Movie Fantasy League 2026

We screwed up. We let Jord win AGAIN. Two years we’ve run this, and two years, Jord has won. Not a third time. This year, one of us will dethrone him. Take a look below for a refresher on the rules, or if you’re new, a fresher? Here’s the rules:

• Go to https://moviegame.vulture.com/ and fill out your team name and be sure to enter “ZEJ Reviews” under the League Name. INCLUDE THE SPACE.

• Draft a team of eight eligible movies released in 2026 using a budget of 100 fake dollars. Each movie has been assigned a value based on its points-earning potential.

• If you draft before October 1st , you’ll be able to pick from the full list of eligible movies. Wait longer, and you’ll be limited to only films that haven’t yet started accruing points (i.e. you can only draft unreleased movies that haven’t been nominated for any awards.) As we found out the hard way last year (curse you One Battle After Another), it does behoove you to wait and submit your list as close to October 1st as possible, so as to see the reviews for consensus on any movies released between now and then.

• As the season progresses, you’ll accrue points based on the box-office performance, awards haul, and critical reception of the movies you picked. Each Monday, the updated leaderboard will be available on this page and in the weekly MFL newsletter.

• The teams that earn the most points when the game ends after the 2027 Oscars wins!

Good luck to everyone, except Jord, this season!

Akira

Pretty cool that E and I’s first Akira watch was 4K in theaters! For such an incredibly influential film, I was surprised at how grimy it was. The animation, while choppy, is impressive for its time, and it’s clear why it’s so iconic. There is some poor sound design for this remaster, unfortunately, which led to many theaters, including ours, having really low dialogue volume, and that did take me out of the film experience a bit, but still, glad we saw it on the big screen.

-Z

I absolutely appreciate this film for what it is, and I’m glad that we got to see it remastered in theaters, but I think this style of anime just isn’t for me. Despite the plot being interesting, it had a hard time sustaining my attention, which I think was due to the choppy feeling of the animation just not drawing me in. Still glad to now have this as a historical reference point!

-E

A film that is definitely a product of its time. The animation is awesome and it really opened up the world of animation in a lot of ways. I still get a little confused about its outright cult following of love, but it is a really good film. Sadly like a lot of old films, it has a vibe you need to be ready for. Also, it has a lot of confusing plots with hard cuts that get to me, but I do believe any cinephile needs to see this film.

-J

Z 8.5
E 7.0
J 8.5

ZEJ 7.67

Coyote vs. Acme

So glad Coyote vs. Acme was finally released, and pleasantly surprised at how not horrible it was. It runs out of steam in the third act, and I was disappointed at how serious they made Will Forte’s character, but overall this deserved to see the light of day, and I’m glad it did. A fun watch for kids or Looney Tunes adults.

-Z

After hearing a bit about the story of the production nightmare that befell this film from one of my students, I was pretty excited for it to finally be in theaters, but it didn’t fully deliver for me. Definitely some funny and clever moments, but I was just left wanting a bit more from it. As someone who didn’t grow up watching Looney Toons, maybe some nostalgia was needed to have this live up to its pretty high metacritic score.

-E

This was a fun slapstick movie. I knew nothing about it going in other than Looney Tunes and that there was drama in the release timeframe. Right when Will Forte popped onto the screen, I knew I would like it. I had a lot of laughing moments and it is crazy to make a full length film based around 2 characters that do not speak (and have limited sign usage) but it all seemed to work really well. A surprise to the 2026 campaign of movies that is sadly a little thin. Great movie for anyone and should be watched by all.

-J

Z 7.75
E 7.25
J 8.0

ZEJ 7.67

Buddy

While I think there’s a limited ceiling for a murderous child mascot, Buddy came pretty close to it. The writing was excellent. There’s one regrettable sequence, in my opinion, but other than that the story and pacing were great. And, yes, I’m afraid that god forsaken theme song will stay with me for as long as I live…

♪♪ It’s Buddy, Oh, Buddy ♪♪

-Z

I can’t even think about this movie without starting to sing the theme song in my head, which is a testament to how well they did creating something so upbeat that feels so incredibly creepy. I found this to be such a fun movie. Pretty light on the horror but definitely heavy on the creepy factor, with the ending setting up an entire world of possibilities. Solid acting, even from the kids. A few plot moments that felt unnecessary and a few others that felt unanswered, but overall, a film that feels like it could one day be a cult classic. I hope we get more to this story!

