Spider-Man $2.4 billion propels Hollywood’s strongest summer since the pandemic

Spider-Man $2.4 billion marks Hollywood’s biggest post‑pandemic summer

Sony’s Spider‑Man: Brand New Day held the No. 1 slot for a sixth consecutive weekend, a feat only matched by 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The film pulled in ↑ $18 million on Saturday‑Sunday and is projected to reach ↑ $23.3 million over the four‑day holiday, pushing its worldwide total to ↑ $2.4 billion.

Box‑office rivals

Universal’s epic The Odyssey stayed second, adding $13 million domestically and climbing to $1.63 billion globally, the first foreign‑market breach of $1 billion since 2009’s “Avatar.”

“This summer could rewrite the post‑COVID cinema playbook,” said an analyst at Reuters.

Rentrak reports the domestic season has already hit $4.6 billion, a ↑ 26.1% jump from 2025 and flirting with the 2013 record of $4.758 billion. Adjusted for inflation, attendance still lags pre‑COVID levels, but the rebound is undeniable after years of streaming pressure and labor unrest.

Labor Day weekend proved sluggish; new releases “By Any Means” (Paramount) and “Onslaught” (A24) barely dented the charts. The surprise performer was the hybrid live‑action/animated “Coyote vs. Acme,” which slipped ↓ 29% to $11.3 million in its second weekend but remains profitable for Ketchup Entertainment after a $50 million acquisition.

Indie dark comedy “Buddy” defied expectations, earning $5.7 million in week two for a two‑week total of $14.3 million, while “PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” and “The Dog Stars” rounded out the top ten.