10 Movies to Watch in February

      The shortest month of the year features a selection of noteworthy cinematic releases, including several films that were in contention for awards last year but are now officially premiering. Other significant titles include a contender for the funniest film of 2026, the latest creation from one of today's most prolific directors, the long-awaited comeback of a master entertainer, and much more.

      10. Scare Out (Zhang Yimou; Feb. 17)

      After directing an impressive six films between 2020 and 2024, Zhang Yimou took a breather last year but returns this month with a new spy thriller. The latest feature from the Chinese director, Scare Out, stars Jackson Yee (who was recently seen in Bi Gan’s Resurrection) alongside Zhu Yilong, Song Jia, Lei Jiayin, Yang Mi, Zhang Yi, Liu Shishi, and Liu Yaowen. With a reported global release set to commence on February 17 in China, North America, the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, and other regions, showtimes for U.S. screenings have not yet been confirmed, leaving uncertainty about whether that unusual Tuesday debut will remain, but more information is expected soon.

      9. Dreams (Michel Franco; Feb. 27)

      After Memory, Michel Franco reunites with Jessica Chastain for Dreams, regarded as one of the most accomplished films of his career, focusing on a socialite who embarks on a perilous affair with a rising ballet dancer. Savina Petkova noted in her Berlinale review, “Some images inherently reflect today’s political issues with little context required. One such shot opens Dreams, depicting a large truck abandoned near a railway: a scene of illegal border-crossing. It trembles with the cries of people trapped inside, pleading for assistance; one imagines the desperate condition of the fugitives once police pry open the back door. Amidst the chaos, one 'illegal' manages to escape: a young, sturdy man (Isaác Hernández) whose determination is signified by every step he takes on that desolate road. We do not know his identity, but he surely knows his destination, exuding a fierceness that overshadows the pain he is evidently enduring.”

      8. The President’s Cake (Hasan Hadi; Feb. 6)

      A standout feature at last year’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Hasan Hadi’s directorial debut The President’s Cake garnered the Audience Award and the Caméra d’Or in its section. Now acquired by Sony Pictures Classics, Iraq’s submission for the Oscars is set for release this month. Rory O’Connor remarked in his Cannes review, “Though Hadi is currently based in New York (serving as an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch), the film is inspired by personal experiences from that era—particularly the obligatory celebration of Hussein’s birthday, a requirement for every citizen regardless of their situation or U.S. sanctions. The film navigates this scenario with a sense of subdued humor. A small aspect involved randomly selecting names in the classroom, where the unluckiest student had to provide the cake. Failure to do so resulted in severe consequences.”

      7. Kokuho (Lee Sang-il; Feb. 6)

      An enormous success in Japan, where it has become the highest-grossing live-action film in the country’s history, Lee Sang-il’s historical drama Kokuho will be released in U.S. theaters this month following an awards-qualifying run last year. This three-hour epic, which recently received a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the Academy Awards, follows a teenager who dedicates his life to the art of kabuki theater.

      6. My Father’s Shadow (Akinola Davies Jr.; Feb. 13)

      Premiering in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, Akinola Davies Jr.’s acclaimed debut My Father’s Shadow earned a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or. Recently recognized as Breakthrough Director and Outstanding Lead Performance (for Sope Dirisu) at the Gothams, the U.K.’s Oscars selection is set for theatrical release this month. Alistair Ryder commented in his review, “Children coming to understand their parents’ perspectives for the first time is a common coming-of-age theme, but Davies Jr. navigates this notion with nuance and grace. When their father recounts the story of how he met their mother for the first time—a narrative they had never heard—it creates a masterful moment where the children realize their parents have complex lives. These understated exchanges power the movie.”

      5. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (Gore Verbinski; Feb. 13)

      In his first feature since 2017’s A Cure for Wellness, Gore Verbinski has chosen an independent route with this sci-fi time-loop eccentricity Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, which is filled with diverse ideas and plenty of enjoyment. Eric Vespe noted