US, 2026
Director: Owen Harris, Sarah Adina Smith
Starring: Dexter Sol Ansell, Peter Claffey, Finn Bennett, Daniel Ings, Tanzyn Crawford, Henry Ashton
THOUSAND WOUNDS (SEASON 2)
A year after the events of the first season of Thousand Wounds, London is once again grappling with a wave of violence. Hezekiah (Malachi Kirby) bears the guilt of the past and struggles with who he has become. Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham) is at rock bottom, plagued by alcohol and family breakdown. Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) returns with the women of her gang to regain power and reorganize the rules of the underworld. New alliances and betrayals emerge, old wounds reopen, and every step can cost a life – in a world where only those willing to strike first will survive.
SERIES, Disney+
Drama / Historical / Sports
UK, 2026
Director: Katrin Gebbe
Starring: Stephen Graham, Malachi Kirby, Erin Doherty, Francis Lovehall, Ziggy Heath, Jason Tobin
ALEX, SUMMER, AND I
Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth) have been best friends for ten years, united by their shared passion for travel. Every summer, they set off to a different destination, even though they are completely different in nature – she is spontaneous and chaotic, while he is calm and systematic. However, one failed vacation disrupts their tradition and relationship. A year later, Poppy decides to reach out to Alex again and proposes one last trip together, during which they will mend what happened. And perhaps they will finally realize that they have more than just friendship between them all along.
FILM, Netflix
Romantic
US, 2026
Director: Brett Haley
Starring: Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook, Lukas Gage, Molly Shannon, Alan Ruck
NIGHT RECEPTIONIST (SEASON 2)
Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) lives as Alex Goodwin, an inconspicuous MI6 officer in London. His peace ends the moment he spots a former Roper mercenary and is drawn back into action. He tracks him down to Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos, infiltrating his arms operations with the help of Roxana Bolaños. In Colombia, he finds himself in the midst of a conspiracy involving arming guerrillas. As loyalties crumble and state destabilization threatens, Pine must figure out whom to trust and how far to go before it's too late.
SERIES, Prime Video
Crime / Drama
UK, 2026
Director: Georgi Banks-Davies
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Michael Nardone, Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge
ALPHA MALES (SEASON 4)
In the fourth season, a quartet of friends in their forties decides to face the midlife crisis together: renting an apartment that becomes a refuge from breakups, fatherly duties, and changes in modern family models. However, shared living quickly reveals their own insecurities, conflicts, and comedic attempts to "redefine" their masculinity. When the group heads to Punta Cana, it becomes clear that even a vacation won't solve the chaos they carry with them – but maybe it will help them figure out who they really want to be.
SERIES, Netflix
Crime / Drama
ES, 2026
Director: Laura Caballero
Starring: Fernando Gil, Fele Martínez, Gorka Otxoa, Raúl Tejón, Ana Verónica Schultz
PLANE HIJACK (SEASON 2)
The second season follows Sam Nelson (Idris Elba), who finds himself in the midst of a new crisis, this time in a hijacked high-speed train traveling through Germany. A routine journey turns into hell when an armed group takes control of the train and threatens disaster if their demands are not met. Sam, still just a "businessman," is once again drawn into the role of an unwilling negotiator. Since the original title "Hijack" has been creatively renamed "Plane Hijack" by the Czech studio, it can be expected that the second season will have a new title.
SERIES, Apple TV+
Thriller
US / UK, 2026
Creators: George Kay, Jim Field Smith
Starring: Idris Elba, Max Beesley, Christine Adams, Toby Jones, Clare-Hope Ashitey
THE RIP
In Miami, a police unit discovers a hidden stash filled with millions of dollars. However, the discovery that was supposed to bring fame immediately creates tension within the team. Under the pressure of the surroundings and their own greed, relationships begin to crumble, suspicions arise, and previously solid loyalty turns into a fragile and dangerous game. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck play leading officers watching their team descend into chaos, where the desire for justice collides with the temptation of quick gain – and the line between ally and threat quickly blurs.
