Adam Scott, Keke Palmer, Samara Weaving, and other popular stars are showcasing new films in Austin.
The 2026 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival begins today, launching a week-long event packed with tech, film, music, and more. Navigating SXSW’s extensive lineup of screenings, sessions, and performances can be overwhelming. Our Entertainment team has sifted through the film lineup to highlight the most promising ones from the festival.
Whether you’re looking for star-studded headliners, wild midnight movies, bold documentaries, or captivating indie films, we’ve got something for you. Stay tuned to Mashable for reviews, tech reports, interviews, and social media updates on everything SXSW. Let’s start with 17 movies you need to know about now.
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**I Love Boosters**
After the critical acclaim of “Sorry to Bother You” and “I’m A Virgo,” rapper/filmmaker Boots Riley is back with “I Love Boosters,” opening SXSW.
What’s a booster? As the teaser explains, it’s “someone who steals clothes from a store and sells them at a discount.” The boosters (Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Taylour Paige) view themselves as stylish philanthropists. But to one target, a wealthy designer played by Demi Moore, they are “low-class urban bitches.” The challenge is set, and we’re eager to see how this unfolds.
**Starring:** Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza Gonzalez, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore.
**How to watch:** “I Love Boosters” premieres in theaters on May 22 following its SXSW debut.
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**The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist**
Does AI scare or inspire you? Either way, “The AI Doc” is essential viewing.
Filmmaker Daniel Roher, about to become a father for the first time, became intrigued by the potential impact of AI on his child’s future. He explores this by interviewing various AI critics and proponents in “The AI Doc,” pondering AI’s implications for humanity’s future. From utopia to apocalypse, the answers vary. How can the average person make sense of what’s ahead?
**Starring:** Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei, Emily M. Bender, Yoshua Bengio, Liv Boeree, Ajeya Cotra, Peter Diamandis, Randima Fernando, Timnit Gebru, Karen Hao, Yuval Noah Harari, David Evan Harris, Tristan Harris, Dan Hendrycks, Reid Hoffman, and Daniel Kokotajlo.
**How to watch:** Following its Texas premiere at SXSW, “The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist” opens in theaters on March 27.
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**Anima**
Looking for an AI story with less stress? Check out Brian Tetsuro Ivie’s “Anima.” While the plot suggests a “Black Mirror” vibe, the film’s tone is more poetic and serene, yet thought-provoking.
Sydney Chandler stars as Beck, an engineer good with computers but bad with people. She takes an entry-level job at a company promising to copy consciousness into a computer, but agrees to drive an ultra-rich client to his “final appointment.” A road trip movie where two strangers connect deeply, this is a tale of AI and the human spirit’s strength and vulnerability.
**Starring:** Sydney Chandler, Takehiro Hira, Marin Ireland, Lili Taylor, Maria Dizzia, Tom McCarthy, Emil Wakim, and Maximilian Lee Piazza.
**How to watch:** Following its Texas premiere at SXSW, the theatrical release date for “Anima” is currently unknown.
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**Never After Dark**
Written and directed by Dave Boyle, this haunted house story features two sisters who can communicate with ghosts and travel Japan helping the dead pass on. The twist? One sister is a ghost, visible only in reflections. Even combined powers might not be enough for their latest challenge—a ghost-haunted hotel.
**Starring:** Moeka Hoshi, Kento Kaku, Kurumi Inagaki, Mutsuo Yoshioka, Bokuzo Masana, and Tae Kimura.
**How to watch:** After its SXSW premiere, the release date for “Never After Dark” is unknown.
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**Edie Arnold is a Loser**
Written by Megan Rico and co-directed by Rico and Kade Atwood, “Edie Arnold is a Loser” is a coming-of-age tale for quirky girls. And thank heavens for it.
Set in a Catholic school, teenager Edie Arnold accidentally takes the stage at a punk concert, setting off a journey of forming her own band and diving into teenage angst and rebellion.
**Starring:** Adi Madden Cabr