The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival starts tomorrow which means that awards season is now in full swing as Telluride and most of the Venice Film Festival are in the rear view mirror. As I note every year, TIFF has always been one of my favorite festivals despite their awful ticketing system. Sorry, TIFF, I love you but my god, your ticket system is the absolute worst there is. But going back to the festival itself, there is just something special about the city of Toronto and the culture here.
Yes, I come to TIFF to see films that are Oscar hopefuls but there are usually a lot of fun and entertaining films mixed in for good measure. TIFF offers a wonderful variety of films for almost every kind of movie fan no matter if you like fun and quirky films to what could be the next big Oscar winner, you can find a little something for everyone at the festival.
The festival kicks things off tomorrow, September 10th and runs through the 20th. There is a lot to choose from with this year’s lineup, including several festival favorites from Cannes, Venice, and Telluride. As always, I try to create of list of ten films that I have yet to screen and are genuinely looking forward to or excited to see based on the buzz they have generated thus far. With that being said, these are the 10 films that I’m most excited to see at TIFF 2026.
10. Everybody Wants to Fuck Me
This film piqued my interest when I first saw the teaser trailer back at CinemaCon in March. We all know that Taron Egerton is a good-looking guy, which makes him the perfect choice to star in a movie where everyone wants to have sex with him. Along for the ride are Jessica Henwick, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Herbert Nordrum, and Antonia Clarke. The film also marks the feature directorial debut of Jonathan Schey.
According to the TIFF website, Egerton plays Adam, a man who has learned how to present himself as the picture-perfect modern man, even though most of it is a performative act just for show. However, as with all romantic comedies, things begin to change when he meets Sofia, played by Henwick, who sees right through his act, which is when things get interesting for Adam.
I suspect Everybody Wants to Fuck Me will provide plenty of laughs while tackling toxic masculinity and the performative nature of modern dating in a darkly comedic way. While this probably won’t become an awards player, it feels like the type of film that could become a real crowd-pleaser, especially with Egerton and Henwick likely having great chemistry and the concept really deconstructing the romantic comedy genre.
TIFF screenings:
September 11 at 9:30 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (World Premiere)
September 12 at 9:00 a.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Press & Market Screening)
September 12 at 9:20 p.m. — Scotiabank 2 (Public)
September 19 at 8:30 p.m. — Royal Alexandra Theatre (Public)
9. Wild Horse Nine
Martin McDonagh teaming up with Sam Rockwell again is already enough to sell me, but Wild Horse Nine sounds like it could be one of McDonagh’s best films to date. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri remains my favorite of his films, and I won’t lie: I didn’t love The Banshees of Inisherin. In fact, I thought the film was very overrated and didn’t have the same magic as McDonagh’s previous films. Because of that, I wasn’t immediately sold when I first saw the trailer for Wild Horse Nine and the more the trailer played, the less excited I was to see the film, However, the strong word of mouth, particularly several of my colleagues calling the film McDonagh’s most mature work to date combined with the comments about John Malkovich’s performance being one of the finest of his career, has really elevated my excitement level for the film
As for the plot, the film follows CIA agents Chris and Lee, who are sent from Santiago to Easter Island. What initially was viewed as an assignment in paradise becomes increasingly complicated as the two men confront their pasts, political conspiracies, and a pair of rebellious students. As with all of McDonagh’s work, he has assembled quite an ensemble cast, including Sam Rockwell, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, Parker Posey, and Tom Waits.
Wild Horse Nine will almost certainly be an awards player for Searchlight Pictures, with much of the early conversation centered on McDonagh’s screenplay, Malkovich for Best Actor, and Best Picture. Even without having seen the film, those three categories feel very likely. I suspect it will ultimately show up in one or two additional categories for awards, but I can’t say which ones until I see the film for myself early next week.
