Who’s Hollywood’s MVP? Predicting the 2026 Stars Set to Win the IP vs. Prestige War

Is it all about the cash or the Oscars? The Hollywood power game changed in 2025: established box office IPs (like *Minecraft) are battling prestige dramas (Mickey 17*). See the breakdown of popularity drivers for veterans (DiCaprio, Cruise) and A-list newcomers (Jenna Ortega, Florence Pugh), and find out which roles will define the industry in 2026 (including the next *Avengers* and Spider-Man leads)

Hollywood Character Valuation and Forecast: Analyzing 2025 Popularity Drivers and Predicting the 2026 Talent Trajectory

The 2025 Character Economy and 2026 Strategic Outlook

The year 2025 marked a crucial inflection point in Hollywood’s character economy, characterized by a significant bifurcation in how popularity was generated and measured. On one hand, success was defined by traditional, quantitative commercial dominance achieved through massive, established intellectual property (IP) anchors that generated global revenue. For instance, films such as A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch proved the undeniable power of IP, driving global popularity through sheer box office volume.1 On the other hand, a distinct popularity metric emerged from critical acclaim and high-level cultural discourse, driven by prestige dramas and sophisticated streaming narratives, exemplified by performances in films like Mickey 17 and television series like The Hunting Wives.3

The defining popular roles of 2025, therefore, were split between mass-market IP drivers capable of commanding billion-dollar grosses and complex, critically validated characters that drove industry prestige and secured talent valuation. While younger stars like Jenna Ortega and Florence Pugh continue to lead global stardom through evolving platforms, the foundation of the industry still rests on veterans such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, and Tom Cruise, whose involvement inherently guarantees artistic respect and high-command status.5

Looking ahead to 2026, strategic forecasting indicates a massive consolidation of popularity around guaranteed mega-franchise IP, including highly anticipated titles like Avengers: Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day.6 This market environment demands that studios implement strategic casting, often elevating newly validated, rising talent into established, high-yield cinematic and streaming vehicles to secure long-term character relevance and refresh established universes. The subsequent analysis dissects the specific mechanisms that generated character popularity in 2025 and provides a data-driven prediction for the highest-potential roles in 2026.

II. Defining Character Popularity in the Multi-Platform Era (2025 Metrics)

Character popularity in the current media landscape cannot be assessed through a singular metric. The analysis employs a hybrid model, weighing commercial success, critical acclaim, and cultural resonance across theatrical and streaming platforms to derive a true measure of influence.

A Hybrid Model: Weighing Commercial Success vs. Critical Acclaim vs. Social Virality

Commercial success in 2025 was overwhelmingly defined by family-friendly and franchise blockbusters, which command global, quantitative popularity. This quantitative benchmark is exemplified by Lilo & Stitch, which secured $1.037 billion worldwide, and A Minecraft Movie, which amassed $957.9 million worldwide, making their central characters instantly recognizable global entities.2 Conversely, commercial success domestically was anchored by releases like Superman, which earned $354.1 million.1

Critical acclaim provides the necessary qualitative validation, distinguishing high-impact performances that drive industry discourse and awards potential. This focus shifts attention to nuanced, often challenging roles, such as the multiple iterations of the lead character in Mickey 17 4, or complex dramatic roles in films like One Battle After Another.4 These performances solidify an actor’s reputation and long-term value, defining popularity within expert circles.

The intersection of commercial dominance and critical validation provided the optimal formula for securing a character’s popularity in 2025. The success of Superman illustrates this principle perfectly: it was a major box office winner 1, but the lead performance by David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent also garnered specific recognition among the best movie performances of the year.4 When a tentpole film simultaneously achieves massive financial returns and high-caliber, critically validated acting, it secures the associated character’s status immediately in both the commercial and prestige arenas. This outcome significantly de-risks future franchise investments by guaranteeing both audience trust and industry validation.

