While some of this year’s biggest films have been uplifting, others leave us with a more bitter taste in the mouth.
However, in the world of filmmaking, both flavours are important: the salty with the sweet.
Whether they leave you inspired or emotionally devastated, here are the best feel-good and feel-bad films of 2026 so far, writes Film News Blitz’s Kara Joubert.
Project Hail Mary: a hopeful film for the ages (IMDb rating 8.2)
Who would have thought that 2026 would have us crying over an alien rock?
Ryan Gosling plays Dr Ryland Grace, an overqualified science teacher who learnt what happens when you become too good at your job.
Sent on a suicide mission to save the planet, the film had the potential to be just as devastating as any other.
However, with the creative vision of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the original book’s sense of humour really came through.
There are still plenty of deep moments, beautiful cinematography, and the underlying tone of loneliness and connection.
With so many terrible things happening in the world, the film posed a more optimistic take: when it matters, humanity will find a way.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day: don’t do life alone (IMDb rating 7.9)
Peter Parker is alone in his asbestos-ridden flat, friendless, and falling into a mental pit.
It’s exactly the sort of suffering Spider-Man fans were hoping to get in the latest film, but it didn’t make it easier to watch.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many young adults can relate to the feeling of not knowing how to connect with others.
Tom Holland represented that feeling well, making his Spider-Man one for the people of today.
However, in Peter Parker’s words to Jean Grey: “Just because we lost someone it doesn’t mean we have to do this alone. I mean… we can’t. Believe me. I’ve been trying. It doesn’t work.”
So, seeing him break free of his isolation, making (and re-making) friends was all the more heartwarming.
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The Odyssey: rebuilding and reconciling (8.4 IMDb rating)
You would think that Christopher Nolan’s take on a hero’s 10-year, PTSD-inducing journey home from an even more PTSD-inducing war would be a depressing watch.
However, for those who love it, the film’s underlying message is one of hope and “how society managed to rebuild after a large-scale conflict [and] establish a new equilibrium,” according to film critic and content creator, Samuel Hunt.
At the time of writing, the film is the 11th highest-grossing film of all time, having earned a whopping $1,782,966,184 at the global box office.
Here is a link to my radio show where I interview Sam about The Odyssey.
Obsession: a disturbingly good feel-bad film (IMDb rating 7.8)
Released in UK cinemas earlier this year, Obsession has been the poster child film for the revival of independent horror.
Its groundbreaking approach and budget-to-profit ratio makes it a commercial success as well as a critically acclaimed one.
It’s also a disturbing watch for many.
The film’s exploration of autonomy became a major talking point, with people noting how Bear is the true villain.
His reluctance to undo his wish, knowing that the real Nikki is trapped, is what really seals the deal.
Unfortunately for Nikki, she has zero control of her actions under the spell.
After a bloodbath, she is the one left with the consequences of his actions, resulting in a tragic conclusion for everyone involved.
The tagline comes with a message: be careful who you wish for… but perhaps more importantly, respect people’s autonomy.
It’s a powerful message: a fantasy achieved through manipulation will eventually become a nightmare.
This underlying theme, as well as the achievement of the film itself, is what makes it one of the best feel-bad films of the year.
Digger: a meta satire and mega tragedy (7.5 IMDb)
Without going into spoiler territory, this film is one of the most bizarre, star-studded films of the year.
According to IMDb, the film is about “the most powerful man in the world” who “embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s saviour before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything,” but there’s more to it than that.
Poking fun at the corrupt elite, it hits close to home but not in the way most were expecting.
There is a major reveal in the film that changes its dynamic from satire to something more real.
Natural disasters play a major part in this film, with a depressing outlook on what our future could look like.
Thankfully, it isn’t all dark. There is a sprinkling of hope via the use of birdsong in the score, but blink and you’ll miss it.
Although I’d label this film as a “feel bad” watch based on its premise, others say the underlying message is more nuanced than that.
Those who enjoy it praise the performance and boldness of the creativity.
However, Digger is yet to make a profit, which means regardless of audiences’ perceptions, this is undoubtedly the biggest “feel bad” film of the year in Hollywood’s eyes.
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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: a bloodied and feel-bad film (7.2 IMDb)
Although I’m glad that iodine is having its day as a disinfectant and body paint substitute, just one look at the plot summary for this one has me needing a shower.
Featuring satanic practices, ritual sacrifice and naked zombies, it sounds like a seriously unsettling watch.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, it “delivers enough carnage and ritual sacrifice to satiate the horror flock”.
Many praise the performances, which are considered both unhinged and genius.
It’s through those performances that audiences feel uneasy and disturbed, but ultimately, impressed.
It was highly received by critics and fans of the series who consider it a bold, disturbing feel-bad film with strong performances, a striking soundtrack and a sort of untamed wildness that zombie films can present.
Two sides of the same coin
With so many uncertainties ahead, there’s something revealing about how optimism and nihilism are being depicted in cinemas today.
Although they sit on opposite ends of the spectrum, hope and horror may be two sides of the same ticket, depicting a society that’s constantly navigating between the realities of the present and the potential of the future.
The contrast and balance between the two have become a defining feature of 2026’s biggest films, giving us stories that will hopefully endure as classics for future generations to come.
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