-E

Man, this movie was a trip. A unique horror film is seemingly the best unique film. No limits to what it does and where its going, since it is horror. I thought it was a really cool concept and funny but also scary. A lot of practical effects which can always bring a lower budget film over the top, and it looked really cool. The pacing was a little off for my liking and not to be that guy, some plot holes that I want to know more about and know what's going on in the big picture. It seems like a sequel is going to happen, and sadly I am afraid it might ruin it, but until then a fun new horror you should see.

-J

Z 8.0
E 8.5
J 8.0

ZEJ 8.17

The End of Oak Street

The End of Oak Street is a cool concept, but horribly executed. Nearly a Spielberg 90s satire, but without any of the cleverness. Even coming from a dinosaur fanatic, skip. Though sadly, this is better than all but the first Jurassic World films.

-Z

A pretty disappointing movie overall. Acting felt very subpar and also forced at times. Parts of this also felt like it was going for a satire, but not fully committing. It definitely got to a point where I just couldn’t wait for it to be over and done with. A concept that could have been so so much better.

-E

Really leaning towards under 7, but there was enough redeeming qualities to keep it at the 7. Acting was mid, despite a strong cast, making it very obvious that it was more of a money grab. They also got very ‘cinematic’ in the filming at times that added no benefit to it other than they can say they used high quality shots. They moved the story and plot in no way and were just fluff. A movie of fluff but dinosaurs are always fun. A good background movie, but nothing to call home about.

-J

Z 6.5
E 6.0
J 7.0

ZEJ 6.5

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is perhaps the highest art slasher ever made. The layers, the attention to detail, the subtext are all just on another level. The ZEJ team all felt the same way about Jane Schoenbrun’s previous work I Saw the TV Glow, that while it was extremely aesthetic, and full of potential, it didn’t quite all come together. Her work here though does come together fully, I think, the only problem being that it’s so layered as to be slightly inaccessible. It’s a movie that demands rewatches, YouTube explanations and Reddit threads to fully grasp. There was something very David Lynch about Camp Miasma, too, which I loved. A likely masterpiece, that I’m afraid will go over everyone’s head, including mine, somewhat. Can’t wait to see what Schoenbrun does next.

-Z

A couple weeks have passed and I’m still not quite sure I’m grasping everything there is to grasp from this movie. It was definitely a lot to take in. Much more coherent than I Saw the TV Glow from this director, but still a lot to unpack. I loved the imagery and cinematography so much though, it might not even matter that some of the concept of the film went over my head.

-E

I keep thinking about this film. I think about it every couple days. I still don't know what it is fully about and all the themes, but man was it a ride. Here is a movie that includes cinematic shots that really bring it all together. The acting was phenomenal - the story was unique - I laughed out loud a lot. Is it a perfect movie? Not when it finishes and I have to watch a Youtube video explaining it to me, but it did create some good discussion in the lobby. I think anyone who can handle ‘sex, drugs, and death’ should watch this movie, it's worth the hype.

-J

Z 8.75
E 8.5
J 9.25

ZEJ 8.83

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

I’m sorry (Canadian accent) to say, I could watch Matt and Jay and their plans forever now. The Back to the Future homage was a really fun wrinkle for a movie, and they didn’t disappoint. Their chaotic energy and infectious stupidity is on full display. Must watch, whether you’re a fan of the show or even as just a way to dip your toes in to world.

-Z

Having just watched the entire show that preceded this movie, I unfortunately can’t speak to how exciting it would be for original fans of the show to see this film come to life, but it still was pretty awesome. Very clever humor and such a fun plot. Some pretty unexpected moments as well that I do think translated much better to a film vs. just creating another season of the show. Excited to see what these two fellas continue to do in film!

