Theaters flex strongest run since COVID
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The 2026 box office is off to its strongest start since the COVID-19 pandemic, raising hopes in Hollywood that theatrical moviegoing has staying power in the streaming era.
Why it matters: Success at the box office gives studios and distributors more leverage to preserve theatrical release windows, a key revenue driver for the industry.
Yes, but: Analysts caution that the box office is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic highs as streaming reshapes viewing habits.
The latest: "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" delivered the biggest domestic opening of the year, generating $191 million in North America and $373 million globally.
- The sequel now ranks among the top animated openings ever and is the second biggest debut for a video game movie, behind 2023's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."
State of play: 2026 has already seen a slew of strong performances across genres, including original titles, animation and franchises.
- "Project Hail Mary" previously held the biggest domestic opening at $81 million and has garnered $421 million globally.
- "Hoppers," Pixar's best-performing original debut since "Coco," has grossed $332 million worldwide.
- "Scream 7" has surpassed $200 million globally, becoming the franchise's highest-grossing installment.
What they're saying: "As the industry prepares for the big CinemaCon confab in Las Vegas next week, theater owners can celebrate a hot streak of sorts as the past six weeks have hit the box office jackpot," Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian says.
- "'Mario,' as they say in the parlance of video gaming, is leveling up the box office in a big way to power a solid month of April as the industry heads toward the all-important summer movie season," he adds.
The big picture: The box office recovery follows years of disruption, including the pandemic closures and the 2023 labor strikes that had halted production and delayed releases.
- The tentative agreement between studios and the Writers Guild of America announced last week has fueled optimism that Hollywood can avoid future strikes that would again disrupt the theatrical pipeline.
- Still, studio consolidation has reignited concerns over shrinking theatrical windows.
Between the lines: Family-friendly films are yielding the highest success at the box office.
- Last year's hits, like "A Minecraft Movie," "Lilo & Stitch" and "Zootopia 2," underscore how families can be reliable theatrical audiences and drive more ticket sales.
- This year, 26 PG-rated films are slated for release, up from 18 in 2024 when five of the six top movies globally were PG, analyst Scott Mendelson wrote for Puck.
What to watch: A slate of franchise hits could help sustain the momentum, including "The Mandalorian & Grogu," "The Devil Wears Prada 2," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Dune: Part Three."
