Man vs AI: 2026 Box Office Predictions

Ash Walker • 10 Feb 2026 Features

Man vs machine in a battle of the blockbusters!

2026 is shaping up to be a great year for movie lovers. There’s a host of exciting, highly anticipated films on the horizon, from massive multiversal blockbusters to intriguing indie gems.

But how will they all fare at the box office? And will any of them actually be any good? To find the answers we’re pitting our in-house movie expert against the technological wisdom of ChatGPT. Each will give their opinions on which movies will be the biggest winners, the worst flops and the surprise hits of the year.

Then, at the end of the year, we’ll see how accurate they were.

The big winners

Credit: The Odyssey | Official Trailer (Universal Pictures, YouTube)

Ash

Let’s start with the obvious picks. Christopher Nolan will always be a massive box office draw, and The Odyssey, his hotly anticipated follow-up to Oppenheimer, is sure to find a huge audience. It’s also the notoriously grounded director’s first real foray into fantasy territory, which should be very interesting. Expect big numbers here.

And speaking of big numbers, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about two of the biggest family-friendly properties of the past decade - Mario and Minions, both of which have new movies releasing in 2026. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a direct sequel to 2023 smash hit The Super Mario Bros Movie sees the introduction of fan favourite character Yoshi, and Minions & Monsters sees the little yellow freaks team up with a bunch of classic horror movie creations.

There’s also Disney to consider, which will be unleashing some mammoth movies this year - most notably the live action version of Moana (with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as demigod Maui) and via Pixar Toy Story 5 and Hoppers. The former sees the beloved toys face off against modern technology, while the latter is basically Avatar with beavers. All three are sure to be solid hits.

Finally, there’s no conversation about box office supremacy without talking about superhero movies.

Marvel’s output has been decidedly spotty recently, but they’ll be hoping to get back to pre-Covid heights with their two offerings this year - Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. The friendly neighbourhood webslinger is always popular, and Doomsday is already promising to be inconceivably huge.

On the other side of the aisle, rivals DC - hot off the back of debut movie Superman last year - will be looking to keep the train rolling with Supergirl. Adapted from the excellent comic story Woman of Tomorrow, this looks like edgier fare, although it does still feature everyone’s favourite terrible superpowered dog, Krypto.

Honourable mentions: Jumanji 3, Dune Part 3

ChatGPT

Marvel is still betting big on Avengers: Doomsday, positioning it as a true event film rather than another chapter in an endless run. After periods of audience fatigue, the promise of scale, stakes, and crossover appeal should be enough to pull crowds back in by year’s end.

Animation looks set to dominate family viewing again, with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie building on one of the biggest animated hits of the decade. The brand recognition is huge and its appeal stretches far beyond kids to nostalgic adults.

Disney’s push into live-action continues with Moana, which should translate well to cinemas thanks to the popularity of the original; strong family appeal and musical familiarity give it solid blockbuster potential.

Even with some scepticism around its necessity, Toy Story 5 feels almost guaranteed to perform strongly. Pixar sequels continue to draw multigenerational audiences who see them as safe, emotional cinema trips.

There’s also strong potential in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which benefits from a darker prequel angle and an audience that has grown up with the series.

The Mandalorian & Grogu could also prove a major theatrical draw. It brings beloved characters from Star Wars back to the big screen for the first time since 2019, tapping into both franchise fans and casual audiences.

Honourable mentions: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Minions & Monsters, Wuthering Heights

The big flops

Credit: The Mandalorian and Grogu | Official Trailer (Star Wars, YouTube)

Ash

I’d never wish failure on any movie - they’re all the product of hundreds of hours of work from hundreds of talented people - but there’s no avoiding that some films just don’t resonate with audiences. If I had to pick a few from this year’s crop, it would be these ones.

First is Project Hail Mary, a big budget adaptation of the novel by Andy Weir (The Martian) starring Ryan Gosling. Honestly, it looks like a pretty good movie, but rumours of a very long runtime, not to mention a trailer that gives away the big twist in the story, might hurt its chances.

