Welcome to the League!

Inspired by the Vulture Movie Fantasy League, we are launching the first-ever Knock on Wood Movie Fantasy League, which will encompass films currently scheduled for theatrical release between April 1 and September 30, 2026.

Each player has 100 imaginary dollars to go towards your team of new release films. A dollar amount has been assigned to each upcoming theatrical film based on earnings potential. No streaming-exclusive films are included. Your “team” must be comprised of exactly eight films, and you cannot exceed your imaginary $100. You can, however, be under $100 if you so choose.

There are two ways to earn points: through box office performance and critical reception. You can check out the numerical specifics below, but essentially, you get points for every million dollars earned, plus bonuses for ending up at No. 1 on the domestic box office (keyword domestic, meaning US and Canada only…the same goes for dollars earned) and in the top 10. The critical performance of a film is just as important, with Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Letterboxd, and IMDb scores all taken into account. Points from critical performance will only be awarded once, after two box office weekends, to ensure stabilization.

Choose your strategy carefully, or play purely based on vibes (as I tend to do with games like this!). Only one entry per person is allowed. If you enter before April 1, all films are fair game. Any entry afterward cannot include films already released. If a film is delayed, it cannot be replaced. If you have any questions, you can reach us at franchiseparadiso@gmail.com.

See a list of eligible movies here, and draft your team at the end of this page. I encourage you to do your own research for the most well-rounded, educated guesses, but it is certainly not necessary. Good luck, and don’t forget to subscribe to our email list for semi-weekly updates, beginning the second week of April!

Check out the current leaderboard here!

Scoring Categories

Box Office Performance

• Every $1 million earned: 1 point
• Passes $25 million: 10 point bonus
• Passes $50 million: 15 point bonus
• Passes $75 million: 15 point bonus
• Passes $100 million: 20 point bonus
• Passes $125 million: 15 point bonus
• Passes $150 million: 15 point bonus
• Passes $175 million: 15 point bonus
• Passes $200 million: 25 point bonus
• Passes $300 million: 35 point bonus
• Passes $400 million: 45 point bonus
• Reaches No. 1 at the domestic box office: 20 points per week spent at No. 1
• 5 bonus points for every week spent in the domestic top 10

Critical Performance

• Metacritic
  • 0-19: -5 points
  • 20-39: 0 points
  • 40-49: 10 points
  • 50-59: 20 points
  • 60-69: 25 points
  • 70-79: 40 points
  • 80-89: 50 points
  • 90-100: 100 points
• Letterboxd
  • 3.5 or higher: 5 points
  • 4.0 or higher: 10 points
  • 15 points if the film appears in the Letterboxd Top 500
• Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
    • 75% or higher: 5 points
    • 90% or higher: 10 points
  • Audience
    • 75% or higher: 5 points
    • 90% or higher: 10 points
• IMDb
  • 6.5 or higher: 5 points
  • 7.0 or higher: 10 points
  • 7.5 or higher: 15 points
  • 8.0 or higher: 20 points

IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Letterboxd points are additive. Metacritic points do not stack.

The Movies

The Odyssey ($45)

The biggest new release anyone will be talking about this summer, The Odyssey is an extremely expensive pick for a reason. Christopher Nolan has rapidly become one of the most influential filmmakers working right now, and his mission of adapting arguably one of the single most famous pieces of literature in human history was never going to be anything less than titanic. With one of the best ensembles ever assembled on the big screen, Nolan is sure to deliver a blockbuster, a critical success, and an awards play, all rolled into one exciting picture. Those who draft it will no doubt reap many rewards, but at the cost of not being able to draft many other heavy hitters. In theaters July 17.