The Return of the Cinematic Tentpole vs. The Dominance of Streamer Prestige

The 2025 landscape saw veteran actors maintain their command, ensuring their roles inherently carried popularity weight irrespective of the underlying IP size. Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, and Tom Cruise are still considered top-tier American actors whose participation guarantees global respect.5 Their roles serve as anchors for prestige cinema. However, the influence of streaming platforms continues to shape careers, with actors like Jenna Ortega and Florence Pugh leading a younger generation into global stardom, demonstrating that cultural resonance, often tied to serialized or high-engagement content, is just as vital as box office figures for sustaining long-term character engagement.5

III. The Pantheon of 2025 Film Characters: Commercial Success Drivers

The characters that defined mainstream awareness in 2025 were those associated with the highest-grossing films, predominantly re-emerging heroes from established IP. These roles functioned primarily as commercial drivers, leveraging decades of brand equity.

The Re-Emergence of IP Heroes: Analyzing the Appeal of Established Franchise Roles

The reboot of the DC flagship was a defining character event of the year. Superman / Clark Kent (David Corenswet) in Superman was not merely a commercially successful film (grossing $354.1 million domestically) 1, but the definitive debut that anchored the future of a major cinematic universe. Corenswet successfully inherited the iconic mantle, immediately securing his place among the most popular of the year.4 The popularity of the film was reinforced by the strength of its ensemble, with key roles like Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and the new iteration of Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) ensuring broad fan engagement across the spectrum of comics readers.8

Another significant commercial anchor was Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) in Jurassic World Rebirth. The film was a major domestic grosser, generating $339.6 million.1 The casting of Scarlett Johansson, an established A-list veteran 5, provided the necessary high-tier visibility and global draw for the franchise. The character served as a strong lead, complemented by new roles like Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) and Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) in the ensemble.10

In the realm of family entertainment, the massive success of A Minecraft Movie (nearly $1 billion worldwide) positioned Steve (Jack Black) and Garrett Garrison (Jason Momoa) as highly popular IP mascots.2 Steve represents the iconic default character, achieving popularity through fidelity to the source game.11 Jason Momoa’s role as the major protagonist Garrett Garrison, or “The Garbage Man,” leveraged the actor’s substantial celebrity drawing power.12 The dominance of these IP roles confirms that while the character type (Superhero, IP mascot, Reboot Lead) provides the fundamental appeal, the strategic attachment of A-list celebrities (like Johansson, Momoa, or Black) elevates the associated character beyond mere archetype, transforming them into globally recognized, marketable entities.11 This celebrity anchoring is a critical mechanism studios utilize to ensure high Foreign gross and maximize commercial character value.2

IV. The Prestige Performers of 2025: Critical and Narrative Acclaim

While commercial roles command the widest audience, characters that achieve high industry visibility and critical buzz often define the cultural narrative and awards potential, influencing expert opinions and talent valuation far beyond simple ticket sales.

The Auteur’s Muse: Exploring Roles Praised by Critics and Awards Bodies

The prestige end of the spectrum was dominated by complex, character-driven studies. The most recognized of these was Mickey 17/Mickey 18 (Robert Pattinson) in Mickey 17. Pattinson’s challenging performance, playing multiple iterations of an “expendable” employee aboard the Niflheim mission 13, was a consistent inclusion in discussions regarding the best performances of the year.4 The popularity of this role stems from its thematic complexity and the high-profile collaboration between Pattinson and the film’s celebrated director.

This appreciation for complexity also extended to the work of seasoned veterans. Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) in One Battle After Another instantly became a popular critical talking point simply due to DiCaprio’s persistent status as a top-tier actor.4 His ability to draw attention to prestige drama validates the film’s thematic importance, further supported by the recognition of co-stars like Chase Infiniti.4 The character landscape demonstrated a market appetite for highly complex dual roles or deeply flawed anti-heroes, reflecting a desire for character vehicles that allow established stars to demonstrate profound range and thematic depth. Pattinson’s success as the clone Mickey, grappling with existential conflict 13, provided the necessary gravitas to secure awards buzz 4, which differentiates the actor’s status from simple franchise loyalty.

The Breakout Ensemble Character and Value of the Character Actor

Ensemble films, particularly those centered on drama and crime, also generated significant character popularity among critics. The film Sinners, which appeared both as a commercially notable release 1 and a vehicle for critical acclaim, recognized key performances, including Smoke/Stack Moore (Michael B. Jordan).7 The supporting role of Miles Caton in the same film was specifically highlighted among the best performances of the year.4 Furthermore, performances by veteran character actors, such as Amy Madigan (Gladys in Weapons) and Sally Hawkins (Laura in Bring Her Back) 4, showcase that quality acting in independent or prestige films continues to drive conversation and industry respect, contributing significantly to a nuanced definition of character popularity within expert media circles.

