Almost all sequels: Why Super Bowl LX’s movie trailer slate is dominated by follow‑ups

Super Bowl Sunday has become Hollywood’s second biggest stage, right after opening weekend. Every year, studios take advantage of the 100 million‑plus viewers tuning in to drop exclusive movie trailers that shape the year in cinema as much as the NFL shapes the year in sports.

For Super Bowl LX, the slate of anticipated trailers and TV spots is stacked with sequels and franchise continuations. In fact, of the major films expected to debut spots around the broadcast, only one is an original story, and every other film is tied to an existing franchise or universe.

Here’s a look at the major titles likely to make their Super Bowl appearance, and how they fit into the larger trend.

Movies expected to debut trailers or spots on Super Bowl Sunday

Sequels and franchise continuations:

• Avengers: Doomsday - A confirmed entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a direct follow‑up to past “Avengers” films.
• Toy Story 5 - A direct sequel in Pixar’s beloved “Toy Story” franchise.
• Spider‑Man: Brand New Day - Part of the ongoing “Spider‑Man" and Marvel universe arc.
• Super Mario Galaxy Movie - A continuation of the “Super Mario” cinematic universe following the first animated film.
• Mortal Kombat II - A sequel to the 2021 “Mortal Kombat” reboot.
• The Mandalorian and Grogu - A big‑screen continuation of the “Star Wars” universe series.
• Scary Movie 6 - Part of the long‑running horror‑comedy franchise.
• Minions 3 - The latest installment in Illumination’s “Minions”/“Despicable Me” universe.

These titles are all tied to franchise worlds with strong built‑in audiences, which is exactly what studios want when spending millions on a Super Bowl advertising spot.

The one original film:

• Hoppers - A new Pixar movie with an original story about a character using advanced technology to transfer awareness into a robotic animal.

While Pixar films often feel familiar thanks to the studio’s storytelling style, “Hoppers” isn’t a sequel or continuation of a prior franchise, making it the outlier amid the otherwise franchise‑heavy lineup.

Why Hollywood leans on sequels on Super Bowl Sunday

The franchise/sequel-dominated trailer spots is nothing new. Historically, films tied to existing franchises tend to dominate the Super Bowl trailer lineup. There are two big reasons studios mostly bring sequels and franchise continuations to the Super Bowl: immediate recognition and box office security.

Studios see sequels as more profitable and reliable promotional investments. Movies that were part of franchises with Super Bowl ads in the past have consistently performed well at the box office, in some cases much better than original films that advertise elsewhere.

Original films like “Hoppers” typically rely on stand‑alone marketing campaigns rather than one big trailer release. So when one does get a Super Bowl slot, it’s notable precisely because it’s unusual.

Examples from recent years

• In Super Bowl 2025, major trailers during and around the broadcast included big franchise titles such as “Jurassic World Rebirth”, “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning”, and “How to Train Your Dragon”, among others, most of which were sequels or continuations of known stories.
• In Super Bowl 2024, trailers debuted for “Deadpool & Wolverine”, “Wicked: Part One”, and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”, again emphasizing franchise continuity.

For audience members tuning in on February 8, they can expect this year’s movie trailer lineup to be less about introducing new stories and more about celebrating familiar ones. Whether you’re a fan of superheroes, iconic animated worlds, or long‑running gaming franchises, Super Bowl LX is shaping up to be a showcase of cinematic sequels ready to dominate 2026 box offices.

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