Toy Story 5 ($35)

They thought that Toy Story 3 was the perfect ending, and any continuation would be folly. Then Toy Story 4 came along and dominated the box office and the hearts of the audience. Will Toy Story 5 follow the same path? The original (living) cast is all back, and once again, the filmmakers at Pixar are examining very real issues that are facing today’s youth. Plus, it’s Finding Nemo director Andrew Stanton’s first Toy Story film! In theaters June 19.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($35)

Who knew that the Super Mario franchise could be so fruitful on the big screen in the 2020s? The Galaxy Movie’s 2023 predecessor made over a billion at the box office, so it stands to reason that Galaxy, with another prime spring release date, will perform similarly well. In theaters April 1.

Moana ($30)

Unfortunately, live-action Disney remakes continue to be massive moneymakers, and with every one that releases, originality dies a slower death. Regardless, we are here to draft, and a (shot-for-shot?) remake of Moana is sure to hit, especially with the current generation that does not even remember ten years ago, when the original film was in theaters. Against my better judgment, this film does intrigue me. In theaters July 10.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day ($30)

Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton returns to the theatrical MCU with a splashy fourth entry in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man saga. If the prime summer release date is any indication, regardless of quality, this will be another massive hit for Sony and Marvel alike. In theaters July 31.

Disclosure Day ($30)

After months (years?) of speculation, Steven Spielberg’s follow-up to The Fabelmans has been revealed to be about aliens, and…that’s about all we know. Whether it will be more in the Close Encounters or E.T. vein remains to be seen, but regardless, a Spielberg movie about aliens releasing in June…you’ll see me write this a lot, but the money prints itself. In theaters June 12.

Minions & Monsters ($30)

Come on, guys…it’s a no-brainer. Minions and monsters. Monsters and Minions. Period piece? Christoph Waltz? Colors galore? Mark my words, if the previous Despicable Me-verse films are any indication, this movie will make a billion dollars, or at least get close to it. In theaters July 1.

Michael ($25)

Michael Jackson is an immortal talent. His fame will endure for decades, and a big-screen biopic was inevitable. Jackson’s own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, plays the titular pop star, alongside Colman Domingo as Michael’s father Joe Jackson and Miles Teller as Michael’s manager John Branca. Though it endured a somewhat troubled production, this $155 million-budgeted is sure to be a thriller. In theaters April 24.

The Mandalorian and Grogu ($25)

Will the Grogu cuteness quotient be enough to bring Star Wars back to the big screen? It’s been seven years since the last theatrical Star Wars production, and despite the television side of the galaxy continually sidestepping the danger of overwhelming its audience (though, really…how many of the casual audience can we expect to have seen three seasons of Mandalorian and one all-too-connected spinoff?), the marketing team knows their thing. Grogu is all over the posters and trailers, and you should expect him in nigh every frame of the finished product as well. In theaters May 22.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 ($20)

Paging all legacy sequel enthusiasts! The Devil Wears Prada 2 is doing everything right to appeal to its core audience: bringing back the original cast, throwing as many cool outfits as can be on the posters, and keeping plot details at an arm’s length, much like Miranda Priestly with a new intern. I’m not even that much of a fan of the original, but I would be lying I said I wasn’t excited for this. In theaters May 1.

Supergirl ($20)

Supergirl is the test to see if James Gunn’s DCU can work with different filmmakers and styles. Later this year, we have Clayface (which will surely be an even bigger departure from the Superman fare), but Craig Gillespie’s punchy flair is perfect for Kara Zor-El’s brash view of her place in the universe. Ignore the haters. This will be a fun one. In theaters June 26.

Resident Evil ($20)

Never bet against Zach Cregger. Though this will be his first official franchise film, he has stated that he’ll be exploring the world of the Resident Evil video games in a new and highly unique way. I believe him! Video game movies have never quite been my thing, but I will follow Cregger anywhere, and if anyone can completely flip the expectations of an adaptation on its head, it’s him! Austin Abrams (a breakout star from Cregger’s Weapons) stars alongside Paul Walter Hauser and Zach Cherry. In theaters September 18.

Masters of the Universe ($15)

I know absolutely nothing about the Masters of the Universe…well, universe. What I do know is that this is a big-budget action epic with a prime summer release date, and features rising star Nicholas Galitzine alongside Camila Mendes, Jared Leto (shudder), Idris Elba, Alison Brie, and Morena Baccarin. In theaters June 5.