Next are a couple of belated sequels. The Devil Wears Prada 2 might seem like an easy win on paper, but I wonder how much nostalgia for the original will draw people to cinemas… especially when it looks so much like a cheap Netflix cash-grab. Scream 7 could be a decent entry in the long-running slasher series, but interest may be starting to wane. Plus behind-the-scenes drama may have turned some fans off.

Finally, another mega-budget Disney franchise entry in The Mandalorian & Grogu. Basically a feature length spin-off from the Star Wars TV series, which has waned in popularity in recent years, I wonder how many fans will just wait for this to inevitably hit Disney+ two weeks after release.

Honourable Mentions: Michael, Crime 101

ChatGPT

Some long-in-development projects carry warning signs, and Masters of the Universe has been one such title — the brand has recognition, but translating that into modern blockbuster appeal has proven difficult before.

Comic-book fatigue could also affect riskier DC projects like Clayface, especially with its darker, horror-leaning tone — villain-led spin-offs are increasingly unpredictable at the box office.

Franchise sequels aren’t immune either, and the rebooted Cliffhanger might struggle to justify its scale against more established franchises if it fails to connect with mainstream audiences beyond action fans.

Reboots are another gamble, and a new take on Resident Evil could struggle to stand out in a crowded horror market. Audiences may be less willing to give the series another chance on the big screen.

Even reliable horror franchises face limits: Scream 7 risks feeling like one sequel too far unless it reinvents itself, and the slasher genre’s appeal may be more niche compared to broader audiences.

Honourable mentions: Street Fighter, Evil Dead Burn

The surprise hits

Credit: DIGGER | Title Announcement (Warner Bros. Australia, YouTube)

Ash

Every year has a handful of movies that exceed expectations. These are obviously a bit hard to predict (or they wouldn’t be surprises), but I can make a few educated guesses.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes Wuthering Heights, an ‘adaptation’ of the classic gothic novel by Emerald Fennell (Saltburn). This is a buzzy director and a buzzy cast, and the various online controversies leading up to the movie’s release will likely only serve to enhance its appeal - I’d expect this to do well.

Perhaps a little more obvious is Masters of the Universe, a big budget adaptation of the classic ‘80s cartoon. The trailer has been pretty well received and, more importantly, it looks like a lot of silly fun. Is the power of nostalgia strong enough to draw in a huge audience?

Sticking with franchise IP, we’ve also got Clayface from DC Studios - a body horror supervillain origin movie, written by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass) and directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil), which could be interesting - and Resident Evil, a new take on the beloved video game series from horror darling Zach Cregger (Weapons).

And then we have the real mysteries - those movies about which we know barely anything, but which sound intriguing enough to get people into cinemas. First is Digger, the first English-language movie from Alejandro G. Iñárritu since The Revenant, which sees Tom Cruise play ‘the most powerful man in the world’ and potentially humanity’s saviour. Who knows what that means… but it’s an exciting pairing of actor and director.

And finally we have Flowervale Street, an extremely secretive blockbuster from indie darling David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) and JJ Abrams (Cloverfield), which stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor and may be about a neighbourhood that gets transported back to a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Brilliant madness.

Honourable mentions: GOAT, Tuner, The Bride!

ChatGPT

Video game adaptations are no longer automatic write-offs, and Mortal Kombat II could outperform expectations by leaning into spectacle and fan service.

DC may also score unexpectedly with Supergirl, especially if it distinguishes itself tonally from heavier superhero fare. A character-driven approach could help it stand out.

An original animated entry like Minions & Monsters has huge brand recognition behind it and could translate that into strong global box office — Minions films have traditionally been major international earners.

Another familiar franchise that could surprise is The Devil Wears Prada 2, reviving beloved characters and appealing to older and female demographics that often drive sustained box office legs.

Finally, a solid genre entry like Ready or Not: Here I Come could break out via strong word of mouth, especially among horror-comedy fans who enjoy unpredictable theatrical experiences.

Honourable mentions: GOAT, They Will Kill You