2026’s Tribeca Film Festival is on the horizon, and with it comes a fresh crop of exciting movies! Check out my early picks for the festival just after the jump.
ACT ONE
Any actor would probably profess that a large part of their creative process involves spilling a truth to their audience. But how many would consider themselves prophets? What lengths would they go to preserve the authenticity of their performance? For seventeen-year-old Hannah (Ella Beatty), acting is her entire life. The promise of fulfilling her potential as an actress drives Hannah to Act One Studios, run by the domineering Melanie (Ari Graynor). From writer/director Sophia Takal, Act One explores the darker side of embracing one’s craft… at any cost.
COTTON FEVER
An intimate addiction drama that weaves together multiple storylines, examining poverty in many different facets—stop me if you’ve heard this one before! Even though the general logline of Cotton Fever will feel familiar to just about anyone who has attended a film festival, writer/director Daniel Blake Schwartz injects personal experience into his layered screenplay that sets it apart from the pack. Unfolding with the dark emotional weight of Requiem for a Dream, Cotton Fever grounds its layered drama in two compelling lead performances from Kyle Gallner and Sosie Bacon. Don’t miss them!
DEATH BOOM
In Death Boom, horror filmmaker Eli Roth confronts the horrifying reality of the ecological and ethical consequences of dead body disposal. With the global population projected to hit 10.4 billion by 2100 (and more than 70 million Baby Boomers approaching the end of their lives!), what happens when the death industry can no longer keep up? Unsettling statistics and graphic industry footage gets nicely balanced by movie clips and a darkly humorous constant commentary from Roth. Roth’s unbridled enthusiasm bleeds over into a provocative and unexpected exhumation of death as we know it. From overcrowded cemeteries to toxic cremation fumes, from human composting to conservation burials, Death Boom truly leaves no tombstone unturned.
DOC MEETS WORLD
Directors Zane Ruben and Chris Levitus bring to Tribeca a documentary cataloguing the legacy of Disney series Boy Meets World—and the podcast that kept it alive. This heartfelt and surprisingly vulnerable deep dive follows Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong as they revisit their iconic sitcom through a new lens. Doc Meets World acts as the definitive peek behind the curtain, a must-see for fans. For everyone else, this nostalgic reunion delves into enough captivating trauma and emotional resonance to still leave a mark.
EVERY YEAR AFTER
Dipped in nostalgia and cozy lakeside atmosphere, Every Year After could be your newest summer obsession. Adapted from the popular novel, the show fully realizes the cozy town of Barry’s Bay. Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall) returns home after more than a decade after learning the beloved Sue Florek (Elisha Cuthbert)—mother to Sam and Charlie—has passed away. This revelation is especially complex given Percy’s on-again-off-again relationship with now-doctor Sam (Matt Cornett). At the core is an aching love story, realized across many years, bolstered by terrific chemistry from our leads. Embracing the ache of first love and the way a location can trap part of ourselves in time, Every Year After should act as easy-watching young adult fluff of the highest order.
THE HAUNTING OF PENNHURST
Once a real institution for people with disabilities, “Pennhurst Asylum” has been repurposed into one of America’s most famous haunted attractions. Here, the horrors run deeper than one would assume. The complicated legacy of the infamous Pennhurst State School and Hospital gets unearthed from top to bottom. Blending documentary interviews, historical footage, behind-the-scenes haunt prep, and stylized editing, directors Mike Artie, Katarina Poljak, and Nathan Stenberg explore the theatrical spectacle of “Pennhurst Asylum”… and the horrifying realities of the institute’s chilling history. Tragic and atmospheric, The Haunting of Pennhurst may end up as the feel-bad documentary of the fest.
THE REVISIONIST
What’s more blurry than the line between fact and fiction? In The Revisionist, a meta narrative structure gives way to compelling character interplay between a trio of writers and a much more famous cranky father on the edge of life’s fringes. As Jacob (Tom Sturridge) struggles to remain relevant, his wife, Elsie (Alison Brie) hits writer’s block despite a lucrative book deal. She makes a proposal for their friend, John (Andre Holland), to record conversations with Jacob’s aging father, played by film legend Dustin Hoffman, hoping it can help inspire them. Sharp and witty, this engaging dramedy offers plenty to dissect long after turning the final page.
THAT FRIEND
At one point, doesn’t everyone have That Friend? You know the one: parties a little too hard, pushes you to have just a single drink that then evolves into an all night bender, rattles off the wildest things at completely inappropriate times. For Henry (Josh Brener), that friend is Paul (Harvey Guillen), a brash, overly raunchy bestie that he has tolerated for years. Henry’s girlfriend, Penny (Billie Lourd) is about to meet Paul for the very first time—what could possibly go wrong? This quirky comedy is hilariously ridiculous. Be warned: it might accidentally dose you with a serious case of the giggles.
To buy tickets for the screenings at Tribeca, please head over to each film’s page. For full information on the festival and even more titles, head over to the website to read more!