-E

The world of Matt Johnson. He is producing, filming, and acting in some great things. This is also one of them. Ultimately I do like the actual show better, but this movie does do a lot and pushes the boundaries that seemingly only Matt is doing right now. You should laugh out loud a lot when watching and it is a comedy film that we need more of. Bring comedies back, they are fun in the theater and I miss laughing in theaters (which I was not able to do even). If you don’t know, now you know, and please find time to watch this film even if you haven't seen the show.

-J

Z 8.75
E 8.5
J 8.5

ZEJ 8.58

Tony

I thought Matt Johnson’s Tony was excellent, on par with Blackberry, and probably again, undertouted. I was disappointed Blackberry didn’t garner any Oscar recognition, and I’ll be disappointed if Tony doesn’t either. The acting is excellent, the writing is excellent, and I really enjoyed the cinematography. Jay McCarrol’s score was also amazing, and my appreciation for his partnership with Matt Johnson is at an all-time high after our Nirvanna the Band the Show and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie watch. Worth a watch!

-Z

I really liked the fact that this was just focused on a snapshot of Anthony Bourdain’s life, but since I only know him from watching his show pretty sporadically, I get the feeling that a bigger fan of his work would have gotten more from the plot, seeing parallels from his beginnings to his later career. So, it was initially a little underwhelming, but the more I think about it, the more impressed I am with what they were able to do with the film and how excellent the acting was. A little predictable at times, but I think I’m okay with it generally. And I loved to see the Nirvanna duo working together again behind the scenes!

-E

Surprising to seemingly everyone, I do not know who Anthony Bourdain is. I don’t know what shows he was a part of or what he did, so this movie was going to be a history lesson for me. In a lot of ways, I left the film in the same unknown about him, as it focused only on his pre-fame years, but that changed the enjoyment in no way for me. I thought it was portrayed great and almost felt like a strong fiction film at times, which created a good element to it. The acting was great, the story was great, and the film was great. Sadly for the score, it was great in a lot of ways, just not groundbreaking - leaving me with an 8.

-J

Z 8.75
E 8.25
J 8.0

ZEJ 8.33

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Yeah, Spider-Man is just so much fun, and Brand New Day is the most he’s ever been integrated into the wider MCU. This is a SPOILER, but if you don’t already know by now, honestly hats off to you, but this edition of Spider-Man had him interact meaningfully with Banner/Hulk, Jean Gray, the Hand, and Punisher, which made this have such an amazing comic book feel. I also loved how they carried forward the emotional beats of the previous Spider-Man trilogy.

-Z

I was a little concerned that Tom Holland’s age now would change this character in a negative way, or that he would continue pretending to be a high schooler and that would be a bit unsettling, but he transformed Spider-Man into an adult very convincingly here. The plot was engaging, the side characters were fun (my minor gripe being that we may have spent too much time on the Jean Gray storyline), the cinematography and humor matched the original trio well, and this gives some real promise for the future of the MCU!

-E

I am sure this will fall on deaf ears, like my ‘bad takes’ usually do; but I think I may be over the Marvel Universe. I feel like I have seen this before and it really didn’t have a crazy wow factor to me. This film is much better than most of the recent Marvel films, but I just can’t put my finger on it. The acting was great and the quality was high, I just think it was somewhat predictable in some ways and all things I have seen before. With that being said, it's still an 8.75 and a very good movie!

-J

Z 8.75
E 8.5
J 8.75

ZEJ 8.67

Spider-Man: No Way Home

No Way Home was the movie I realized I might be a Spider-Man superfan, or at least like close. Bringing in Tobey and Andrew, the emotion, the nostalgia, it just hits so good. And not only that, but Dafoe and Molina reprising their roles is just chef’s kiss. It all worked here, and as the beginnings of the multi-verse era of the MCU, which is only now just coming to fruition with the upcoming Avengers movie, it’s more relevant than ever. As E says, the tone of the first this SM trilogy is just so incredibly consistent, and No Way Home just completely sticks the landing. Can’t wait ‘til the next rewatch.

