«Spider-Man: Brand New Day» held onto the top spot at the global box office in the final full weekend of summer, narrowly fending off a challenge from the mythological epic «Odyssey.» The Marvel sequel collected $66.2 million worldwide in its fifth session, edging out «Odyssey» at $62.9 million in a close race that kept the late-summer frame competitive.
The continued reign of «Spider-Man: Brand New Day» pushes its global cumulative total to $2.33 billion, a figure that includes $1.44 billion from international markets and $891.5 million domestically. The film's staying power in its fifth weekend reflects strong word-of-mouth and sustained audience interest, even as new releases entered the marketplace during the traditional dog days of the season.
Universal Pictures, meanwhile, became the first studio this year to cross $3 billion in overseas box office revenue year-to-date. The milestone underscores the strength of the studio's 2026 slate, which has drawn audiences across multiple territories and genres. The achievement places Universal ahead of its competitors in the international marketplace, a key driver of profitability for major Hollywood releases.
The weekend also brought disappointing news for Disney and 20th Century, whose post-apocalyptic thriller «The Dog Stars» opened to just $8 million domestically from 3,330 locations, finishing in fifth place. The film, which carried a production budget of more than $80 million, has not resonated with audiences, marking one of the season's most notable commercial misfires. The weak debut raises questions about the viability of mid-budget genre films in a marketplace increasingly dominated by franchise tentpoles.
The global box office picture this summer has been defined by the duel between «Spider-Man: Brand New Day» and «Odyssey,» two films that have traded momentum across various international territories. While the superhero sequel has maintained its lead, the epic's performance suggests there remains significant appetite for large-scale storytelling beyond the comic-book genre. Both films have benefited from strong international showings, with overseas markets contributing the majority of their respective grosses.
Industry observers will be watching whether «Spider-Man: Brand New Day» can sustain its momentum into the early fall, when a new wave of releases typically reshuffles the box office hierarchy. For now, the film's fifth-weekend performance cements its status as one of the highest-grossing releases of the year, while Universal's overseas milestone highlights the growing importance of international markets to the studio business model.