Universal Pictures has crossed $5 billion at the global box office in 2026, becoming the first studio to reach the mark this year. The company announced the milestone on September 25.

The total comes from $1.788 billion in the US and Canada plus $3.218 billion in international markets, according to the studio. It is only the third time Universal has passed $5 billion in a calendar year, after 2015 and 2017.

Three billion-dollar films powered the run. Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" leads at more than $1.73 billion worldwide, making it Universal's highest-grossing film ever. Illumination's "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" also crossed $1 billion.

Only five films have passed $1 billion globally this year, and Universal distributed three of them. Other hits include "Minions & Monsters" at $523 million and Focus Features' "Obsession" at $519 million, The Wrap reported.

The studio is 29 percent ahead of its final 2025 global total of $3.89 billion. Universal has also topped the global weekend box office 11 times this year, with more releases still ahead in the final months of 2026.