The Independence Day holiday serves as the launching pad for what has traditionally been one of the most lucrative months in the theatrical calendar. Established franchises return alongside premium large-format presentations, nostalgic brands, and original filmmaking all competing for summer moviegoers’ attention. Whether audiences are looking for family-friendly entertainment, sweeping historical epics, or blockbuster action, July offers a packed release schedule. With multiple films carrying breakout potential and several expected to rank among the year’s highest-grossing releases, the month promises to play a pivotal role in shaping the remainder of the 2026 box office.
Minions & Monsters | Universal / Illumination
July 1
The 4th of July box office kicks into gear with the Wednesday, July 1 release of Minions & Monsters, the seventh Despicable Me film and third Minions spin-off. A Super Bowl trailer launch leaned into the hijinks, giving audiences a first look at the monstrous mayhem heading to theaters this summer. Illumination is banking on a holiday corridor that has previously delivered blockbuster results. Despicable Me 2 opened to $143M over five days in 2013, Minions: The Rise of Gru earned $123M across the four-day holiday in 2022, and 2024’s Despicable Me 4 followed with a $122.6M five-day. Set in 1920, Minions & Monsters follows the yellow henchmen as they attempt to make their own monster movie in Old Hollywood. Directed by Pierre Coffin from a screenplay by Brian Lynch, the voice cast includes Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, and Zoey Deutch.
Young Washington | Angel
July 3
Opening over the Fourth of July weekend, Young Washington adds a prestige historical drama to Angel’s theatrical slate. Timed to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the film explores George Washington’s formative years before the American Revolution. Directed by Jesus Revolution’s Jon Erwin, the film stars William Franklyn-Miller as the young Washington alongside Kelsey Grammer, Mary-Louise Parker, and Ben Kingsley. Following the breakout success of Sound of Freedom, Angel Studios has proven willing to challenge major Hollywood releases during holiday corridors, and Young Washington continues the strategy. Positioned as patriotic counterprogramming during one of the year’s busiest moviegoing weekends, the historical epic is aimed at audiences looking for an alternative to franchise fare.
Evil Dead Burn | Warner Bros.
July 10
While 2026 has been dominated by breakout original horror hits like Backrooms, Iron Lung, and Obsession, Warner Bros.’ Evil Dead Burn is a franchise entry that could continue horror’s hot streak. The first big-screen entry in the franchise since 2023’s Evil Dead Rise—which opened to $24.5M and finished with $67.2M domestically—Evil Dead Burn is a standalone sequel that follows a grieving family whose reunion descends into Deadites. Evil Dead Burn could follow a similar path to recent franchise revivals like Alien: Romulus, proving that established horror brands remain a major draw when paired with fresh voices like director Sébastien Vaniček, whose acclaimed debut, Infested, caught the attention of producer Sam Raimi.
Moana | Disney
July 10
Disney returns to the live-action machine, this time taking on the more modern animated title Moana, which was released a decade ago in 2016. Arriving after Moana 2 sailed past $1 billion worldwide, the remake is unlikely to match the record-breaking $146 million Memorial Day debut of the live-action Lilo & Stitch or the $191.7M July opening of The Lion King remake. With stiff competition from Disney’s own Toy Story 5, along with Minions & Monsters, Moana could have a harder time sailing into a crowded July box office. Directed by Thomas Kail, the film stars Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. Featuring new music from Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside beloved songs from the original, the remake could still enjoy the kind of sustained theatrical run that propelled Aladdin ($91.5M opening/$355.5M domestic total) and The Little Mermaid ($95.5M opening/$298.1M domestic total).
The Odyssey | Universal
July 17
The upcoming epic fantasy written and directed by Christopher Nolan is based on Homer’s famous Greek epic and boasts an all-star cast, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. The first feature shot entirely with IMAX 70 mm cameras, Nolan filmed across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, and Malta, marking the director’s largest production to date. An IMAX-exclusive prologue helped to generate audience excitement, with IMAX and 70MM advance opening weekend screenings selling out within an hour of going on sale at midnight on July 17, 2025.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Universal
July 31
Tom Holland returns for his fourth solo outing as Peter Parker, with the story picking up after the world has forgotten his identity, allowing Marvel to give the character a genuine fresh start as a street-level hero. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film reunites Zendaya and Holland, who recently tied the knot off screen. Sony is giving the blockbuster premium-format treatment, marking the first major feature shot specifically for ScreenX with additional footage captured to fill the format’s 270-degree panoramic presentation. It will also be released in HDR-equipped Barco theaters. Combined with Spider-Man’s enduring popularity, those enhancements should help make Brand New Day one of the must-see theatrical events of the summer.
Share this post