With blockbuster second seasons of Beef and Running Point set to release in the next couple of months, it’s clear that Netflix is concentrating primarily on its TV slate.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t high-quality films set to debut on the streamer.
Among my most anticipated new spring 2026 Netflix movies are the unjustly ignored horror sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and the Charlize Theron action film Apex.
Last but not least, Sally Field and Lewis Pullman headline the quiet drama Remarkably Bright Creatures.
‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ (2026) — March 31
Taking place soon after 28 Years Later, The Bone Temple follows young Spike (Alfie Williams) as he seeks answers about the Rage Virus that’s decimated Great Britain. He allies himself with a group called the Jimmys, whose charismatic leader, Sir Jimmy (Jack O’Connell), barely hides his sadistic glee in torturing his victims. When he discovers Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) and his mysterious Bone Temple, Sir Jimmy is determined to destroy it. But Kelson won’t let that happen, and he has a superhuman zombie, Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), to help him ward off the Jimmys — and persuade Spike to ditch his no-good associates.
When it was first released in mid-January, The Bone Temple got a cold reception from audiences, who wanted to see the original film’s star, Cillian Murphy, rather than a direct sequel to the disappointing 28 Years Later. That’s too bad, as they missed an entertaining zombie movie that goes for broke every chance it gets. After his great performance as Remmick in Sinners, O’Connell creates yet another memorable villain you can’t help but enjoy watching.
‘Apex’ (2026) — April 24
If you had to list the best action stars working today, Charlize Theron should be at the top. The Oscar-winning actress has made a name for herself in the action genre over the years, with stellar turns in the underrated Atomic Blonde and the masterful Mad Max: Fury Road. That’s largely why I can’t wait to watch her newest film, Apex, a survival thriller that updates the classic 1924 story The Most Dangerous Game.
Theron stars as Sasha, a rock climber looking for her next big challenge in the Australian wilderness. She thinks she’s all alone in the woods until she runs into Taron Egerton’s psychotic drifter, who wants to hunt her for sport. He’s gracious enough to give her a head start, but make no mistake — he wants nothing more than to blast an arrow through her heart. But Sasha doesn’t like to be anyone’s prey, and soon, she turns the tables on her disturbed hunter.
With brutal fight scenes involving all sorts of weapons and a stunning chase sequence that happens in a freakin’ waterfall, Apex promises breathless action that will make you never want to leave your home again. Egerton adds yet another twisted villain to his rogues gallery, while Theron further cements her status as a badass no one should mess with.
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ (2026) — May 8
There are all kinds of friendships, but have you ever heard of a bond between an old woman and an octopus? That’s the odd premise for Remarkably Bright Creatures, an adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s wildly popular novel of the same name. Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field stars as Tova, an elderly widow who passes the time by cleaning the Sowell Bay Aquarium in Puget Sound. She’s a bit lonely, which is maybe why she’s drawn to Marcelleus, the orange octopus that inhabits the aquarium. Tova’s unlikely friendship draws the attention of Cameron (Pullman), a 30-year-old drifter who is just as needy for some companionship as Tova is. Together, these three form an unusual friendship triangle that may be just what they need to get by in life.
Remarkably Bright Creatures has a premise that borders on the “too cute,” and, in the wrong hands, it could be insufferable. But director Olivia Newman adapted the maudlin novel Where the Crawdads Sing into a surprisingly decent film, and I have faith she can navigate the saccharine pitfalls here. It’s always nice to see Field in a lead role, and Pullman is one of the most talented newcomers working right now. Remarkably Bright Creatures isn’t like anything on Netflix in spring or in the rest of 2026, which makes me even more excited to watch it.
