Hollywood
Universal crosses $5 billion worldwide box office in 2026
Studio collects $1.788 billion in North America and $3.218 billion overseas
MUMBAI: Universal has hit a box office jackpot, becoming the first studio to cross the $5 billion mark worldwide in 2026 as a string of blockbusters continues to keep its theatrical engine humming. The studio announced on Friday that it has amassed $1.788 billion at the domestic box office and another $3.218 billion internationally, taking its worldwide haul to $5.006 billion. The milestone comes as Universal continues to benefit from a year packed with major releases and a mix of established franchises, animation and breakout hits.
This is only the third time Universal has crossed $5 billion globally. The studio first reached the landmark in 2015 before doing so again in 2017. Its 2026 performance has already put it back in that rare territory, with several films doing the heavy lifting.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been the biggest contributor to the studio’s theatrical run. The mythological epic has crossed $1.7 billion worldwide, making it Universal’s highest-grossing release ever. Starring Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway, the film is also expected to remain in the awards-season conversation.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael have also joined the billion-dollar club, making them three of the five films released in 2026 to reach $1 billion globally. Universal distributed Michael internationally, while Lionsgate handled its domestic release.
The studio’s coffers have also been boosted by Illumination’s Minions & Monsters, while Focus Features’ low-budget horror hit Obsession has emerged as another major performer. Obsession is now Focus Features’ highest-grossing title ever and also ranks as the biggest-grossing feature for Blumhouse Atomic Monster.
Universal’s billion-dollar year, however, is not quite ready for the end credits. The studio is behind DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, which arrives this weekend, with Other Mommy, Sense & Sensibility, Focker-in-Law, Violent Night 2 and Werwulf still to come in 2026.
With $5 billion already in the bag, Universal’s theatrical year has turned into a blockbuster marathon rather than a one-film wonder, with its mix of billion-dollar spectacles, animation and smaller-budget successes driving the studio towards the final stretch of 2026.