TIFF screenings:
Thursday, September 10 — 7:30 p.m. – Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 12 (Press & Market)
Monday, September 14 — 3:00 p.m – Visa Screening Room at Princess of Wales Theatre (Public)
Tuesday, September 15 — 9:30 p.m., Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 4 (Public)
Saturday, September 19 — 9:00 p.m., Visa Screening Room at Princess of Wales Theatre (Pubic with open captions)
Sunday, September 20 — 10:15 a.m., Scotiabank Theatre Cinema 2 (Public)
8. Evil Genius
It’s hard not to be curious about a film directed by Courteney Cox that centers on the infamous “pizza bomber” case. It was such a fascinating and bizarre story when it happened that it almost seems tailor-made for the big screen. The film marks Cox’s second feature as a filmmaker, and she has put together quite the cast led by Patricia Arquette and David Harbour.
For those who don’t remember the story, the film takes audiences back to 2003 and explores the strange circumstances surrounding the pizza bomber case and the death of Brian Wells. True-crime documentaries and movies may be a dime a dozen nowadays, but this case remains so unusual that seeing Cox retell it with Arquette and Harbour immediately stood out to me when reading through the TIFF lineup. With its premiere scheduled for the festival’s opening weekend, this feels like it could become one of TIFF’s breakout titles.
TIFF screenings:
September 12 at 2:00 p.m. — Roy Thomson Hall (World Premiere)
September 13 at 8:15 a.m. — TIFF Lightbox 2 (Press & Market)
September 13 at 2:00 p.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Public)
September 18 at 9:20 p.m. — Scotiabank 13 (Public)
September 20 at 6:00 p.m. — Scotiabank 13 (Public)
7. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother
The joke going around Hollywood is this is the movie that will make up for Mahershala Ali not getting to play Blade. Somehow, I doubt this film will feel anything like a superhero movie but I agree that it’s a real shame that Ali didn’t get to play Blade because that would have been awesome for sure. However, I am down with seeing him play a deeply religious family man who also happens to be a contract killer. I like movies that challenge audiences and religion.
Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother stars Ali as Latif, a devout Muslim, father, and assassin who follows his own strict moral code. Following the death of his wife, Latif attempts to leave his violent profession behind and dedicate himself to his children, only to discover that walking away from being an assassin is much like being in the mob which isn’t going to be easy to leave.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is Tariq’s sophomore follow-up to his well received feature film debut Mogul Mowgli and while it might not have the main stream appeal that many are looking for, I heard the film features some great action set pieces and is quite a gritty film. I always loved what Mahershala Ali can bring to a project, even in films like Swan Song, where the movie itself doesn’t really work but Ali manages to shine bright.
TIFF screenings:
September 12 at 8:30 a.m. — John Bassett Theatre (Press & Market)
September 12 at 9:30 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (World Premiere)
September 13 at 11:15 a.m. — TIFF Lightbox 2 (Public)
September 18 at 2:30 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Public)
6. The Last Photograph
I never expected a Zack Snyder film to premiere at TIFF, but here we are. Like many, I have a real love-hate relationship with Snyder as a filmmaker. I genuinely love much of his filmography and admire the hell out of him for being such a visually distinctive filmmaker and storyteller. However, I think it’s safe to say that his films either work for you or they don’t. As much as I will stand up and fight for his vision of the DC Universe, I cannot defend his Netflix movies, especially those Rebel Moon films. Those movies are simply awful across the board.
As for The Last Photograph, its announcement as a surprise TIFF addition just days before the festival is certainly intriguing, although having only one screening makes it difficult to fit into an already packed schedule. The film is Snyder’s longtime passion project and follows a former DEA operative traveling through the South American wilderness on a mission for revenge. He is aided by a war photographer who witnessed the killers he is searching for.
After seeing Snyder make so many massive films, I am genuinely curious to see how he handles something more personal and independently produced. Whether you love or hate his work, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t have a distinctive visual identity. I’m looking forward to seeing how he applies that sensibility to something that appears to be more character-driven than spectacle-driven. The Last Photograph is certainly one of TIFF’s biggest wild cards, and I hope the festival ends up adding a second or third screening so it can generate some press buzz given that the film’s premiere is up against The Debut and Babies, which are two massive titles playing at the festival.
TIFF screening:
September 13 at 6:30 p.m. — John Bassett Theatre (World Premiere)
5. Misty Green
I was not the biggest fan of Chris Rock’s other directorial outings thus far but Misty Green seems like a film that will be right up my alley. I tend to enjoy movies that explore the Hollywood system and how it operates especially when done through a satirical and dramatic lens.
