Hollywood heads for record recovery

For the first time since 2019, the U.S. box office has reason to celebrate.

According to Variety, the U.S. film industry is on track to surpass $10 billion in box office revenue in 2026, a milestone not reached since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ticket sales have also risen 10% compared with 2025, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The recovery has been driven primarily by major franchises and family films.

“Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie” became the first blockbuster of the year to surpass $1 billion at the global box office, while “Toy Story 5” has earned $900 million and is on course to exceed the previous installment’s $1.7 billion total.

The sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” has generated nearly $700 million worldwide.

Other standout performers include “Michael,” which overcame a troubled production to become the first musical biopic to surpass $1 billion globally, and the romantic thriller “Obsession,” which earned $426 million against a production budget of just $750,000.

Attention is now turning to Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” a $250 million epic set to debut in U.S. theaters on July 17. Industry forecasts estimate the film could earn as much as $100 million during its opening weekend.

Photo: Wikipedia