The biggest films of fall 2026 are already dividing critics, and the reactions are wilder than we’d expected.
Two of these films open Oct. 2 to very mixed early buzz, while an eagerly anticipated kaiju sequel arriving Nov. 6 is already earning some of the year’s strongest reviews.
Below are the first reactions and what critics are saying so far about Verity, Digger and Godzilla Minus Zero.
(Godzilla Minus Zero via Toho)
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Verity (Oct. 2): Early Reactions Are Mixed
Comedian, actor and filmmaker Michael Showalter directed Verity, the R-rated adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2018 thriller of the same name.
In the film, Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer hired to finish a bestselling author’s book series. Anne Hathaway takes the role of author Verity Crawford, and Josh Hartnett plays her husband, Jeremy.
Entertainment editor Chloe Williams called it “an absolutely wild ride” and the perfect fall movie. One Letterboxd reviewer, however, said parts felt “like someone was reading a terrible romance novel or fanfic out loud.”
Another early viewer compared it to “gone girl from temu,” while star Dakota Johnson herself told Fandango the romance at the center of the story is “not really good for anybody.”
It’s already Anne Hathaways’s fifth release of 2026, following Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey and The End of Oak Street.
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Digger (Oct. 2): Tom Cruise’s Big Swing Has Critics Divided
In Digger, Tom Cruise plays an oil tycoon whose drilling in Greenland dislodges an ice shelf and triggers a global disaster before racing to prove he’s humanity’s savior. He’s nearly unrecognizable as the titular Digger Rockwell under layers of makeup and prosthetics, completely disappearing into the role.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu directs the apocalyptic satire, his first English-language film since The Revenant in 2015. Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons co-star.
Early reactions run from “brave” to “misfire,” according to The Hollywood Reporter’s roundup. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich joked that watching the director try to construct a joke is “like watching Frank Gehry try to draw a straight line.”
Variety’s Clayton Davis said, “I respect the swing,” while praising the performances and production design. Others were harsher, with /Film’s Bill Bria calling it “one of the most abrasive” studio movies in a while.
Good Day Chicago’s Jake Hamilton, meanwhile, named it his favorite film of 2026. Many critics are already predicting it to be a strong awards contender.
With this film, the stakes are high for Warner Bros., as IndieWire reports that, after marketing, the film needs upwards of $300M worldwide to break even on a budget of at least $125M.
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Godzilla Minus Zero (Nov. 6): Critics Are Raving
Critics are far more united when it comes to Godzilla Minus Zero.
Following its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on Sep. 26, the sequel was sitting at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Takashi Yamazaki returns to direct the follow-up to the Oscar-winning 2023 hit Godzilla Minus One. This film is set two years later, again following the Shikishima family as Godzilla returns following his defeat, this time facing off against another creature deadly monster, King Ghidorah.
GamesRadar+’s Molly Edwards called it “easily one of the best films of the year,” while The Weekend Warrior’s Edward Douglas said it’s “even better than Godzilla Minus One in every way.”
Not every critic agrees it tops the original. TheWrap’s William Bibbiani called it “a great Godzilla sequel, maybe even one of the best,” but stopped short of calling it one of the franchise’s greats.
The most common complaints so far have been that it’s light on Godzilla himself and that the human story isn’t quite as cohesive as the first film’s.
Critics have also praised the visual effects, with some saying they deserve to take home another Oscar.
Takashi’s next movie is his English-language debut, Grandgear, due in theaters Jan. 14, 2028.
The director has also come out to defend the franchise’s first R rating, saying censoring the action “was not an option,” according to Variety.
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How the 3 Compare
If you like your movies polarizing, Verity and Digger both open Oct. 2 and are already sparking plenty of debate. You just might have to tune in yourself to see which side of the fence you’re on.
But if you’d rather bet on a crowd-pleaser, critics say Godzilla Minus Zero is the one to save for the biggest screen you can find. It’s also the first-ever Japanese production filmed for IMAX, making it a piece of filmmaking history.
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