The film follows Misty (Rosalind Eleazar), a once-successful actress trying to revive her career after personal and professional mistakes have left her struggling. Rock plays a filmmaker who is willing to give her another shot but men from her past re-enter her life and could make things even more complicated as she attempts to get her own life back on track.
Similar to a lot of films on this list, I am a sucker for film’s with a great cast ensemble and this one features a lot of great actors including Chris Rock, Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, and Rosalind Eleazar, who is rumored to deliver one a true breakout performance.
TIFF screenings:
September 12 at 9:30 p.m. — Roy Thomson Hall (World Premiere)
September 13 at 8:40 a.m. — Scotiabank 2 (Press & Market)
September 13 at 9:00 p.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Public)
September 18 at 12:10 p.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Public)
September 19 at 3:00 p.m. — TIFF Lightbox 1 (Public)
4. Club Kid
Club Kid will show at TIFF with a tremendous amount of buzz following screenings at several other festivals including Cannes and Telluride. Jordan Firstman writes, directs, and stars as Peter, a thirtysomething New York club promoter whose life revolves around parties, drugs, and being as irresponsible as humanly possible. Everything changes, however, when he learns that he has a 10-year-old son.
While the setup may sound somewhat familiar, the reactions from several of my fellow critics suggest that Firstman does something far more unique and life-affirming with it. Peter is a proud member of the queer community, and the film explores how that community embraces his son and gradually becomes part of his child’s life.
Sometimes the best festival discoveries are films that appear to be one thing before revealing an emotional core you never expected. Everything I’ve heard about Club Kid suggests that this is one of those films; a genuine crowd-pleaser that should delight audiences, especially those who attend festivals hoping to discover something funny, heartfelt, and completely unexpected.
TIFF screenings:
September 10 at 9:40 p.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Press & Market)
September 13 at 9:00 p.m. — TIFF Lightbox 2 (TIFF Premiere)
September 18 at 9:30 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Public)
September 19 at 5:15 p.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Public)
3. Being Heumann
There was never much doubt that Being Heumann would rank this high on my list, especially if you know how much I loved and adored CODA.
Being Heumann marks Siân Heder’s first feature film since CODA won Best Picture. It tells the story of disability-rights activist Judy Heumann, played by Ruth Madeley, and dramatizes the 1977 fight over Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. That battle led to the historic occupation of a federal building in San Francisco and became a defining moment in the disability-rights movement.
Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Madeline Delp, Rob Delaney, Ray Fisher, Michael Patrick Thornton, and Daniel Durant all appear alongside Madeley in the film, which if well received will likely make this a great ensemble play at the Actor Awards.
I have heard plenty of rumblings about this film from people within the industry. Several have told me that I am going to absolutely love it and that it is even better than CODA. Others have suggested that it is simply fine and may struggle to connect with audiences or awards voters. While I don’t expect to love it quite as much as CODA, character-driven stories about underdogs are the kinds of films I naturally gravitate toward, and Being Heumann certainly sounds like it could hit me in a similarly powerful way.
I also truly believe that Heder has a unique ability to tell stories about marginalized communities in ways that feel deeply human and relatable. That was the magic of CODA. It wasn’t simply the subject matter that made the film so special; it was how deeply audiences connected with its characters. If Heder can capture that same emotional honesty with Being Heumann, this could be one of the year’s most moving and important films.
TIFF screenings:
September 10 at 6:00 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (World Premiere)
September 10 at 8:00 p.m. — Roy Thomson Hall (World Premiere Encore)
September 11 at 8:45 a.m. — TIFF Lightbox 1 (Press & Market)
September 12 at 11:00 a.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Public)
September 17 at 10:45 a.m. — TIFF Lightbox 1 (Public)
September 19 at 6:00 p.m. — TIFF Lightbox 1 (Public)
2. The Debut
After watching A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg quickly became one of the filmmakers who I can’t wait to see what he does next. Eisenberg was already an actor whose filmography I mostly loved, but now I am genuinely excited whenever I hear that he is directing something too. As a longtime actor, Eisenberg understands character, awkwardness, insecurity, and human behavior in a way that feels incredibly real and authentic.