V. Television Dominance: 2025 Character Breakthroughs and Sustained Popularity

The small screen in 2025 proved instrumental in generating high-engagement, serialized characters through both highly anticipated new debuts and established franchise returns.

The TV Femme Fatale: Margo Banks (Malin Åkerman) in The Hunting Wives

In the realm of new series, Margo Banks (Malin Åkerman) in The Hunting Wives emerged as a high-visibility breakout character. Åkerman’s portrayal of Margo was described as irresistible, finally giving the actress a leading role that maximized her balance of intensity, comedic timing, and sex appeal.3 Margo embodies a manipulative, hedonistic predator 3, successfully capturing the critical eye by performing a new type of femme fatale. This critical praise underscores the strategic value of embracing morally ambiguous and complex anti-heroines for streaming success. This popularity aligns with the Jungian “Destroyer” archetype, which appeals to audiences by embodying the rage felt when a system no longer serves the community, thus driving thematic discussion around transformation and the retirement of “old norms”.15 This concept also correlates with the stated audience desire for stories focused on “resilience and reinvention”.16

The Fan-Driven Phenomenon: Successful Character Transfers and New Additions

Sustained popularity in 2025 was most visible within returning franchises that underwent significant change. The Witcher: Season 4 dealt with the highly publicized departure of its lead, Henry Cavill, and the subsequent introduction of Geralt of Rivia (Liam Hemsworth). While Hemsworth’s performance was praised for the “energy” he brought to the show and was deemed a “pleasantly surprised” success by some fans 17, the true character breakout was the debut of the villain, Leo Bonhart (Sharlto Copley). Copley’s portrayal of the cutthroat character was met with overwhelming positive fan consensus, with some viewers calling it the “most accurate depiction” from the original books.17

This dynamic illustrates a key operational principle in content management: while the lead character carries the show’s commercial weight and is necessary for stability (with Ciri and Yennefer also remaining popular ensemble members 18), supporting characters offer a less risky, high-reward avenue for generating critical and fan-based energy. The overwhelming positive reaction to the secondary character Leo Bonhart over the high-stakes recast of Geralt demonstrates that character appeal in streaming can be intensely driven by secondary roles that achieve high fidelity to the source material or embody compelling, modern archetypes. Highly anticipated sci-fi series like IT: Welcome to Derry and Death by Lightning 19, along with new concepts like Murderbot 20, represent the next wave of high-engagement serialized content that is expected to introduce further breakout characters.

VI. Comprehensive Data Synthesis: The Most Popular Hollywood Characters of 2025

The following table synthesizes the analysis, providing a definitive list of the most popular Hollywood characters of 2025, based on a multi-metric assessment of commercial success, critical visibility, and cultural resonance.

Most Popular Hollywood Roles and Characters of 2025

Role NameActor NameMovie / TV Series NamePrimary Popularity DriverSupporting Source Snippets
Superman / Clark KentDavid CorenswetSupermanCommercial / Prestige Debut1
Mickey 17 / Mickey 18Robert PattinsonMickey 17Critical Acclaim / Thematic Depth4
Garrett GarrisonJason MomoaA Minecraft MovieCommercial / Star Power IP2
Leo BonhartSharlto CopleyThe Witcher: Season 4Fan Consensus / Critical Streaming17
Bob FergusonLeonardo DiCaprioOne Battle After AnotherPrestige / A-List Star Vehicle4
Margo BanksMalin ÅkermanThe Hunting Wives (TV Series)Critical Breakout / Archetypal Resonance3
SteveJack BlackA Minecraft MovieCommercial / Iconic IP Fidelity2
Zora BennettScarlett JohanssonJurassic World RebirthCommercial / Franchise Anchor5
Lois LaneRachel BrosnahanSupermanFranchise Anchor / Prestige Ensemble9
Smoke / Stack MooreMichael B. JordanSinnersCritical Ensemble / Star Vehicle7

VII. Macro-Trends Influencing 2026 Character Appeal and Strategic Forecasting

A successful character popularity forecast for 2026 relies on recognizing the shift toward heavily IP-dependent slates and the industry’s need to embed new talent within proven commercial vehicles.

