For studios, cinemas and audiences worldwide, a stronger theatrical year would signal continued recovery in the business of putting films on cinema screens.
Gower Street Analytics has lifted its annual 2026 global ticket-sales forecast to $35.7 billion, 2.9% above the estimate it gave at April's CinemaCon. The forecast draws on Rentrak actuals and Gower estimates.
That outcome would put worldwide box office 6.3% above 2025's haul and make 2026 the industry's best year since 2019, when ticket sales reached $42.3 billion.
The forecast rests on sharply better results in North America and international markets outside China. Gower projects $10.5 billion in North America, an 18% rise on 2025, and $19.7 billion from international markets excluding China, a nearly 14% increase.
China is moving in the other direction. Gower forecasts $5.5 billion there, about a 26% slide, after admissions and ticket prices fell during a softer year so far.
The summer gave the recovery its clearest evidence. North America took $4.76 billion, an all-time record according to Rentrak, while global summer revenues reached $14.5 billion, their best level since 2019's $14.9 billion.
Gower said 2026 also delivered its strongest first quarter and first half-year since 2019 across the combined Domestic and International markets excluding China. The year brought a record Domestic summer and a record global August.
Big releases have supplied much of the momentum. Spider-Man: Brand New Day has earned $2.5 billion worldwide, while Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has taken approximately $1.8 billion.
Toy Story 5 has grossed more than $1.1 billion globally. Michael and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie have each passed the $1 billion mark.
China still produced a major local success: Pegasus 3, a film in the race car franchise, reached near $654 million.
There is still a crowded release calendar ahead. It includes Toho's Godzilla Minus Zero, Warner Bros' The Cat in the Hat, Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, Disney's Hexed, Warner Bros' Dune: Part Three, Disney/Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday and Sony's Jumanji: Open World.
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