The year 2027 promises to be one of the busiest in the history of modern cinema. Heroes of cult animation franchises, Marvel superheroes, and Star Wars characters will return to the big screens. According to Wave RBC.UA, audiences will see sequels to Ice Age, Shrek, and Frozen, as well as new original Pixar projects and the conclusion of the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trilogy. Context for these premieres is also set by the current box office situation: according to Bloomberg and Kommersant, 2026’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day starring Tom Holland posted the second-largest opening weekend in Hollywood history, grossing $355 million in North America and $572 million abroad, with global box office earnings exceeding the $2.02 billion mark. Meanwhile, Marvel recorded a record 420 million hours watched on Disney+ in a single month, driven by successful marketing for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and the box office results of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Ice Age: Boiling Point — The Return of a Classic on February 5
One of the first major animated premieres of 2027 will be Ice Age: Boiling Point, scheduled for release on February 5. Beloved characters will once again set off on adventures, continuing a franchise history that has remained popular with audiences for many years. According to the official description, the new adventure will take the characters into unexplored corners of the dangerous Lost World. The entire core cast from previous installments will return for voice acting: Ray Romano (Manny), John Leguizamo (Sid), Denis Leary (Diego), Queen Latifah (Ellie), and Simon Pegg (Buck).
Pixar Presents Gatto — A New Story from Venice
On March 5, Pixar will present the original animated film Gatto. Unlike other releases in the lineup, this is not a sequel to a familiar franchise, but a new standalone project set in Italy. At the center of the plot is a black cat named Nero living among Venetian canals and superstitions. After many years of such an existence, he begins to wonder if he has been on the right path. Additionally, the hero owes a debt to Rocco, the ruthless leader of the local cat mafia. Circumstances force Nero to strike up an unexpected friendship that could help him find his true purpose, though the cat will face many trials along the way.
Star Wars and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse — Spring and Summer of Sci-Fi
In spring, the attention of sci-fi fans will be focused on the Star Wars universe. On May 28, Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling will premiere. According to the official description, the story centers on mysterious traveler Cady Oberon, played by Gosling. A collision with the secrets of his own past will draw the hero into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy, where he must meet his destiny. Summer, in turn, will gift animation fans the long-awaited continuation of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The third part of the trilogy is titled Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. The plot continues the events of the previous film: Miles Morales finds himself in an alternative reality where he meets his counterpart, while his friends are far away. Now the hero must find a way home, hunted by the Spider-Society led by Miguel O'Hara, while his relationships with former allies are put at risk. The film is set to conclude the story started in 2018 with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Shrek 5 and Frozen 3 — The Return of Disney Family Franchises
One of the most anticipated animated releases of the year will be the return of the green ogre Shrek. The fifth installment of the franchise will continue the story of characters who first appeared on big screens in 2001. Main voice actors returning include Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), and Cameron Diaz (Fiona). However, this time the story will focus more on the next generation of the fairy tale family: Zendaya has joined the cast to voice Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona, while her brothers Fergus and Farkle will be voiced by Marcello Hernandez and Skyler Gisondo, respectively. Another loud comeback is being prepared by Disney: the third part of Frozen, which will continue the story of sisters Anna and Elsa, started in 2013 and became one of the studio's most successful animated franchises. Returning to their roles are Kristen Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), and Josh Gad (Olaf). It has been revealed that there are romantic changes in the characters' lives: Anna and Kristoff are preparing for a wedding, and Olaf will get his first romantic interest — a character named Samantha.
Avengers: Secret Wars — The Grand Finale of the Year
Wrapping up 2027 will be one of the largest superhero premieres — Avengers: Secret Wars. The film will be the next major event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. Both films are directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, who previously worked on Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The title of the upcoming film references the famous Marvel comic book series Secret Wars, in which different universes collapse and their inhabitants are forced to unite. Considering that Spider-Man: Brand New Day has already surpassed the $2 billion mark worldwide, and Avengers: Doomsday set a pre-sale record of over $50 million three months before its premiere, the hype around Secret Wars could surpass all previous MCU expectations.
