By Sunday, Universal Pictures expects the five-day opening of the "Super Mario" sequel to reach $186 million domestically and approximately $350 million worldwide. This would undoubtedly make it the biggest hit of the year, surpassing two already successful films also launched with young audiences in focus: Pixar’s "Hoppers" ($297 million globally) and Amazon MGM’s "Project Hail Mary" ($300.8 million). This is not the start of a new trend but the culmination of an existing one. In 2024, PG-rated films (indicating suitability for children) surpassed all other rating categories in box office revenue for the first time in decades, with $3.18 billion domestically, according to Comscore. Five of the six most-watched films worldwide were PG titles: "Inside Out 2," "Moana 2," "Despicable Me 4," "Wicked," and "Mufasa: The Lion King." Last year was no different. PG-rated films collected $2.96 billion, again overtaking the long-time leader, PG-13. Among the biggest global hits were "Ne Zha 2," "Zootopia 2," "Lilo & Stitch," "A Minecraft Movie," and the PG-13 film, though not exactly child-unfriendly, "Avatar: Fire and Ash." Good news in Hollywood is otherwise scarce. Market consolidation, most recently through the planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, is further fueling nerves in an already shaky industry. Although box office revenues are rising so far in 2026, they remain more than 20% below pre-pandemic levels. In February, AMC, the largest cinema chain in the U.S., announced continued closures of underperforming theaters. However, despite numerous stories about the endangered future of cinema-going, the future cinema audience—children—are arriving in large numbers. "There is a growing recognition that this is an increasingly important group of movie fans, and we are doing everything we can to make their cinema experience great," says Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Cinema United, a cinema owners’ umbrella organization. Generation Alpha, children under 12, may be the greatest hope for the future of movies. A study by the National Research Group (NRG) last year showed that no other generation wants to watch movies on the big screen, rather than at home, more than Gen Alpha. "We are encouraged by research showing that younger people are the fastest-growing demographic when it comes to cinema-going. We are very focused on building a new generation of movie fans," says O’Leary. In 2023, "The Super Mario Movie," part of Universal’s collaboration with Nintendo and Illumination, the studio behind "Minions," earned $1.36 billion. Its sequel is expected to approach that revenue and further strengthen the growing list of children’s films crossing the billion-dollar threshold. The most recent example is Disney’s "Zootopia 2," which became the highest-grossing Hollywood animated film of all time with an impressive $1.87 billion. Generations raised with smartphones, tablets, and Netflix are now driving the biggest box office hits. "What has long been true, and perhaps even more so today: families want to be out of the house. They want to do something together. They want to create memories. No one says, ‘Remember that great moment when we sat on the couch?’" says Jim Orr, head of distribution at Universal, who recently announced an extension of the exclusive theatrical window for its films from three to five weekends. This year could be the most child-focused yet. For 2026, 26 wide theatrical releases of PG-rated films are planned, compared to 24 in 2025 and 18 in 2024. There is also a summer schedule almost tailored week by week for families. Among potential blockbusters are "Toy Story 5" (June 19), "Minions & Monsters" (July 1), and the live-action "Moana" (July 10). Though not yet officially rated, "The Mandalorian and Grogu" (May 22), "Supergirl" (June 26), and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (July 31) will also target younger cinema audiences. The rise of PG films comes several years after most family titles ended up on streaming services during the pandemic, which at the time seemed like a permanent shift. "The family film has literally returned from near extinction. The genre that suffered the most during the pandemic was precisely the family film," says Paul Dergarabedian, head of market trends at Comscore. However, children today increasingly belong to a key group for cinemas: frequent moviegoers. This group includes those who watch six or more films in theaters annually, and it’s not just the youngest. Last year, 41% of Gen Z went to the cinema at least six times, according to NRG, compared to 31% two years ago. For cinephiles long afraid that cinemas would turn into mini amusement parks, the dominance of children’s franchises and blockbusters is hardly reassuring. Mid-budget films for adult audiences are becoming increasingly rare. Dramas and comedies struggle to attract viewers. The larger share of family films in cinema repertoires is partly due to declining interest among adult audiences in going to the movies. However, while older audiences are increasingly difficult to lure off the couch, families are far more willing to go out. For them, the appeal of leaving home remains strong, despite rising ticket prices and the abundance of content on streaming services. "In many cases, they go to the cinema to escape all the other screens filling their lives. When I was a child, going to the cinema was, among other things, about escaping something. This is a new version of that old story," says O’Leary. Dergarabedian began saying that PG is the new PG-13. If films with slightly more mature content once dominated multiplexes, today that place is taken by PG titles. "Children going to the cinema today will take their own children tomorrow. As long as people continue to have children, the future of the cinema experience is secure," says Dergarabedian.