U.S. Box Office Predictor Game 2026
Basically, I am just cutting and pasting what @The Knappos did 2 years ago.... I am slowly working on my list.. and really still using this post as a draft. I probably missed a lot, and will continue to revise for a while.
==
This is a fun game for folks who follow movie box office stories and charts, looking at films coming out in the US (known by many as “Domestic”) during 2026. This will NOT include International Box Office, which can differ in rankings on occasion for certain movies.
The goal is simple:
Use your crystal balls to predict 2026’s top 10 films in terms box office takings in the domestic US, in the order you think they will place as at the end of 31st December 2026.
You get to pick an overall 'squad' of 15 films, the top ten and a subs bench of 5 Dark Horses. Dark Horse picks allow you to choose 5 extra films that you are less sure of appearing in the top 10 but you can get some points if they do instead of one of your main picks. Good examples in recent years could be films like Venom, Deadpool, IT and both Venoms. (you can rank them 11 - 15 if you wish, but that's more for your personal view, and doesn't affect points -- see below)
If you haven’t played the game before and would like an idea of nominations, the 2022 game thread is here. And the 2023 game thread is here . As well as 2024 and 2025 (remind me to edit with links!)
Scoring:
Getting number 1 or number 10 dead-on gets you 13 points (each).
10 points for numbers 2-9 dead-on
7 points if your pick got into the top ten and was only one spot away from where it ended up
5 points if it was in the top ten and two spots away
3 points if your pick is anywhere in the Top 10
1 point for each dark horse that makes it into the Top 10
The scoring is tabulated so that you get the SINGLE HIGHEST point value for each pick- that is, if you get number ten right, you don't get 13+3, you get 13.
The maximum possible score is 106.
Scoring is limited to films which are in the top ten. So, if you nominate a film at 9 or 10 and they come in at 11 or 12, the 7 and 5 points won’t apply.
Notes:
1. This is for the US domestic Box Office only. No overseas figures are included.
2. Only films which open in the US in 2026 can be included. You can find a list here: movieinsider.com/movies/2026
and here: boxofficemojo.com/calendar/2026.
E.g. Any 2025 gross from Avatar 3 will not be included
3. Only takings up to the 31st December 2026 will be included.
E.g. the Avatar sequel is currently due for release on 19 December 2025 and will only have 12 days of takings counted. For Star Wars: The Force Awakens back in 2015, that cut off made the difference between first and second place (by roughly $5K!).
4. There will be no substitutions if you nominate a film currently on the release schedule, which is then pushed back into another year or cancelled altogether by the studio after entries close. 5. Likewise, there will be no substitutions if you nominate a film currently on the theatrical release schedule that then is bought by Netflix/Amazon or is changed to a streaming only release and doesn’t get a theatrical run. Likewise, if you nominate a direct to streaming release and I don’t catch it and warn you, no subs after entries close.
6. If you change your username after entering, I am likely not to notice and continue referring to you by your previous username until the end of the competition (I don’t mind being corrected though).
7. You are free to make and post changes to your predictions at any time between when you first post them and when entries close.
8. Entries close at Noon UK time on 31st January 2026 (yes, it’s a Saturday, but unlikely any major hits will be released by then). No changes or late entries will be included after this point.
In the event of a tie
If there is a tie break situation, the winner will be determined, on a sliding scale by:
1. Who nominated the most films which scored 13
2. Who nominated the most films which scored 10
3. Who nominated the most films which scored 7
4. Who nominated the most films which scored 5
5. Who nominated the most films which scored 3
6. Who had the most scoring Dark Horse nominations
7. Who had the most scoring nominations altogether
8. Who had the highest placing, non-scoring nominated film
9. If the two nominations list match exactly, whoever posted that list first
2023 Box Office Predictor game. Entries closed 28 January 2024.
Basically, I am just cutting and pasting what @The Knappos did 2 years ago.... I am slowly working on my list.. and really still using this post as a draft. I probably missed a lot, and will continue to revise for a while.
==
This is a fun game for folks who follow movie box office stories and charts, looking at films coming out in the US (known by many as “Domestic”) during 2026. This will NOT include International Box Office, which can differ in rankings on occasion for certain movies.
The goal is simple:
Use your crystal balls to predict 2026’s top 10 films in terms box office takings in the domestic US, in the order you think they will place as at the end of 31st December 2026.
You get to pick an overall 'squad' of 15 films, the top ten and a subs bench of 5 Dark Horses. Dark Horse picks allow you to choose 5 extra films that you are less sure of appearing in the top 10 but you can get some points if they do instead of one of your main picks. Good examples in recent years could be films like Venom, Deadpool, IT and both Venoms. (you can rank them 11 - 15 if you wish, but that's more for your personal view, and doesn't affect points -- see below)
If you haven’t played the game before and would like an idea of nominations, the 2022 game thread is here. And the 2023 game thread is here . As well as 2024 and 2025 (remind me to edit with links!)
Scoring:
Getting number 1 or number 10 dead-on gets you 13 points (each).
10 points for numbers 2-9 dead-on
7 points if your pick got into the top ten and was only one spot away from where it ended up
5 points if it was in the top ten and two spots away
3 points if your pick is anywhere in the Top 10
1 point for each dark horse that makes it into the Top 10
The scoring is tabulated so that you get the SINGLE HIGHEST point value for each pick- that is, if you get number ten right, you don't get 13+3, you get 13.
The maximum possible score is 106.
Scoring is limited to films which are in the top ten. So, if you nominate a film at 9 or 10 and they come in at 11 or 12, the 7 and 5 points won’t apply.
Notes:
1. This is for the US domestic Box Office only. No overseas figures are included.
2. Only films which open in the US in 2026 can be included. You can find a list here: movieinsider.com/movies/2026
and here: boxofficemojo.com/calendar/2026.
E.g. Any 2025 gross from Avatar 3 will not be included
3. Only takings up to the 31st December 2026 will be included.
E.g. the Avatar sequel is currently due for release on 19 December 2025 and will only have 12 days of takings counted. For Star Wars: The Force Awakens back in 2015, that cut off made the difference between first and second place (by roughly $5K!).
4. There will be no substitutions if you nominate a film currently on the release schedule, which is then pushed back into another year or cancelled altogether by the studio after entries close. 5. Likewise, there will be no substitutions if you nominate a film currently on the theatrical release schedule that then is bought by Netflix/Amazon or is changed to a streaming only release and doesn’t get a theatrical run. Likewise, if you nominate a direct to streaming release and I don’t catch it and warn you, no subs after entries close.
6. If you change your username after entering, I am likely not to notice and continue referring to you by your previous username until the end of the competition (I don’t mind being corrected though).
7. You are free to make and post changes to your predictions at any time between when you first post them and when entries close.
8. Entries close at Noon UK time on 31st January 2026 (yes, it’s a Saturday, but unlikely any major hits will be released by then). No changes or late entries will be included after this point.
In the event of a tie
If there is a tie break situation, the winner will be determined, on a sliding scale by:
1. Who nominated the most films which scored 13
2. Who nominated the most films which scored 10
3. Who nominated the most films which scored 7
4. Who nominated the most films which scored 5
5. Who nominated the most films which scored 3
6. Who had the most scoring Dark Horse nominations
7. Who had the most scoring nominations altogether
8. Who had the highest placing, non-scoring nominated film
9. If the two nominations list match exactly, whoever posted that list first
2023 Box Office Predictor game. Entries closed 28 January 2024.
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