A Collider article argues that 2026’s box office has been unusually unpredictable, with films succeeding despite low budgets, limited pedigree or doubts about their commercial appeal. It says this challenges the assumption that cinema audiences will only support established franchises and large-scale spectacle.

– *Obsession* reportedly became a major success relative to its very small budget.
– *Backrooms*, made by a 20-year-old director, is presented as an example of low-budget horror outperforming better-resourced studio releases.
– Some sequels also found audiences despite doubts about their prospects.
– Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey* had been expected to dominate the market, but did not prevent other films breaking through.
– The article identifies *Michael*, a biopic about Michael Jackson, as a risky release because of concerns that music biopics had become stale and Jackson’s legacy remains contested.