Universal Becomes First Studio to Cross $5B at 2026 Global Box Office
Universal Pictures has been on quite the box office journey this year as it continues to reap the benefits of such hits as Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey.
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The studio announced Friday that it has become the first to cross $5 billion at the worldwide box office for 2026. This week’s grosses helped Universal reach that milestone, as it has now collected $1.788 billion domestically and $3.218 billion internationally this year.
This marks the third time that Universal has surpassed $5 billion globally, with the most recent coming in 2017. The studio first hit that mark in 2015.
Universal’s impressive theatrical year has been bolstered by such blockbusters as The Odyssey, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael, which represent three of the five movies this year to have reached $1 billion globally. (Universal distributed the Michael Jackson biopic overseas, while Lionsgate handled the domestic release.)
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Also adding to the studio’s coffers in 2026 were Illumination’s animated Minions & Monsters and Focus Features’ low-budget horror smash Obsession. The latter counts as Focus’ highest-grossing title ever, in addition to the highest-grossing feature for Blumhouse Atomic Monster.
Nolan’s magical run for The Odyssey included the mythological epic becoming Universal’s highest-grossing release ever, having surpassed $1.7 billion worldwide. Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway are among the castmembers for the star-studded movie that looks to garner plenty of attention throughout awards season.
Universal is behind this weekend’s release for DreamWorks Animation’s original feature Forgotten Island. The studio’s other remaining 2026 offerings include Other Mommy, Sense & Sensibility, Focker-in-Law, Violent Night 2 and Werwulf.
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