With the falling leaves, it’s a good time to look ahead to the Thanksgiving through Christmas holiday movie season.

First, here’s a recap of the record-breaking summer 2026 movie season.

Variety, the entertainment business “bible,” reported that the domestic box office gross for the summer season, stipulated as May 1 through Sept. 7 Labor Day, was $4.76 billion, according to Rentrak.

The summer 2026 movie box office surpassed the previous record set more than a decade ago, $4.75 billion in 2013.

The summer 2026 movie box office was only the second time since the Covid pandemic that ticket sales surpassed $4 billion.

The first time was in 2023, when “Barbenheimer” (”Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”) boosted the summer box office to $4.09 billion.

In 2019, prior to the start of the pandemic, the summer box office was $4.3 billion, according to Rentrak.

Top 10

Box Office Mojo, reported the Top 10 grossing summer 2026 films:

• “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $923.4 million

• ”The Odyssey,” $588.9 million

• ”Toy Story 5,” $480 million

• “Obsession,” $263.4 million

• “Michael,” $242.5 million (opened April 24)

• “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” $220.5 million

• “Backrooms,” $197.5 million

• “Minions & Monsters,” $183.1 million

• “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” $177.7 million, and

• “Moana,” $126.2 million.

The website Deadline stated that attendance at movie theaters also increased in summer 2026.

According to box office statistic firm EntTelligence, admissions were more than 322 million for summer 2026, compared to 275 million for summer 2025.

According to Forbes, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the highest-grossing domestic film ever with approximately $958.7 million (as of Oct. 26, according to Box Office Mojo) in North America, spinning past “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” with $936.6 million in 2015.

More blockbusters

The Thanksgiving through Christmas 2026 season is expected to be a blockbuster season, according to Deadline.

Another “Barbenheimer” is shaping up with “Dune: Part Three” and “Avengers: Doomsday” set to open the same day, Dec. 18. Industry pundits are calling it “Dunesday,” coined by the films’ stars, Timothée Chalamet and Robert Downey Jr.

Among the most anticipated movies:

“Ebenezer,” Nov. 13: The Gothic take on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” stars Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge. Also starring: Daisy Ridley, Rupert Grint and Ian McKellen.

“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,” Nov. 20: The 50th Hunger Games stars Mckenna Grace and Elle Fanning.

“Focker-In-Law,” Nov. 25: In the fourth installment of the franchise, Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) becomes a father-in-law to his son’s wife (Ariana Grande). Robert De Niro and Owen Wilson also star.

“Avengers: Doomsday,” Dec. 18: In the latest from Marvel, the Russo brothers direct the epic multiverse story when superheroes battle Doctor Doom. Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pablo Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Channing Tatum, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright and Patrick Stewart (in what is believed to be his final movie role).

“Dune: Part Three,” Dec. 18: Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction trilogy 12 years after Part Two stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.

“The Angry Birds Movie 3,” Dec. 23: In the third animated movie in the series, Red (Jason Sudeikis) navigates fatherhood.

“Jumanji: Open World,” Dec. 25: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan are back. The video game’s digital world breaks free and breaches reality. Can you say AI?

Meanwhile, will the upcoming slate of movies push the 2026 box office to break more records?

See you “At the Movies.”

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Psychological thrillers, so to speak, faced off, with the face of “You Can See Everything,” Elizabeth Holmes, proving the third week was the charm in her rise to No. 1, with $10.6 million in 3,243 theaters, $63.8 million, three weeks, as that other face, “Clayface,” dropped one place from its one week at No. 1 with $10.4 million in 3,478 theaters, $44 million, two weeks.

3. “Wildwood” stayed in place, $7.4 million in 2,939 theaters, $23.8 million, two weeks. 4. “Wicker” moved up one place, $4.1 million in 2,374 theaters, $13.2 million, two weeks. 5.“Street Fighter” dropped one place, $3.2 million in 2,825 theaters, $53 million, three weeks. 6. “BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in São Paulo: Live Viewing,” a concert broadcast, $2.8 million, number of theaters not available, opening. 7. “Resident Evil” moved up four places, $2.5 million in 1,943 theaters, $157.3 million, seven weeks. 8. “Other Mommy” dropped one place, $2.5 million in 2,329 theaters, $55.6 million, four weeks. 9. “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,” a crime thriller starring John Turturro, Giancarlo Esposito and Steve Buscemi, moved up 17 places, $1.9 million in 1,112 theaters, $2.1 million, three weeks. 10. “Heart of the Beast” moved up two places, $1.6 million in 1,695 theaters, $65.1 million, six weeks.

Movie box office information is from Box Office Mojo as of Nov. 1.

Unreel, Nov. 4:

“The Last Temptation of Becky,” No MPA rating; 1 hour, 29 minutes. Jenn Wexler directs Lulu Wilson, Neil Patrick Harris and Katie Siegel in the Action Thriller Comedy. Synopsis: CIA field agent Becky goes undercover in Poland to infiltrate a family running an inn at The Wolf’s Lair, one of Hitler’s World War II bunkers.

Unreel, Nov. 5:

“The One,” No MPA rating; 1 hour, 44 minutes. Lisa Arnold directs Martin Sheen, Carter Malone Harvey, Jane Kramer and Olivia Sanabia in the Family Drama. Synopsis: Hawk, a Native American ex-foster youth, visits Enid, Oklahoma, for the tallest Christmas tree lighting. He bonds with the locals and runaway teen Alexis while coping with PTSD, anxiety and self-discovery concerning his faith.

Unreel, Nov. 6:

“The Cat in the Hat,” MPA rated PG; 1 hour; 47 minutes. Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja direct the voice talents of Bill Hader (The Cat in the Hat), Xochitl Gomez, Quinta Brunson, America Ferrera, Tituss Burgess, Giancarlo Esposito and Bowen Yang and the computer animation in a new version of the Dr. Seuss classic.

“Wild Horse Nine,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 58 minutes. Martin McDonagh (director: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “In Bruges”) directs John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey in the Spy Action Thriller Comedy. Synopsis: In the screenplay written by McDonagh, two CIA agents go on a secret mission in 1973 from Santiago. Chile, to Easter Island.

“Drummer Boy,” MPA rated PG-13; 1 hour, 9 minutes. Ben Smallbone and Joel David Smallbone direct Jeremiah Clem, Lucas Leach, India Brown and Melora Hardin in the Angel studios’ Romance Musical War film. Synopsis: When America’s fight for independence begins, a young drummer boy, an enslaved woman and a divided family search for freedom. Music carries hope in a story of faith and forgiveness.

“Queen at Sea,” No MPA rating; 2 hours, 1 minute. Lance Hammer directs Juliette Binoche, Tom Courtenay, Anna Calder-Marshall and Florence Hunt in the Psychological Thriller Drama. Synopsis: Dementia erodes a woman’s ability to communicate. Her husband and daughter struggle to act in her best interest, navigating love and the boundaries between care, protection and autonomy.

“Godzilla Minus Zero,” MPA rated R; 2 hours, 15 minutes. Takashi Yamazaki directs Minami Hamabe, Jun Kunimura and Ryûnosuke Kamiki in the Action Epic Horror film. Synopsis: In 1949, the Shikishima family confronts a fresh catastrophe two years after surviving their previous ordeal with the legendary monster.

Movie opening date information is from Internet Movie Database as of Nov. 1.