Blab Entertainment
Universals One Night Only and Searchlights Super Troopers 3 Flop as Summer 2026 Box Office Booms
The summer of 2026 has been a record‑setting period for the U.S. film market, with blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Marvel’s Spider‑Man: Brand New Day topping the charts. Against this backdrop, two comedy releases that opened in early August performed far below expectations.
Universal Pictures’ romantic comedy One Night Only earned $5.5 million in its opening weekend, placing it third in the domestic box‑office rankings. Directed by Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro as Allie and Callum Turner as Owen, the film follows two strangers who meet on the one night of the year when single people in New York City are allowed to have sex. The premise has been described as “the Purge but for sex.” According to reports, the film’s $25 million production budget was not fully recovered through ticket sales.
Searchlight Pictures’ Super Troopers 3, the third entry in the Broken Lizard franchise, opened to $4 million, landing in the fourth spot. Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, the movie centers on Farva (Kevin Heffernan) and his engagement to Thorny’s sister, which spirals into chaos as the trio confronts a drug ring. The film’s performance is a sharp decline from Super Troopers 2, which opened to $15 million and earned $32 million worldwide.
Both movies were released in a market that has seen theatrical comedies struggle since the COVID‑19 pandemic. While rom‑coms have occasionally found success—Anyone But You (2023) grossed $220 million worldwide on a modest budget—One Night Only failed to attract a large audience. The film received mixed reviews; /Film’s Nina Starner called it a “wild, weird, totally unexpected rom‑com pleasure.” The studio’s statement indicated that the film would likely find a home on VOD and streaming platforms.
Super Troopers 3 also faced a challenging theatrical environment. According to reports, the film is expected to perform well on VOD and streaming, particularly Hulu. The third installment was a low‑risk proposition for Disney’s Searchlight division, but it did not meet the studio’s expectations. The franchise’s first film, released in 2001, became a cult classic through home media, and the second film was financed in part by a $2 million Indiegogo campaign. The third film’s modest production cost and the loyal fan base may allow the studio to recoup part of its marketing spend through future streaming and home‑media sales.
Industry analysts note that the two comedies’ underperformance highlights the broader trend of theatrical releases struggling to compete with blockbuster franchises. The box‑office boom of 2026 is largely driven by high‑budget action and superhero titles, leaving limited room for mid‑budget comedies. Both Universal and Disney have indicated that the films will continue to generate revenue through VOD, streaming, and home‑media channels.
As of now, One Night Only and Super Troopers 3 remain in theaters. Their future earnings will depend on the performance of their respective digital releases. The studios have not announced any immediate plans to alter distribution strategies, and no further theatrical releases are scheduled for either film.
In summary, the summer of 2026 has underscored the difficulty of launching mid‑budget comedies in a market dominated by high‑grossing blockbusters. While One Night Only and Super Troopers 3 did not achieve box‑office success, their modest budgets and potential for VOD and streaming revenue suggest that the studios may still recover a portion of their investment. The films’ performance will be monitored as they transition from theaters to digital platforms in the coming weeks.
Universal Pictures’ romantic comedy One Night Only earned $5.5 million in its opening weekend, placing it third in the domestic box‑office rankings. Directed by Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro as Allie and Callum Turner as Owen, the film follows two strangers who meet on the one night of the year when single people in New York City are allowed to have sex. The premise has been described as “the Purge but for sex.” According to reports, the film’s $25 million production budget was not fully recovered through ticket sales.
Searchlight Pictures’ Super Troopers 3, the third entry in the Broken Lizard franchise, opened to $4 million, landing in the fourth spot. Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, the movie centers on Farva (Kevin Heffernan) and his engagement to Thorny’s sister, which spirals into chaos as the trio confronts a drug ring. The film’s performance is a sharp decline from Super Troopers 2, which opened to $15 million and earned $32 million worldwide.
Both movies were released in a market that has seen theatrical comedies struggle since the COVID‑19 pandemic. While rom‑coms have occasionally found success—Anyone But You (2023) grossed $220 million worldwide on a modest budget—One Night Only failed to attract a large audience. The film received mixed reviews; /Film’s Nina Starner called it a “wild, weird, totally unexpected rom‑com pleasure.” The studio’s statement indicated that the film would likely find a home on VOD and streaming platforms.
Super Troopers 3 also faced a challenging theatrical environment. According to reports, the film is expected to perform well on VOD and streaming, particularly Hulu. The third installment was a low‑risk proposition for Disney’s Searchlight division, but it did not meet the studio’s expectations. The franchise’s first film, released in 2001, became a cult classic through home media, and the second film was financed in part by a $2 million Indiegogo campaign. The third film’s modest production cost and the loyal fan base may allow the studio to recoup part of its marketing spend through future streaming and home‑media sales.
Industry analysts note that the two comedies’ underperformance highlights the broader trend of theatrical releases struggling to compete with blockbuster franchises. The box‑office boom of 2026 is largely driven by high‑budget action and superhero titles, leaving limited room for mid‑budget comedies. Both Universal and Disney have indicated that the films will continue to generate revenue through VOD, streaming, and home‑media channels.
As of now, One Night Only and Super Troopers 3 remain in theaters. Their future earnings will depend on the performance of their respective digital releases. The studios have not announced any immediate plans to alter distribution strategies, and no further theatrical releases are scheduled for either film.
In summary, the summer of 2026 has underscored the difficulty of launching mid‑budget comedies in a market dominated by high‑grossing blockbusters. While One Night Only and Super Troopers 3 did not achieve box‑office success, their modest budgets and potential for VOD and streaming revenue suggest that the studios may still recover a portion of their investment. The films’ performance will be monitored as they transition from theaters to digital platforms in the coming weeks.
