The Box Office Gets Its Swagger Back in 2026, but Merger Fears Dampen the Mood

Just a few months ago, if you had asked any theater owner about their thoughts on what 2026 would bring, you probably would’ve gotten a bright, optimistic response. More movies are on the way, there are fewer signs of months-long product droughts on the horizon and millions of moviegoers are expected to pour in thanks to the return of the Avengers, Mario and Princess Peach and Christopher Nolan.

For all of these reasons, Bruce Nash, founder of the box office site The Numbers, projected a $9.8 billion domestic total for 2026...