The Films of 2026

[Grand Wazoo]

The Joyless Economy is a brilliant experimental narrative work, essentially one hour of a woman recounting an affair and its effects on her life via voiceover while images of discs from her physical media collection are shown on screen, which play a significant role in the chemistry igniting the affair. This might sound uninteresting to you, and I don't blame such a reaction - but the cumulative effect is powerful. The story eventually leads to sincere emotional responses that provoke a personal relationship to the broad experiences being covered, and I found myself deeply moved and fully glued to this film in its back half. What a remarkable achievement of storytelling, utilizing the medium's visual aid to superimpose original context to elevate the material

Seconding The Joyless Economy, as it sounds austere and impenetrable given its semi-experimental roots but becomes utterly hypnotic once it hooks you. I saw it with a friend whose tastes could be described as "normie as hell" and they were enthralled. Not sure what it says about me that I own a majority of the discs shown on screen.

[Lowry_Sam]

I had seen the trailer in theaters and the listings seemed to indicate an October release, however the new Ali G Wazzit movie hasn’t screened anywhere in the SF Bay area & I am noticing it’s been scrubbed from theater’s “Coming soon” listings where I had seen it a month ago. Has Sascha Cohen been cancelled?

[Matt]

It's basically being dumped. Buried deep in an article about this weekend's releases, Variety says:

“Ali G: Who Iz I?” is only playing in 125 theaters for two days before moving to Prime Video on a to-be-determined date.

A two-day theatrical release is brutal. It's not even playing in my state or any neighboring state! I don't think he's been cancelled so much as being considered no longer relevant or interesting.

[beamish14]

It's basically being dumped. Buried deep in an article about this weekend's releases, Variety says:

“Ali G: Who Iz I?” is only playing in 125 theaters for two days before moving to Prime Video on a to-be-determined date.

A two-day theatrical release is brutal. It's not even playing in my state or any neighboring state! I don't think he's been cancelled so much as being considered no longer relevant or interesting.

The original Ali G film didn’t really get a theatrical release outside of Europe. Beyond the interview with Buzz Aldrin, I don’t think the original shows have produced any significant pop culture footprint, and BaronCohen’s recent projects have all fared terribly

[Zot!]

Has Sascha Cohen been cancelled?

He’s famously the lead in the new Tarantino play. I imagine Ali G is just old hat.

[bdsweeney]

Wild Horse Nine is, finally, a film from Martin McDonagh that doesn't feel overwritten while retaining the best parts of his sense of humor. This is also his least-plotted hangout movie, and handily his best work since In Bruges, if not his best film period. But it's not really his film, is it? Because 95% of the reason this thing works at all is John Malkovich, delivering what must be the richest, most lived-in comic performance I've seen, that's somehow a career-best in a body of work full of gems. I don't know if the role was tailor-made for him, but it doesn't matter because Malkovich makes this character his own, using all his unique attributes to serve as a perfect vehicle for McDonagh's acidic wit while elevating the character into someone wholly original and wonderful, even if at a cost and too late. Rockwell and Buscemi do their jobs, but this movie is completely carried on Malkovich's back and he deserves the Oscar for all of these reasons and more

This is what I was hoping for. I was really taken with In Bruges’ soulful darkness, but everything from McDonagh since has ranged from meh to downright awful. But In Bruges clearly showed that the man has talent hidden in there somewhere, and I’ve been waiting for a sign of its return.

[colinr0380]

The original Ali G film didn’t really get a theatrical release outside of Europe. Beyond the interview with Buzz Aldrin, I don’t think the original shows have produced any significant pop culture footprint, and Baron Cohen’s recent projects have all fared terribly

I am no Ali G fan really, but the main moment from his series that I most enjoyed was that time he interviewed an increasingly frustrated Gore Vidal and ends with getting him confused with Vidal Sassoon, so had to keep asking him questions about hairdressing! That name mix-up of course was the entire joke though. Diane Morgan has basically taken over that dumb interviewer persona now with her Philomena Cunk character.

