In 2025, the biggest box office hits were a mix of popular franchises and surprising new movies. While big-name films still did well, they only made money if they had strong stories, good marketing, and positive word-of-mouth. Just being part of a famous brand wasn’t enough anymore.
Movies like “Ne Zha 2” and “A Minecraft Movie” were major hits around the world. In contrast, “Thunderbolts” got good reviews but didn’t earn much money. This shows that audiences are only showing up for films that feel exciting and special.
The original horror movie “Sinners” became a hit by connecting strongly with its audience, proving that new ideas can succeed too.
One of the biggest changes in 2025 was the rise of international markets—especially China. “Ne Zha 2” made over $1 billion in China alone and $2 billion globally. It was the first non-Hollywood film to do so, showing that China’s film industry is now a major player on the world stage.
Top 10 Highest Grossing Films of 2025
| Rank | Movie Title | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海) | $1.99 billion |
| 2 | A Minecraft Movie | $946.8 million |
| 3 | Lilo & Stitch | $869.4 million |
| 4 | Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning | $512.3 million |
| 5 | Captain America: Brave New World | $413.6 million |
| 6 | Thunderbolts | $380.2 million |
| 7 | Sinners | $361.9 million |
| 8 | Final Destination: Bloodlines | $274.2 million |
| 9 | How to Train Your Dragon | $262.7 million |
| 10 | Disney’s Snow White | $205.1 million |
Ne Zha 2 (2025)
Box Office Performance: Ne Zha 2 is a Chinese animated action-fantasy film that made nearly $2 billion worldwide — only 0.85% came from the U.S., and most earnings were from China. It broke several records:
- Highest-grossing film in a single country (China, over $1 billion)
- First non-English film to make over $2 billion
- First animated movie ever to hit the $2 billion mark
It had a budget of $80 million and was released during the Chinese New Year, which helped boost ticket sales.
Reception: The film got strong reviews. Critics praised its animation, action, and emotional story. Viewers gave it an 8.2/10 on Metacritic. Some said the fights felt repetitive or that the fast-paced Chinese dialogue was hard to follow without subtitles.
A Minecraft Movie (2025)
Box Office Success: A Minecraft Movie made $946.8 million worldwide on a $150 million budget. It earned $423.8 million in the U.S. alone—44.77% of its total—and had the biggest opening weekend of 2025 with over $162 million. It also set a new record for video game movies, beating The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Why It Was a Hit: The movie is based on Minecraft, the world’s best-selling video game with over 200 million monthly players. Even though the game has no main story, fans were excited to see its world come to life on the big screen. The film included many fun references and inside jokes for fans.
Marketing & Hype: Warner Bros. released the film in over 4,000 U.S. theaters and 36,000 screens worldwide. Its marketing created huge buzz and helped it beat expectations—analysts had only predicted an $80 million opening.
Lilo & Stitch (2025)
Box Office Performance: Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch made $869 million worldwide on a $100 million budget. It earned $377 million in the U.S. and $492 million internationally. Released on May 23, 2025, it had a huge $146 million opening weekend, setting a Memorial Day box office record.
Why It Was a Hit: This remake of the 2002 animated classic was a big success thanks to strong fan love and merchandise. In fact, Lilo & Stitch products made over $2.5 billion in the year before the movie came out. Adults who grew up with the original were a key part of the audience.
Creative Marketing: Disney’s marketing was bold and fun. Stitch “took over” billboards and radio stations, and even caused chaos in a Super Bowl commercial seen by 173 million people in 24 hours. The film’s early buzz at Disney’s D23 event also helped build excitement.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
Box Office Performance: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning earned $512.3 million worldwide, with $171.8 million from the U.S. and $340.5 million internationally. It had a huge $64 million opening weekend, the biggest in franchise history, and set a new Memorial Day weekend record in the U.S.
