The latest
Halfway through 2026, Variety’s critics say the film industry looks healthier than it has in years. Box office numbers are up, and the critics say that growth is coming from films audiences experienced as genuine, not manufactured.
Details
• “Obsession,” a horror film made for under $1 million, has grossed more than $200 million worldwide, according to Variety, outperforming a new “Star Wars” release in the spring box office race.
• Concert films drove major turnout too. Baz Luhrmann’s “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” built from restored 1969-70s Las Vegas footage, and Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” both made the list.
• “Toy Story 5” earned direct comparisons to “Abbey Road” from Gleiberman, who called it a fitting summation of the franchise built around kids’ growing dependence on tech toys.
• Independent films including “Is God Is,” “The Invite,” “Blue Heron,” “Our Hero, Balthazar,” “Power Ballad,” “Rose of Nevada” and “Silent Friend” got singled out for creative risk-taking that critics say hasn’t gotten enough attention.
What to watch
The question now is whether these smaller and mid-budget hits can hold their momentum once a new wave of major franchise releases arrives in the second half of the year. That will shape how Variety’s full 2026 best-of list looks by December