FILM, Netflix
Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller
US, 2026
Director: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Scott Adkins, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kyle Chandler
WONDER MAN
Wonder Man follows Simon Williams, a talented but unsuccessful actor who gets a chance to break into Hollywood by filming a movie about a famous superhero. Along with the eccentric Trevor Slattery, he finds himself in the midst of a backstage full of intrigue, uncertainty, and a desire for recognition. However, as events surrounding the project begin to intensify, Simon realizes that his career opportunity is turning into a path to true abilities. The series follows a new hero, and Marvel hopes it will attract interest. We shall see.
SERIES, Disney+
Action / Comedy / Fantasy
US, 2026
Creators: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, Lauren Glazier, Jere Burns
THERAPY WITH HONESTY (SEASON 3)
The third season follows Jimmy, who continues to try to help clients with his unconventional therapy, even though he often interferes in their lives more than he should. After the events of previous seasons, he struggles to maintain a balance between his own healing, work, and relationships with loved ones, while Paul progresses in his battle with Parkinson's disease. Michael J. Fox joins the story as a patient, whose story mirrors Paul's fears and hopes. The series thus continues the theme of grief, renewal, and seeking honesty in everyday chaos.
SERIES, AppleTV+
Comedy / Drama
US, 2026
Creators: Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, Jason Segel
Starring: Jason Segel, Michael J. Fox, Harrison Ford, Christa Miller
SECTOR (SEASON 4)
The fourth season brings the most intense game of cat and mouse yet. The ostentatious fintech Tender enters the London financial scene, and Harper and Yasmin are drawn into a battle for influence and survival. Yasmin balances her relationship with the charismatic founder Henry Muck, while Harper falls under the influence of the mysterious manager Whitney Halberstram, a new powerful figure in the city. In a chaotic environment full of money and ambition, their complicated friendship begins to distort under the pressure of who will come out on top.
SERIES, HBO Max
Drama
US / UK, 2026
Creators: Mickey Down, Konrad Kay
Starring: Marisa Abela, Myha'la, Claire Forlani, Kit Harington, Amy James-Kelly
BRIDGERTONS (SEASON 4)
The fourth season of the popular series focuses on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), who, unlike his brothers, still refuses to settle down. This changes at Lady Violet's masquerade ball, where he is enchanted by a mysterious lady in a silver mask. However, he does not realize that she is Sophie, an observant maid with her own dreams and obstacles. Their relationship unfolds as a variation on Cinderella, full of secrets, differing social status, and emotions that both must hide. The series follows how they cope with desire, identity, and societal pressure.
SERIES, Netflix
Drama / Romantic
US, 2026
Creators: Chris Van Dusen
Starring: Luke Thompson, Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Jonathan Bailey, Polly Walker
HIS & HERS
In the stifling heat of Atlanta, Anna (Tessa Thompson) lives in isolation, haunted by her own past and slowly fading from the lives of friends and her career as a television host. However, when she hears news of a murder in the quiet town of Dahlonega, where she grew up, she suddenly comes alive and throws herself into the investigation. Her unexpected interest unsettles detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), who becomes suspicious and starts tracking her every move. Soon, Anna finds herself at the center of an investigation that pulls her into a dangerous game full of secrets and distrust.
SERIES, Netflix
Crime / Drama / Thriller
US, 2026
Directors: William Oldroyd, Anja Marquardt
Starring: Jon Bernthal, Tessa Thompson, Sunita Mani, Pablo Schreiber, Crystal Fox
MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS (SEASON 2)
The second season of the literally monstrous series, which ties into the film series, picks up at a moment when the fate of Monarch and the entire world hangs in the balance. Long-hidden secrets come to light, reconnecting heroes and foes on Skull Island, where they encounter a new mysterious community and a titan rising from the sea. Past actions begin to interfere with the present, blurring the lines between family, friends, and enemies. Everything leads to another titanic clash that could fundamentally change the balance of the entire world.
SERIES, Apple TV+
Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi
US, 2026
Creators: Chris Black, Matt Fraction
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Anders Holm