Franchise Power & Star Appeal: This is the seventh film in the long-running Mission: Impossible series, which began in 1996. Fans showed up for Tom Cruise, who once again performed dangerous, real-life stunts in extreme locations—something that audiences love about this series.
IMAX & Premium Formats: The movie made a lot of its money from IMAX and premium screens, as more people are willing to pay extra for a bigger, more exciting theater experience. This helped boost ticket sales and bring the franchise back to pre-COVID numbers, even though costs were higher due to reshoots, strikes, and expensive visual effects.
Profitability Concerns: Even with strong box office numbers, the film’s huge $400 million budget means it needed to make at least $800 million to break even. That made it tough to turn a profit, despite good reviews and fan excitement.
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
Box Office Performance: Captain America: Brave New World made $413.6 million worldwide, with $200.5 million from the U.S. (48%) and $213.1 million internationally. It had a solid $88.8 million opening weekend and was released on February 14, 2025. The budget was $180 million, so it earned more than it cost but didn’t reach blockbuster status.
Political Themes & Controversy
The film included real-world political themes, like:
- Sam Wilson’s journey as the new Black Captain America
- Questions about leadership, media control, and power
- A U.S. president (Thaddeus Ross) with authoritarian traits
Some viewers appreciated this, but others felt the movie didn’t fully commit to its message. Critics said the political points were either too soft or too heavy-handed.
It also faced pre-release backlash, including:
- Casting choices
- Controversial comments by actress Rachel Zegler
- Fans calling for boycotts
These issues may have hurt the film’s box office success.
Thunderbolts* (2025)
Box Office Performance: Thunderbolts* earned $380 million worldwide, with $189 million from the U.S. and $191 million internationally. Despite strong reviews, it was seen as a box office disappointment, losing an estimated $50 million since it needed at least $425 million to break even (due to a $280 million total cost including marketing). It opened on May 2, 2025, with $74.3 million domestically in its first weekend.
Strong Reviews & Cast Praise
- Critics: 88% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Audience: 93% on Rotten Tomatoes
Fans and critics loved its grounded tone, emotional depth, and strong performances—especially Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, who stood out as a leader. The movie was praised as one of Marvel’s better recent entries.
Marketing Misstep: Marvel tried a bold marketing trick by revealing the team’s new name, “The New Avengers,” in billboards and ads—just days after release. While this aimed to excite casual fans, it spoiled a major twist too early. Many found the move confusing or desperate, and it may have hurt ticket sales, especially before the film lost IMAX screens.
Sinners (2025)
Box Office Success: Sinners made $361.9 million worldwide on a $90 million budget—earning 4 times its cost. Most of its success came from the U.S. ($276.4 million, or 76% of its total). It opened on April 18, 2025, with a strong $48 million debut, making it the highest-grossing original film opening since the pandemic.
What Made It Stand Out
- Directed by Ryan Coogler
- Starred Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers in 1930s Mississippi
- Mixed horror, history, and magical realism
- Focused on Black culture, family, and resilience through a unique vampire story
The story blended supernatural horror with deeper social themes—like racism in the Jim Crow South—creating a film that was both entertaining and meaningful.
Marketing & Style: Marketing leaned into the film’s originality, calling it a “bluesy, bloody vampire epic.” It used bold visuals, music, and strong storytelling to connect with viewers emotionally. The film was shot in large-format IMAX, adding to its visual impact.
Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)
Box Office Success: Final Destination: Bloodlines made $274.2 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise. It earned $132.9 million in the U.S. and $141.3 million overseas. The movie opened on May 16, 2025, and had a strong $51.6 million opening weekend, the best in the series.
Nostalgia & Franchise Revival: After a 14-year gap since the last movie, fans were excited for its return. The film attracted both old fans and new audiences with the same creative, suspenseful death scenes the series is known for. It also added a fresh twist: the idea of a “bloodline curse“—where the danger of Death follows a family over generations.
Marketing That Went Viral
The marketing campaign was wild and super effective:
- A billboard showed a car “crashing” through it, catching people’s attention in real life and online.
