Jamie Lee Curtis is having a weird year. Honestly, if you follow her career, you know she doesn't really do "predictable" anymore. After winning an Oscar for throwing hot dogs as fingers and fighting a multiverse, she’s shifted into this space where she’s basically the cool aunt of Hollywood who can do whatever she wants. But the rollout of the most recent Jamie Lee Curtis new movie, Ella McCay, has been a bit of a rollercoaster for fans and critics alike.
It's out. Sorta.
The film actually hit theaters right at the tail end of December 2025, but the conversation around it is only just peaking now as we move into early 2026. If you went to the theater expecting Halloween or even the slapstick energy of Everything Everywhere All At Once, you probably walked out feeling a little confused. This isn't a scream-queen moment. It’s a James L. Brooks project, which means it’s talky, messy, and very, very human.
The Ella McCay Situation: Why It’s Not What You Think
People keep asking where they can see the Jamie Lee Curtis new movie, and the answer is a little complicated depending on where you live. While it premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in early December, the theatrical run was... well, it was rough.
Disney actually pulled the film from its scheduled January 2026 release in France, and the box office numbers haven't exactly been record-breaking. We’re talking about a $35 million budget with a roughly $5 million return so far. That sounds like a disaster, right? On paper, maybe. But if you actually watch the film, Jamie’s performance as Helen McCay—the aunt to Emma Mackey’s lead character—is being cited as one of the few bright spots in a movie that critics have otherwise been a bit cold toward.
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She plays a woman navigating the fallout of her brother's (Woody Harrelson) infidelity while trying to keep a chaotic political family from imploding. It's grounded. It’s gritty. It’s definitely not a blockbuster.
Beyond the Box Office: The "Freakier" Future
If Ella McCay felt a bit too "serious indie" for your taste, don't worry. The real hype is building for what’s coming later this year.
We have to talk about Freakier Friday. This is the project everyone is actually tracking when they search for a Jamie Lee Curtis new movie. We’ve been waiting since 2003 to see Tess Coleman back in action, and the sequel is officially locked for an August 8, 2025/2026 cycle release.
Here is what we know about the plot of the sequel:
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- Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) are back, but the "swap" isn't just between them this time.
- It's multigenerational. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter.
- The movie explores what happens when two families merge and the "lightning strikes twice" trope gets a modern update.
The production wrapped in California, and Jamie has been all over social media posting behind-the-scenes shots with Lindsay. It feels like a genuine passion project rather than a cash grab. You can tell they actually like each other.
Coming Soon: The Move to Streaming and Psychological Horror
Jamie isn't just sticking to the big screen. In fact, her most anticipated "new" project for 2026 isn't actually a movie you'll find in a multiplex. It’s Scarpetta.
This is a massive eight-episode series for Amazon Prime Video, scheduled to drop on March 11, 2026. She’s starring alongside Nicole Kidman. They play estranged sisters, Dorothy and Kay Scarpetta. If you’ve read the Patricia Cornwell novels, you know Dorothy is a "complicated" character, to put it mildly. Seeing Jamie Lee Curtis go head-to-head with Kidman in a high-stakes crime thriller is basically catnip for anyone who loves prestige TV.
Then there is Sender.
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This one is a bit of a "hush-hush" project that horror fans are obsessing over. Jamie is producing and starring in this psychological horror film through her Comet Pictures label. It’s the directorial debut of Russell Goldman, based on his short film Return to Sender. Britt Lower from Severance is in the lead, but Jamie’s involvement suggests we’re getting a return to her darker, more atmospheric roots. No jump scares here—just the kind of "get under your skin" dread she’s perfected over four decades.
Why the Recent Reviews Are Mixed
Let's be real: Ella McCay got some pretty negative reviews. Critics called it "embarrassing" and "out of touch." But there's a nuance here that gets lost in the headlines.
James L. Brooks (the guy who did Terms of Endearment and As Good as It Gets) writes in a very specific, old-school way. It’s dense. It’s 115 minutes of people talking about their feelings in Rhode Island. In 2026, that’s a hard sell for a general audience. However, Jamie Lee Curtis has reached a point where she doesn't need "Fresh" ratings on Rotten Tomatoes to validate her choices. She’s choosing roles based on the people she wants to work with.
How to Keep Up With Her 2026 Schedule
If you're trying to figure out when to watch her, here is the basic roadmap for the next few months.
- Check Local Listings for Ella McCay: It’s still floating around some independent theaters and will likely hit Disney+ or Hulu by the spring.
- Mark March 11 for Scarpetta: This is the big one. If you have Prime Video, this is her major 2026 debut.
- Watch for the Freakier Friday Trailer: With an August release date, expect the heavy marketing push to start around April or May.
Honestly, the best way to experience Jamie Lee Curtis right now is to embrace the variety. One week she’s a grieving aunt in a political drama, the next she’s a forensic pathologist’s sister, and by the summer, she’ll be swapping bodies with a teenager again.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by catching up on The Last Showgirl (2024) if you haven't seen it yet. Jamie plays Annette, an aging Vegas showgirl, and it’s arguably some of the best acting she’s ever done. It provides a great context for why she’s choosing these more character-driven roles in 2026. Once you've done that, set a calendar alert for the Scarpetta premiere on March 11—it's going to be the water-cooler show of the spring.