2026 First Watches

Ryan Swen Lists Tags: ,

Old
New

Renewed Appreciation: Floating Clouds, The Green Ray, Fantasia, Punch-Drunk Love, In the Realm of the Senses, Nope, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Princess Mononoke, The Birds, Yojimbo, Boy, Django Unchained, A Hard Day’s Night, Throne of Blood, sex, lies, and videotape, The Wild Child, Unstoppable, Frankenstein, Jackass: The Movie, Happyend, Death Proof, Red Rocket, Ahed’s Knee, Notturno, Beauty and the Beast, The Bad Sleep Well, My Night at Maud’s, Hot Fuzz, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Edge of Tomorrow

Shorts: Breakaway, The Girl Chewing Gum, Crossroads, Three Screen Ray, Looking for Mushrooms, If You Don’t Watch the Way You Move, Looking for Mushrooms, Red Hot Riding Hood, Throbs, Eason, Animato, America Is Waiting, See What You Hear What You See, Gridrose, City Slivers, Mongoloid, “Yes, I Said Yes, I Will, Yes.,” The Sojourn, Waterfall, Sugar Glass Bottle, Scotch Tape, Junior, Hough 66, Simca Vega Cricket, 24 Frames per Century, Song for Rent, Conical Intersect, Cactus Wren, California Quail, Necessary Trip, Yellow Sequence, The Secret Story, Dreams of Passion, Hamlet Act, Light Eater, Hot Air Specialists, Brideless Groom, Fresh Kill, Out of State Plates, The Shape of Things, Banging on Their Bars in Rhythm, Orchard, Penny Bright & Jimmy Witherspoon, Whitney Commercial, Picasso