[thirtyframesasecond]

A Republican politician is already threatening to sue SBC over his presence in the film. I think the complexity of the character (a white kid from Staines affecting a Jamaican accent, inspired by Tim Westwood) was something you could get away with twenty odd years ago but in this climate, it's trickier. Plus SBC is very pro Israel, has been accused of sexual harassment and his divorce from Isla Fisher didn't appear particularly amicable. Fundamentally though, it's hard to see how the Ali G character would really be funny now.

[thirtyframesasecond]

The original Ali G film didn’t really get a theatrical release outside of Europe. Beyond the interview with Buzz Aldrin, I don’t think the original shows have produced any significant pop culture footprint, and Baron Cohen’s recent projects have all fared terribly

I am no Ali G fan really, but the main moment from his series that I most enjoyed was that time he interviewed an increasingly frustrated Gore Vidal and ends with getting him confused with Vidal Sassoon, so had to keep asking him questions about hairdressing! That name mix-up of course was the entire joke though. Diane Morgan has basically taken over that dumb interviewer persona now with her Philomena Cunk character.

Speaking of Gore Vidal, his appearance on the BBC in their coverage of the 2008 US presidential election is terrific - https://youtu.be/F6sTpilBjMc?is=zsZTuIf4CncSpSOb

[Lowry_Sam]

Plus SBC is very pro Israel, has been accused of sexual harassment and his divorce from Isla Fisher didn't appear particularly amicable. Fundamentally though, it's hard to see how the Ali G character would really be funny now.

This was my original thought behind the question: has his Zionism & legacy of using Arab stereotypes made him such a toxic liability among Gen Z that no single skit as a Mossad agent could reform & hence higher-ups just decided to ditch the whole schtick? The other thoughts were that releasing it before the election would be a hot potato & so they decided to wait, particularly with a Republican candidate threatening a lawsuit. Or could it have been the lawsuits themselves (the Magas fooled by the Mossad agent are also claiming that they were deceived apparently also threatened suing).

Philomena Cunk's stunts are a bit different as they are not as aggressive & mostly target people who claim to be experts. SBC stunts often involve a physicality that borders on Jackass material (like a professional wrestling bout in middle America turning into a gay sex romp with the audience throwing folding chairs at them).

[senseabove]

So, Janus picked up Alain Gomis' Dao after Berlin, it played at NYFF, and it's listed as available for booking on their site... Has anyone heard anything about a theatrical run? Are they just sitting on it 'til next year?

[Never Cursed]

So, Janus picked up Alain Gomis' Dao after Berlin, it played at NYFF, and it's listed as available for booking on their site... Has anyone heard anything about a theatrical run? Are they just sitting on it 'til next year?

I heard it was 2027. I would have caught it at NYFF, but was really exhausted when it screened and couldn't make it. If you are on backchannels, though, you don't need to wait

[Aunt Peg]

It's basically being dumped. Buried deep in an article about this weekend's releases, Variety says:

“Ali G: Who Iz I?” is only playing in 125 theaters for two days before moving to Prime Video on a to-be-determined date.

A two-day theatrical release is brutal. It's not even playing in my state or any neighboring state! I don't think he's been cancelled so much as being considered no longer relevant or interesting.

The original Ali G film didn’t really get a theatrical release outside of Europe. Beyond the interview with Buzz Aldrin, I don’t think the original shows have produced any significant pop culture footprint, and BaronCohen’s recent projects have all fared terribly

Wow, I didn't realise that the original Ali G film was barely released outside of Europe. I looked up box office mojo and yep, outside of Europe it was only released in South Africa, Australia & New Zealand.

Watched the new Ali G. film the other week and it was weak. A couple of good moments but it mostly felt so dated and it really a time waster.

Whilst I am a fan of SBC he does really feel way past his used by date. His other 2026 feature which is playing in Netflix Ladies First isn't much better that Ali G. Fiona Shaw is the only reason it give it a look - she is a hoot but everything else pretty much falls flat.