Box office numbers don’t always indicate the quality of a film, but they are important metrics for understanding what attracts the general public to theaters. Feature films that perform well financially are more likely to earn sequels and shape popular culture globally.
Reaching a billion dollars or more in fundraising is a remarkable feat. Despite the challenges in today’s film industry, many films still reach this mark. This year alone, three productions have already surpassed this figure: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, ‘Michael’ and ‘Toy Story 5’. This persistence of the public in large franchises shows the strength of narratives already established in the market, and based on past trends, it is possible to predict some titles that should follow the same path in 2027.
Adaptation of ‘The Legend of Zelda’ could repeat the success of Nintendo’s animations
Nintendo has enjoyed surprising success with its recent film productions. ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’, released in 2023, grossed more than US$1.3 billion. Its 2026 sequel ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, while not performing as well, also crossed the billion-dollar mark.
While a third installment in the Super Mario saga is likely on the way, Nintendo’s next film will be a live-action adaptation of ‘The Legend of Zelda’. This production targets a slightly older audience, which may reduce the children’s audience that was captivated by Super Mario, but will make up for it by exploring the high fantasy segment, which is still underserved.
The only other major release of the genre in 2027 will be ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’. However, no Middle Earth film has reached a billion dollars since ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’. Given this, it is quite likely that ‘The Legend of Zelda’ will outperform ‘The Hunt for Gollum’.
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‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ project has the potential to reverse the franchise’s recent results
The year 2027 will mark the release of the next ‘Star Wars’ spin-off, titled ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’. The latest project in the saga, ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, performed below expectations at the box office, grossing just US$345 million. However, there are reasons to believe that ‘Starfighter’ will surpass its predecessor.
Firstly, it will be directed by Shawn Levy, whose most recent film, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, grossed US$1.3 billion. Secondly, the cast will feature Ryan Gosling, a huge attraction these days, thanks to his roles in hits like ‘Barbie’ and ‘Project Hail Mary’.
The ‘Star Wars’ franchise is colossal and is generally a huge hit in theaters. ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ was an isolated case, as was 2018’s ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’. Fans shouldn’t expect box office failure to become the new norm for the saga.
Return of ‘Shrek 5’ marks the return of a beloved animated series to the big screen
Seventeen years after ‘Shrek Forever After’, the Shrek franchise will finally return to theaters in 2027. Adjusted for inflation, all of the Shrek films except the first have grossed over a billion dollars. In fact, the four main Shrek films are currently DreamWorks’ highest-grossing films. It wouldn’t be surprising if ‘Shrek 5’ joins them.
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Furthermore, although ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Order’ only grossed $484 million, it was very well received by critics and the general public. This should increase expectations for the franchise from which Puss in Boots originated. The success of ‘Shrek 5’ is not guaranteed, however. Reactions to the June teaser were mixed due to the film’s new character designs, which may detract from its nostalgic appeal.
Predictions point to ‘Frozen III’ as Disney’s next big animated hit
Mainly due to its soundtrack that became a viral phenomenon, Disney’s ‘Frozen’ achieved monumental success. At the time of its release in 2013, it was the highest-grossing animated film of all time, earning $1.2 billion. The 2019 sequel ‘Frozen II’ performed even better, grossing over $1.4 billion. Recently, ‘Zootopia 2’, Disney’s newest animated film, made almost $1.9 billion.
Little is known about the plot of ‘Frozen III’ except that it will introduce a new member of the royal family. However, the popularity of the first two films alone should be enough to propel ‘Frozen III’ to success, especially as Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ demonstrated that music remains a powerful marketing tool.
Expectations for ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ aim for the resounding success of ‘Endgame’
With the premiere of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’, the only films remaining in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga are ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. The first will be released later this year, but the second is scheduled for 2027.
The Avengers films have always thrived at the box office. The lowest-performing installment, ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ still grossed $1.4 billion. Meanwhile, the most successful film, ‘Avengers: Endgame’, made $2.7 billion, making it the second highest-grossing film of all time, behind James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’.
Furthermore, no MCU film will be released between ‘Judgment Day’ and ‘Secret Wars’. Fans will be particularly eager to return to the franchise after a year’s absence. Unless ‘Doomsday’ is a complete disaster that shakes confidence in the MCU, ‘Secret Wars’ will easily surpass the billion-dollar mark.