The film industry initiated 2026 with an increase in box office sales, as "Avatar: Fire and Ash" held the top position in North American theaters for its third consecutive week, accumulating over $1 billion globally. This performance follows a 2025 period where domestic box office revenue remained below pre-pandemic levels, despite a slight increase from 2024. The industry anticipates a potentially stronger year, supported by a schedule of upcoming franchise releases and awaiting a significant acquisition.
Current Box Office Performance
For the most recent weekend, overall sales in early 2026 were reported to be 26.5% higher than the corresponding period in 2025.
"Avatar: Fire and Ash"
The third installment in the James Cameron franchise, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," maintained the top position for its third consecutive week. The film generated an estimated $40 million over the weekend in North American theaters. Globally, it has accumulated over $1 billion within three weeks, with international earnings reaching $777.1 million. The film contributed to The Walt Disney Co.'s reported global total exceeding $1 billion.
"Zootopia 2"
Disney's "Zootopia 2," which premiered in November, secured second place, earning $19 million. This represented a 4% decrease from the preceding weekend. The animated sequel has achieved a total of $1.59 billion over six weeks, positioning it as Disney's second highest-grossing animated film, following "The Lion King" (2019), which grossed $1.66 billion.
"The Housemaid"
Lionsgate's thriller "The Housemaid," starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, grossed $14.9 million over the weekend, a 3% decline from the prior weekend. Its domestic total reached $75.7 million in three weeks. The film, produced on a reported budget of $35 million, has also accumulated an additional $57.3 million internationally.
"Marty Supreme"
A24's "Marty Supreme," featuring Timothée Chalamet, collected an estimated $12.6 million in its third weekend. The Josh Safdie-directed film has earned $56 million in North America after two weeks of wide release, surpassing the North American gross of director Josh Safdie's previous film, "Uncut Gems" ($50 million worldwide).
Other Notable Films:
- Sony's action comedy "Anaconda," starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, earned $10 million in its second weekend, marking a 31% decrease.
- Focus Features' musical film "Song Sung Blue," featuring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, registered $5.9 million in its second weekend, a 17% decline. Its domestic total stands at $25 million.
Industry Context and Outlook
2025 Performance Review:
In 2025, U.S. and Canada ticket sales amounted to $8.9 billion. This figure represented a 2% increase from 2024 but remained approximately 20% below pre-pandemic levels. The volume of tickets sold decreased from over 800 million in 2024 to an estimated 780 million in 2025, with the increase in revenue partly attributed to higher ticket prices.
Future Projections:
The industry is observing the proposed $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. by Netflix, which is pending regulatory approval. Projections for 2026 indicate potential for increased box office performance compared to previous years. The scheduled release slate for 2026 includes new installments in the "Toy Story," "Avengers," "Spider-Man," "Super Mario Bros," and "Dune" franchises.
Top 10 Domestic Box Office (Estimated Weekend Figures)
- "Avatar: Fire and Ash," $40 million
- "Zootopia 2," $19 million
- "The Housemaid," $14.9 million
- "Marty Supreme," $12.6 million
- "Anaconda," $10 million
- "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants," $8.2 million
- "David," $8 million
- "Song Sung Blue," $5.9 million
- "Wicked: For Good," $3.3 million
- "Five Nights at Freddy's 2," $2.7 million