  1. La Commune (Paris, 1871) (2000, Peter Watkins) [June]
  2. Lightning (1952, Naruse Mikio) [April]
  3. The Devil Is a Woman (1935, Josef von Sternberg) [June]
  4. Dry Leaf (2025, Alexandre Koberidze) [April]
  5. Scattered Clouds (1967, Naruse Mikio) [May]
  6. Eureka (2000, Aoyama Shinji) [May]
  7. Sound of the Mountain (1954, Naruse Mikio) [April]
  8. Sherman’s March (1986, Ross McElwee) [April]
  9. Flowing (1956, Naruse Mikio) [May]
  10. Fat Choi Spirit (2002, Johnnie To & Wai Ka-fai) [February]
  11. Offside (2006, Jafar Panahi) [June]
  12. Desperate Living (1977, John Waters) [June]
  13. The Kindergarten Teacher (2014, Nadav Lapid) [March]
  14. El Sicario, Room 164 (2010, Gianfranco Rosi) [April]
  15. Flaming Creatures (1963, Jack Smith) [April]
  16. Sorcerer (1977, William Friedkin) [July]
  17. Late Chrysanthemums (1954, Naruse Mikio) [May]
  18. The Samurai and the Prisoner (2026, Kurosawa Kiyoshi) [July]
  19. The Lovers on the Bridge (1991, Leos Carax) [July]
  20. Down by Law (1986, Jim Jarmusch) [June]
  21. An Injury to One (2001, Travis Wilkerson) [June]
  22. The Arch (1968, Tang Shu-shuen) [May]
  23. Wife! Be Like a Rose! (1935, Naruse Mikio) [February]
  24. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978, Robert Zemeckis) [June]
  25. Arabian Nights (1974, Pier Paolo Pasolini) [February]
  26. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960, Naruse Mikio) [May]
  27. Chronovisor (2026, Jack Auen & Kevin Walker) [April]
  28. With Hasan in Gaza (2025, Kamal Aljafari) [April]
  29. Escape (2025, Adachi Masao) [June]
  30. The Great McGinty (1940, Preston Sturges) [July]
  31. All the King’s Men (1983, King Hu) [June]
  32. The Last One for the Road (2025, Francesco Sossai) [May]
  33. Two Seasons, Two Strangers (2025, Miyake Sho) [May]
  34. Attenberg (2010, Athina Rachel Tsangari) [May]
  35. I Live in Fear (1955, Kurosawa Akira) [April]
  36. The Decay of Fiction (2002, Pat O’Neill) [June]
  37. Our Land (2025, Lucrecia Martel) [April]
  38. The Last Detail (1973, Hal Ashby) [May]
  39. The French Connection (1971, William Friedkin) [June]
  40. The Saddest Music in the World (2003, Guy Maddin) [July]
  41. Wife (1953, Naruse Mikio) [June]
  42. The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993, Jeffrey Lau) [April]
  43. Night and the City (1950, Jules Dassin) [May]
  44. Lumière! The Adventure Begins (2016, Thierry Frémaux) [March]
  45. Lumière, the Adventure Continues (2024, Thierry Frémaux) [January]
  46. The King of Wuxia (2022, Lin Jing-jie) [February]
  47. Orpheus (1950, Jean Cocteau) [July]
  48. Three Sisters With Maiden Hearts (1935, Naruse Mikio) [March]
  49. War of the Worlds (2005, Steven Spielberg) [June]
  50. Disclosure Day (2026, Steven Spielberg) [June]
  51. Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain (1983, Tsui Hark) [February]
  52. Mother (1952, Naruse Mikio) [May]
  53. Event for a Stage (2015, Tacita Dean) [February]
  54. Repast (1951, Naruse Mikio) [April]
  55. Sanjuro (1962, Kurosawa Akira) [May]
  56. The Perfect Neighbor (2025, Geeta Gandbhir) [March]
  57. Jackass Number Two (2006, Jeff Tremaine) [January]
  58. Sacro GRA (2013, Gianfranco Rosi) [April]
  59. An Injury to All (2026, Travis Wilkerson) [June]
  60. Road House (1989, Rowdy Herrington) [February]
  61. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965, Russ Meyer) [March]
  62. Street Without End (1934, Naruse Mikio) [June]
  63. The Misconceived (2026, James N. Kienitz Wilkins) [July]
  64. The Hidden Fortress (1958, Kurosawa Akira) [April]
  65. Hit and Run (1966, Naruse Mikio) [April]
  66. Policeman (2011, Nadav Lapid) [March]
  67. Being There (1979, Hal Ashby) [May]
  68. Blades of the Guardians (2026, Yuen Woo-ping) [February]
  69. The Wheel of Life (1983, Omnibus) [June]
  70. Shades of Silk (1978, Mary Stephen) [April]
  71. Bouchra (2025, Orian Barki & Meriem Bennani) [July]
  72. Stray Dog (1949, Kurosawa Akira) [April]
  73. isaiah’s phone (2025, Frédéric Da) [April]
  74. Evidence (2025, Lee Anne Schmitt) [February]
  75. Madadayo (1993, Kurosawa Akira) [May]
  76. The Christophers (2025, Steven Soderbergh) [April]
  77. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2025, Matt Johnson) [February]
  78. Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) (2025, Joel Alfonso Vargas) [May]
  79. Hekla (2026, Michael Glover Smith) [June]
  80. Aces Go Places IV (1986, Ringo Lam) [May]
  81. Four Moods (1970, Omnibus) [February]
  82. Dreams (1990, Kurosawa Akira) [May]
  83. Rhapsody in August (1991, Kurosawa Akira) [May]
  84. A Useful Ghost (2025, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke) [January]
  85. The Furious (2025, Tanigaki Kenji) [May]
  86. Two Pianos (2025, Arnaud Desplechin) [May]
  87. After Dreaming (2025, Christine Haroutounian) [April]
  88. Silent Friend (2025, Enyedi Ildikó) [May]
  89. Blue Heron (2025, Sophy Romvari) [April]
  90. Erupcja (2025, Pete Ohs) [May]
  91. Weapons (2025, Zach Cregger) [March]
  92. I Love Maria (1988, David Chung) [May]
  93. I Love Boosters (2026, Boots Riley) [May]
  94. Threads (1984, Mick Jackson) [June]
  95. The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026, David Frankel) [April]
  96. The Drama (2026, Kristoffer Borgli) [April]
  97. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft (2026, James Cameron & Billie Eilish) [May]
  98. Maddie’s Secret (2025, John Early) [July]
  99. The Odyssey (2026, Christopher Nolan) [July]
  100. Project Hail Mary (2026, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller) [April]
  101. Moonstruck (1987, Norman Jewison) [July]
  102. The Invite (2026, Olivia Wilde) [June]

