Hollywood magic returns

Báo Tuổi Trẻ

23/08/2026

20:28

In just the past month, two blockbusters, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey, have brought in a combined $3.3 billion in global box office revenue.

Hollywood đang có một năm thành công vang dội kể từ đại dịch COVID-19 - Ảnh: Screen Rant

It is not just the blockbusters that have achieved impressive results; looking at the market as a whole, as of August 16, cumulative box office revenue in North America in 2026 reached $6.675 billion, the highest level for the same period in the last 6 years. Variety predicts that Hollywood's full-year revenue could return to pre-pandemic levels, once again hitting the $10 billion mark.

This is thanks to the continuity between new and old IPs, the ability to meet the demands of young audiences, and the fact that the value of the theatrical experience is being recognized again. After being hit hard by the pandemic and strikes, Hollywood is finally entering a period of market recovery.

Facing an uncertain market, Hollywood has continued to rely on "three pillars" over the past year: superhero films, classic animation, and VFX-heavy blockbusters to maintain its revenue foundation.

Since mid-2025, the highest-grossing films in North America, such as Superman, Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, Avatar 3, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and The Odyssey, have remained Hollywood blockbusters deeply rooted in classic spirit.

The Odyssey thổi bùng cơn sốt sử thi Hy Lạp ở nhiều lĩnh vực - Ảnh: Universal

Although the gap in film preferences between Vietnamese and North American audiences has become increasingly clear in recent years, for imported blockbusters like Zootopia 2 or Spider-Man: Brand New Day, revenue in Vietnam remains relatively in sync with the North American market.

This shows that these "three pillars" have not yet completely lost their effectiveness in the Vietnamese market.

Even though the market has been skeptical of superhero films and VFX blockbusters for many years, when the market is not vibrant enough and audiences need a compelling reason to go to the cinema, large-scale Hollywood films can offer a very clear product promise, thereby maximizing the ability to meet viewer expectations.

Avatar 3 is clearly positioned as a VFX blockbuster; Zootopia 2 offers "shippable" character pairings along with a lighthearted entertainment experience; while The Odyssey emphasizes large-scale practical filming techniques and a stunning audiovisual experience.

In terms of storytelling or expressive value, these films may not be the pinnacle of a franchise or a director's career.

But in terms of the overall theatrical experience, these are almost all mature commercial products that rarely leave audiences feeling cheated.

Game đang trở thành một trong những "mỏ IP" mới quan trọng nhất của Hollywood - Ảnh: Screen Rant

Beyond this foundation, Hollywood's creative ecosystem is also undergoing a generational shift. Over the past year, many new content variables have emerged, collectively creating changes on the supply side and introducing more systematic growth sources into the market.

First, video game adaptations are being strongly received by the market, with box office appeal reaching a scale that can compete with top animation IPs.

In 2025, A Minecraft Movie became the highest-grossing film in North America. This year, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continues to maintain its growth momentum and easily surpassed the $1 billion box office mark.

Even Mortal Kombat 2, a game IP with relatively limited recognition, achieved global revenue of about $200 million, enough to support the mid-budget film segment.

Second, content and creators born from the Internet are gradually integrating into, and even rewriting, Hollywood's creative ecosystem, thereby changing the IP investment direction of studios as well as the industry's perceived limits for the horror genre.

Since the pandemic, the output of Hollywood horror films has increased rapidly. However, two works released this year, Obsession and Backrooms, have refreshed the industry's perception of the "low budget - high profit" potential of horror films.

Obsession chỉ được sản xuất với kinh phí chưa tới 1 triệu USD nhưng đã đạt doanh thu đáng kinh ngạc 496 triệu USD - Ảnh: IMDb

The year 2026 still has two major trump cards at the end of the year: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune 3, which will carry the market from 2026 into 2027. Although audiences have not fully returned to theaters, Hollywood has once again proven that respecting cinema and understanding the audience is the starting point for reconstruction.

Topic:

#hollywood

#phimchieurap