Original and horror films beat franchise box office 2026

The first half of 2026 has delivered a volatile and surprising year at the box office, marked by the unexpected underperformance of several major franchise films and the breakout success of original projects and horror movies. While established animated sequels like "Toy Story 5" and "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" have performed strongly, other high-profile releases have struggled commercially.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu," marking Star Wars' return to theaters, has been a significant financial disappointment for Disney, with domestic earnings failing to reach $180 million and a projected global total comparable to the underperforming "Solo: A Star Wars Story." Similarly, the "Masters of the Universe" reboot and Warner Bros.' "Mortal Kombat II" have fallen short of expectations, with the latter unlikely to turn a profit globally despite a respectable domestic opening.

Conversely, original films and horror have staged a remarkable comeback. The sci-fi film "Project Hail Mary" has neared $700 million worldwide. The year's most notable successes have come from lower-budget horror, particularly films from online creators. "Obsession," directed by Curry Barker, and "Backrooms," from...