The Highest-Grossing Movies of 2025 (Final Rankings): Box Office Records, Breakouts & Billion-Dollar Hits

2025 has turned into one of the most dynamic and unpredictable years in modern cinema. From landmark anniversaries across legendary studios to billion-dollar surprise hits, this year’s box office has already delivered historic records, global breakouts, and genre-defining moments.

It’s also a milestone year for the film industry:

• Shochiku and Gaumont celebrated 130 years

• 20th Century Studios and Republic Pictures celebrated 90 years

• Studio Ghibli reached its 40th anniversary

• And The Broadway Melody (1929), MGM’s first musical and the first sound film to win Best Picture, officially entered the public domain

But beyond the celebrations, the real headline is the box office itself, where Hollywood, Japan, and China are all competing at the highest level.

Below is the updated list of the Top 10 Highest-Grossing Films of 2025 (so far) — ranked by worldwide box office earnings.

🌍 Top 10 Highest-Grossing Films of 2025 (Updated List)

(Worldwide Box Office Totals)

Rank	Title	Distributor	Worldwide Gross
1	Ne Zha 2	Beijing Enlight	$2,215,690,000
2	Lilo & Stitch	Disney	$1,037,971,167
3	A Minecraft Movie	Warner Bros.	$957,949,195
4	Jurassic World Rebirth	Universal	$868,901,354
5	Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle †	Aniplex / Toho / Crunchyroll / Sony	$780,000,000
6	How to Train Your Dragon	Universal	$636,244,418
7	F1	Warner Bros. / Apple	$631,427,111
8	Zootopia 2 †	Disney	$616,776,630
9	Superman	Warner Bros.	$616,684,465
10	Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning	Paramount	$598,767,057

10. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Worldwide Gross: $598.8 million

Budget: $300–400 million

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning marks the explosive conclusion to Tom Cruise’s legendary run as Ethan Hunt — and even in its eighth chapter, the franchise proves it still has the stamina to dominate the global box office.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film brings together an all-star cast including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett. The story follows Ethan Hunt and the IMF as they race to stop The Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence threatening global collapse — making this one of the franchise’s most timely and high-stakes missions yet.

🎟️ Box Office Performance

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning finished its theatrical run with $598.8M worldwide, becoming the 10th highest-grossing film of 2025.

• Domestic (US & Canada): $197.4M

• International: $401.4M

• Global Total: $598.8M

Despite fierce competition from major holiday titles, the film delivered a franchise-best opening day and a massive presence in IMAX formats.

🚀 Opening Weekend Breakdown

The film opened strong, setting multiple records for the franchise:

• $8.3M from Thursday previews (franchise record)

• $24.8M opening day

• $64M three-day weekend

• $79M four-day Memorial Day weekend

It opened at 2, just behind Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, but its performance contributed to the biggest Memorial Day weekend in domestic box office history.

Internationally, it opened in 64 markets and pulled in $127M opening weekend, with major strength in:

• South Korea

• Japan

• United Kingdom

In China, it debuted at 1 with a strong $25.6M, including a record-breaking IMAX opening for a Hollywood film in 2025.

💡 Interesting Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

• This is Tom Cruise’s final appearance as Ethan Hunt after nearly 30 years in the role.

• The movie was originally titled Dead Reckoning Part Two, but the subtitle changed in late 2024.

• It is one of the most expensive films ever made, with a $300–400M budget and massive global location shoots including England, Norway, Malta, and South Africa.

• Production was halted for months due to industry strikes, making it one of the longest productions in franchise history.

• The film also marks the final separate collaboration between Paramount and Skydance before their merger.

📺 Where You Can Stream Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

The movie is expected to stream on Paramount+ after its theatrical and digital run.

Typical release pattern:

1. Digital Rental / Purchase (PVOD): Usually 30–45 days after theatrical release.

2. Streaming on Paramount+:Expected within 60–90 days of the theatrical debut.

This places streaming availability around late summer to early fall 2025.

⭐ Final Take

Even though The Final Reckoning didn’t climb into the franchise’s top-grossing entries, earning nearly $600M worldwide is a major win — especially in a year packed with billion-dollar blockbusters.

