Hollywood’s summer box office generated $4.6 billion in domestic ticket sales between May 1 and Aug. 31, the strongest summer performance since 2013, according to measurement firm Rentrak, according to Reuters.
That figure marks a 26% increase from last summer, according to the Associated Press. The all-time inflation-adjusted summer record of $6.8 billion was set in 2013. Rentrak head of marketplace trends Paul Dergarabedian said the domestic box office could reach $10 billion for the full year — a threshold not crossed since 2019.
Filmmaker-driven projects, rather than established franchises, powered much of the resurgence. Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is approaching $1.6 billion worldwide, according to the AP. Two horror films made by 20-something YouTubers also outperformed expectations: A24’s “Backrooms,” helmed by 21-year-old Kane Parsons, brought in $394.1 million at the worldwide box office against a $10 million budget, while Focus Features’ “Obsession,” the work of 26-year-old Curry Barker and produced for under $1 million, topped $500 million globally, according to the AP.
Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has pulled in $2.34 billion at the global box office, placing it among the top-grossing films in cinema history on a non-inflation-adjusted basis, according to the AP. Meanwhile, some established franchises stumbled. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” reached $345.4 million globally, and Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ “Supergirl” took in $126.4 million, according to the AP.
Gen-Z audiences were a major force behind the recovery. Data from Cinema United, the exhibitor trade group, showed that Gen-Z moviegoers made an average of 6.1 theater trips in 2025, compared with 4.9 the previous year. Vue cinema chain founder and CEO Tim Richards said the broader film slate was drawing younger viewers back in significant numbers.
Large-format screens also played a central role. “The Odyssey” propelled IMAX to an all-time monthly record in July, generating $257 million in global ticket sales, according to the AP. IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond noted that 2025 was already a record-breaking year for the company — one he believes will be eclipsed by 2026’s results.
The summer slate comprised 34 wide-release titles — a slight improvement over 2025’s count but far short of the 44 that reached broad distribution in 2019, reflecting an industry still rebuilding after the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes. Cinema United’s Michael O’Leary said the full impact of those strikes on studio output lasted longer than many had anticipated.
Two major releases — “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Dune: Part Three” — are scheduled for December and are expected to sustain the momentum through year-end.
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