Hollywood is gearing up for what could be one of the biggest moviegoing seasons in history this summer. From now until Labour Day, audiences will be treated to a plethora of superheroes, sequels, and big-budget epics, including Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey.'
Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian told Postmedia that films like the Matt Damon-led historical drama, 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu' (May 22), Steven Spielberg's UFO thriller 'Disclosure Day' (June 12), 'Toy Story 5' (June 19), and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' (July 31) could push this year's box office past $4 billion, a milestone only achieved once since the pandemic in 2023.
'This is shaping up to be one of the best summer movie seasons of all time,' Dergarabedian said from Los Angeles.
The films released between the first Friday in May and Labour Day typically account for about 40% of the annual box office. Since the debut of 'Iron Man' in 2008, most summers have kicked off with a Marvel movie, but this year Disney's 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' marks the official start after its May 1 release.
A Fashionable Kickoff and James Cameron's Return
'The Devil Wears Prada 2 is certainly a great way to kick off the summer movie season of 2026,' Dergarabedian said.
Coming 20 years after the original, the sequel sees Anne Hathaway reprising her role as Andy Sachs alongside Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. Director David Frankel said the film taps into the existential angst of millennials.
'Andy has had a career in journalism that mirrors a lot of people's experiences,' Frankel told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that the movie 'is about a woman in her 40s ... about how you make peace with the world as you find it, not the world that you wish existed.'
Just five months after 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' earned nearly $1.5 billion, James Cameron returns with a Billie Eilish concert film chronicling her 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' tour (May 8). Presented in immersive 3D, the film is billed as an 'innovative new concert experience.'
'Something special happens in the theatre, and it has to do with one simple thing,' Cameron told Postmedia. 'You don't have a remote. You can't pause it. You're not in control. It's like a roller-coaster leaving the platform, and you're going to go for a ride and you can't get off until it's done.'
Nolan and Spielberg Providing the Buzz
On July 17, Christopher Nolan unveils 'The Odyssey,' starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and more. This is the first Hollywood feature shot entirely with IMAX's high-resolution cameras. Tickets went on sale a year ago and sold out within an hour, with resale prices reaching $300 to $400.
'Chris Nolan's movie is fantastic. It's unlike anything that I've ever seen before,' Holland told GQ. 'When I saw the movie, I found myself asking a question that I haven't asked about a movie for a long time: How did you do that?'
At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nolan described the filming experience as 'an absolute nightmare to film ... but in all the right ways.'
With 'Disclosure Day,' Spielberg tackles the UFO phenomenon, a subject close to his heart. 'I don't know any more than any of you do, but I have a very strong sneaking suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now,' he said at SXSW. 'And I made a movie about that.'
'Between Spielberg's Disclosure Day and Nolan's The Odyssey, this summer is truly a movie aficionado's dream come true,' Dergarabedian said.
Superheroes, Sequels, Star Wars, Woody and Buzz, and More
Despite Marvel moving 'Avengers: Doomsday' to December 18, superheroes abound. 'Supergirl,' the second film in James Gunn's DCEU, flies into theaters on June 26. Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' on July 31, which Holland describes as 'really, really fun.'
Dergarabedian noted that 'Brand New Day' will likely drive ticket sales into August, typically a slower month. Erick Weber of Midnight Movie Talk expects the fourth Spidey adventure to be one of the summer's biggest.
'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,' originally conceived as a fourth season for Disney+, is the first Star Wars movie in nearly seven years. Jon Favreau said the film will use larger cameras and full-scale models for IMAX screens. However, Weber noted minimal buzz for the film, saying, 'There's zero buzz for that film and Disney knows it. They missed the release date by at least two years.'
On June 5, 'Masters of the Universe' brings He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) and Skeletor (Jared Leto) to the big screen. 'Toy Story 5' follows on June 19, with executive producer Jonas Rivera saying he thought the fourth film was the end, but Andrew Stanton envisioned a continuing story of toys passed down to new kids.
Johnny Knoxville and his crew return for the fifth and final 'Jackass' movie, 'Jackass: Best and Last' (June 26). Karl Urban joins 'Mortal Kombat II' (May 8) as Johnny Cage, while 'Scary Movie 6' (June 5) brings back Regina Hall, Anna Faris, and the Wayans brothers.
Beyond the Blockbusters
Original films have also drawn audiences, with 'Hoppers,' 'Project Hail Mary,' and the Michael Jackson biopic being among the biggest of 2026. 'Michael is the best opening act the summer season could wish for,' Dergarabedian said, noting its $238 million worldwide gross.
Other original offerings include 'Hokum' (now playing) with Adam Scott in a haunted hotel; 'Passenger' (May 22) about demonic pursuit; 'Power Ballad' (June 5) with Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas; 'The Death of Robin Hood' (June 19) starring Hugh Jackman; Olivia Wilde's 'The Invite' (June 26); and Ridley Scott's 'The Dog Stars' (August 28) with Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley.
'Project Hail Mary' directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller said audiences want originality. 'Originality is what audiences want when they are paying money to see something in a movie theatre. They want something they've never seen before. They want an experience,' Miller said.
