Key Takeaways

• 2026 has seen a mix of successful and unsuccessful sci-fi films, with notable box office performances.
• Avatar: Fire and Ash grossed over $1.4 billion, securing a future for the franchise.
• Streaming platforms have revitalized films that initially underperformed in theaters.
• Fans can expect exciting updates from the sci-fi genre throughout the year.

2026 has been a roller-coaster year for sci-fi fans, who have been treated to some smash hits and some colossal flops. The year began on a rocky path with new releases such as Greenland 2: Migration (starring Gerard Butler) and Mercy (starring Rebecca Ferguson), both of which failed to turn a profit at the box office. Each film has gone on to become a smash hit on streaming, but the financial damage was done before they even left theaters. Sci-fi fans showed up in a big way for one of the most successful films in years, Project Hail Mary (starring Ryan Gosling), which grossed over $600 million at the box office before hitting Prime Video last week. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, who also wrote the sci-fi book that inspired Ridley Scott’s 2015 film, The Martian.

2025 also produced some great sci-fi movies and TV shows, and one of the first feature films that comes to mind is Avatar: Fire and Ash. The third installment in James Cameron’s legendary sci-fi franchise hit screens around the world at the end of the year, and while it failed to reach the same $2 billion+ peak as its predecessors, it still grossed over $1.4 billion at the box office. This should be enough for Disney to green-light the fourth installment, which was in doubt for a while. Months after ending its theatrical run, Avatar: Fire and Ash finally arrived on Disney Plus two weeks ago, and the film has still yet to be dethroned at the top of streaming charts after 15 days.