Universal Crosses $5 Billion Globally, First Studio to Do So in 2026

Universal has crossed $5 billion at the global box office, becoming the first studio to reach that milestone in 2026. It is the third time in the studio's history it has hit the figure, after 2015 and 2017.

Universal-distributed films have grossed $1.788 billion domestically and $3.218 billion internationally to date, according to this week's tallies. The slate spans Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and Focus Features, with "The Odyssey," "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," "Michael," "Minions & Monsters" and the surprise theatrical hit "Obsession" driving the total.

Only five films have topped $1 billion worldwide this year, and Universal distributed three of them: "The Odyssey," "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Michael." Sony/Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 5" round out the billion-dollar club.

The individual records are as striking as the aggregate. Earlier this month, Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" became the biggest film in Universal's history, grossing $1.7 billion worldwide. It now ranks as the No. 10 MPA film of all time both globally and internationally.

"Obsession," directed by Curry Barker, tells a different story about the state of theatrical releases. The relationship thriller earned $519 million worldwide on a production budget of less than $1 million, making it one of the year's most profitable films. It is now Focus Features' highest-grossing film worldwide and Blumhouse Atomic Monster's highest-grossing release.

"Michael," the biopic about Michael Jackson's rise to global icon status, has grossed $1.028 billion. The Lionsgate production, distributed internationally by Universal, surpassed "Bohemian Rhapsody" as the highest-grossing music biopic and overtook "Oppenheimer" to become the highest-grossing biopic overall.

The studio's remaining 2026 slate gives it room to push the total higher before the year ends. DreamWorks Animation's "Forgotten Island" is now playing in theaters. Blumhouse Atomic Monster's "Other Mommy," starring Jessica Chastain, opens October 9, followed by Focus Features' "Sense & Sensibility" with Daisy Edgar-Jones on October 16.

Focus' "Elsinore" begins a limited release on November 20. "Focker-In-Law," starring Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro and Ariana Grande, arrives November 27. "Violent Night 2" opens December 4, and Robert Eggers' "Werwulf," also from Focus, closes the year on December 25.

With eight releases still ahead and a historically proven tentpole lineup behind it, Universal enters the final quarter of 2026 positioned to add substantially to a total that already puts every rival studio behind it.