In the film, Julianne Moore stars as Mona Friedman, a bored suburban housewife who lands a small role in a community-theatre production. She gradually becomes so consumed by acting that the experience begins to transform her life. Paul Giamatti plays the demanding director who recognizes something unique about Mona and encourages her to push herself to her limits, all in the name of art.
I love story and character-driven movies, and this sounds almost tailor-made for me. Moore and Giamatti are two actors I will watch in practically anything, and Eisenberg has already proven himself to be a gifted filmmaker. The rave reviews out of Telluride confirmed my suspicions that this would become a major awards player, but I am particularly curious about the movie’s musical elements.
I have to give credit where credit is due: most of the reactions out of Telluride managed to generate excitement without spoiling anything. All I know is that the film apparently contains some cheer-worthy moments and that the music, written by Eisenberg, is so good that a Best Original Song nomination could be in his near future.
After reading those early reactions out of Telluride, my already sky-high anticipation for The Debut has somehow climbed even higher.
TIFF screenings:
September 13 at 6:15 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (TIFF Premiere)
September 14 at 6:30 p.m. — John Bassett Theatre (Press & Market)
September 14 at 8:45 p.m. — Scotiabank 1 (Public)
September 17 at 2:00 p.m. — TIFF Lightbox 1 (Public)
1. I Play Rocky
This is another film that first caught my attention at CinemaCon. Call me a sucker for cheesy movies, but I Play Rockyseems like something I am going to love because it combines two of my favorite things: underdog stories and movies about movies. I also grew up watching the Rocky films on repeat, so I can’t imagine a world where I don’t at least like this movie.
Peter Farrelly’s latest film stars Anthony Ippolito as a young Sylvester Stallone, who was still an unknown actor when he wrote Rocky after watching Muhammad Ali fight Chuck Wepner. In true Hollywood fashion, studios wanted Stallone’s screenplay but didn’t want him to star in the film. Stallone refused to sell it unless he was allowed to play the lead character, Rocky Balboa.
We all know what happened next, but knowing the ending doesn’t make the journey any less fascinating. Early word of mouth has described Ippolito’s performance as career-making, with many noting how perfectly he captures Stallone’s physicality, voice, and determination. Stephan James plays Carl Weathers, while Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, P.J. Byrne, Jay Duplass, Toby Kebbell, and Tracy Letts round out an impressive ensemble.
I have been watching movies long enough to know that Hollywood loves telling stories about itself, but the best ones capture the almost irrational level of belief required to survive in this business. Stallone betting everything on himself and refusing to surrender the role he created is the kind of story that sounds unbelievable, yet we all know how it launched a career that has lasted more than five decades.
I predict that I Play Rocky will play incredibly well at the festival and could go head-to-head with The Debut for this year’s TIFF People’s Choice Award.
TIFF screenings:
September 12 at 6:00 p.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (World Premiere)
September 13 at 8:30 a.m. — John Bassett Theatre (Press & Market)
September 13 at 11:15 a.m. — Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre (Public)
September 18 at 5:45 p.m. — TIFF Lightbox 2 (Public)
A few honorable mentions:
These are five other films that I look forward to checking out during TIFF or have seen already at other festivals
Fjord – Heard amazing things from Cannes and even though the Telluride reactions were a bit more muted, I am very excited to see this film because Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan have really been delivering great work over the past few years and heard that the movie is a quite the conversation starter.
Josephine – One of the most chilling movies that I’ve sat through in recent memory. This is a very powerful and haunting movie that deserves so much praise and accolades. If you can tolerate the subject matter, I still believe this is one of the best films of the year despite my doubts that awards voters will struggle with this one, unfortunately.
Babies – The cast combined with the premise intrigues me and I look forward to hopefully catching it at TIFF.
La Bola Negra – Heard so many rave reviews about this one. I’m very curious to see it as I heard this one ranks up there as one of Netflix’s strongest and most powerful films to date.
Stuffed – It’s a body horror musical and it sounds pretty out there so I am curious about it plus Jodie Comer is in it and she’s great in pretty much everything Ive seen her in.
