Honestly, it feels like we just got Dave Franco back. After years of being "James Franco’s younger brother" or the guy from 21 Jump Street, he finally carved out this weird, cool niche as a director and a high-stakes indie actor. Then 2025 happened. It was a massive year for him. He was everywhere, from body horror to blockbusters. And then, at the height of it all, he told everyone he was going to "climb into a hole."
He wasn’t kidding.
If you’re looking for dave franco movies new or wondering where he went, you’ve hit a strange transition point in his career. He literally just wrapped a press tour for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (the third one, though he calls it Now You 3 Me) and basically announced a sabbatical. But before he vanished into the "middle of nowhere," he left us with a stack of projects that show he’s finally done with the generic "frat boy" roles of the 2010s.
The 2025 Blitz: From Magic to Body Horror
Most people still think of Dave as the fast-talking card thrower Jack Wilder. In November 2025, he returned to that world in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. It had been nearly a decade. The movie actually addresses the time jump, showing Jack at a "low point" as a corporate magician before the Four Horsemen reunite to take down a criminal network played by Rosamund Pike. It’s the kind of big, fun popcorn flick we expect from him.
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But the real talk of 2025 wasn't the magic. It was Together.
If you haven't seen it yet, prepare to be deeply uncomfortable. It’s a supernatural body horror movie directed by Michael Shanks, starring Dave and his wife, Alison Brie. They play a couple whose relationship literally... well, fuses. It premiered at Sundance and ended up with a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. By January 2026, it hit No. 1 on Hulu. It’s gross, it’s heartbreaking, and it proves that Dave and Alison are basically the power couple of "keeping it weird" in Hollywood.
What else came out recently?
- Regretting You (2025): He starred alongside Mckenna Grace in this Colleen Hoover adaptation. It was a pivot into "sensitive dad/partner" territory that actually worked.
- The Studio (2025): He popped up in this Apple TV+ series and even bagged an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor.
- Love Lies Bleeding (2024): We can’t forget his turn as the sleazy, long-haired JJ. It was a masterclass in being absolutely hatable.
What’s Coming in 2026?
Even though he says he's taking a break, the pipeline is still moving. You can't just stop a Hollywood career mid-stream. There are a few projects sitting in post-production that will likely be the last "new" Dave Franco content we get for a while.
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The Shitheads
This one sounds like classic Franco energy. He’s starring with Mason Thames (who he also worked with in Regretting You). They play two guys who are essentially hired to transport a teenage millionaire to rehab. It’s been in the works for a minute, and after a Sundance premiere in early 2026, it’s expected to hit theaters or a major streamer later this year.
Hoppers (Pixar)
This is a big one. Pixar’s 30th feature film, Hoppers, is scheduled for 2026. Dave is voicing a character named Titus. It’s a body-swap comedy about a girl who puts her mind into a robotic beaver to infiltrate the animal kingdom. It sounds insane, but with a cast including Jon Hamm and Meryl Streep, it’s going to be huge.
Why the "Climb into a Hole" Strategy?
It sounds dramatic, right? But looking at his 2025 schedule, it makes sense. He had four movies and a TV show drop in twelve months. He told People magazine at the Now You See Me 3 premiere that he’s convinced "people are sick of me."
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He’s not just resting, though. Dave has become a serious filmmaker. He directed The Rental and Somebody I Used to Know, and he’s been producing almost everything he stars in lately. This "disappearing act" is likely a shift toward more behind-the-scenes work. He’s expressed that he wants to master the craft of directing, and that takes time away from the red carpets.
How to Catch Up on the Newest Releases
If you're trying to stay current, here is the breakdown of how to watch his latest work right now:
- Now You See Me: Now You Don't: Heading to 4K UHD and Blu-ray on February 17, 2026. You can rent it on digital platforms like Amazon and iTunes right now.
- Together: Currently streaming on Hulu. It's the "it" horror movie of the moment.
- Regretting You: Available on digital. The home release actually has 20 minutes of extra footage, including some interesting behind-the-scenes stuff with Dave and the director Josh Boone.
- Love Lies Bleeding: This is on Max (formerly HBO Max). It’s a must-watch if you want to see his range.
Is This the End of the "Four Horsemen"?
Fans are already asking about Now You See Me 4. While the third movie performed well at the box office, Dave’s comments about wanting to do them "forever" are balanced by his need for a break. The third film introduced a "new generation" of magicians (Justice Smith, Ariana Greenblatt), which suggests the franchise might continue even if the original cast takes a backseat.
For now, the era of "dave franco movies new" is moving from the screen to the archives. He’s left us with enough variety—from Pixar beavers to body horror—to last until he decides to crawl out of that hole.
Your Next Steps to Stay Updated:
- Check Hulu for Together if you have the stomach for high-concept horror.
- Pre-order the Now You See Me 3 Blu-ray (releasing Feb 17) to see the "Nothing Up My Sleeve" featurette where Dave shows how they did the real on-camera illusions.
- Keep an eye on Pixar's 2026 schedule for the Hoppers release date, as it will likely be his biggest commercial project of the year.