The 22 Films Competing at Cannes 2026, Ranked
By
Justin Chang
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
A review and ranking of the 22 films in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, noting that this year's lineup was a disappointment compared to the exceptionally strong 2025 festival. Despite the overall weaker selection, the article highlights several standout films among the contenders for the Palme d'Or.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe extraordinary strength of that lineup seems even more pronounced following the conclusion of a 2026 festival that, by consensus and by comparison, was a bit of a disappointment—not without its good and even great films
It wasn't a banner year for the world's most important film festival, but there were gems among the twenty-two films contending for the Palme d'Or
Last year's Cannes Film Festival competition was the strongest in recent memory. I remember it, perhaps a touch rosily, as an almost ceaseless parade of triumphs
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