Industry Experts Name This Movie as 2026’s Highest-Grossing Film
Industry experts are predicting that “Avengers: Doomsday” could become the highest-grossing movie of 2026.
Bloomberg recently reported a survey of over 700 entertainment professionals, who ranked the upcoming films expected to make the biggest impact at the box office. Following Avengers, the runner-up was “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” while live-action “Moana” and “Minions 3” were projected to perform lower.
Fans of the MCU have reason to be excited. “Avengers: Doomsday” is the fifth installment in the Avengers series and the 39th film in the MCU. The film brings back directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who helmed “Avengers: Endgame,” and features a massive ensemble cast including Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Rudd, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, and many more.
“The return of the Avengers holds off Mario,” Bloomberg noted, referencing the franchise’s historic box office performance.
The average Avengers film has made around $1.9 billion globally, while “Avengers: Endgame” grossed $2.8 billion. Although past films were released before the pandemic and recent fluctuations in Marvel’s popularity, there is strong confidence in the new movie.
December 18, 2026. #AvengersDoomsday pic.twitter.com/6eBYWSTEde
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 23, 2025
The project has an interesting production history. Initially, two Avengers films, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, were planned to close Phase Six of the MCU. However, changes in the director and writer lineup, including Anthony and Joe Russo returning as directors and Michael Waldron co-writing, shifted the focus and introduced the subtitle Doomsday. Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in England and included locations in Bahrain, wrapping up in September.
“We wanted to make sure this was a massive event with all the heroes fans know and love coming together,” a Marvel spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. The film is scheduled for release in the United States on December 18, 2026, with its sequel, Secret Wars, following a year later on December 17, 2027.
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