Project Hail Mary lifts US box office to highest level since the pandemic

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Movie theaters in the US are recovering well, thanks to popular films like Project Hail Mary and Hoppers. The first three months of the year have been the most profitable for cinemas since the pandemic began.

When theaters shut down in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, they faced major challenges. Even after reopening, they’ve had a hard time getting back to normal, due to shifts in how people watch movies and a decrease in the number of new films being released.

Comparing the first three months of 2019 and 2022, US box office revenue significantly decreased. In 2019, films like Captain Marvel and Aquaman helped generate $2.7 million in ticket sales. However, in 2022, the total for the same period was only $1.35 million.

Thanks to hit movies like Project Hail Mary, Hoppers, and Scream 7, plus the continued success of some films released in 2025, American box offices have had their most profitable first quarter in years.

Project Hail Mary drives $1.77 billion first quarter success

After only 11 days in theaters, ‘Project Hail Mary’ has earned $177 million in the US, and the film’s success, along with other releases, has boosted the total US box office revenue to $1.77 billion for the first three months of the year.

I was looking at the numbers from ComScore, as Deadline reported, and it looks like 2026 is shaping up to be even better than last year! 2023 was a great year with $1.75 billion in sales, but 2026 is already on track to beat that!

The 2025 film Avatar: Fire and Ash contributed to the overall success, earning an extra $153.8 million this year.

Here are the biggest movies responsible for that impressive box office total – a scary sequel, a film based on a popular book, and a sports drama about a legendary athlete.

  • Project Hail Mary: $177 million
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash: $153.8 million (2026 gross)
  • Hoppers: $141.6 million
  • Scream 7: $119.2 million
  • Goat: $101 million
  • Zootopia 2: $90 million (2026 gross)
  • Wuthering Heights: $84 million

Things are definitely looking up for gaming! We’re not quite back to normal yet, but the latest numbers for the second quarter are promising. “Super Mario Galaxy” dropped on April 1st and it absolutely smashed all the sales records – it’s a huge win for everyone!

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2026-04-03 13:50