5 Must-See Alicia Vikander Films That Will Define Her Career Through 2026

Alicia Vikander continues to solidify her status as one of Hollywood's most versatile and in-demand actresses, with an impressive pipeline of projects set to redefine her career over the next two years. As of December 2025, the Oscar-winning Swedish actress is pivoting between high-stakes Korean thrillers, intimate sci-fi dramas, and complex period pieces, ensuring her filmography remains as diverse as her talent.

From her breakthrough as the mesmerizing AI in Ex Machina to her powerful, Academy Award-winning performance in The Danish Girl, Vikander has consistently chosen roles that challenge both her and the audience. Her upcoming slate, featuring collaborations with major directors and co-stars like Michael Fassbender and Elizabeth Olsen, promises to deliver the same level of compelling, must-watch cinema, making her one of the most exciting performers to follow in 2025 and 2026.

Alicia Vikander: Full Biography and Career Milestones

Alicia Amanda Vikander is a Swedish actress and producer whose career trajectory is marked by critical acclaim and a swift transition from European cinema to global stardom. She is celebrated for her chameleon-like ability to inhabit diverse characters, from historical figures to futuristic androids.

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• Full Name: Alicia Amanda Vikander
• Born: October 3, 1988
• Birthplace: Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden
• Nationality: Swedish
• Early Career: Trained as a ballet dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm.
• Feature Film Debut: Pure (2010), for which she won the Guldbagge Award for Best Actress.
• Breakthrough Role: Kitty in the 2012 film adaptation of Anna Karenina and Queen Caroline Mathilde in the Danish film A Royal Affair.
• Major Awards:
  • Academy Award (Oscar): Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gerda Wegener in The Danish Girl (2016).
  • Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG): Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for The Danish Girl.
  • Critics' Choice Movie Award: Best Supporting Actress for The Danish Girl.
• Notable Roles: Ava in the sci-fi thriller Ex Machina, Lara Croft in the action-adventure film Tomb Raider, and Isabel Sherbourne in the romantic drama The Light Between Oceans.
• Personal Life: Married to actor Michael Fassbender, with whom she shares an upcoming project.

The Most Anticipated Alicia Vikander Films: 2025 and Beyond

Vikander's upcoming film slate is a testament to her global reach and commitment to challenging material. Her choice of projects—spanning Korean thrillers, psychological dramas, and historical epics—demonstrates a clear intention to work with the world's most innovative directors and co-stars.

1. Hope (2026): The Korean Thriller Reunion

One of the most highly anticipated films on her horizon is the Korean thriller, Hope, directed by Na Hong-jin, known for the critically acclaimed horror film The Wailing. This project marks a significant international collaboration and a reunion with her husband, Michael Fassbender, who is also set to star. The film, which has an anticipated summer 2026 release, is generating significant buzz for its star-studded international cast, which also includes Hoyeon. The plot details are tightly guarded, but given Na Hong-jin's previous work, audiences can expect a dark, intense, and atmospheric cinematic experience.

2. The Last Day (2025): A Near-Future Drama

Set to release in 2025, The Last Day is an upcoming American drama film written and directed by Rachel Rose. Vikander leads the cast alongside Victoria Pedretti and Wagner Moura, in a film that is expected to explore complex emotional and societal themes. While specific plot details are scarce, the title suggests a high-stakes narrative, potentially touching upon existential or apocalyptic themes, a departure from her recent period drama work in Firebrand.

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3. The Assessment (2025): The Psychological Sci-Fi

A film that has already generated significant interest is the psychological drama The Assessment, which co-stars Elizabeth Olsen. The movie, which has been described as a sci-fi drama, focuses on a world where a woman is hired to assess the emotional and psychological readiness of a couple to become parents. Vikander’s role is central to this intense, character-driven story, which is now streaming on platforms like Hulu-Disney+ in some regions, confirming its status as one of her most recent and accessible projects.

4. Origin of Species (TBA): The Survival Epic

Also listed among her upcoming film credits is Origin of Species, a project shrouded in mystery with a release date still to be determined (TBA). This title hints at a story focused on evolution, nature, or a primal survival scenario, a genre that would allow the Swedish actress to showcase her physical and emotional intensity, much like her work as the action-adventure icon Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. The film is expected to further diversify her portfolio away from the historical drama genre.

5. The Wizard of the Kremlin (Upcoming): Political Intrigue

Another high-profile project mentioned in her upcoming slate is The Wizard of the Kremlin, which will be directed by the acclaimed French filmmaker Olivier Assayas. Assayas is known for his sophisticated and often politically charged works, suggesting this will be a complex film dealing with modern geopolitics or power structures. The involvement of such a notable auteur indicates Vikander's continued commitment to prestige, international cinema, a hallmark of her career since her early roles in films like A Royal Affair and Testament of Youth.

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From Period Drama to Sci-Fi: Vikander's Career Versatility

Vikander's success lies in her refusal to be pigeonholed. Her filmography is a masterclass in genre-hopping, a trait that makes her upcoming projects so exciting. Before her current slate of thrillers and sci-fi, she was critically lauded for her work in various genres, demonstrating incredible range.

Her role as Gerda Wegener in the romantic drama The Danish Girl earned her the highest accolades in Hollywood, including the coveted Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This performance, alongside Eddie Redmayne, showcased her ability to convey deep emotional complexity and historical nuance.

In stark contrast, her portrayal of the sophisticated artificial intelligence Ava in Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller Ex Machina remains one of her most iconic roles. The film cemented her as a formidable presence in the sci-fi genre, blending cold, calculated movements with subtle, unsettling humanity. This role is often cited by fans as one of the best sci-fi performances of the decade.

Furthermore, her turn as Lara Croft in the 2018 action-adventure reboot of Tomb Raider proved her capability to lead a major franchise film. While a sequel, Tomb Raider 2, has been listed with a TBA status, Vikander herself has expressed sadness that the sequel has not yet materialized, leaving fans hoping for her return as the iconic video game character.

Vikander’s recent work, such as the period drama Firebrand, where she co-starred with Jude Law, continues to prove her dedication to challenging, high-quality cinema. Whether she is playing a historical queen or a near-future assessor, the common thread is her intense commitment to the character, making every film she stars in a must-watch event. Her upcoming slate of films, including Hope and The Last Day, ensures that her reign as a leading international film star will continue well into 2026 and beyond.