Old

  1. La Commune (Paris, 1871) (2000, Peter Watkins)
  2. Lightning (1952, Naruse Mikio)
  3. The Devil Is a Woman (1935, Josef von Sternberg)
  4. Scattered Clouds (1967, Naruse Mikio)
  5. Eureka (2000, Aoyama Shinji)
  6. Sound of the Mountain (1954, Naruse Mikio)
  7. Sherman’s March (1986, Ross McElwee)
  8. Flowing (1956, Naruse Mikio)
  9. Fat Choi Spirit (2002, Johnnie To & Wai Ka-fai)
  10. Offside (2006, Jafar Panahi)
  11. Desperate Living (1977, John Waters)
  12. The Kindergarten Teacher (2014, Nadav Lapid)
  13. El Sicario, Room 164 (2010, Gianfranco Rosi)
  14. Flaming Creatures (1963, Jack Smith)
  15. Sorcerer (1977, William Friedkin)
  16. Late Chrysanthemums (1954, Naruse Mikio)
  17. The Lovers on the Bridge (1991, Leos Carax)
  18. Down by Law (1986, Jim Jarmusch)
  19. An Injury to One (2001, Travis Wilkerson)
  20. The Arch (1968, Tang Shu-shuen)
  21. Wife! Be Like a Rose! (1935, Naruse Mikio)
  22. I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978, Robert Zemeckis)
  23. Arabian Nights (1974, Pier Paolo Pasolini)
  24. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960, Naruse Mikio)
  25. The Great McGinty (1940, Preston Sturges)
  26. All the King’s Men (1983, King Hu)
  27. Attenberg (2010, Athina Rachel Tsangari)
  28. I Live in Fear (1955, Kurosawa Akira)
  29. The Decay of Fiction (2002, Pat O’Neill)
  30. The Last Detail (1973, Hal Ashby)
  31. The French Connection (1971, William Friedkin)
  32. The Saddest Music in the World (2003, Guy Maddin)
  33. Wife (1953, Naruse Mikio)
  34. The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993, Jeffrey Lau)
  35. Night and the City (1950, Jules Dassin)
  36. Lumière! The Adventure Begins (2016, Thierry Frémaux)
  37. The King of Wuxia (2022, Lin Jing-jie)
  38. Orpheus (1950, Jean Cocteau)
  39. Three Sisters With Maiden Hearts (1935, Naruse Mikio)
  40. War of the Worlds (2005, Steven Spielberg)
  41. Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain (1983, Tsui Hark)
  42. Mother (1952, Naruse Mikio)
  43. Event for a Stage (2015, Tacita Dean)
  44. Repast (1951, Naruse Mikio)
  45. Sanjuro (1962, Kurosawa Akira)
  46. Jackass Number Two (2006, Jeff Tremaine)
  47. Sacro GRA (2013, Gianfranco Rosi)
  48. Road House (1989, Rowdy Herrington)
  49. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965, Russ Meyer)
  50. Street Without End (1934, Naruse Mikio)
  51. The Hidden Fortress (1958, Kurosawa Akira)
  52. Hit and Run (1966, Naruse Mikio)
  53. Policeman (2011, Nadav Lapid)
  54. Being There (1979, Hal Ashby)
  55. The Wheel of Life (1983, Omnibus)
  56. Shades of Silk (1978, Mary Stephen)
  57. Stray Dog (1949, Kurosawa Akira)
  58. Madadayo (1993, Kurosawa Akira)
  59. Aces Go Places IV (1986, Ringo Lam)
  60. Four Moods (1970, Omnibus)
  61. Dreams (1990, Kurosawa Akira)
  62. Rhapsody in August (1991, Kurosawa Akira)
  63. I Love Maria (1988, David Chung)
  64. Threads (1984, Mick Jackson)
  65. Moonstruck (1987, Norman Jewison)

New

  1. Dry Leaf (Alexandre Koberidze)
  2. The Samurai and the Prisoner (Kurosawa Kiyoshi)
  3. Chronovisor (Jack Auen & Kevin Walker)
  4. With Hasan in Gaza (Kamal Aljafari)
  5. Escape (Adachi Masao)
  6. The Last One for the Road (Francesco Sossai)
  7. Two Seasons, Two Strangers (Miyake Sho)
  8. Our Land (Lucrecia Martel)
  9. Lumière, the Adventure Continues (Thierry Frémaux)
  10. Disclosure Day (Steven Spielberg)
  11. The Perfect Neighbor (Geeta Gandbhir)
  12. An Injury to All (Travis Wilkerson)
  13. The Misconceived (James N. Kienitz Wilkins)
  14. Blades of the Guardians (Yuen Woo-ping)
  15. Bouchra (Orian Barki & Meriem Bennani)
  16. isaiah’s phone (Frédéric Da)
  17. Evidence (Lee Anne Schmitt)
  18. The Christophers (Steven Soderbergh)
  19. Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (Matt Johnson)
  20. Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) (Joel Alfonso Vargas)
  21. Hekla (Michael Glover Smith)
  22. A Useful Ghost (Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke)
  23. The Furious (Tanigaki Kenji)
  24. Two Pianos (Arnaud Desplechin)
  25. After Dreaming (Christine Haroutounian)
  26. Silent Friend (Enyedi Ildikó)
  27. Blue Heron (Sophy Romvari)
  28. Erupcja (Pete Ohs)
  29. Weapons (Zach Cregger)
  30. I Love Boosters (Boots Riley)
  31. The Devil Wears Prada 2 (David Frankel)
  32. The Drama (Kristoffer Borgli)
  33. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft (James Cameron & Billie Eilish)
  34. Maddie’s Secret (John Early)
  35. The Odyssey (Christopher Nolan)
  36. Project Hail Mary (Phil Lord & Christopher Miller)
  37. The Invite (Olivia Wilde)