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Fantastic Fest 2026, the nation’s largest genre-film festival, looks to be more exciting and engrossing than ever. The 21st edition of the festival features some surprising remakes and “reimaginings” along with mind-bending new films in genres such as horror, sci-fi, martial arts, and fantasy. Fantastic Fest also coins genre names for unusual films you might not see in that many other places, such as Don’t Watch That Tape, Respect Your Elders, and Arthouse Gone Wild.
And there are vampires and witches.
The Austin fest runs this year from Thursday, September 17 to Thursday, September 24, in the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.
Old Is New
Two surprises from the past with new looks should be festival highlights.
I vividly remember Sissy Spacek as Stephen King’s Carrie. Now we have a chance to go deeper.
Summer H. Howell takes on the role of Carrie in an eight-episode television version of this coming-of-horror story. This new version promises to take us deeper into the unforgiving world of her high school and the little daily choices that reveal her power and lead toward that deadly night.
Fantastic Fest will premiere the first two episodes of Carrie. The series will come to Prime on October 7.
And then there is a new Resident Evil. Who could forget the original, with Milla Jovovich in a special military unit? She fought a powerful, out-of-control supercomputer and hundreds of scientists who had mutated into flesh-eating creatures after a laboratory accident. Kind of sounds like our worst AI and COVID nightmares rolled into one.
The new version of Resident Evil comes from the mind of Zach Cregger, who previously brought us Barbarian and Weapons. Cregger’s hero Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier, brings his package to a remote hospital. He finds more than doctors and nurses, finding himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival.
A Special Award
Another highlight will happen when Walter Hill becomes the newest Fantastic Fest Lifetime Achievement Award recipient on Saturday, September 19. He’ll join previous recipients of the award including Park Chan-wook, Malcolm McDowell, Bong Joon-ho, Roger and Julie Corman, Yuen Woo-Ping, Clint Mansell, Takashi Miike, and Jess Franco.
Hill’s fame comes from films such as The Warriors, 48 Hrs, and Streets of Fire. After the award presentation the festival will show a special screening of Hill’s western Extreme Prejudice. The film, set and filmed in South Texas, stars Nick Nolte as a Texas Ranger. The ranger must hunt down a childhood friend who turned drug kingpin, played by Powers Boothe.
After the screening Hill will discuss his career and answer audience questions.
And the Rest
This year’s Fantastic Fest lineup includes 35 world premieres, 21 international and North American premieres, and 14 U.S. premieres featuring what they describe as “The very best in genre from across the globe, alongside our famous events and surprise guests.”
Just in case 70 movies aren’t enough for you, the special events, most of which happen right next door to the theater, can help you celebrate the weird. A spooktacular opening-night party features high-energy antics from synthpunk band Drakulas. The Blerdy Massacre podcast presents an Evil Laugh Competition. Live podcast recordings include episodes of Doug Loves Movies and The Kingcast. Rotten Tomatoes presents Fresh Frights. Finally, a there’s closing night concert with gore-rock legends GWAR.
For information about this year’s films and next year’s Fantastic Fest, check the Fest’s website and social media on Facebook and Instagram.
