Hollywood kicked off 2026 with a bang, as “Avatar: Fire and Ash” topped the box office for three consecutive weeks, racking up over $1 billion globally. In its third weekend alone, it earned around $40 million in North America, proving to be a massive success for James Cameron’s iconic franchise.
Most of the film’s earnings came from international markets, where it has grossed about $777 million so far. The Walt Disney Co. celebrated this milestone as a significant victory for a franchise that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
But it wasn’t just “Avatar” making waves. The holiday season brought in solid ticket sales across the board, thanks to a mix of popular stars like Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet, and enjoyable films like “Zootopia 2.” This animated sequel, which opened back in November, held strong, earning $19 million over the weekend and totaling an impressive $1.59 billion in six weeks. It’s now Disney’s second-highest-grossing animated film ever, just shy of 2019’s “The Lion King.”
Disney isn’t alone in celebrating hits. “The Housemaid,” a thriller featuring Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, gathered $14.9 million this weekend. It has grossed around $75.7 million domestically over three weeks. Interestingly, the film, which cost only $35 million to make, has also found success internationally, bringing in an additional $57.3 million.
Chalamet’s film, “Marty Supreme,” also performed well, bringing in about $12.6 million in its third week, surpassing previous works by director Josh Safdie.
Overall, many movies saw small declines in ticket sales, indicating a healthy interest in theaters. For instance, “Anaconda,” featuring Jack Black and Paul Rudd, made $10 million in its second week, while “Song Sung Blue” earned $5.9 million with only a 17% drop from its previous weekend.
According to data from Comscore, box office sales surged this January, up 26.5% from the same weekend in 2025. The industry is bouncing back from a slow 2025, where ticket sales hovered around $8.9 billion—still significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Looking ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a promising year for Hollywood as studios anticipate a return to glory with blockbusters like new “Toy Story,” “Avengers,” and “Spider-Man” movies. The future might also bring about major changes in the industry, notably with Warner Bros. considering a sale to Netflix in an $83 billion deal awaiting regulatory approval.
As the movie landscape evolves, fans can expect exciting times ahead in theaters, highlighting the resilience and endurance of the film industry.
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Entertainment, Movies, Business, U.S. news, General news, Article, 128891173