It closes out the Ethan Hunt saga with style, scale, and one of the most ambitious stories in the series. For fans, it’s a finale worth the wait — and for the box office, proof that Mission: Impossible remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring action franchises.

9. Superman (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $616.7 million

Budget: $225 million

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

James Gunn’s Superman (2025) marks the beginning of a brand-new era for DC — and audiences worldwide showed up for it. Positioned as the first official film of the DCU, the movie serves as both a fresh introduction to Clark Kent and a bold creative statement about the future of the franchise.

Starring David Corenswet as Superman and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, with Nicholas Hoult delivering a standout performance as Lex Luthor, Gunn’s reboot brings a colorful, hopeful, character-first tone that fans have been craving for years.

🦸‍♂️ What the Movie Is About

After intervening in an international conflict engineered by Lex Luthor, Superman faces escalating political fallout and public distrust. With help from his Daily Planet colleagues and fellow heroes, Clark must restore hope, rebuild trust, and stop Luthor’s escalating threat before it destabilizes the world.

It’s classic Superman energy: idealism, heart, and heroism — reimagined for modern audiences.

💰 Box Office Performance

Superman soared to $616.7 million worldwide, securing its place as the 9th highest-grossing film of 2025. While it didn’t reach early billion-dollar buzz projections, it still delivered a theatrical profit and became one of DC’s strongest performers in years.

• Domestic (US & Canada): $354.2M

• International: $262.5M

• Worldwide: $616.7M

This marks the best domestic performance for a DC film since The Batman (2022).

🚀 Opening Weekend Breakdown

Expectations were massive — and Superman delivered:

• $22.5M in previews (record for Gunn)

• $56.5M opening day (2nd-biggest of 2025)

• 
  

• $125M opening weekend (biggest for a standalone Superman film)

It was also the third-largest debut of 2025, trailing only A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch.

Superman held the top spot for two consecutive weekends thanks to strong word-of-mouth and positive audience sentiment.

🌍 International Performance

The film opened to $95M overseas for a global launch of $220M, with top markets including:

• UK

• Mexico

• Australia

• Brazil

• France

• South Korea

• India

• Japan

While international numbers were softer than projected — partially due to the character’s strong American identity — domestic audiences pushed the movie into blockbuster territory.

⭐ Why Fans Loved It

Audiences praised:

• A more hopeful, earnest Superman

• Corenswet’s charming portrayal

• Brosnahan’s refreshing, confident Lois Lane

• A smarter, more grounded Lex Luthor

• Gunn’s colorful, optimistic tone

For many, this felt like the Superman movie they’ve been waiting decades for.

💡 Interesting Facts

• Superman was first titled Superman: Legacy before the subtitle was dropped.

• It is influenced heavily by All-Star Superman, one of the most beloved Superman comics of all time.

• It’s the first film in DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, officially launching DC’s new cinematic universe.

• It has the best preview numbers for a James Gunn project.

• The film features cameos and setups that connect directly to future DCU movies.

• A follow-up, Man of Tomorrow, is already set for release in 2027.

📺 Where You Can Stream Superman (2025)

After its theatrical and digital run, Superman will stream on:

Max (formerly HBO Max)

As the flagship DCU title, it will be a major streaming release for the platform.

Expected timeline (based on standard WB release patterns):

• Digital Purchase/Rental (PVOD): 45–60 days after theatrical debut

• Streaming on Max: Around 70–90 days after theatrical release

This places its streaming arrival around early fall 2025.

🏆 Final Take: A Strong Start for the New DCU

Superman (2025) may not have reached its wildest box office expectations, but crossing $616M, delivering DC’s best domestic numbers in years, and officially launching the new DC Universe makes it a clear win.

With a sequel on the way and a connected series in development, Superman positions the DCU for a bright and ambitious

future — powered by hope, heart, and a hero who finally feels like Superman again.

8. Zootopia 2 (Still Running)

Worldwide Gross (So Far): $617 million

Budget: $150 million

Distributor: Disney

Zootopia 2 (released as Zootropolis 2 in select regions) marks the triumphant return of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde — and audiences around the world showed up in massive numbers. Released nine years after the original, the sequel quickly became one of Disney’s biggest animated successes of the decade and is still climbing at the global box office.

Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the movie reunites the entire original cast while adding major new voices, including Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo.

This time, Judy and Nick find themselves framed and forced to chase down the deadly reptilian villain Gary De’Snake, leading to a bigger, darker, and more emotional mystery across Zootopia.

🦊 Updated Box Office Performance (Still Rising)

As of December 2, 2025:

• U.S. & Canada: $170M

• International: $447M

• Worldwide Total: $617M

This places Zootopia 2 as the 8th highest-grossing film of 2025 — and it’s still playing in many markets with strong legs heading into the holiday season.

🦃 A Thanksgiving Weekend Explosion

Expectations were high.The results were historic.

• Projected (Domestic 5-day): $125M+

• Actual (Domestic 5-day): $158M

Worldwide, the sequel achieved:

• $560.3M global opening weekend

• The highest global opening ever for an animated film

• 4th largest worldwide opening of all time

• $100.3M domestic 3-day opening

This is one of the most successful Thanksgiving debuts in modern box office history.

🐼 China Box Office: Record-Breaking Numbers

China delivered jaw-dropping results:

• $271.6M in the opening weekend

• First Hollywood animated film to earn $100M in a single day

• Outperforming the original Zootopia by over 40%

This makes China the film’s biggest overseas market by an enormous margin.

⭐ Why the Sequel Is a Hit

Audiences and critics praised:

• A richer, more emotional Judy & Nick partnership

• A complex villain driven by personal motives

• Stunning animation advancements

• Heartfelt storytelling that resonates across all ages

• A soundtrack boosted by Shakira’s return as Gazelle

Many fans and critics called it one of Disney’s best sequels ever.

💡 Interesting Facts

• This is Disney Animation’s fastest climb to $500M+ since Frozen II.

• The film holds the largest opening weekend ever for animation.

• Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde remain one of Disney’s most beloved modern duos.

• The villain Gary De’Snake became a viral sensation across social platforms.

• The movie premiered at the iconic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

📺 Where You Can Stream Zootopia 2 (When Released)

The movie will stream on Disney+ after completing its theatrical and digital windows.

Expected release pattern:

• Digital (PVOD): Around 45 days after theatrical debut

• Streaming on Disney+: Around 60–90 days after theatrical release

This places the Disney+ release date around early 2026.

🏁 Final Take

With $617M earned so far and more still to come, Zootopia 2 is one of the biggest animated events of 2025. Its combination of emotional storytelling, record-breaking global turnout, and massive international appeal has given Disney another true blockbuster — and one that continues to rise.

7. F1 (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $631.4 million

Budget: $200–300 million

Distributor: Warner Bros. / Apple Studios

Joseph Kosinski’s F1 (2025) roared into theaters as one of the biggest cinematic surprises of the year — a high-octane racing drama anchored by Brad Pitt in one of his most charismatic roles in years. The film blends real Formula One racing footage, stunning practical sequences, and a deeply emotional comeback story, making it a rare sports drama that appeals equally to racing fans and mainstream audiences.

Brad Pitt stars as Sonny Hayes, a former F1 legend who returns to the track after 30 years to help rescue his old teammate’s struggling team, APXGP. With rising star Damson Idris as his young co-driver, the movie delivers adrenaline, mentorship, rivalry, and heart — all under the real-world roar of Formula One.

🏎️ Why the Film Hit So Big

The film was shot partly during actual Grand Prix weekends with cooperation from real F1 teams, drivers, and the FIA — giving it a level of authenticity rarely achieved on screen. With Hans Zimmer delivering an intense, propulsive score, F1 brought the sport to life like never before.

Critics and racing fans alike praised the film’s realism, energy, and emotional depth.

