Disney Studios celebrated its successes of the last year and set the stage for what families can expect in cinemas in the coming months.
Walt Disney Studios closed out CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas riding an extraordinary wave of momentum, celebrating a 2025 in which three of its films — Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Lilo & Stitch — each crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, while unveiling a sweeping lineup of new projects set to hit theaters through the end of 2026.
For parents and families, the announcements signal one of the most packed theatrical years in recent memory, with beloved franchises returning, live-action reimaginings arriving, and brand-new stories making their big-screen debuts. Andrew Cripps, Disney’s Head of Theatrical Distribution, noted that Disney films play an average of 57 days in theaters, longer than the industry norm. “Cinemas matter. It’s something you can’t get anywhere else,” Cripps said at the presentation.
Disney’s 2025 Box Office Dominance Sets The Stage
Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Entertainment Studios, addressed more than 4,000 CinemaCon members gathered at the Dolby Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, opening his remarks with a look back at the studio’s record-breaking 2025.
Zootopia 2 pulled in nearly $1.9 billion globally, a figure Disney described as the highest ever for a Hollywood animated film. Avatar: Fire and Ash contributed roughly $1.5 billion, pushing the entire Avatar franchise past $6.7 billion in cumulative worldwide earnings. Lilo & Stitch rounded out the trio by crossing the $1 billion threshold as well.
Those three titles helped Disney bring in close to $6.6 billion at the global box office in 2025, a total the studio says exceeded its nearest competitor by more than $2 billion. Disney also claimed the top spot at the global box office in nine of the past ten years and noted that its seven production studios collectively account for 37 billion-dollar-grossing titles, a figure it says is four times greater than any other studio.
Bergman told the assembled exhibitors, “At all seven of our studios, it’s about high-quality storytelling with heart and humor that resonates around the world and stands the test of time — and there’s nobody that does it like Disney.”
Before turning to future releases, Disney acknowledged two films already out this year. Pixar’s Hoppers has crossed $350 million globally and posted the biggest domestic opening weekend for an original animated film since Coco in 2017. 20th Century Studios’ Send Help also earned strong reviews. Both were described as hits with critics and audiences.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Arrives May 1
The first major upcoming release Disney spotlighted was The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sequel to the 2006 film, opening exclusively in theaters on May 1.
Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci all return to their original roles. The sequel is directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, who also wrote the original. A special video message from Hathaway, who is set to be named a Disney Legend, was screened exclusively for CinemaCon attendees.
While it’s the least “kid-friendly” movie on our list, your teens may enjoy it, especially if they’ve already watched the first movie.
Star Wars Returns To The Big Screen
Director Jon Favreau, himself a Disney Legend, joined the presentation to discuss Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars theatrical release in nearly seven years.
The film opens on May 22 and stars Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and Jeremy Allen White. Favreau announced during the presentation that advance tickets would go on sale on April 17, and the audience was treated to the film’s final trailer and the first 18 minutes.
The story picks up after the fall of the Empire, with Din Djarin and Grogu navigating a galaxy still finding its footing under the New Republic.
Toy Story 5 Brings Woody And Buzz Back June 19
Tom Hanks and Tim Allen appeared onstage together to generate excitement for Toy Story 5, opening June 19. The film introduces a new character named Lilypad, a tablet device that disrupts the toy gang’s relationship with their kid, Bonnie. Andrew Stanton directs, and Randy Newman returns to score the film for the fifth time in the franchise.
For families who grew up with these characters, the return of Woody and Buzz is one of the most anticipated animated events of the summer.
Live-Action Moana Hits Theaters July 10
Dwayne Johnson, who reprises his role as the demigod Maui and his questionable hair, introduced an exclusive look at the live-action Moana, arriving July 10. Catherine Laga’aia makes her feature film debut in the title role and will receive CinemaCon’s Rising Star of 2026 Award.
The film is directed by Thomas Kail and produced by Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also contributed original songs alongside Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina. Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana in both animated films, serves as an executive producer on this version.
If you are looking for ways to prepare younger children for the theatrical experience, checking out family movies that are safe for sensitive kids can help you gauge which upcoming titles might be the right fit for your household.
This is one of the movies we are most excited to see from our lineup of kids and teens movies of 2026, which we’re most excited to watch in theaters.
Why This Matters For Families
What stands out about Disney’s CinemaCon 2026 presentation is not just the volume of titles but the range of experiences on offer. Families with toddlers, tweens, and teenagers will all find something on this slate aimed directly at them.
The return of Toy Story, the live-action Moana, and the first Star Wars film in years represent the kind of shared theatrical moments that parents and kids tend to remember long after the credits roll. Disney’s sustained box-office dominance suggests the studio has figured out something that others are still chasing: stories that genuinely work for the whole family in a theater, together.
