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. Theadaption ofRoald 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.
A teaser trailer for the highly anticipated biopic about Michael Jackson, debuted this past week. The film simply titled Michael, is rejuvenating the King of Pop's music and aura, months in advance. As a avid MJ fan, I know I watched the trailer more than 10 times the day it released.
The trailer has a wonderful blend of some of MJ's greatest hits. Which got me thinking about song's we could hear in the film. Which sparked me to create a wishlist. So here are 10 songs, some extreme longshots to actually make it; that I would love to hear in the movie.
10 2-4-6-8
While covering his Jackson 5 years, the movie surely will include the group's biggest hits ABC and I Want You Back. I'm hoping The LoveYou Save will be in the mix. As well this cut from their second album. It's a hidden gem in my opinion and just as catchy as their hits. Hoping it gets some love in the film.
9 Break Of Dawn
2001's Invincible was MJ's last original album. It had a few radio hits but ultimately was a flop, as the world moved on from the icon. Almost 25 years later, many are heralding this album as ahead of it's time. Which is very well true as Jackson was innovative and ahead of the curve.
This chilled sonic sounding r&b ballad is probably my favorite from Invincible. Because it was the end of his music career, I'm not sure how much energy the film will devote to the album. Hopefully we hear if in the background of a scene or something.
8 Pretty Young Thing
Fun fact I actually did a lip sync dance to this song for my wife, at our wedding reception. I'm pretty reserved but the spirit of MJ helped me through my performance. A track on 1982's Thriller album, it was released as a single back then and should have been a bigger hit.
It's a personal favorite so I hope we get a brief mix, a mention, something.
7 They Don't Care About Us
Another case where MJ was ahead of his time, this song from his 1995 album HiStory is relevant now more than ever. Part protest song, part intended to lead an uprising. People either love this song or hate it. I was 9 years old when the album was released, so I didn't understand the song fully.
Now as an adult, MJ was giving us life lessons about the various systems in society meant to break everyday people. There also was a great deal of controversy surrounding some lyrics in the song. Which deserves to be a plot point in the film.
6 Dirty Diana
Based on a clip from the trailer, we're definitely getting a Man In The Mirror performance in the movie. Smooth Criminal absolutely cannot be omitted in the film at all. One of his most rock, rock songs ever Dirty Diana, has a cautionary tale about groupies. That used in the film could provide some insight into his mindframe when it came to relationships.
5 Scream
The only duet with his sister, fellow pop icon Janet Jackson. 1995's Scream goes hard as the kids say today. It's gritty yet futuristic sound will have you in a trance. The music video is just as futuristic and that dance break is still copied to this day. In fact its a social media trend, or was..I can't keep up.
We have to see that dance break recreated on the big screen
4 Workin' Day And Night
Surprisingly this song was not released as a single during MJ's OFF The Wall run. Which is a shame as its just as good as the album's biggest hits. It's just as funky in the sound and makes you want to get up and dance. I'm hoping we may get a montage during that albums creation, with this song driving the montage.
3 Heartbreak Hotel
My favorite song from The Jackson's era when they left Motown til the group's complete separation. If you hear it one time you will instantly fall into the trance of a funky beat. I'm almost positive this song is in the movie. As a quick cut in the trailer shows a reenactment of a concert performance. And a part that was a staple of the group while they performed this song.
Check out this YouTube clip at the 3:30 mark for reference.
2 Remember The Time
MJ's foray into New Jack Swing for his 1991 Dangerous album must be covered. It was an attempt to reinvent himself and stay relevant in a changing music landscape. The music video is incredible and that Egyptian inspired dance break is top notch. And should be recreated on screen.
I expect to be tapping my feet to a scene in the movie to this song.
1 You Are Not Alone
The lead single from his HiStory album, this ballad is notable for having his then wife Lisa Marie Presley in the video. I wonder who is playing her in the film by the way. It also has messaging with not just relationships, but isolation in general and the role the media plays.
It's an emotional song that fits any point in the movie covering MJ's trials and tribulations. So its bound to be in the movie, right?
