The article previews a diverse lineup of films set to release in 2026, including adaptations of classic literature, historical dramas, sci-fi adventures, and comedies, featuring notable actors like Jessie Buckley, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and Cillian Murphy, with projects spanning from epic poetry adaptations to contemporary social issues.
The article previews 20 highly anticipated films set for release in 2026, including major franchises like Spider-Man, Star Wars, and Dune, as well as Oscar hopefuls like Hamnet, highlighting a potentially blockbuster year for cinema.
The North American box office experienced a significant decline after two successful weekends, with 'Demon Slayer' remaining the top film, while new releases like 'Him' and 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey' underperformed amid mixed reviews. Upcoming releases include Paul Thomas Anderson's new film and a Taylor Swift concert event at AMC theaters.
During a subdued Labor Day weekend, 'Weapons' led the box office with $12.8 million, while the 50th anniversary re-release of 'Jaws' earned $9.9 million, outperforming new releases like 'Caught Stealing' and 'The Roses'. Overall, the holiday weekend saw a decline in box office revenue, highlighting a slow period for movie releases.
'Weapons' leads the Labor Day weekend box office with an estimated $12-13 million, bringing its total to $135 million and nearing the domestic gross of the original 'The Conjuring.' The summer box office is expected to close around $3.6 billion, similar to last year, with 'Jaws' and other new releases also performing. Overall, the summer has been stable, with some movies like 'Freakier Friday' and 'The Roses' also contributing to the weekend's box office.
Netflix's 'Kpop Demon Hunters' surprisingly leads the North American box office with an estimated $18-20 million debut, despite being available on streaming for two months, driven by sold-out showings and fan enthusiasm. 'Weapons' remains strong with $15.6 million, while other films like 'Freakier Friday' and 'Honey Don't!' show varied performances amid a slow summer weekend. Overall, the box office is slightly ahead of last year but still below pre-pandemic levels, with summer revenues falling short of $4 billion.
Warner Bros. Discovery's film studios saw a significant boost in Q2, with box office hits like 'F1' and upcoming releases like 'Superman' helping to increase revenue and EBITDA, as the company aims to rebuild its film division and leverage its franchise library.
The article discusses the box office performance of 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' in its second weekend, projecting a decline to around $45-$52 million, and highlights upcoming releases like 'Naked Gun' and 'Together,' which are expected to perform well, alongside the family film 'The Bad Guys 2.' Overall, the summer box office is slightly ahead of last year but still below pre-pandemic levels, with a diverse lineup of films expected to boost revenues.
Disney's "Moana 2" is expected to lead a strong Thanksgiving box office, potentially making it the best since the pandemic, with projections of $120-$150 million in the U.S. and Canada. It will be joined by "Wicked" and "Gladiator II," contributing to an anticipated $200 million-plus in ticket sales over the five-day holiday period. This could mark one of the highest-grossing Thanksgiving weekends in history, highlighting a significant recovery for the film industry post-pandemic.
Wicked and Gladiator II revitalized the box office with a combined $270 million in global ticket sales, marking one of the busiest movie weekends of the year. Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, led with $114 million domestically, setting a record for a Broadway musical adaptation. Gladiator II, featuring Denzel Washington, earned $55.5 million domestically and performed well internationally. Despite the marketing blitzes, the cultural impact was less than last year's Barbenheimer phenomenon. The success of these films signals a potential resurgence in theater attendance.
The Thanksgiving weekend box office saw strong performances from "Wicked" and "Gladiator II," with "Wicked" opening to $114 million domestically and "Gladiator II" earning $55.5 million. Globally, the films have grossed $164.2 million and $221 million, respectively. "Wicked," based on the Broadway musical, features a high-profile cast and is the first of two planned films. "Gladiator II," directed by Ridley Scott, marks a significant opening for Denzel Washington and continues the story from the original film.
"Wicked" is set to achieve the third-biggest opening of 2024 with a projected $117 million, trailing only "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Inside Out 2." Meanwhile, "Gladiator II" debuts with $60 million, marking the best opening for director Ridley Scott. "Wicked," benefiting from early screenings and a strong marketing campaign, is expected to perform well despite upcoming competition from "Moana 2." "Gladiator II," with a $250 million budget, is also performing well internationally. Other releases include "Bonhoeffer," which is expected to earn $4.4 million.
The simultaneous release of 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' attempts to replicate the 'Barbenheimer' phenomenon but falls short due to lackluster films and an awkward portmanteau, 'Glicked.' 'Wicked,' a $145 million adaptation of the Broadway musical, only covers the first act, ending with a 'To Be Continued' card, while 'Gladiator II' offers a sillier take on its predecessor with Denzel Washington's standout performance. Despite strong advance sales, neither film matches the cultural impact of 'Barbenheimer.'
"Venom: The Last Dance" continues to lead the box office for the third consecutive week, earning $16.2 million, despite a lackluster domestic performance. New releases "Heretic" and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" debuted with $11 million and $8.9 million, respectively. "Heretic," starring Hugh Grant, received mixed audience reviews but is expected to be profitable due to its low budget. Overall, box office sales remain sluggish, but upcoming major releases are anticipated to boost theater attendance.
"Despicable Me 4" continues to dominate the North American box office, adding $44.7 million in its second week. The horror film "Longlegs" had a strong debut, earning $22.6 million and outperforming the $100 million romantic comedy "Fly Me to the Moon," which made $10 million. "Longlegs" achieved the best opening for indie distributor Neon and an R-rated film this year. Other notable releases include "Inside Out 2" and "A Quiet Place: Day One." The box office is down 16.1% from last year but showing signs of recovery.