The Drama ($15)

Can Robert Pattinson and Zendaya keep what is sure to be an extraordinarily odd domestic black comedy? We shall see! In theaters April 3.

Jackass 5 ($15)

Jackass has never been my thing, but I understand the appeal, and so do lots of other people. These movies have their audience, and their audience will show up. In theaters June 26.

Mortal Kombat II ($15)

Usually, a blockbuster release being pushed back is bad news, but Mortal Kombat II (the sequel to a film that made money, but was also released on HBO Max simultaneously during the pandemic)’s push to May from last fall is a move that gives me hope. It shows, at least, a confidence on the studio’s part that will ideally be reflected in the final box office. In theaters May 8.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy ($10)

Nearly ten years after the failure of the infamous Dark Universe, Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin is back with a terrifying new chapter in the Universal Monster saga. It seems to be avoiding the traditional narratives that have been tried and true for almost a century, opting instead for a mystery with horrifying consequences. In theaters April 17.

Insidious: The Bleeding World ($10)

Just as you should never underestimate Zach Cregger, long-running horror franchises like Insidious tend to keep making money, even when the casual audience has forgotten they are still around. Thus, Blumhouse is about to churn out another Insidious (the sixth, by my count), and if the performance of the previous films are any indication, it’s sure to be another hit. In theaters August 21.

Scary Movie ($10)

The Scary Movie franchise has historically lampooned the popular horror films of the time, and this new entry won’t be any different. The trailer shows off parodies of Sinners, Weapons, Get Out, M3GAN, and Longlegs, among many others. In theaters June 5.

The Dog Stars ($10)

Ridley Scott is back, baby, and it’s a big one! Set in the aftermath of a devastating virus, the film follows a pilot (Jacob Elordi), and an ex-Marine (Josh Brolin) as they attempt to find survivors. Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong co-star. In theaters August 28.

Evil Dead Burn ($10)

The Evil Dead franchise refuses to die, and that’s a good thing! Years after Lee Cronin’s Evil Dead Rise, the Deadites are back with what is likely to be a standalone but still wildly bloody good time. Sébastien Vaniček, a French filmmaker best known for his arachnid horror film Infested, is in the director’s chair. In theaters July 24.

Cut Off ($7)

The return of the theatrical studio comedy! Directed by Jonah Hill, Cut Off stars Hill and Kristen Wiig as two wealthy siblings who are forced to support themselves after their parents (you guessed) cut them off. Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, Camila Cabello, and Weapons breakout star Cary Christopher. In theaters July 17.

I Love Boosters ($7)

Sorry to Bother You director Boots Riley splashes back onto the scene with a crime comedy starring Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, and LaKeith Stanfield, among many others, as a group of shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. In theaters May 22.

Cliffhanger ($7)

A remake of the 1993 film of the same name, this thriller comes to us courtesy of Jaume Collet-Serra, king of exciting action fare. Lily James stars as Naomi Cooper, an experienced mountaineer, who joins a weekend excursion with her sister Sydney (Nell Tiger Free) and father Ray (Pierce Brosnan). Naomi witnesses an attack on the group by a gang of kidnappers, and she must muster up all her strength to save them. Perhaps…she may just hang from a cliff during her escape? In theaters August 28.

The End of Oak Street ($5)

Long delayed and just as mysterious, David Robert Mitchell’s sci-fi epic features Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, and Christian Convery. We don’t know too much about it, but let’s hope it finally releases this year! In theaters August 14 (for now).

The Sheep Detectives ($5)

When the existence of this film first broke out of last year’s CinemaCon, I genuinely thought it was some kind of joke from a news outlet. But no, it turns out that Hugh Jackman actually is starring in a live-action/animation hybrid comedy about sheep solving a murder mystery! Go figure! In addition to Jackman, the live-action cast includes Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Nicholas Galitzine. The voice cast includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, Rhys Darby, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart. In theaters May 8.

