From Vic-Vice to Julia-James: Here’s Everything We Know So Far About the First 4 MMFF Entries
Watch out for these first-time pairings.
The race to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival is officially on.
With never-before-seen pairings—like long-time comedy rivals Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto and the once controversial Julia Barretto-James Reid tandem—the MMFF 2026 roster is already shaping up to be one of its most talked-about and anticipated editions.
On July 7, the first four official entries, picked from 26 submissions, were unveiled. From horror to drama and comedy, a diverse slate of movies is sure to light up cinemas soon, with the hopes of “enticing more moviegoers to see Filipino films.”
Here’s a breakdown of the films and what to expect from the initial lineup, based on everything we know so far.
2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7
First on the list is Aga Muhlach’s big-screen comeback in 2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7, the sequel to the top-grossing Filipino remake of the hit South Korean comedy-drama movie. The veteran actor will be reprising his role as Lito, a mentally challenged single father who was framed and imprisoned for the murder of a little girl.
However, fans are wondering how a second film is even possible when—spoiler alert—Muhlach’s character, whose portrayal as a loving father to his 7-year-old daughter Yesha stood in stark contrast to the crime he was accused of, was executed in the first movie despite his fellow inmates’ efforts to prove his innocence. The 2019 film concluded with a time jump that saw an adult Yesha (Bela Padilla) become a lawyer determined to reopen her father’s case and clear his name. According to an interview with screenwriter Mel Mendoza-del Rosario, 2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7 will be a mix of a prequel and a sequel to the story.
The upcoming MMFF entry brought by VIVA Films is seen to unfold across different timelines, with Muhlach taking audiences back to Lito’s story before his death, while picking up where the first installment left off.
Amir
Another seasoned actor set to grace cinemas once again is Dennis Trillo. Reuniting with filmmaker Zig Dulay—with whom he worked on the acclaimed movie, Green Bones, in 2024—the duo is bringing GMA Pictures’ Amir to life.
The fantasy-drama film follows the titular young boy (Argus Aspiras) who possesses an extraordinary, supernatural gift. As described in one of its teasers: “He sees a little more magic than the rest of us.” Together with his father, portrayed by Trillo, Amir is thrust into a fight for survival against an encroaching darkness that threatens their village.
With Amir, fans can look forward to seeing the award-winning actor return to the kind of emotionally rich, character-driven roles that have defined some of his most celebrated performances.
Haunted Carnival
A spine-chilling Christmas adventure awaits horror buffs as Haunted Carnival joins this year’s MMFF roster. Adding to the thrill is the first-ever on-screen pairing of Julia Barretto and James Reid. Dubbed “JulReid” by some fans, the two were once at the center of dating rumors after they were reportedly spotted together years ago, though both consistently denied the speculations. Despite eventually parting ways with their love teams, they are known to have never shared the screen together, making this project a long-awaited collaboration, especially for fans who had been quietly rooting for their team-up.
Helmed by major horror producer Regal Films, Haunted Carnival will revolve around a group of amateur ghost hunters who venture into a mysterious 1980s era carnival.
Apart from Reid and Barretto, Fyang Smith, John Arcilla, Maricel Soriano, and more are confirmed to star in the film.
The Greatest Showdown
What happens when you put two box office rivals together on one screen? The Greatest Showdown.
Record-breaking comedy stars Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto will be joining forces for the first time in a movie that pokes fun at their real life “rivalry.” The Greatest Showdown tells the story of two sworn enemies, Queenie (Vice Ganda) and Kingston (Vic Sotto), who go out of their way to get the upper hand and sabotage each other. Directed by And The Breadwinner Is… and Call Me Mother’s Jun Robles Lana, the movie is expected to take audiences to yet another chaotically hilarious ride.
After all, is it really MMFF without a comedy entry — or, better yet, without Vice and Vic?
December 25th is already looking a whole lot more jam-packed with these four films. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.