💰 Box Office Performance

F1 pushed itself directly into the record books by grossing $631.4 million worldwide, making it:

• The 7th highest-grossing film of 2025

• The highest-grossing auto racing film ever made

• The highest-grossing Apple Studios film of all time

• The highest-grossing Brad Pitt film of his entire career

Breakdown:

• U.S. & Canada: $189.5M

• International: $441.8M

• Worldwide: $631.4M

🚀 Opening Weekend Breakdown

The movie started strong right out of the gate:

• $10M in previews (including $7M on Thursday)

• $57M domestic opening weekend

• 1 at the box office on debut

• $146.3M global opening weekend

It held strong in the following weeks:

• Weekend 2: $26.1M (2nd place)

• Weekend 3: $13.1M (3rd place)

By August, it surpassed World War Z to become Brad Pitt’s biggest career box office hit.

🌍 International Strength

The film’s biggest earnings came from global audiences who embraced the breathtaking racing sequences and international appeal of Formula One. Major territories across Europe, Asia, and Latin America saw strong turnout, helping the film surpass $400M overseas.

The stunning realism of the racing scenes — many filmed on real tracks — resonated especially well in countries with large F1 fanbases.

⭐ Interesting Facts

• The film is considered the first major theatrical hit for Apple Studios, marking a major turning point for the company’s cinema ambitions.

• Kosinski and Brad Pitt shot several sequences during real F1 race weekends, with full access to the grid and pit lanes.

• Real F1 drivers and teams appear in the film, including a supporting role from Lewis Hamilton, who also served as producer.

• The movie features practical racing coverage blended with innovative camera systems developed specifically for the film.

• It's the most expensive racing film ever made — and the most successful.

📺 Where You Can Stream F1 (2025)

After its theatrical and digital run, F1 is streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.

Expected streaming timeline:

• Digital Rental / Purchase (PVOD): Around 45 days after theatrical debut

• Streaming on Apple TV+: Expected around 60–90 days post-release

This places its streaming release around late summer to early fall 2025.

🏁 Final Take

F1 isn’t just a racing movie — it’s a cinematic event. With breathtaking authenticity, emotional storytelling, and Brad Pitt delivering one of his most compelling roles, the film raced ahead of expectations to become a global box office triumph.

With $631.4 million worldwide, record-breaking status, and a huge streaming life ahead, F1 stands tall as one of 2025’s biggest and most impressive success stories.

6. How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $636.2 million

Budget: $150 million

Distributor: Universal Pictures / DreamWorks

The beloved How to Train Your Dragon franchise took a bold leap into live-action in 2025 — and the gamble paid off in a massive way. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the creative force behind the original animated trilogy, this live-action adaptation reimagines the iconic bond between Hiccup and Toothless for an entirely new generation.

Starring Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid, the remake blends epic fantasy, heartfelt drama, and sweeping visual effects while staying faithful to the emotional core that made the 2010 animated classic unforgettable. With its cinematic scale and return of composer John Powell, the film delivers nostalgia and spectacle in equal measure.

🐉 What the Story Covers

Set in the Viking world of Berk, the film follows young Hiccup as he discovers — and befriends — a rare Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond challenges centuries of conflict between humans and dragons, leading to an adventure that reshapes the future of both species.

With Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast, the film bridges the animated trilogy with a grounded, emotionally rich live-action approach.

💰 Box Office Performance

How to Train Your Dragon soared to $636.2M worldwide, becoming:

• The 6th highest-grossing film of 2025

• The highest-grossing film in the entire franchise

• DreamWorks’ most successful live-action hybrid ever

• The 2nd highest-grossing hybrid film of all time

Breakdown:

• Domestic (U.S. & Canada): $263M

• International: $373.2M

• Worldwide Total: $636.2M

A huge win for Universal and DreamWorks.

🚀 Opening Weekend Success

Projections expected a strong debut — but the live-action remake blew past expectations:

• $35.6M opening day

• $11.1M from previews

• $84.6M opening weekend

This marks the best opening weekend in the entire Dragon franchise, surpassing all three animated films.

It was also the 4th-largest opening weekend of 2025, behind A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and Captain America: Brave New World.

⭐ Weekend Box Office Run

• Weekend 1: $84.6M — 1 at the box office

• Weekend 2: $37M — remained at 1 (only a 56.8% drop)

• Weekend 3: $19.6M — held strong but overtaken by F1

The film maintained impressive legs, boosted by family audiences, nostalgia, and positive reviews praising its heartfelt tone and visual beauty.