Animal Farm ($5)

Angel Studios has proven itself to be an unexpected juggernaut, and along with George Orwell’s indelible material, Andy Serkis’ Animal Farm boasts an extremely impressive voice cast (which includes Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, and Woody Harrelson). If the studio’s 2025 animated release, David, is any indication, Animal Farm will be an unsurprising success. In theaters May 1.

Coyote vs. Acme ($5)

Infamously shelved by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off but then purchased by Ketchup Entertainment, Coyote vs. Acme is a meta…legal comedy?! Will Forte plays Kevin Avery, a billboard lawyer who represents the iconic Wile E. Coyote in a lawsuit against the Acme corporation, whose devices continue to fail in catching his nemesis, the Road Runner. This received rave reviews from people who were able to see it immediately after the write-off. In theaters August 28.

One Night Only ($5)

As proven by Anyone But You just a few short years ago, the mid-budget rom-com has endured as a powerful box office object. One Night Only has the same director (Will Gluck, who specializes in popcorn fare like this) and features young stars Monica Barbaro, Callum Turner, Maya Hawke, and Este Haim, along with Molly Ringwald and LeVar Burton. In theaters August 7.

Young Washington ($5)

Another Angel Studios film, Young Washington features William Franklyn-Miller as the titular youthful President. I would expect an extremely sanitized, very patriotic biopic that has very little to say but a lot of time to not say it. In theaters (obviously) July 3.

The Breadwinner ($5)

I will admit to not being a huge fan of Nate Bargatze’s stand-up, but this comedy looks like it could be pretty fun; Bargatze plays Nate Wilcox, an incompetent father who must step up to be a stay-at-home dad when his wife (Mandy Moore) lands a deal on Star Tank. It appears to be goofy and silly (per Bargatze’s schtick), but it’s also directed by Eric Appel, who made his directorial debut in 2022 with the stellar Weird: The Al Yankovic Story after a long career in internet comedy and commercials. In theaters May 29.

Practical Magic 2 ($5)

I have never seen the original Practical Magic, so I’m flying pretty blind here, but a legacy sequel from one of the oldest movie studios with a prominent returning cast and some exciting additions (including Joey King, Xolo Maridueña, Maisie Williams, and Lee Pace) is bound to hit. In theaters September 11.

You, Me & Tuscany ($5)

The fifth film from Kat Coiro, who primarily works in television, You, Me & Tuscany stars two exceedingly beautiful people: Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) as Anna, a free-spirited young cook, and Regé-Jean Page as Michael, the cousin of the owner of a Tuscan villa that Anna begins to squat in (simple, right?). The official description labels this rom-com
As one that brings its characters into “a whole new world of adventure, lies, and love,” so do with that what you will. In theaters April 10.

