All the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Titles Coming This Week, Including a Controversial Literary Adaptation
Genre enthusiasts have an expansive slate of new viewing options arriving this week across both traditional theaters and major streaming services. From animated cyberpunk dystopias and high-concept artificial intelligence dramas to folklore-infused stop-motion fairy tales, the upcoming lineup showcases diverse approaches to speculative storytelling. Audiences will also find intriguing genre-adjacent mysteries exploring psychological delusions, supernatural claims, and alternate holiday realities. Here are all the notable science-fiction and fantasy titles scheduled to premiere over the coming days.
‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)
‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ returns for its second season on Netflix on October 20, 2026. Produced through an ongoing collaboration between CD Projekt Red and Studio Trigger, the new episodes plunge back into the neon-drenched dystopia of Night City. The narrative follows an unfamiliar crew of mercenaries as they navigate lethal underground operations, corporate espionage, and the heavy physical toll of cybernetic modification. Expanding the futuristic universe of the franchise, the season explores how technological obsession and severe economic disparity drive outlaws to the brink of survival.
‘Klara and the Sun’ (2026)
Directed by Taika Waititi, ‘Klara and the Sun’ arrives in movie theaters nationwide courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing on October 23, 2026. Adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, the story is set in a future shaped by genetic engineering and advanced artificial intelligence. Jenna Ortega stars as Klara, an Artificial Friend designed to provide companionship to adolescents who is purchased to assist a chronically ill teenager named Josie. As Klara observes human relationships firsthand, she attempts to comprehend the complexities of love, grief, and self-sacrifice within a divided society. The feature film also stars Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Natasha Lyonne, and Steve Buscemi.
‘Terrestrial’ (2026)
The psychological science-fiction thriller ‘Terrestrial’ opens in limited theaters via Aero Films on October 23, 2026. Directed by Steve Pink, the film follows an aspiring genre author named Allen Perkins who invites three estranged college friends to an extravagant Hollywood Hills property to celebrate a major manuscript deal. The celebratory reunion quickly turns uneasy as his guests observe unsettling clues, missing details, and increasingly volatile behavior from their host. As the weekend progresses, the group is forced to confront whether Allen’s lucrative creative breakthrough is real or part of an elaborate and dangerous delusion. The cast features Jermaine Fowler in the central role alongside James Morosini, Pauline Chalamet, and Edy Modica.
‘Wildwood’ (2026)
LAIKA’s stop-motion dark fantasy feature ‘Wildwood’ arrives in movie theaters nationwide on October 23, 2026. Directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, the film adapts the illustrated fantasy novel by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. The story follows Prue McKeel, voiced by Peyton Elizabeth Lee, as she ventures into a forbidden forest outside Portland after a flock of crows kidnaps her baby brother. Once inside the hidden realm, she navigates a conflict involving magical creatures, talking animals, and warring woodland factions to rescue her sibling. The voice cast also features Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Jacob Tremblay, and Angela Bassett.
‘Wicker’ (2026)
Distributed by Black Bear, the fantasy romance ‘Wicker’ opens in select movie theaters on October 23, 2026. Directed and written by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, the production is adapted from the short story ‘The Wicker Husband’ by Ursula Wills-Jones. Olivia Colman stars as a shunned fisherwoman in a small coastal town who commissions a local basket maker, played by Peter Dinklage, to construct an artificial husband. The situation transforms when the wicker partner, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård, magically comes alive and becomes a source of affection that disrupts the prejudices of the entire community. The supporting cast includes Elizabeth Debicki and Richard E. Grant.
‘What If Christmas’ (2026)
The romantic holiday fantasy ‘What If Christmas’ premieres on Hallmark Channel on October 25, 2026, with streaming access following the next day on Hallmark+. Lori Loughlin stars as Erin, a talented fashion designer who put her personal ambitions on hold to assist her husband’s career. After questioning the direction of her life, she awakens on Christmas morning inside an alternate timeline where she is a renowned fashion executive but never married her husband. As she navigates this parallel reality alongside Tom Cavanagh’s character, Erin must decide which aspects of her life truly hold lasting value.
‘Swipe Right on the Devil’ (2026)
The true-crime documentary series ‘Swipe Right on the Devil’ premieres on Hulu on October 22, 2026. Produced by Imagine Documentaries, the project investigates the 2017 disappearance and murder of Sydney Loofe after an encounter arranged through Tinder. The investigation leads authorities into an unsettling underground group centered around psychological coercion, witchcraft, and claims of esoteric mind control. Featuring interviews with real-world investigators and key witnesses, the series explores how supernatural fixations and manipulation shaped a high-profile criminal case.
‘Phony’ (2026)
The coming-of-age mystery comedy series ‘Phony’ premieres on Hulu on October 20, 2026. Created by Nick Paley, the story follows Sonny Cooke, a teenager portrayed by Sam Nivola who awakens from a vehicular collision convinced his mother has been replaced by an imposter. Connie Britton co-stars as the high school principal whose identical double Sonny suspects has secretly infiltrated his household. Drawing upon classic identity-replacement and psychological suspense premises, the series chronicles the teenager’s frantic search for proof amid growing family friction.
Share your thoughts in the comments on which of these upcoming sci-fi and fantasy titles you are most excited to watch this week.