The IP Lifecycle Management: Anticipating Franchise Fatigue and the Need for Novelty

The cinematic forecast for 2026 is structurally defined by the release of monumental franchise installments. The year is projected to be dominated by sequels and established intellectual property, including major titles such as Avengers: Doomsday (projected $1.425B), Spider-Man: Brand New Day (projected $1.270B), Dune Part Three (projected $785M), Mario 2, Minions 3, and Toy Story 5.6 The characters central to these films will inherently be the most popular globally simply due to sheer financial volume. However, the consistent reliance on established IP introduces the challenge of franchise fatigue. The success of 2026 roles will depend on either compelling new characters being introduced or existing characters being radically reinvented. This necessity provides a strategic opening for younger talent to secure roles that redefine established IP.5

The Sci-Fi Renaissance: Expected Breakout in High-Concept Series

In contrast to the cinematic sequel slate, the 2026 television landscape promises a significant emphasis on high-concept sci-fi and fantasy. Key upcoming titles include Blade Runner 2099, the DC-affiliated Lanterns, Neuromancer, and the anticipated third season of Silo.21 These series signal a move toward premium, original (or critically dense IP) serialized content. Such high-profile adaptations require and are built around compelling, sophisticated lead characters, thereby offering substantial opportunities for critical character breakthroughs, moving away from relying solely on established cinematic IP figures for popularity.

Talent Trajectory: Analyzing the Shift to Next-Generation Breakout Talent

The industry strategy for 2026 involves a deliberate focus on actors positioned for exponential growth who will be strategically embedded into high-guarantee projects. The rising actor Ben Wang is strongly positioned for a major breakout, having secured roles in prestige projects like The Long Walk and, critically, a confirmed role in the massive YA franchise installment, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.6 Placement within a globally recognized franchise ensures his associated character will achieve immediate youth appeal and long-term cultural capital.

Similarly, Aaron Pierre is making a calculated shift from critically well-received film roles (Rebel Ridge, Mufasa) into high-profile, IP-driven television. His starring role in the DC series Lanterns 21 places him at a high-risk/high-reward intersection of major franchise IP and prestige streaming television. This trend reveals a clear strategy: 2026 will see a deliberate strategy of embedding newly validated young talent into guaranteed commercial vehicles to secure long-term character popularity and actor influence. While established stars like Timothée Chalamet (a top star in 2025 5) continue to anchor titles like Dune Part Three 6, studios are actively elevating emerging faces (like Wang) within guaranteed mega-franchises to ensure fresh faces are immediately associated with highly popular characters, securing the next generation of tentpole leads.

VIII. Strategic Forecast: High-Potential Roles for 2026 (Film and Television)

The following forecast projects the highest-probability popular roles for 2026 by leveraging confirmed release schedules, anticipated box office performance, and current actor momentum.

A. Cinematic Universe Anchors (Mega-Franchise Popularity)

The largest drivers of popularity will be defined by sheer volume and global market saturation. The central conflict driver in Avengers: Doomsday, likely a core Avenger character (TBD), is projected to command popularity equivalent to its expected box office of $1.425 billion.6 Similarly, the character of Peter Parker / Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, projected to near $1.27 billion 6, remains one of the most culturally resonant and financially bankable characters worldwide. Furthermore, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) in Dune Part Three, projected near $785 million 6, is guaranteed to remain a cultural touchstone for high-brow cinematic appeal, sustained by Chalamet’s immense 2025 influence.5 Animated leads, such as the titular characters in Mario 2 and Toy Story 5 (projected at $1.275B and $905M, respectively) are also guaranteed worldwide character popularity based on massive financial projections.6

B. High-Impact Franchise Debuts (Future Character Investment)

The launch of dedicated franchise vehicles utilizing talent already validated in 2025 offers high-potential breakout roles. Supergirl (Milly Alcock) is poised for massive popularity in the dedicated Supergirl film.6 Alcock was already introduced within the highly successful Superman film ensemble in 2025 8, creating a character that inherits immediate brand goodwill and is ready for breakout stardom in 2026. Separately, the Young Hero (likely Ben Wang) in Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, while having a smaller initial box office projection ($375M) 6, is strategically important. The attachment of a rapidly rising star like Ben Wang 22 ensures that the character will become instantly popular within the vital YA demographic, translating into essential long-term cultural capital.

