Fandango: Here’s the Top 10 must-see summer big screen movies
I love the streaming goals but how about Fandango coming through with a Top 10 lists of must-see flicks brewing for the summer? My goodness.
Pure awesomeness especially when you have movies like Scary Movie and Supergirl on deck. Peep the deets.
Fandango, the nation’s leading online movie ticketing service, today revealed the results of its annual Moviegoing Trends & Insights Study, ahead of CinemaCon, Cinema United’s official convention taking place from April 13th – April 16th in Las Vegas. Surveying over 5,000 moviegoers, this year’s study highlights how generational differences are shaping the future of theatrical moviegoing, with Gen Z and Millennials not only attending movies more frequently but also spending more per trip and seeking out enhanced, experience-driven offerings that extend beyond the screen.
The study reveals clear distinctions in how different generations approach moviegoing. Gen Z is leading attendance growth and treating moviegoing as a social, premium experience, over-indexing on premium formats, digital ticketing, and pairing trips to the theater with dining and group outings. In contrast, Millennials approach moviegoing as a more planned and value-conscious purchase, balancing entertainment with budget considerations and family logistics, while leaning into nostalgia more than any other group.
“As the moviegoing landscape continues to evolve, understanding generational behaviors is critical to unlocking future growth,” said Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango. “Gen Z and Millennials are redefining what it means to go to the movies by prioritizing premium experiences, social engagement, and new forms of content. Meeting them where they are isn’t optional, it’s essential to the future of theatrical moviegoing.”
Additional key findings from Fandango’s 2026 Moviegoing Trends & Insights Study:
Attending premium formats continues to rise, reaching 84% in 2025. IMAX remains the top choice overall, with Millennials favoring Dolby Cinema next and Gen Z showing stronger interest in 3D experiences.
92% of moviegoers prefer to attend theaters with others. Gen Z attends with friends more than any other generation, and Millennials are most likely to attend with significant others or family.
Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to pair moviegoing with dining and drinks, reinforcing theaters as part of a broader social and entertainment experience.
Interest in alternative content is rising, with 89% of Gen Z and 83% of Millennials expressing interest in options like sporting events, concert films, re-releases, and TV premieres or finales.
The appetite for summer moviegoing remains strong, with 76% of all moviegoers surveyed planning to see a movie in theaters this summer. Summer 2026 is gearing up to make quite a splash with titles like Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey and Scary Movie (2026) leading the top 10 most anticipated summer movies list, offering a nostalgic adventure for all audiences and all ages.
The top 10 most anticipated summer movies are:
Toy Story 5
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
The Devil Wears Prada 2
The Odyssey
Scary Movie (2026)
Moana (2026)
Minions & Monsters
Mortal Kombat II
Supergirl
Sony/Blumhouse Insidious
The Complete 2026 Moviegoing Trends & Insights Study is available HERE.
STUDY METHODOLOGY
Fandango surveyed more than 7,000 adults ages 18 to 70, from the general population, 5,091 of whom were Moviegoers, defined as those who saw 1+ movies in the past year, between January 8th – January 21st, 2026. The demographic breakdown of the surveyed Moviegoers was representative of the US population in terms of age, gender, region, ethnicity, and income. Additionally, information on our Top 10 most anticipated summer movies and overall summer sentiment was obtained in a supplemental survey of over 6,000 Moviegoers conducted in February 2026.
ABOUT FANDANGO
Fandango digital network provides unrivaled, instant access to all things movies and TV, enhancing fan enjoyment across the entire entertainment journey. The portfolio serves more than 50 million unique visitors per month and includes leading online movie ticketer, Fandango, which tickets for 31,000 U.S. movie screens; world-renowned entertainment review site, Rotten Tomatoes; and Fandango at Home, the on-demand streaming service offering the industry’s best selection of 4K UHD titles and more than 300,000 new release and catalogue movies and next day TV shows.
