Updated April 6: 2026 is already shaping up to be a much-needed win for the film biz. With the first three months of the year having generated US$1.77 billion in the US, it’s been the best Q1 since the pandemic, according to Comscore. 

And features for kids look like they’re going to be a big part of this year’s sales, starting with the latest Easter release of ​​The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Illumination and Nintendo’s sequel to their hit video game adaptation soared this weekend as the year’s biggest Hollywood opening so far, making US$372.5 million over five days (with the domestic haul making up roughly US$190 million).

Although these initial domestic earnings are slightly below the first film, Mario Galaxy is setting the bar high for the upcoming season’s releases. But which one will be the biggest? Whether you’re betting on reliable IPs or if you have intuition about an underdog, there’s still time to vote for which family-friendly film you think is going to dominate this crowded summer.

Original story: April has arrived, which means we’re about to kick off the lucrative summer movie season.

While summer break is always the perfect time for tentpoles, this year feels especially stacked with family-friendly releases. Several recognizable, long-running franchises—from game and toy adaptations to reboots and sequels—are on the big-screen horizon. And family movies are slowly supplanting superhero films as the industry’s most reliable money makers.

Every year we ask our readers which movie they think will land on top, and last year they nailed it, predicting that A Minecraft Movie and the Lilo & Stitch live-action reboot would dominate. 

This year’s season is kicking off early, with Illumination and Nintendo’s animated sequel The Super Mario Galaxy Movie—which has already broken a Wednesday box-office record for April. Next in line is Masters of the Universe (June 5), a nostalgic licensing powerhouse that’s bringing He-Man and his planet of Eternia to the big screen after four decades. It’s one of the buzziest four-quad contenders, following up major PG-13 hits for both Amazon MGM (Project Hail Mary) and Mattel Studios (Barbie).

Pixar is keeping busy, too, after its well-received original film Hoppers, with a major sequel on deck in Toy Story 5 (June 19). The highly respected kids IP is returning with a timely premise about screens overwhelming the toy industry. Considering that the fourth installment in the franchise made a billion dollars back in 2019, the ceiling could be even higher this time. 

And speaking of prolific major animation studios, Illumination isn’t done yet either, making another appearance with its latest entry in the lucrative Despicable Me franchise, Minions & Monsters (July 1). The IP has a history of pulling big crowds, thanks in part to its astute marketing campaigns—so expect to see little yellow Minions everywhere you look.

After last year’s blockbuster Lilo & Stitch, Disney is staging another live-action remake with Moana (July 10). Even though its latest trailer sparked some mixed reactions on the internet, there’s enough goodwill for the IP that it could still recreate the behemoth ticket sales of the franchise’s animated entries. 

By the late summer, we’ll have Spin Master’s PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie (August 14), the most ambitious theatrical feature yet for the hit series. The threequel sees the preschooler-beloved pups crashing onto a tropical island with dinosaurs—a theme that never loses kid appeal and is perfect for big-screen viewing. There’s also some unique breakout potential for the long-awaited Coyote vs. Acme (August 28), which was saved by Ketchup Entertainment (after almost getting scrapped by WBD) thanks to passionate fan and industry campaigning. 

And then there are other family-friendly big summer releases that aren’t specifically made for kids, including next month’s The Mandalorian & Grogu (Lucasfilm) and the superhero flicks Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Marvel Studios) and Supergirl (DC Studios)—but we’re limiting our poll to the movies squarely aimed at under-13s. 

Vote now for which film you think will come out on top this summer: