Movie theaters across Ukraine will launch screenings for five new feature films starting on September 3, 2026, navigating schedule adjustments between ongoing air raid alarms.
The incoming theatrical lineup reported by news outlet UNIAN features three international major studio releases alongside two domestic Ukrainian films across comedy, action, historical drama, and documentary genres.
Legal Comedy in Coyote vs Acme
The American hybrid live-action and animated comedy "Coyote vs. Acme" brings the classic Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote out of the desert and into a courtroom in Albuquerque. Seeking damages against the ACME corporation for its line of faulty products such as dynamite, bombs, and catapults, Coyote hires attorney Kevin Avery to challenge ACME's talkative legal representative.
Actor Will Forte stars as lawyer Kevin Avery, appearing alongside John Cena, Lana Condor, and P. J. Byrne in the live-action cast.
Filmmaker James Gunn served as screenwriter and producer on the project, co-writing the script with Samy Burch. Dave Green directed the movie, which adapts humorous essays written by Ian Frazier for The New Yorker magazine about the ongoing conflict between Coyote and the ACME corporation.
Early responses from film tracking services show strong scores across platforms. The film holds a rating of 7.7 out of 10 on IMDb and a 96 percent approval score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes with a Certified Fresh designation, matched by a 94 percent audience score. On Metacritic, critics rated the production at 77 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews, while general audience ratings reached 8.2 out of 10 for universal acclaim.
Futuristic Horror in Her Private Hell
Director Nicolas Winding Refn returns with the American futuristic thriller "Her Private Hell", marking his first feature-length directorial work in ten years. Set in a Japanese metropolis engulfed by a mysterious fog, the narrative follows a young actress named Elle trying to break away from a toxic family environment. At the same time, a demonic killer hunts through the city while a soldier searching for his missing daughter becomes the metropolis's final hope.
Sophie Thatcher plays the lead role of Elle, starring alongside cast members Charles Melton, Diego Calva, and Kristine Froseth.
Refn's film recorded mixed to negative receptions from reviewers and audiences following early screenings. IMDb users assigned the film a rating of 4.5 out of 10. On Rotten Tomatoes, critical approval stands at 41 percent, with audience scores dropping to 35 percent. Metacritic reported an expert score of 44 out of 100, categorizing reviews as mixed or average, while user scores averaged 3.2 out of 10 for generally negative feedback.
Military Action in Onslaught
The American action thriller "Onslaught" follows Celeste, a former military sniper and single mother residing with her daughter Daisy in a remote desert trailer park. Her life is disrupted when a squad of genetically modified super-soldiers escapes from a classified military installation, forcing her to draw on past combat experience to protect her family against an invulnerable threat.
Adria Arjona stars as Celeste, leading a cast that includes Dan Stevens, Michael Biehn, Drew Starkey, and Rebecca Hall.
Director Adam Wingard helmed the production and co-wrote the screenplay alongside his long-time writing collaborator Simon Barrett. The creative pair previously collaborated on action thriller titles such as "You're Next" and "The Guest".
Initial aggregator ratings for "Onslaught" show a 73 percent critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers on Metacritic evaluated the film at 60 out of 100, placing responses in the mixed or average category.
Historical Drama in Dissident
Domestic Ukrainian releases for the week include the 2024 historical drama "Dissident", directed by Stanislav Hurenko and Andrii Alforov. Set in Kyiv during the autumn of 1968, the story details the life of Oleg, a former Ukrainian Insurgent Army fighter who survived years in Soviet labor camps. As Oleg struggles to adjust to society while retaining his principles, his wife Vilena seeks a tranquil domestic routine. Their lives change when a writer named Taras offers assistance while concealing his own motives.
The ensemble cast for "Dissident" features Oleksandr Pryshchepa, Viktoriia Romashko, Dima Yaroshenko, Vasyl Mazur, Ihor Khalizov, and Dasha Tvoronovych. The feature currently maintains an IMDb score of 6.3 out of 10.
Documentary on the Independence Era
Documentary release "Distance to Independence", directed by Daria Sarycheva, presents a joint production from Ukraine and Canada detailing the 1991 campaign for national sovereignty. The film draws on personal accounts and archival materials from Ukrainian diaspora communities in Canada and the United States who traveled to Ukraine to advocate for democracy ahead of the independence referendum.
The documentary incorporates archival footage capturing early anti-Soviet demonstrations, police clashes, and testimonies from active participants. Through its examination of daily Soviet-era life and personal civic action, the project highlights the role of international diaspora networks in supporting Ukrainian statehood during the late twentieth century.
Television Premieres for Early September
Alongside new theatrical offerings, several television series will release new seasons and series premieres during the first week of September 2026. Netflix will launch the second season of Guy Ritchie's crime comedy series "The Gentlemen", while Hulu begins streaming season two of the sports comedy "Chad Powers" starring Glen Powell. Additionally, BBC One will debut the historical drama series "A Tale of Two Cities" starring Kit Harington.
