Moviegoers are most eagerly anticipating the return of the Avengers to the big screen.
With 2026 quickly approaching, audiences have already signaled which cinematic experiences they are most excited for. The analytical platform VegasInsider recently evaluated Google search trends to compile a definitive ranking of next year’s most anticipated releases.
Standing as the undisputed leader in search volume is “Avengers: Doomsday.” Over the past year, American Google users queried the film nearly 10 million times—surpassing every other upcoming blockbuster by a significant margin.
Occupying the second spot is “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” another powerhouse from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which garnered approximately 4.4 million searches within the same timeframe.
Completing the top four are “Toy Story 5” and “Scream 7,” both of which reached 3.6 million searches. The top ten also features high-profile projects such as “Supergirl,” “The Cat in the Hat,” “Masters of the Universe,” a “Street Fighter” adaptation, Christopher Nolan’s “Odyssey,” and a new iteration of “Wuthering Heights” starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
These statistics highlight that, despite a string of recent challenges, Marvel still retains the brand equity and star power necessary to captivate a massive mainstream audience. If the correlation between search interest and box office performance holds true, “Avengers: Doomsday” is poised to be the defining cinematic event of 2026.
Helmed by directors Anthony and Joe Russo, the film is expected to unite heroes from the “Fantastic Four,” the “Avengers,” and the “X-Men.” With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the fold as Doctor Doom, the premiere is currently set for December 18, 2026.
Notably, the third installment of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” saga is scheduled to debut on that very same day. According to industry insiders, Warner Bros. has no intention of moving the premiere, as they were the first to claim the date. This head-to-head collision has already earned the nickname “Duneday”—a playful nod to the “Barbenheimer” cultural phenomenon.
Nevertheless, market analysts view this overlap as a risky maneuver that could have serious financial implications for “Dune: Part Three.” According to Google’s metrics, Villeneuve’s epic currently sits at 22nd place in the rankings with roughly 397,000 searches, suggesting it may struggle to compete for the spotlight against the Marvel juggernaut.
Source: iXBT.games