This year is shaping up to be one brimming with movie magic, with a blockbuster line‑up set to captivate kids and kidults alike. From nostalgic favourites returning to the big screen to fresh cinematic moments that fans have been waiting years for, 2026 is packed with must‑see releases. Paladone is already stocked with the perfect gift, lifestyle and toy lines to help fans celebrate their favourite franchises beyond the cinema. Let’s take a look at the upcoming moments that everyone is counting down to this year:
Super Mario Galaxy
April 3rd – We’ll see the kick‑off of one of the team’s favourites: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. This follow‑up to The Super Mario Bros. Movie takes the franchise into space, drawing heavily from the much‑loved Super Mario Galaxy games. After a hugely successful first film that became the second highest‑grossing movie of 2023 (only narrowly beaten by Barbie, released three months later), excitement is already building around the introduction of characters such as Rosalina, Luma, Bowser Jr. and Yoshi, whose voice casting has created quite a stir online.
Positioned as a major event title tied to Mario’s 40th anniversary celebrations, the film reinforces Nintendo’s growing push into cinematic storytelling. Paladone has been creating themed merchandise in anticipation of the surge in demand from fans old and new.
Star Wars
May 4th – Star Wars Day celebrates the iconic space opera with a dedicated fan‑led event recognised around the world. Built around the phrase “May the Fourth be with you,” Star Wars Day has grown from a grassroots moment into a fully embraced global celebration, with Lucasfilm and Disney marking the date through new content drops, merchandise launches, themed events and digital activations. Each year, the day delivers a reliable surge in fan engagement across film, TV, gaming, cosplay and collectibles. Moments like this highlight how Star Wars remains culturally evergreen across generations, making it a key opportunity for retailers to be well stocked with Star Wars merchandise.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
May 22nd – Grogu has firmly established himself as a modern pop‑culture icon, driving strong demand across the gift and toy retail space. Much like the enduring appeal of Stitch, “The Child” serves as a fun, cute and instantly recognisable mascot for the latest Star Wars chapter. Alongside Grogu, the return of fan‑favourite characters and the introduction of compelling side characters add further depth to the ongoing Star Wars saga.
While we’ve already explored the importance of this fan moment in a previous article, it’s worth reiterating just how highly anticipated this release is for both long‑time Star Wars fans and a new generation discovering the franchise. With collectors eager to expand their displays and complement existing pieces, demand for fresh, character‑led products is set to be strong.
Toy Story 5
June 5th – Pixar’s fifth Toy Story instalment explores a “toy meets tech” theme, with the gang competing against modern digital distractions. Jessie steps into a leadership role, while new character Lilypad, a smart, tablet‑style toy, reflects modern-day childhood play habits.
Blending nostalgia with modern storytelling, the film reinforces the franchise’s strong multigenerational appeal. As one of the world’s most successful IPs, grossing over $3.3 billion globally, Toy Story continues to prove the lasting relevance of its legacy characters, making it a natural fit for gifting and collectible ranges.
Supergirl
June 26th – With Australia’s sweetheart Milly Alcock stepping into the lead role, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is set to soar onto the big screen with a bold new energy. Following Superman’s return to form last year and its more classic take on the IP, this film builds on that momentum while carving out its own identity. Part of DC Studios’ rebooted cinematic universe, Supergirl is a space‑focused, darker‑toned adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novel, positioning her as an anti‑hero figure, distinct from her famous cousin. The film signals DC’s intent to diversify tone and storytelling across its superhero slate, tapping into the growing appetite for fresh takes on classic characters and female‑led, genre‑blending blockbusters.
Minions & Monsters
July 1st – Set in 1920s Hollywood, Minions & Monsters sees the Minions attempting to make their own monster movie (with predictably chaotic results). Leaning into classic monster‑movie tropes while retaining the slapstick humour the franchise is known for, the film adds a fresh twist to the familiar formula. It also introduces an impressive new line‑up of voice talent, including Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Allison Janney and Zoey Deutch, adding extra star power to the release. The film further reinforces Universal’s long‑term investment in the Minions brand as a family‑friendly, globally recognisable property.
The Despicable Me franchise is the highest‑grossing animated franchise of all time, remaining unrivalled in popularity. This makes Minions‑led releases a consistently strong opportunity across toys, gifting and collectibles. With Paladone now holding the rights to sell Minions and other NBCUniversal licenses in the US, retailers have an even greater opportunity to tap into one of the most recognisable and in‑demand animated brands on the market.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
July 31st – This film resets Peter Parker’s story following No Way Home, with the world now unaware of his true identity. The tone shifts towards a more grounded, street‑level Spider‑Man, while still sitting firmly within the wider MCU. Drawing its title from a well‑known comic storyline, the film appeals strongly to long‑time fans while remaining accessible to new audiences.
This kind of reinvention helps keep the franchise feeling fresh, and Spider‑Man’s unique ability to resonate across age groups and formats remains unmatched, with an estimated 99% brand awareness among children aged 6 to 12. With its predecessor ranking as the eighth highest‑grossing film of all time, anticipation is high for the next instalment arriving this July, making it a perfect time to stock up on themed merch.
Avengers: Doomsday
December 18th – Positioned as a major MCU event, Avengers: Doomsday brings together the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Wakandans and X‑Men to face Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. Replacing the previously planned Kang storyline, the film serves as a key build‑up to Avengers: Secret Wars. Its sheer scale and all‑star ensemble mark it as one of Marvel’s most ambitious releases to date, and if it delivers anything close to the record‑breaking success of Avengers: Endgame, it is set to be a huge end‑of‑year blockbuster moment. Releases of this magnitude are ideal for driving fan engagement and demand for premium collectibles.
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