Back in that glorious year, there was a lot going on in the world. Multiple conflicts in the Middle East dominated news headlines. The New Horizons probe set course from Earth to Pluto, and Twitter was launched. Italy and France played in the World Cup final and Taylor Swift's debut album hit the airwaves.
Twenty years later, there are multiple conflicts in the Middle East. A successful trip around the moon by the crew of Artemis II happened, capturing the hearts of the world. Italy failed to make the World Cup and Taylor Swift has reached a popularity equivalent to The Beatles.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It has been a few years since I last did one of these "Best of" tournaments. The fun part was always involving the general social media populace, where people could vote for favorites. The first of these posts, like the Summer Box Office of 1998 or Best Quotes from Game of Thrones took place on Facebook, back when they allowed polls on personal accounts. Others, like Christmas films or the ultimate Christmas song tournament, involved polls on Facebook and the place formerly known as Twitter.
Here in 2026, for the first time, voting will take place on Threads. The bracket has been divided into four regions: May, June, July, and August. Generally, back in the day, the summer box office really kicked into gear around Memorial Day weekend. These 64 films were given their seeding based on their gross earnings from Box Office Mojo, as determined by the month of their release date.
Voting will be on Threads beginning May 27, or you can also comment on this post for matchups you wish to see your favorite advance. Will your favorites match the numbers from that summer? Did films hold up over time? Stay tuned!
May region
With the lack of releases in May, at least in the top 200 grossing films of that year, I tossed in a couple of April releases for good measure to round this region of 16. (*These April releases will be noted below.)
The top spot belongs to the last of the original X-Men trilogy. As it turned out, this film did not end up being the last stand. And there are plenty of franchises still going that had entries in the summer of '06, like Mission Impossible and, relaunching this summer, Scary Movie.
Though the higher earners may hold strong in this region, the region is a close call as to who the voters will push through.
- 1 - X-Men: The Last Stand
- 16 - Hoot
- 8 - The Benchwarmers (APR)
- 9 - Silent Hill (APR)
- 5 - Scary Movie 4 (APR)
- 12 - An Inconvenient Truth
- 4 - Mission Impossible III
- 13 - Just My Luck
- 6 - RV (APR)
- 11 - The Sentinel
- 3 - Over the Hedge
- 14 - An American Haunting
- 7 - Poseidon
- 10 - The Wild (APR)
- 2 - The Da Vinci Code
- 15 - See No Evil
June region
The celebrities who dominated this region in 2006 are still going strong in 2026. Names like Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Anne Hathaway.
You also had a second entry from Lindsay Lohan, who was at the height of her fame (but also making a resurgence as of late).
The top seed belongs to the Pixar hit Cars. Also present, the original that recently had its sequel released in yep, you guessed it, 2026 That would be The Devil Wears Prada. And we also had a movie as part of the Superman franchise to boot. The twenty years later theme of things changing to stay the same is certainly bringing a lot to the table.
- 1 - Cars
- 16 - Mary
- 8 - The Omen
- 9 - The Lake House
- 5 - The Break-Up
- 12 - A Prairie Home Companion
- 4 - The Devil Wears Prada
- 13 - Wordplay
- 6 - Nacho Libre
- 11 - Waist Deep
- 3 - Click
- 14 - The Alibi
- 7 - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
- 10 - Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties
- 2 - Superman Returns
- 15 - Only Human
July region
The July region handed audiences Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which nabbed the top overall seed for this tournament and the highest-grossing film of the year.
Released in this month too was the indie darling Little Miss Sunshine, the animated hit Monster House, and Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx teaming for Miami Vice.
There are heavy hitters in this region, but I also see the possibility of an upset happening in this region if the people have their way.
- 1 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- 16 - The OH in Ohio
- 8 - John Tucker Must Die
- 9 - The Ant Bully
- 5 - Little Miss Sunshine
- 12 - Scoop
- 4 - Miami Vice
- 13 - A Scanner Darkly
- 6 - Little Man
- 11 - My Super Ex-Girlfriend
- 3 - Monster House
- 14 - The Night Listener
- 7 - Lady in the Water
- 10 - Clerks II
- 2 - You, Me and Dupree
- 15 - Edmond
August region
Now, once upon a time, August was kind of a dumping ground for films that studios may have had little faith in. Not so in 2006. Yes, these films still dominate the region. But there was also a bona fide hit in Talladega Nights, which earned the top seed.
One might think the rest of August was disappointing but oh no! Such hits as World Trade Center, Step Up, and Beerfest were among those films released.
Oh, yeah. Plus, there was a little gem of a film that gave the zeitgeist the bump it needed to survive: Snakes on a Plane.
Can this film starring Samuel L. Jackson make a surprise run? Check out the bracket below.
- 1 - Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
- 16 - Material Girls
- 8 - Snakes on a Plane
- 9 - The Descent
- 5 - Invincible
- 12 - How to Eat Fried Worms
- 4 - Step Up
- 13 - Bon Cop Bad Cap
- 6 - The Illusionist
- 11 - Beerfest
- 3 - World Trade Center
- 14 - Idlewild
- 7 - Accepted
- 10 - Pulse
- 2 - Barnyard
- 15 - Zoom
Voting for the opening round begins on May 27. Head over to Threads or leave a comment to vote and be sure to check back here to keep up to date until a winner receives their crown.
Relive a selection of past tournaments:
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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