C. Streaming Prestige and Sci-Fi Leads (Critical Character Development)

The television landscape offers several strategically important roles. The Green Lantern (Aaron Pierre) in the Lanterns TV series 21 presents a high-probability TV lead breakout. Pierre’s status as an actor to watch 23 combined with a major DC IP series provides a powerful combination of franchise recognition and prestige casting. Furthermore, the revival of the iconic IP in Blade Runner 2099 21 necessitates a compelling new Protagonist (TBD Lead) to anchor the critically anticipated show. This character will be strategically important for defining high-concept 2026 TV narratives and attracting significant critical attention.

IX. 2026 Strategic Character Popularity Forecast Summary

The table below outlines the highest probability roles for character popularity in 2026, based on a triangulation of projected financial success, established talent trajectory, and genre dominance.

2026 Strategic Character Popularity Forecast

Projected Role NameActor Name (Predicted/Confirmed)Movie / TV Series NamePredicted Impact LevelSource Data Linkage
Core Avenger CharacterTBD (High-profile MCU actor)Avengers: Doomsday (Film)Global High Commercial (Billion-dollar)6
Spider-Man / Peter ParkerTBD (Confirmed lead)Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Film)Global High Commercial (Billion-dollar)6
Paul AtreidesTimothée ChalametDune Part Three (Film)Critical / Strategic Franchise5
SupergirlMilly Alcock (Expected)Supergirl (Film)High Franchise Debut / Breakout Talent6
Green LanternAaron Pierre / TBDLanterns (TV Series)Critical / Streaming Prestige Breakout21
YA Franchise LeadBen Wang (High probability)Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Film)Breakout Talent Vehicle / Youth Appeal6
TBD ProtagonistTBD (New A-List sci-fi lead)Blade Runner 2099 (TV Series)Prestige Sci-Fi / Cultural Narrative21

X. Conclusion and Strategic Recommendations

The analysis of 2025 demonstrates a clear competitive dynamic: character popularity was achieved either through the fidelity and scale of established IP (leading to commercial success for characters like Steve and Garrett Garrison) or through complex, challenging performances that secured critical validation (as seen with Robert Pattinson’s dual role in Mickey 17). The convergence of these two vectors—massive IP paired with prestige acting—defined the year’s highest-profile success, the character of Superman.

The strategic imperative for 2026 content lies in managing the IP lifecycle by ensuring that the next generation of actors is immediately associated with massive, commercially validated structures. The focus must be on strategically elevating rising stars, such as Ben Wang in The Hunger Games and Aaron Pierre in Lanterns, thereby hedging against actor-driven popularity volatility and securing long-term franchise relevance.

Strategic Recommendations

  1. Monitor DC Television for Talent Breakout: The DC TV universe, specifically Lanterns, presents an opportunity for a major streaming character breakout in 2026. The series combines significant IP recognition with the deployment of rising, critically recognized talent (Aaron Pierre), making this character vehicle a high-priority asset to monitor for generating prestige streaming popularity.
  2. Validate Secondary IP Characters: Drawing lessons from the success of Leo Bonhart in The Witcher: Season 4, content strategists should recognize that supporting characters offer a safer and often more critically rewarding path to cultural popularity during periods of high-stakes franchise transition or lead recastings. Character development and marketing should diversify to capitalize on compelling antagonists or allies who demonstrate high fidelity to source material.
  3. Invest in Complex Protagonists: To maintain relevance among critical audiences and secure awards consideration, studio strategy must continue to support projects centered on complex, non-franchise character roles (the tradition maintained by Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Pattinson). These projects enhance the studio’s portfolio and provide necessary range validation for A-list talent, distinguishing their character work from the volume of tentpole IP releases.

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