Video games have overtaken film and television to become the most popular medium in the world, and one of the most anticipated and long-awaited is Grand Theft Auto 6. This iconic franchise is known for its immersive gameplay, detailed world, sense of agency, and sheer possibilities. However, GTA 6 was once again delayed from May 2026 to November 19, 2026. With over 12 years between it and its predecessor, a famous meme still rings true.
This meme pokes fun at the long wait with seemingly improbable events, movies, games, and moments that happened before GTA 6. That is why this list will join in on the fun and highlight ten movies that are coming out before the release of the new Grand Theft Auto game. Each film on this list will come out from the time of this article’s release to before GTA 6 comes out. Every movie featured will also highlight the long delay based on how unlikely they were to have come out before GTA 6.
‘Michael’ (2026)
After the release of Bohemian Rhapsody, everyone wants a new biopic about a musician, and the most anticipated one coming out in 2026 is Michael. Following the life of Michael Jackson, his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will make his acting debut portraying him.
Biopics about musicians are all the rage nowadays, with at least one major film being released every year. In 2025, it was about Bruce Springsteen, so maybe it isn’t surprising that Michael is coming out in 2026. In fact, what’s shocking is that it didn’t come out before. Regardless, a biopic about the King of Pop before GTA VI wasn’t on anyone’s prediction list, especially considering it’s been in development since 2019.
‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ (2026)
In the time between GTA V and GTA VI, Star Wars has become a prominent video game franchise, with entries such as Star Wars: Outlaws and the Star Wars: Jedi series. The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the first Star Wars film since 2019, bringing the duo’s grand tale to a conclusion in cinematic format. Their adventure has been fun, and this movie is sure to be one fun final ride.
Between the release of GTA V and GTA VI, Star Wars released an anime, revived the franchise with a new trilogy, ended the trilogy, filled in the timeline, and will release The Mandalorian and Grogu. It seems improbable that all of this happened before the new game, but it is true. After leaving the movies alone for six years, Disney is finally bringing them back, which means that fans will really get another Star Wars film before GTA VI.
‘The Odyssey’ (2026)
Christopher Nolan is a fan-favorite director with some all-time classics under his belt, but after Oppenheimer won him an Oscar, fans are even more excited about his next picture, The Odyssey. This film will adapt Homer‘s classic novel, depicting the adventures of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he fights his way through danger to return home after the ten-year-long Trojan War.
Nolan has released four movies between GTA 5 and GTA 6, but five is surely too much, right? Well, with the delay, his new film, Odyssey, is now coming out before the new game. This film makes this list simply because it is shocking that Nolan could release five films — all of them masterpieces, by the way — before Rockstar could make one game, even if the studio is ensuring everything goes well for the long-awaited sixth entry in its reigning franchise.
‘Toy Story 5’ (2026)
Pixar is one of the most iconic animation studios. Lately, it has struggled with original projects, whereas its sequels, such as Inside Out 2, have flourished. However, if there is a franchise that should stay dead, it is Toy Story, which has already ruined a perfect trilogy with a fourth film (even if it was fantastic), and is now bringing the characters back for Toy Story 5.
Fans are really getting iPad kids in Toy Story before GTA VI. The concept of iPad kids didn’t even exist when GTA V came out, making it even more miraculous that fans are getting a story such as this one before we get to play GTA again. Even though Pixar shouldn’t be making another Toy Story, it is happening, and it is coming out before the most anticipated video game in history.
‘The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’ (2026)
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest cartoons of all time, but its sequel, The Legend of Korra, never reached the same popularity. However, the franchise is returning after over a decade with the return of its first protagonist in The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender. Not much is known about the plot, but the one thing fans are sure about is the release date, and it is before GTA VI.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is an exceptional animated series, and while it didn’t need a follow-up, fans are thankful there’ll be one. As fans were eagerly awaiting GTA VI, they never expected that Avatar would return, but when the world needed him the most, he returned. The newly formed Avatar Studios is even planning multiple films and another animated series, but hopefully those won’t come out before GTA VI.
‘Scary Movie 6’ (2026)
If there were a franchise no one thought would get a revival, it would be Scary Movie, as its outdated humor and low critical scores suggest it was never a success. Either way, fans loved the series enough for them to get a new entry, Scary Movie 6, coming out in 2026. While the plot wasn’t revealed, Marlon Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall will all be reprising their roles.
Scary Movie 5, the last entry in the franchise, came out five months before GTA V, and over a decade later, Scary Movie 6 will have the exact same fate. Maybe it is destiny that a Scary Movie film always releases in the same year before the next Grand Theft Auto game, and if that is the case, they need to pump these things out more often.
‘Clayface’ (2026)
James Gunn‘s DCU is off to a hot start with the release of Superman, but he isn’t slowing down in 2026, debuting two major films: Supergirl and Clayface. The latter is the most surprising entry, considering the protagonist is a somewhat underrated Batman villain. Written by Mike Flanagan and directed by James Watkins, the film will see the titular villain struggle to adjust to a new appearance that gives him the consistency of clay.
The DCEU started with Man of Steel in 2013, before GTA V, and since then, the DCEU ended, and Gunn’s DCU started. Clayface will be the last DC before GTA VI. A new Batman or Wonder Woman movie makes sense, but it is so bizarre that a B-list Batman villain would get a movie before GTA VI. While stranger things have happened, no one would have predicted Clayface to get a feature film in the first place.
‘Street Fighter’ (2026)
Video game movies and TV shows are becoming increasingly popular, and one of the next in this trend is Street Fighter. It originally received a couple of 1990s movies, but is making a return in 2026 with an unhinged cast of comedians and wrestlers. Set in 1993, a multitude of fighters enter the ring to duke it out in the World Warrior Tournament.
More and more video game adaptations are hitting the big screen, so maybe it shouldn’t be too surprising that Street Fighter got one. Nonetheless, GTA VI should have been out by now, and the fact that the Street Fighter movie is getting released before it is wild to consider. After all, the cast was only announced earlier this year, but it is already having a quick turnaround to release in October of next year. At this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if a Street Fighter 2 movie came out before GTA 6.
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)
Avatar is the highest-grossing movie of all time, and GTA 6 could be the best-selling video game when it comes out. However, before that might happen, a second Avatar film came out, with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in the franchise, coming out in late 2025. It follows Jake (Sam Worthington) and his family as they try to escape from danger.
The first film came out around the same time as GTA IV, with the franchise returning in 2022 and now in 2025. Avatar: Fire and Ash and GTA VI probably have similar time and money put into them, which makes it shocking that the former is only coming out 3 years after its predecessor, while the latter will come out over a decade after GTA V. That may not be a fair comparison, but it is still true that it is a marvel that a third Avatar film is coming out before GTA VI.
‘The Super Mario Bros. Galaxy Movie’ (2026)
With Rockstar focusing on perfecting its video game, other gaming franchises have branched out into films, including the most iconic of all time, Mario. The first film came out in 2023, and its sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is planned for spring 2026. As the title suggests, this film will take Mario (Chris Pratt) into space, where he will likely (and hopefully) meet Rosalina.
The fact that two animated Mario films came out between the announcement and reveal for GTA VI is absurd and hilarious, proving that anything will come out before this game. One film is understandable, but a sequel is too much, not to mention it would have come out before GTA VI, even before its most recent delay. Everyone knows Rockstar is taking their time to ensure GTA VI will be perfect, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hilarious that Super Mario Galaxy is getting a film adaptation before it releases.
