Summer's coming to a close, which means the Summer blockbuster season is coming to a end. 2026 proved to all the naysayers that movies and the movie theater experience are BACK. Spiderman, The Odyssey, Devil Wears Prada 2 and Toy Story 5 were the heavy hitters of the season. While surprise hits like Obsession, Coyote vs Acme and Backrooms proved there's still a market for more than the big budget action films. With this season slated to make over $4 billion at the box office.
While thinking about the good news regarding box office. I started thinking about the 1996 Summer Season, it doesn't get talked about enough when people mention years Hollywood was on a roll. However, that year provided industry game changers, hits from different genres, and genuine classics that still loved years later.
So here's a quick history lesson on all that the Summer of '96 gave us.
Independence Day was that years box office heavy hitter that made Will Smith into a star. Hot on its heels was the tornado chasing disaster flick Twister. Tom Cruise probably didn't intend to create a 20 plus year franchise with Mission Impossible, but he did. Michael Bay, Nicholas Cage, and Sean Connery bought us one of Bay's best in The Rock. And Arnold himself gave us one of his more underrated action films in Eraser.
Eddie Murphy gave his career a second wind, when he put on a fat suit and became Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor. Jim Carrey continued his mid-90's hit streak playing a deranged cable technician in The Cable Guy. While Robin Williams dramedy Jack made you laugh and pulled at your heart strings
Hollywood didn't leave the kids and families out either. Disney's 90's renaissance continued with The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The adaption of Roald Dahl's Matilda, inspired kids to believe in magic and intuition when life twists and turns. And Harriet The Spy encouraged kids to write more and journal, even if theres a chance they got in some trouble.
When it comes to blockbuster season, 1996 was a heavy hitter. And Hollywood created enough memories and magic in various genres, there are lessons they could use today. 2026 was the comeback for movies in theaters, 1996 set the standard.
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