For long-suffering movie theaters, salvation always seems to be just around the corner.
In 2026, many of the biggest film franchises in history are returning to screens. It’s a squadron of high- profile spinoffs and sequels to everything from “The Avengers” (with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans back in spandex) to “Star Wars,” with a smattering of Mario and Luigi and Buzz and Woody in between.
But since COVID upended the movie business, the box office has never been harder to predict. Last year, Marvel, once the most consistent hit–maker in Hollywood, saw one hyped-up superhero movie after another fail to connect with audiences, while auteur-driven films like “Sinners” and anime offerings like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” became some of 2025’s most unlikely successes.
So, with that caveat out of the way, we’re staring into
→ Continue reading at Variety