-Z

The plot of this movie is very well developed and finishes out this trio of Spider-Man films in a really satisfying way. It’s incredibly impressive how the tone of this film continues to match the other two. The alternate universe Spider-Men addition was a really fun plot point, but I gotta be honest, felt a little too drawn out for the sake of nostalgia here. Regardless, there are a lot of emotional moments in this film that are very well played.

-E

Z 9.0
E 8.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.75

Spider-Man: Far From Home

While I agree that this is the weakest of the bunch, Far From Home is still a very fun addition to the catalogue, and as a big Jake Gyllenhaal fan, I think he plays a fantastic Mysterio. The Skrulls post-credit stuff does also really change the re-watch of this movie, and that’s a weird artifact that it’s left with. Glad we revisited this.

-Z

This is the weakest of the Tom Holland Spider-Man films in my opinion, but still moves the story along in the right direction. I just didn’t connect with the overly cartoon-y feel of Mysterio. The European setting, while fun, felt a little wrong. The tone and humor is carried along well, but it just didn’t have the same impact as the first. The choice to include such important plot points as mid/post-credits scenes also left me scratching my head a bit.

-E

Z 8.5
E 8.0
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.25

Spider-Man: Homecoming

E and I decided to watch the entire Spider-Man Tom Holland trilogy to prep for Brand New Day, and boy, was that fun! Homecoming is so so good. The Tony Stark angle is a cool wrinkle for Spidey to contend with, but the first film is so great for it’s simplicity in story-telling and Michael Keaton’s tremendous performance as the Vulture. Superhero movies often live or die by the weight of the villain and Keaton brought such a realness to his role that really just makes the whole thing work. Cool to go back and see Tom Holland as an actual kid, and the story arch of him doing kid stuff has this full circle feel in hindsight.

-Z

So glad Z and I decided to rewatch this series before Brand New Day. This remains my favorite of the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies. Classic (but also, not too predictable) villain arc and very solid acting from everyone. Just the right amount of origin-story feel. The energy Tom Holland brings to the character is just perfect for this high school version of Spider-man - truly excellent casting.

-E

Z 8.75
E 8.75
J n/a

~ZEJ 8.75

The Sheep Detectives

As E says, The Sheep Detectives is a great kid’s movie, with adequate quality of plot and dialogue, and the sheep are fun and cute. And if you’re not scrutinizing, there’s much to enjoy. There’s more a few eye-roll moments, and the CGI sheep are a bit distracting at times, but the heart-warming story did get me a bit misty-eyed in the end. So take it with a grain of salt, but this is a fun mystery that may be worth your time.

-Z

A fun murder mystery with some pretty clever moments, but the plot left a bit to be desired for me - I found it pretty slow overall. The goofiness of it all also made it feel a little more geared towards a child audience, which isn’t inherently a problem, but stood out a bit more to me here than expected. I can see an animal lover finding so much more to love here, but as we all know, that’s not me!

-E

I was hoping for Paddington, and I sadly didn’t get that, but I did get a fun watch. For a kids movie, it started by feeling like a ‘kids first mystery’ movie, but it ended up being weirdly quite deep. Sadly, a bit on the nose, but was definitely a film that is better than you think. For any families looking for a film I think that I am going to be recommending this for the rest of the year. (Also, you don’t have to have kids to enjoy, as the ZEJ team did just that)

-J

Z 7.5
E 7.25
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.5

The Odyssey

After the strong reviews, I was surprised at how underwhelmed I was by Christopher Nolan’s latest film. The visuals were incredible, and on a technical level, I’m sure it will mop up, but so many things were lackluster about The Odyssey. The dialogue was horribly dull, the pacing was neck-breakingly fast and as a result, no scenes had any time to breath. Actors were never afforded the screentime to display any depth. It’s just one event to the next, trying to cram in as much as possible from the epic’s source material in the IMAX’s 3-hour film reel limit. If afforded a 4-hour cut of this movie, I think there could have really been something, but the poor dialogue makes me wonder if even that’s true. This is not a bad movie by any means, but by Nolan’s own standards, this is closer to the Tenet side of the spectrum than the rest of his filmography.