More Movies

• Fall 2 ($3) – a sequel bound to leave its audience in chilling suspense. In theaters August 7.
• Mother Mary ($3) – The Green Knight director David Lowery returns with a psychosexual musical drama starring Anne Hathaway. In theaters April 17.
• Super Troopers 3 ($3) – they just keep on making these, huh? In theaters August 7.
• The Invite ($3) – the biggest hit from this year’s Sundance Film Festival, this comedy stars Olivia Wilde (also directing) and Seth Rogen as a struggling couple invited by neighbors to an orgy. In theaters June 26.
• Animal Friends ($3) – a celebrity all-star voice cast will likely be a big draw for this live-action/animated hybrid adventure. In theaters June 5.
• Power Ballad ($3) – Sing Street director John Carney blazes back on the theatrical scene with a punchy musical comedy starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. In theaters June 5.
• Air Bud Returns ($3) – need I say more? In theaters August 21.
• Backrooms ($3) – A24’s youngest-ever filmmaker, Kane Parsons, directs a feature-length adaptation of his popular YouTube horror series. In theaters May 29.
• Hokum ($3) – from Irish director Damian McCarthy, this horror film stars Adam Scott as an author whose rental house might be haunted. In theaters May 1.
• The Death of Robin Hood ($3) – a film that could not be more geared towards me, Michael Sarnoski’s adaptation of Robin Hood’s Death stars Hugh Jackman as an aged Robin reckoning with his past. In theaters June 16.
• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($3) – a slasher from I Saw the TV Glow visionary Jane Schoenbrun, this film stars Hannah Einbinder as a queer filmmaker hired to direct a new entry in a long-running horror franchise. In theaters August 7.
• Mutiny ($3) – another Jason Statham action movie. In the summer, no less. The money prints itself. In theaters August 21.
• Passenger ($3) – Norwegian filmmaker André Øvredal directs this new horror film starring Melissa Leo. In theaters May 22.
• The Third Parent ($3) – the latest film based on an internet Creepypasta, this stars Rob Lowe and Crispin Glover. In theaters August 7.
• In the Grey ($3) – Guy Ritchie brings several collaborators back to the big screen with this action heist about (surprise!) an elite team of agents. In theaters May 15.
• Over Your Dead Body ($3) – this is a special one. Jorma Taccone’s remake of the 2021 film The Trip stars Samara Weaving and Jason Segel as a couple who tries to reconnect before discovering that they are planning to kill the other. In theaters April 24.
• Obsession ($3) – after several festival premieres dating back to last fall, Curry Barker’s supernatural horror film follows Bear (Michael Johnston) as a hopeless romantic who uses a magical device to win his crush’s heart, only to realize that it may not actually be for the best. In theaters May 15.
• Spa Weekend ($2)  – a comedy starring Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, and Michelle Buteau. In theaters September 4.
• How to Rob a Bank ($2) – a crew of bank robbers has been using social media to document heists that they have pulled off, leading to pursuit from the police in director David Leitch’s action comedy. In theaters September 4.
• The Rivals of Amziah King ($2) – Angelina LookingGlass stars as Kateri, whose life takes a tragic turn as she loses her mother and leaves foster care. She reunites with her former foster parent, Amziah (Matthew McConaughey), and he becomes her mentor, revealing hidden skills when a devastating situation arises. In theaters August 14.
• Forgotten Island ($2) – we know very little about this DreamWorks Animation film, but it follows best friends Jo and Raissa as they find themselves stranded in the fantastic world of Nakali. In theaters September 25.
• Girls Like Girls ($2) – written and directed by pop star Hayley Kiyoko, adapted from her book and titled after her song, this coming-of-age romance is sure to stun and amaze…but perhaps with a more niche crowd. In theaters June 19.
• 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank ($2) – a heist comedy co-starring Liam Neeson. At risk of repeating myself, the money should print itself! In theaters April 17.
• Rolling Loud ($2) – inspired by a true story, this comedy is the story of an overprotective father who attempts to bond with his 13-year-old son by sneaking him into the Rolling Loud hip-hop music festival in Miami. In theaters September 18.
• Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass ($2) – another Sundance comedy standout, this comedy is about what happens when a bride-to-be (Zoey Deutch) finds out her fiancé has used his celebrity hall pass, and she makes an epic journey to Hollywood to even the scales. In theaters July 10.

Even More Movies

• Stop! That! Train! ($2)
• Poetic License ($2)
• Erupcja ($2)
• Tuner ($2)
• Faces of Death ($2)
• Charlie Harper ($2)
• Deep Water ($2)
• The Christophers ($2)
• Magic Hour ($1)
• Is God Is ($1)
• Corporate Retreat ($1)
• One Spoon of Chocolate ($1)
• Normal ($1)
• Desert Warrior ($1)
• Omaha ($1)
• A Great Awakening ($1)
• Mermaid ($1)
• Beast ($1)
• Newborn ($1)
• The Yeti ($1)
• Bunnylovr ($1)

Submissions are closed for the season! Thanks for playing.

Special thanks to Heath Lynch, Foster Harlfinger, and Gil Mathis for their advice and contributions.