💡 Interesting Facts

• This is DreamWorks Animation’s first-ever live-action film.

• Director Dean DeBlois returned to ensure the remake stayed true to the emotional core of the animated trilogy.

• The dragons were created using cutting-edge VFX tech that blends live-action with animation realism.

• Gerard Butler is the only actor to reprise his role from the animated version.

• A sequel based on How to Train Your Dragon 2 is already set for release in 2027.

📺 Where You Can Stream How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

After its full theatrical and digital release cycle, the film will stream on:

Peacock

Expected timeline:

• Digital Purchase/Rental: Around 45 days after theatrical debut

• Streaming on Peacock: Typically 60–90 days post-release

This places the streaming release around late summer / early fall 2025.

🏁 Final Take

The live-action How to Train Your Dragon proved that beloved animated franchises can successfully and meaningfully transition into live-action. With $636M earned, rave audience reactions, and a sequel already on the way, this adaptation stands as one of 2025’s most impressive success stories — and a major win for Universal and DreamWorks.

5. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $780 million

Budget: $20 million

Distributor: Aniplex / Toho (Japan), Sony (International)

The Demon Slayer franchise once again proved its global dominance in 2025 with Infinity Castle, the long-awaited feature adaptation of one of the most dramatic arcs in the entire series. Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and produced by Ufotable, the film brings Tanjiro Kamado and the Hashira into their most intense, emotional, and visually breathtaking battle yet — a showdown against Muzan Kibutsuji inside the surreal, labyrinth-like Infinity Castle.

This is the first film of a planned trilogy, set to adapt the entire final arc of the manga. Thanks to its stunning animation, explosive action, and enormous fan anticipation, the film became one of the highest-grossing Japanese films in history and the 5th highest-grossing film worldwide in 2025.

⚔️ What the Movie Is About

Following the events of the Hashira Training Arc, Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and the Hashira are drawn into Muzan’s dimensional fortress — the Infinity Castle. Inside, they face the Upper Moon demons in a series of brutal, emotional confrontations that push every character to their limits.

With Ufotable’s signature animation style amplified to cinematic scale, Infinity Castle delivers some of the most ambitious action sequences ever created for a Japanese animated film.

💰 Box Office Performance

With a tiny $20 million budget, the film’s $780 million global total represents one of the most profitable box office runs of 2025.

• Domestic Japan: Record-breaking performance

• U.S. Box Office: $70M opening weekend (historic)

• Worldwide Total: $780M

The film also became:

• The highest-grossing international film ever in the U.S.

• The highest-grossing Japanese film of all time

• The highest-grossing R-rated animated film ever made

• The second-highest-grossing traditionally animated film

• The highest-grossing film based on an anime TV series

Its opening weekend alone was enough to cement its place in the global box office record books.

🚀 Record-Breaking Opening (Japan)

Japan witnessed history during the film’s launch:

• ¥1.64B opening day — biggest in Japanese history

• ¥5.52B three-day weekend — biggest all-time Japanese opening

• ¥7.31B four-day total

• Fastest film in Japanese history to surpass 10B yen (~$71M)

Fans lined up in massive numbers, with over 7.5 million tickets sold in the first eight days.

🇺🇸 Record-Breaking U.S. Release

The film stunned analysts in the United States:

• $70 million opening weekend

• The biggest U.S. opening ever for an international film

• The biggest opening ever for an R-rated animated film

Demon Slayer continues to be the most dominant anime franchise in the world when it comes to Western theatrical turnout.

⭐ Interesting Facts

• This film launches a three-part finale trilogy, adapting the manga’s final arc.

• It is the first theatrically released multi-film adaptation since Mugen Train.

• Infinity Castle overtook Mugen Train in multiple opening-day and pacing records.

• Real musicians and stunt performers helped shape the movement references for demon fights.

• Ufotable used a new hybrid animation pipeline to enhance lighting and motion inside the shifting castle.

📺 Where You Can Stream Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

(After its full worldwide theatrical run)

The film will be available to stream on:

Crunchyroll

Expected pattern:

• Digital & PVOD: Several months after theatrical release

• Streaming on Crunchyroll: Usually 3–6 months post-theatrical for Demon Slayer films

This places the streaming timeframe around late 2025 to early 2026.

