Fandango recently unveiled its 2026 moviegoing trends and insights studies, which revealed the 10 most anticipated movies of the summer in the process. Among these top movies, however, lurks a troubling trend.

What is the troubling trend amongst 2026’s most anticipated movies?

The most anticipated movies of the year, as compiled from data from Fandango’s latest release of its moviegoing trends and insights studies, comes from votes from moviegoers themselves. The list features some of the biggest movies set to release this year, and includes, in order:

1. Toy Story 5
2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day
3. The Devil Wears Prada 2
4. The Odyssey
5. Scary Movie (2026)
6. Moana (2026)
7. Minions & Monsters
8. Mortal Kombat II
9. Supergirl
10. Sony/Blumhouse Insidious

While the list itself seems fairly obvious in terms of some of the biggest names on here, it is a a troubling sight. With the exception of The Odyssey (which itself is based on one of the most famous stories of all time) and Supergirl (which is the second movie in the growing DCU), the entire list is comprised of sequels or a part of a well-established franchise or IP. Even in The Odyssey’s case, the likely reason it’s on here is due to the film being directed by Christopher Nolan, i.e. one of the most famous directors working.

At its core, it makes sense as to why sequels and other franchise-related movies would litter the top of any “most anticipated” list. However, it’s a troubling trend for the world of movies. The lack of excitement for any original movies is one that has continued to grow over time, which could spell out a long-term issue for not only Hollywood, but theaters as well.

As movie theater operators continue to struggle to get people committed to watching movies away from home, the audience’s growing lack of curiosity in original movies only makes it easier to never visit. This problem is a double-edged sword as well, as most sequels tend to lead in declining interest over a property over time, resulting in diminishing returns for a studio and thus even less movies overall being made as a result.

While movies set in the Toy Story and Spider-Man worlds will always be highly anticipated, it is a bit disappointing to see no fully original films listed. With movies like Obsession, Disclosure Day, The End of Oak Street, and more all coming out throughout the summer, it’s shocking to see that casual audiences are just fully relying on the comfort of what they know to inform their moviegoing experience.