-Z

I went in expecting the best movie of the year, so I was initially a little disappointed that I don’t think this will be that for me, but it is undeniably a great film that needs to be seen in a theater. The visuals were outstanding. The story felt a little rushed in places, and I honestly wasn’t blown away by the acting (sorry Anne Hathaway, but you were just trying way too hard to be dramatic), but the entire (pretty long) run time was fully engaging and I’m so glad we got to see this in a huge, packed theater.

-E

The first thing I said after the film I think still holds; The scale alone of this movie makes it something special. They A-list actors, the practical effects, the sound design and locations, all great. Now in no way was it a perfect film and I do wish that some parts of the story went farther in depth, but a 3 hour movie I wanted more of is saying something. Nolan is the best director right now and I don’t think it is particularly close. I also have a feeling that this is already the Best Picture winner of the year, but I will agree with Z in the fact that I don’t think it has the wow factor that Oppenheimer had. Overall, I am very excited for another watch and I feel like I will like it more, not less.

-J

Z 8.5
E 9.0
J 9.25

ZEJ 8.92

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one of my all-time favorite movies, and it doesn’t take much convincing to re-watch it, but it feels like maybe a decade has gone by since our last watch. Long enough at least for me to predate my awareness of Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro, whose careers have been particularly celebrated in that time. George Clooney is absolutely electric, and his character in this movie may be one the best characters in cinema, but Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro play their roles so perfectly that I have no doubt this movie would have won best casting had that been an award in 2000. John Turturro in particular stood out in his acting ability, given how different he is compared to his beloved Severance character. I could go on and on about how amazing this movie is, but I’ll leave that for the next revisit. This is a cinema cornerstone, a must watch for any human alive today.

-Z

Z & I rewatched this in preparation for The Odyssey - a great excuse to revisit such a great film! The music is so catchy. The acting is excellent - not that he needs it, but I have to especially call out George Clooney here for stealing every scene he is in. Not quite as laugh-out-loud as I remember it from high school, but still a top tier comedy that I of course highly recommend!

-E

Z 9.0
E 9.0
J n/a

~ZEJ 9.0

The Invite

I didn’t know what to expect exactly from The Invite, as Olivia Wilde’s last foray, Don’t Worry Darling, had a lot of issues. With a less ambitious, more intimate story, she absolutely delivered. The Invite is hilarious, and more than that, is electric. We were in a packed theater, and the crowd was wrestling with the shock, the cringe, and hilarity that scene after scene delivered. While the scale of this doesn’t compare to Don’t Worry Darling, I will say to have a movie almost entirely set in one space is daunting, but it absolutely works, so much so that I didn’t even register that fact until after the movie. Edward Norton is one of my all-time favorite actors, and he delivers a performance in this that is so funny and heartfelt, and I’ll be shocked if he’s not nominated. It’s a shame he’s never won an Oscar despite his four nominations, and as of this moment, he’d be my vote for best supporting. Penelope Cruz is equally good, I will say, and she could easily win her second supporting actress role from this as well. Rogen and Wilde are great too, and the perfect counterparts to Cruz and Norton. Must watch movie for 2026! It’s 9.25 ZEJ makes it the first movie above 9.0 this year and edges out Project Hail Mary as the highest rated ZEJ movie of 2026.

-Z

Very funny and unpredictable, and even more fun to watch it in a packed, enthusiastic theater. Incredibly engaging despite a very small cast and set. Amazing score that really set the tone for each scene. I can absolutely imagine this being a very fun stage play, but they did a great job transforming it into a movie. The more I think about it, the more I realize how smart and well done it was. Great job Olivia Wilde and A24 - I hope you get some Oscar attention from this!

-E

At the time of writing this, I believe this is the best film of 2026. True tension, amazing score, and uniquely funny. For a movie in 1 setting with 4 actors, it never felt small. I think this is proof that Olivia Wilde is actually a high tier director, Edward Norton is elite, Cruz is great, and Rogen doesn’t miss. I loved it from start to finish and wanted more. A film I think everyone should find time to see.

