The Best-Reviewed Movies of 2026 So Far
From Pixar's Toy Story 5 to Olivia Wilde's The Invite and the queer horror breakout Leviticus, these are the highest-rated films of 2026 by Celluloid Score at the year's halfway mark.
At the halfway point of 2026, the year’s best-reviewed films skew refreshingly diverse — a Pixar sequel, a single-location comedy of manners, an Australian horror debut, and world cinema from Germany to Indonesia all rank near the top. Here are the highest Celluloid Scores among films released so far this year.
What is the best movie of 2026 so far?
By Celluloid Score, Toy Story 5 and Rose lead the 2026 field, each at 83%. Pixar’s latest proves the franchise still has emotional gas in the tank, while Markus Schleinzer’s Rose — a German drama anchored by Sandra Hüller — is the critics’ arthouse favorite of the season.
The top of the 2026 chart
- 83% — Toy Story 5 (Andrew Stanton): Pixar’s most warmly received sequel in years.
- 83% — Rose (Germany): a Silver Bear–winning showcase for Sandra Hüller.
- 82% — The Invite (Olivia Wilde): a single-apartment comedy-drama and career-best ensemble work.
- 81% — Leviticus (Australia): the Sundance queer-horror breakout of the year.
- 79% — Wait Until I Make It (Indonesia): a crowd-pleasing coming-of-age hit.
- 78% — Minions & Monsters: the funniest Minions outing in years.
What do these films have in common?
Very little — and that’s the point. The 2026 top tier isn’t dominated by one studio, country, or genre; it rewards specific directorial voices working at every budget level. Half the list is international, a sign of how much strong cinema is arriving from outside Hollywood this year.
Want the definitive ranking across all years? Browse our Editor’s Picks and our highest-rated titles under Certified Fresh. For the international standouts specifically, read our World Cinema roundup.