The Biggest Winners and Losers of Summer 2026
Gizmodo • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Inde Navarrette emerged as the breakout star of summer 2026, gaining awards buzz for her horror film and landing major roles including Marvel's Rogue and hosting Saturday Night Live.
- Tom Holland and Zendaya dominated the box office with two Spider-Man films grossing $4 billion combined, solidifying their status as Hollywood's top power couple, alongside their real-life marriage.
- Star Wars faced an unprecedented setback with its latest film earning $350 million worldwide, significantly below past franchise hits, putting its future at risk ahead of its 50th anniversary.
- Anne Hathaway had a prolific summer starring in multiple films and generating buzz for upcoming projects, while Christopher Nolan reinforced his reputation as the world's top director with his innovative 70mm IMAX film and box office success.
- Several anticipated projects underperformed, including Evil Dead Burn with $32 million domestic gross, He-Man's modest $113 million against a large budget, and House of the Dragon season 3, which lacked cultural impact compared to previous seasons.