-J

Z 9.0
E 9.25
J 9.5

ZEJ 9.25

Supergirl

While Supergirl vastly surpassed the expectations set by the critics’ hate for this movie, it is not without issues. While Matthias Schoenaerts did great in his role as antagonist to Supergirl, Krem would have been a much better as a henchmen to the real villain, not the main event. The relationship between Supergirl and the girl was quite forced and the girl’s acting was suspect at best. Jason Momoa, while fun, was definitely a caricature. That said, Milly Alcock was perfect in this, and all of her scenes were excellent. A pitch perfect performance in a C-grade movie. I still have hope for James Gunn’s DC universe, and consider this the growing pain of playing the executive role for the first time.

-Z

I definitely don’t agree with the critical reviews here! The acting was excellent and the story was really engaging. While it did feel a little more like a side plot to the Superman world vs. a true standalone movie, and I did wonder if this could have been better as a fun mini-series show, I have no regrets that we saw it in theaters and look forward to more of this character!

-E

I don’t care about reviews, and I don’t care what people will say: I like Supergirl. I thought it was fun, felt like a strong super hero film, and was played great by Milly Alcock. It falls on a bad villain and has to be somewhat of an origin story, but overall very fun and I am personally really excited for what the DC universe is going to continue giving us, unlike what Marvel is cooking up.

-J

Z 7.25
E 8.0
J 8.25

ZEJ 7.83

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

National Treasure 2 suffers from the same pitfalls as Jurassic Park 2, which just turns the entire runtime into an action film, and that just fanatical level of pacing is not what made the original so fun. The redemption of Ed Harris never felt right, and sort of dilutes the whole story arch. Still, Nicolas Cage is even more Nicolas Cage and that’s a treat in and of itself, and I’m not mad we watched it again.

-Z

While I watched the first National Treasure on repeat during long car rides with my sister, there is a reason I only saw this one time before Z and I did a rewatch - it’s just not a good follow-up. This movie is trying to do way too much to amp up the heist plot to unbelievable levels. All sense of logic is now gone. It was pretty cool to see the scenes filmed in Custer State Park having just been there, but I otherwise left this rewatch feeling pretty disappointed.

-E

Z 7.0
E 6.25
J n/a

~ZEJ 6.63

National Treasure

Who’s the National Treasure here - the Freemason’s long lost antiquities or Nicolas Cage? It’s Nicolas Cage. He carries this ridiculous film into something so much more fun than it has any right to be. Always a treat to revisit.

-Z

Nostalgia is definitely padding my score a bit here, but I can’t help it - I would guess I’ve seen this movie 15+ times. And while the logic of the plot is a bit perplexing, the puzzle solving aspect of the heist is undeniably fun and sees Nicolas Cage in peak Nicolas Cage form - absolutely no one else could play this role like he does. An enjoyable rewatch!

-E

Z 7.75
E 7.75
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.75

Leviticus

Leviticus is just a very well done horror film. Haven’t seen It Follows, so I can’t speak for it’s originality, but the concept is extremely well executed. Acting was phenomenal. Only character that bothered me was the mom, who didn’t feel consistent. Really liked how the story played out and how it ended. Must watch for horror fans. For the ZEJ team so far this year, Jord’s 9 rating on this makes Leviticus the highest rated horror film of the year, just ahead of Obsession! I personally liked Hokum and Obsession more, but they are all very fun films, and throwing in Backrooms into the mix too, 2026 has delivered 4 banger films to the genre.

-Z

A pretty straightforward plot without any extraneous details, which made this horror movie really sing! A little more length devoted to character development for the non-main characters would have raised my rating here, but I also understand why they kept this bare-bones feeling to the film. I was a little disappointed to hear afterwards that the plot was not entirely unique (but then again, much isn’t), but the whole conservative town conversion therapy angle was really well done and added a lot of realistic tension.

-E

I believe that 2026 has been kind of a poor year when it comes to film, and we are finally getting to some bangers. My love and hate for this comes from the fact it is very similar to the movie It Follows, which is an amazing movie that I do love. I think it had enough differences to be distinct, which is why it is still scored high. Not as good as It Follows but still a great horror film in the year of the horror film, 2026.

-J

Z 8.5
E 8.5
J 9.0

ZEJ 8.67