Top Grossing Films of 2026
By ERMW Team
Thursday, October 22, 2026
As we move through the final quarter of 2026, the global box office has proven one thing: theatrical event culture is alive, well, and breaking historic records. From record-shattering superhero blockbusters to massive original R-rated epics, the year's slate of films has reshaped the all-time charts.
As of October 2026, five films have crossed the coveted $1 billion mark globally, with several others defying expectations to become massive cultural touchstones. Here is a breakdown of the top-grossing films of the year so far and the trends that are defining the 2026 box office.
The Billion-Dollar Club
1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Sony) – $2.51 Billion
Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day didn't just win the year; it rewrote the history books. The film swung to a staggering $2.51 billion globally, making it the third-highest-grossing film of all time and the highest-grossing Sony Pictures release in history. In the United States and Canada, the film shattered Avengers: Endgame's long-standing opening weekend record with a massive $360 million debut, eventually becoming the highest-grossing domestic film ever by surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide in just six days, becoming the second-fastest film to ever do so.
2. The Odyssey (Universal) – $1.78 Billion
Christopher Nolan has outdone himself once again. The Odyssey became a cinematic phenomenon, grossing $1.78 billion to become Nolan’s highest-grossing film worldwide (dethroning The Dark Knight Rises). More impressively, the historical epic surpassed Deadpool & Wolverine to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. Driven by massive premium-format demand, it also became the highest-grossing IMAX release ever, finally besting James Cameron's Avatar.
3. Toy Story 5 (Disney) – $1.14 Billion
Proving that audiences still have plenty of love for Woody, Buzz, and the gang, Toy Story 5 pulled in $1.14 billion globally. This made it the highest-grossing installment of the legendary Pixar franchise, surpassing Toy Story 4. Thanks to its massive performance, Toy Story became the first animated franchise in history to have three distinct films surpass the $1 billion threshold.
4. Michael (Lionsgate / Universal) – $1.02 Billion
The Michael Jackson biopic capitalized on global nostalgia to spectacular effect, moonwalking past $1 billion to become the highest-grossing musical biopic in history, a record previously held by Bohemian Rhapsody. Its stellar performance overseas proved the enduring international appeal of the King of Pop's legacy.
5. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Universal) – $1.01 Billion
Capitalizing on the goodwill of its predecessor, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was the first film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion mark. Universal and Illumination took Mario to space, and audiences happily bought a ticket for the ride. It firmly cements Nintendo IP as one of the most reliable and lucrative new pillars in Hollywood.
The Blockbuster Surprises: Nostalgia, Sci-Fi, and Pure Terror
While the top five spots were dominated by recognizable giants, the rest of the top 10 featured some of the most fascinating box office stories of the decade.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (20th Century) – $693 Million: Widely considered the biggest surprise of the year, this long-awaited sequel brought back Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt for a story centered on a corporate takeover of Runway magazine. Fashion nostalgia and incredibly strong word-of-mouth propelled it to nearly $700 million globally, proving that the female-driven adult drama is highly lucrative when handled correctly.
Project Hail Mary (Amazon MGM / Sony) – $684 Million: The adaptation of Andy Weir’s celebrated novel became a word-of-mouth sensation. Praised by critics and audiences alike, the Ryan Gosling-led survival story quietly grossed $684 million. In doing so, it surpassed Christopher Nolan's Interstellar to become the highest-grossing hard sci-fi film ever made.
Obsession (Focus / Universal) – $522 Million: In a league of its own when it comes to return on investment, Obsession has been crowned the sleeper hit of the year. Produced on a micro-budget of just $750,000, the horror indie exploded to $522 million worldwide. The film achieved an ultra-rare box office feat—growing its audience in both its second and third weekends outside of a holiday season—making it one of the most profitable films in modern cinematic history.
Pegasus 3 (Maoyan) - $656 Million: This Chinese sports comedy blockbuster cracked the top 10 globally despite making only $1.3 million domestically in North America, highlighting the sheer size and power of the Chinese theatrical market.
Universal Pictures’ Historic Year
If there is one definitive winner among the studios in 2026, it is Universal Pictures. By September, Universal became the first studio of the year to sail past $5 billion at the global box office. Their slate has been staggeringly diverse, represented by five of the top ten highest-grossing films worldwide: the R-rated auteur epic The Odyssey, the musical biopic Michael (internationally), the family juggernauts The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Minions & Monsters (#9 with $527 million), and the micro-budget horror phenomenon Obsession.
With the holiday corridor still ahead, these rankings could see minor shifts, but 2026 has already cemented itself as a landmark year that proved the unmatched power of the global theatrical experience.
