It's official: 2026 is shaping up to be a summer of box office disappointments for Hollywood. Disney's highly anticipated live-action remake of Moana has crashed and burned, failing to live up to expectations and leaving the studio with yet another costly flop. The film's $43 million opening weekend is a stark contrast to the $250 million production budget, and its international performance has been equally underwhelming. Dwayne Johnson's star power didn't seem to make a difference, and the movie is now on track to lose Disney a significant amount of money.
But Moana isn't the only disappointment. Universal and Illumination's Minions & Monsters, which had a respectable 45% drop in its second weekend, only managed to earn $20.5 million, falling short of the original Despicable Me's domestic total. Pixar's Toy Story 5, which had been expected to perform well, is also cooling faster than anticipated, although it's still on track to finish its run with a solid $475-480 million. And Evil Dead Burn, a horror film that had some promise, opened to just $13.7 million, falling short of the previous Evil Dead installment.
The summer of 2026 is looking like a bummer for Hollywood, and it's not just the big-budget flops that are to blame. Angel Studios' Young Washington, which opened on par with Sound of Freedom, has already begun to lose steam, tumbling 67% in its second weekend. And A24's The Invite, which had been expected to perform well in its expansion, only managed to earn $5.7 million, averaging about $3,500 per screen.
What's going on here? Is it possible that audiences are simply tired of the same old Hollywood fare? Or is it something more fundamental? Personally, I think the decline in box office performance is a symptom of a larger problem: the film industry is struggling to adapt to the changing landscape of entertainment. With streaming services and on-demand content becoming increasingly popular, traditional movie-going experiences are losing their appeal.
But it's not all bad news. A24's Obsession, a horror sensation that was reportedly made for just $750,000, continues to print money, adding another $3.8 million to its domestic total of $253 million. And Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg's latest film, continues to perform well, earning $3.2 million in its latest weekend. These films prove that it's still possible to make a profit in Hollywood, even in the face of increasing competition.
So what does the future hold for the film industry? It's hard to say for sure, but one thing is clear: the days of the blockbuster are numbered. As audiences continue to shift their entertainment habits, the film industry will need to adapt, and quickly. Otherwise, we could see more and more box office disappointments like the ones we're seeing in 2026. And that would be a real shame.
