License Global compiles an adaptive list of the biggest movies, we believe, which will impact licensed consumer products across 2023 and beyond.

Ben Roberts, Content Director

April 25, 2023

3 Min Read
License Global

Character and entertainment make up for 41% of the brand-licensing activity at retail. That’s precisely $129.4 billion of the worldwide total for FY2021 ($315.5 billion) according to Licensing International. One core driver is the blockbuster, the major movie moment that brings fans and families together.  

With the gradual return and proven success of the blockbuster movement after a trying period for cinema (e.g., “Super Mario Bros. Movie” becoming the world’s biggest video game adaptation on record), we’re taking a deep dive into what franchise editions, new launches and tentpole pictures will impact the brand-licensing calendar over the next five years. 

2024 Box Office Movie Releases

  • “Lilo & Stitch” – Disney+ (TBD)

  • “Twisters” – Universal Pictures (TBD)

  • “Inside Out 2” – Disney (TBD)

  • “Masters of the Universe” – Mattel Entertainment (TBD)

  • "Mean Girls" – Paramount (January)

  • “Madame Web” – Sony Pictures (February)

  • "Argylle" – Universal Pictures (February)

  • “Kung Fu Panda 4” – Universal Pictures (March)

  • “Dune: Part Two”–Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Entertainment (March)

  • “A Quiet Place: Day One” – Paramount Pictures (March)

  • Godzilla vs. Kong 2” – Warner Bros. Pictures (March)

  • “Disney’s Snow White” – Disney (March)

  • “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" – Sony Pictures (March)

  • “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” – Warner Bros. Pictures (April)

  • "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" – Warner Bros. (May)

  • “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” – 20th Century Studios (June)

  • “Ballerina” – Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road, 87Eleven Productions (June)

  • “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two” – Paramount Pictures (June)

  • Despicable Me 4” – Universal Pictures (July)

  • Untitled Marvel Universe Movie – Sony (July)

  • “Thunderbolts” – Marvel Entertainment (July)

  • Untitled “Deadpool” Movie – 20thCentury Studios (July)

  • "Kraven the Hunter" - Sony (August)

  • “Blade” – Marvel Entertainment (September)

  • Untitled Monkeypaw Movie – (September)

  • "Beetlejuice 2" – Warner Bros. Pictures (September)

  • “Joker: Folie à Deux” – Warner Bros. Pictures (October)

  • "Gladiator 2" – Paramount Pictures (November)

  • “Wicked: Part One” – Universal – (November)

  • "Paddington in Peru" StudioCanal (November)

  • Avatar 3” – 20th Century Studios (December)

2025 Box Office Movie Releases 

  • Captain America: New World Order”–Marvel Entertainment (May)

  • Untitled Smurfs Movie – Sony Pictures (TBD)

  • Tron 3 – Disney (TBD)

  • “A Quiet Place: Part III” – Paramount Pictures (TBD)

  • M3GAN 2.0 – Universal Pictures (January)

  • “Fantastic Four” – Marvel Entertainment (February)

  • “How to Train Your Dragon” – Universal Pictures (March) 

  • Minecraft” – Warner Bros. Animation (April)

  • “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” – Marvel Entertainment (April)

  • Untitled SpongeBob SquarePants Movie – Nickelodeon Movies (May)

  • Superman Legacy” – Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios (July)

  • Untitled Marvel Movie – Marvel Entertainment (July)

  • “The Batman: Part II” – Warner Bros. Pictures (October)

  • Untitled Marvel Movie – Marvel Entertainment (November)

  • Untitled Star Wars Movie – Disney (December)

  • “Wicked: Part Two” – Universal (December)

  • “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat”–Warner Bros. Pictures (TBD)

2026 Box Office Movie Releases 

  • “Friday the 13th" (TBD)

  • “Thing One and Thing Two” (TBD)

  • Untitled Marvel Movie – Marvel Entertainment (TBD)

  • Avengers: Secret Wars” – Marvel Entertainment (TBD)

  • Untitled Marvel Movie – Marvel Entertainment (TBD)

  • Untitled Marvel Movie – Marvel Entertainment (TBD)

  • “Avatar 4” – 20th Century Studios (December)

2027 Box Office Movie Releases

  • Untitled Star Wars Project (TBD)

  • “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” – Warner Bros. Pictures (TBD)

This is an adaptive list of selected movies that are forecast to make an impact at retail, compiled by License Global from direct and indirect sources (The Numbers, IMDB). If we’re missing something, tell us! Get in touch with Ben Roberts (EMEA content director, License Global) at [email protected] to suggest a title coming that should be on licensor, licensee and marketer’s radars.

About the Author(s)

Ben Roberts

Content Director, License Global

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