MMFF 2026 Official Entries: Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto Team Up in The Greatest Showdown
Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto's long-awaited first movie together, The Greatest Showdown, headlines the first four official entries to this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
The MMFF Selection Committee unveiled the first batch of films that will make up this year’s coveted Magic 8 during its announcement on Tuesday, July 7.
From laugh-out-loud comedy and spine-tingling horror to fantasy adventures and touching family drama, the early lineup promises something for everyone—making this year’s Christmas movie tradition one families can already start getting excited about.
The Greatest Showdown
One of the biggest highlights of the announcement is The Greatest Showdown, the first-ever big-screen collaboration between comedy icons Vic Sotto and Vice Ganda.
Directed by Jun Robles Lana, who previously worked with Vice on the MMFF hits And The Breadwinner Is and Call Me Mother, the film is already shaping up to be one of the festival’s biggest crowd-pullers.
Vice and Vic also appeared during the launch, delighting fans as they playfully promoted their much-anticipated movie in the signature style of their respective TV shows.
Haunted Carnival
If your family enjoys a good horror movie during the holidays, Haunted Carnival is one to watch.
Produced by Regal Entertainment, the film stars Maricel Soriano, John Arcilla, James Reid, Julia Barretto, and Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 winner Fyang Smith. Joey de Guzman directs it.
Amir
GMA Pictures joins this year’s MMFF with Amir, a fantasy drama led by Dennis Trillo, Glaiza de Castro, Will Ashley, and Argus Aspiras.
Dennis and Argus play a father-and-son duo, with the story centering on family, love, and sacrifice.
The film is directed by Zig Dulay, whose previous MMFF entries, Firefly and Green Bones, were praised for their heartfelt storytelling.
2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7
Also making it into the first batch is 2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7, the sequel to the 2019 Filipino adaptation of the beloved Korean film.
Aga Muhlach returns to reprise his role, while Nuel Naval directs the sequel.
Three Cities to Host the 2026 MMFF
The MMFF also announced that this year’s 52nd edition will have three host cities.
Mandaluyong and San Juan will jointly host the Metro Manila festivities, while Bacolod will host the festival’s events in the Visayas.
The Parade of Stars is set for December 11 in Bacolod and December 18 in Mandaluyong and San Juan.
During the announcement, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora shared that his team is already coordinating with Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos and the Bacolod local government to finalize the parade routes and festival activities.
Moviegoers can also expect a standard ticket price of ₱299 for all MMFF entries.
The remaining four films that will complete this year’s Magic 8 are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Parents, excited na kayo sa first line-up ng MMFF 2026?
Frequently Asked Questions
The first four official entries are The Greatest Showdown, Haunted Carnival, Amir, and 2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7.
MMFF organizers announced a standard ticket price of ₱299 for all official festival entries.
The Metro Manila Film Festival will feature eight official entries, collectively known as the Magic 8.
Related Stories
The Loyalty Game explores the world of loyalty checkers.
Here's your playlist before seeing On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan
These Filipino girl groups are inspiring a new generation of young fans through music, confidence, and self-expression
Bituin Escalante shares how the play’s themes of sacrifice, migration, and finding home mirror the experiences of many Filipino parents