- A fake logging truck (referencing a famous scene from Final Destination 2) drove around, sparking nostalgia and tons of memes.
These viral stunts helped the movie get massive buzz on social media.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
Box Office Success: The live-action How to Train Your Dragon earned $262.7 million worldwide, with $123.5 million from the U.S. and $139.2 million internationally. It opened on June 13, 2025, in the U.S. with a strong $84.6 million opening weekend, making it one of the year’s biggest.
A Loyal Remake That Fans Loved
The movie stayed very close to the 2010 animated original, with many scenes recreated shot-for-shot.
- Critics: 78% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Audience: 98% score and an A CinemaScore
Audiences praised the faithful storytelling, emotional depth, and stunning visuals. The realistic version of Toothless was a highlight, showing how well the dragons were adapted to live action.
Smart Marketing & Global Strategy
Universal marketed the film worldwide, with a fun campaign called “Ride The Skies” in Southeast Asia.
- Partnered with AirAsia Media
- Included dragon-themed flights, in-app ads, and in-flight merchandise
This helped build excitement internationally and kept the global fanbase engaged.
Story, Style & Minor Updates
The story followed Hiccup and Toothless as they bond and challenge Viking traditions.
- The film added diverse Viking cultures in Berk
- Included a new scene showing a failed attack on the Dragon’s Nest
- It was praised for its cinematography, emotional tone, and ability to make the world of Berk feel real without changing too much.
Disney’s Snow White (2025) – A Costly Misstep
Box Office Results: Snow White made $205 million worldwide, with $87.2 million from the U.S. and $117.8 million internationally. But with a massive budget of $269 million, it was a major box office failure, making only 0.8 times its cost. It opened in the U.S. on March 21, 2025, with a $42.2 million opening weekend.
Controversies & Backlash: The film was surrounded by major controversy before and after release:
- Casting choices led to claims of “wokeness”
- The Seven Dwarfs were reimagined with CGI, sparking criticism from the dwarfism community
- Lead actress Rachel Zegler’s public comments about the original film upset many fans
This led to boycotts from different sides and strong online backlash.
Audience & Critical Response
- Critics: 39% on Rotten Tomatoes
- Audience: 70% score, but IMDb users gave it only 1.5 stars
- IMDb added a warning about “‘unusual voting activity” (review bombing)
Many fans felt the film disrespected the original, especially:
- Replacing Prince Florian with a new character named Jonathan
- Changing the message behind Snow White’s name
- Making Snow White less quirky and more “modern,” which fans didn’t connect with
The movie was also criticized for marketing itself based on what it changed, rather than celebrating what fans loved.
Big Takeaway: Snow White shows how even a famous Disney brand can fail if audiences feel alienated. Controversial creative choices, public backlash, and a big shift from the original story led to poor box office numbers. In today’s digital age, audience reactions—especially online—can seriously impact a film’s success. Disney’s misreading of what fans wanted made this one of its most expensive disappointments.
Conclusion
The 2025 box office landscape made one thing clear: success is no longer guaranteed by brand names alone. While major franchises and familiar IPs like Minecraft and Mission: Impossible still drew crowds, their wins depended heavily on smart marketing, audience connection, and strong execution. At the same time, Sinners proved that original stories, when done well, can break through in a crowded market and become cultural moments.
On the other hand, films like Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World, and Snow White struggled despite recognizable names—highlighting growing superhero fatigue, controversy fatigue, and a demand for more thoughtful storytelling. Audiences in 2025 showed they’re more selective than ever, reserving their time and money for movies that feel meaningful, exciting, or event-worthy.
As international markets like China grow in power and audience tastes continue to shift, the industry is entering a new era—one where quality, timing, and cultural relevance are just as important as star power or franchise ties. Moving forward, studios must rethink how they build trust with audiences, how they market their stories, and most importantly, what stories are worth telling on the big screen.