It is a weirdly specific type of thrill, isn't it? Watching Toni Collette just... lose it. Whether she's screaming at a dinner table or vibrating with repressed suburban rage, she has this way of making you feel like your own life is somehow also at stake.
Honestly, it feels like we’ve been waiting forever for her next big swing. But 2026 is looking like the year the dam finally breaks. If you've been tracking the "new Toni Collette movie" trail, you know the crumbs have been scattered across different genres, from high-concept sci-fi to messy Christmas dramas.
The big one on everyone's radar right now is Mickey 17.
Directed by Bong Joon Ho—yeah, the Parasite mastermind—this thing has been delayed more times than a budget airline flight. But it's finally here. Collette isn't playing the "supportive mom" or the "grieving widow" this time. She’s diving into a futuristic, satirical nightmare alongside Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo.
Mickey 17: Why This Isn't Your Average Sci-Fi
Basically, the plot involves "expendables." These are clones sent to colonize an ice world called Niflheim. When one dies, a new one is printed with most of its memories intact. Pattinson plays Mickey, but Collette’s role is where the real texture comes in.
She plays Gwen, a character who, from early reports, seems to be a high-ranking, arguably terrifying authority figure within the mission. Working with Bong Joon Ho is a specific kind of chaos. Collette recently mentioned in an interview with Collider that the set was "quite jarring" but also surprisingly easygoing.
She's an actress who thrives on precision. Bong is a director who draws every single frame before he even touches a camera. It’s a match made in cinematic heaven, or at least in a very high-budget, very cold version of it.
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The movie is finally hitting theaters in early 2025/2026 windows after significant post-production work. It’s not just a space movie; it’s a commentary on labor and the value of a human life. Or, you know, several lives.
Beyond the Ice World: The Variety of Roles
If sci-fi feels a bit too "cold" for your taste, Collette has been busy elsewhere. We just saw the release of Goodbye June in December 2025.
This one was special. It was Kate Winslet’s directorial debut.
Can you imagine being on that set? Winslet directing Collette? The sheer amount of acting talent in that room probably made the air crackle. Collette plays one of the adult children in a messy, dysfunctional family gathering around a dying matriarch (played by the legend Helen Mirren).
The Guardian called Collette’s character a "flighty hippy," which is exactly the kind of energy we need from her after the intensity of projects like Hereditary or The Staircase.
The Survival Thriller: Hot Mother
This is the project that has the "Film Twitter" crowd hyperventilating. Collette is set to star in Hot Mother alongside Milly Alcock.
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For those who don't know, Milly Alcock was the standout in House of the Dragon.
The producers behind this are the same ones who did Anora and Snowtown. That tells you everything you need to know about the tone. It’s going to be gritty. It’s going to be uncomfortable.
The premise? A survival thriller.
Collette and Alcock play a mother-daughter duo on a vacation in France that goes sideways in the worst way possible. It’s being pitched as a high-tension, psychological breakdown in the wilderness. It’s basically the "Toni Collette Special."
Why Collette’s Career Shift Matters Now
She isn’t just acting anymore. That’s the real news.
Through her production company, Vocab Films, she’s actively moving into the director’s chair. She has been developing an adaptation of Lily King’s novel Writers and Lovers.
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This is a huge pivot.
The story is about a woman in 1990s Boston struggling with grief and the pressures of being a creative. Collette isn't just starring; she’s directing. She told Screen Daily that the dual role is actually easier because "it’s one less person you have to communicate with."
Typical Toni.
What You Should Watch First
If you're trying to keep up with the "new Toni Collette movie" cycle, here is how you should prioritize your watch list:
- Mickey 17: Go for the spectacle and the Bong Joon Ho weirdness.
- Goodbye June: Watch this if you want to cry and see some of the best acting of the decade.
- Under the Stars: This is her romantic comedy turn with Andy Garcia. It’s lighter, set in Italy, and released late in 2025. It’s basically a palate cleanser.
We often pigeonhole her into horror because of that one scene with the ceiling and the piano wire (you know the one). But her 2026 slate proves she’s tired of the box. She’s doing satire, she’s doing rom-coms, and she’s finally taking the reins as a filmmaker herself.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
To stay ahead of the curve on these releases, you should keep an eye on the A24 and Warner Bros. release calendars for 2026.
Check your local listings for Mickey 17 showtimes specifically, as the theatrical window is expected to be exclusive before it hits Max.
If you're interested in her directorial work, look for Writers and Lovers on the 2026 festival circuit—likely TIFF or Sundance—as that will be the first place her new voice as a director is truly heard.