Summer has a habit of delivering at the box office. As the film industry’s key period of the year, it is a time for family favourites and big-budget blockbusters. And this year, cinemagoers can look forward to five major titles from this summer’s slate.
Kicking it off is Toy Story 5, with anticipation running high – although that’s little surprise: the beloved Disney-Pixar franchise has grown into the studio’s biggest, with even the more modestly received Toy Story 4 surpassing $1bn worldwide. With a timely story about children’s screen time today, the latest instalment is set to resonate far beyond younger audiences and regular cinemagoers.
If Pixar sets summer’s emotional benchmark, Illumination brings its own brand of box office muscle. Minions & Monsters may primarily attract a younger crowd, but these little yellow disruptors are not to be underestimated. Spanning six films, the Despicable Me/Minions franchise now ranks as the highest-grossing animated film series in history – proof that its global appeal is anything but small.
Disney’s latest ‘live-action’ remake, Moana, is another key school-holiday release. Arriving just two years after its original’s sequel sailed past $1bn at the box office, this reimagined adventure already has a proven fanbase. With a beloved soundtrack and blockbuster star Dwayne Johnson once again involved, Moana should be popular among families throughout the summer.
Historical epic The Odyssey boasts an all-star cast, but it is director Christopher Nolan and his unique brand of thrilling filmmaking on the grandest scale that many film fans will be turning out for. Nolan is no stranger to a blockbuster smash-hit, and with a mid-July release, it looks set to open big and challenge a certain superhero at the summer box office…
Five years ago, Spider-Man: No Way Home pulled in a staggering $1.9 billion, catapulting the series to the top of the MCU canon. It’s no wonder Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives this summer with sky-high expectations. The on- and off-screen chemistry between Tom Holland and Zendaya has helped push the franchise to new heights, and with a stacked cast and unmissable action, the latest Spidey adventure looks set to be not just a summer smash but one of the year’s biggest films.