8 themes we'd love to see take shape onscreen in 2026!

With 2025 behind us and its many themes still echoing, 2026 presents a chance for cinema to sharpen its intent and bring some much-needed ideas fully into focus!

Last year offered glimpses of hope on screen, even as hyper-nationalism and hyper-masculinity continued to dominate large parts of the cinematic landscape. But with the arrival of a new year comes the promise of renewal, a chance for stories to course-correct, expand, and surprise us in ways we didn’t know we were missing. With films like Ikkis already signalling a fresher, more nuanced way of telling war stories, and a packed slate of releases lined up across theatres and streaming platforms, there’s plenty to look forward to. Yet beyond the obvious excitement surrounding big titles and familiar names, there’s also a quieter yearning taking shape, for cinema to evolve not just in scale, but in spirit. As audiences grow more emotionally aware, the hope is not just for “more” content, but for better, braver, more thoughtful storytelling. As we step into 2026, these are some themes we find ourselves wishing for. Ideas that could push Indian cinema forward, soften its edges and bring it closer to the world we aspire to live in not just actually live in!

Also Read: #BingeRewind: Films in 2025 served hope, hyper nationalism, and hard truths!

Here they are!

Nostalgia is comfort but only if it grows with us 

There’s a reason why we keep going back to old songs and familiar films. They are remembered emotions that more than anything offer comfort in a world that feels increasingly unsteady. But nostalgia also works best when it understands who we are now, in the present times. And even though it is appreciative of films to cater to that whim of the audiences, maybe the idea is how the past can be honoured without being frozen in it, something Dhurandhar’s music showed us. Because memory is not to be copied but to be carried forward. Hope we get to see more of that this year!

Can we turn the volume down on rage and violence?

We are already living in times that feel loud, fractured and emotionally exhausting. Which is why cinema doesn’t always have to mirror that chaos back at us. Action and violence aren’t the issue but the excess of it is. When every story becomes a larger-than-life battle fuelled by rage and hyper-masculinity, we lose room for quieter heroes and gentler victories. Just because something works once doesn’t mean it has to be repeated endlessly. Sometimes, restraint can be just as powerful, maybe we practice more of that this year!

The return of hopeful storytelling

If last year taught us anything through Sitaare Zameen Par or Saiyaara, it’s that there is still space for stories that lead with empathy and hope. Not every film needs to be a violent spectacle rather some just simply need to feel honest. In a time when even audiences seem unsure of what they want, perhaps the answer lies in returning to the emotional core of cinema where a simple, hopeful story can move us without trying too hard and hopefully we return to that this year!

A rom-com that understands today’s heart

Romance may have found its way back to screens but the craving for a truly good rom-com still remains as it is well understood that love today is far more complicated, awkward and constantly evolving than before. Which is precisely why it's the perfect time for a good Nora Ephron style of storytelling. Something like You’ve Got Mail, that understands that while the ways we meet may change, the confusion, longing and joy of falling in love never really do. Who knows, we might just finally get our When Harry Met Sally!

Comedy that makes us laugh not squirm

Comedy’s roughest turn last year was its slide back into insult-driven humour where women often became the punchline. And while nostalgia is being celebrated, it should be for the right reasons. The past has shown us better examples where the warmth of Hrishikesh Mukherjee or the situational brilliance of Priyadarshan existed. So maybe it’s time to go back to the past but with a clear mind to remember that comedy doesn’t need cruelty to be funny; it just needs heart so that films like Hera Pheri could return!

Horror that reflects real fear

The scariest stories aren’t always the loudest. True horror often lies in what is suggested rather than shown - in silences, shadows and unresolved truths. Western cinema in the past year understood this, using horror to mirror the anxieties of the real world. Perhaps it’s time we move beyond jump scares, exaggerated makeup as well as comedy and explore fear that lingers long after the screen goes dark!

The power of smart dark satire

One thing that feels increasingly absent in the Indian cinematic universe is a sharp satire, the kind that tells the truth without shouting it. In times when censorship burdens and direct criticism feels risky, satire becomes a quiet act of rebellion. Films that say everything without saying it outright have always held power. Maybe now is the perfect moment to bring that back so we also get our One Battle After Another!

Still waiting for our comfort sitcom

Indian television wasn’t always just about endless conflict and melodrama. There was once hope, humour and warmth in everyday storytelling. Now the expectation from TV to change is all time low, yet with streaming platforms there’s still a real chance to bring that back. A show we return to after long days, characters who feel familiar, laughter that feels easy. Surely, with the rise of the second screen viewing we’re ready for stories that feel like home again!

Which themes would you want to see in 2026? Tell us in the comments below!

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