As summer opens, action movies have lost some box-office punch

Key Points:

• The summer movie season in Hollywood is shifting away from traditional superhero and action films, with "The Devil Wears Prada 2," a comedy starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, set to open the season instead of a Marvel superhero movie.
• Box office analysis shows a decline in the market share of action and superhero films, which accounted for only 35% of ticket sales in 2025, the lowest since 2010, despite a steady number of action films released annually.
• Family and horror films are gaining popularity, with recent hits like "Lilo & Stitch," "Zootopia 2," and "The Super Mario Bros Movie," reflecting changing audience preferences.
• Theater owners emphasize the need for a diverse range of genres, including dramas and comedies, to attract audiences, noting that the lack of new releases in these genres limits attendance.
• Despite the decline, action films continue to draw crowds, with highly anticipated summer releases like "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "The Mandalorian and Grogu," and the delayed "Avengers: Doomsday" expected to perform well.