🏁 Final Take

With its $780 million global haul, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is a monumental blockbuster — not just for anime, but for global cinema. Its combination of emotional storytelling, jaw-dropping animation, and a massive worldwide fanbase

propelled it into the ranks of 2025’s biggest films.

And with two more films planned to complete the trilogy, the Demon Slayer phenomenon is far from over.

4. Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $868.9 million

Budget: $180–$225 million

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Jurassic World: Rebirth marks a bold new chapter for one of cinema’s biggest franchises — and audiences worldwide showed up in force. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film is a standalone sequel to Jurassic World Dominion and the seventh installment in the overall Jurassic Park saga.

With a cast led by Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Ed Skrein, Rebirth pushes the franchise in a new direction: bigger creatures, deeper sci-fi themes, and a more survival-driven storyline.

🦖 What the Movie Is About

In a world where dinosaurs now survive only along the equator — the last region warm enough to sustain them — a scientific team journeys to a former research island to secure DNA samples from three massive, rare dinosaur species. These samples hold the key to a life-saving cardiac treatment.

But when a shipwrecked family is discovered on the island, the mission spirals into chaos. Two groups — both stranded — must navigate the island’s deadly predators, malfunctioning facilities, and the harsh tropical ecosystem.

It’s a grounded survival adventure that blends:

• Sci-fi medical ethics

• Classic dinosaur terror

• Human drama

• High-stakes rescue

💰 Box Office Performance

With $868.9 million worldwide, Jurassic World: Rebirth became:

• The 4th highest-grossing film of 2025

• One of the highest-grossing films in the Jurassic franchise

• A major rebound for Universal’s blockbuster lineup

Box office breakdown:

• Domestic (US & Canada): $339.6M

• International: $529.3M

• Worldwide: $868.9M

Its combination of nostalgia, franchise power, and star-driven appeal delivered one of the year’s strongest totals.

🚀 Opening Weekend: A Massive Debut

Released over the 4th of July holiday, the film exceeded nearly every projection:

• Opening Day: $30.5M

• Three-Day Weekend: $92M

• Five-Day Holiday Total: $147.8M — 1 at the domestic box office

• Global Opening Weekend: $322.6M

The film quickly surpassed $410M worldwide in its first full week.

Even with heavy competition from Superman the following weekend, the film held strong with $40.3M, a moderate 56% drop.

🌍 International Performance

Rebirth performed exceptionally well overseas, especially in major dinosaur-loving markets:

• China: $41M

• United Kingdom: $16.6M

• Mexico: $13.9M

• Germany: $7.6M

It also set a franchise opening-day record in India, showcasing the series’ vast global reach.

The film remained #1 in China during its second weekend, adding another $11.1M and extending its strong international legs.

⭐ Why Audiences Showed Up

Fans and newcomers alike praised:

• Gareth Edwards’ grounded, realistic direction

• A darker, more survival-focused tone

• Scarlett Johansson’s commanding lead performance

• Spectacular visual effects and creature design

• A story unconnected to the previous trilogy, making it accessible

While critics were mixed overall, many agreed it was a major improvement over recent entries.

💡 Interesting Facts

• It is the first Jurassic film since 1997 written by David Koepp, who penned the original Jurassic Park.

• Filming took place across Thailand, Malta, and the UK, with massive practical sets.

• The film’s three “mega species” were designed using updated paleontological research.

• Rebirth became the highest-grossing film of the series that does not star the original cast.

• Scarlett Johansson performed many of her own stunts, including underwater sequences.

📺 Where You Can Stream Jurassic World: Rebirth

(After theatrical + digital rollout)

The film will be available to stream on:

Peacock

Expected streaming timeline:

• PVOD Release: Around 30–45 days after theatrical debut

• Streaming on Peacock: Around 60–90 days after theatrical release

This places the streaming release in late 2025.

🏁 Final Take

With $868.9 million worldwide and strong audience turnout across the globe, Jurassic World: Rebirth proves the franchise is far from extinct. Its grounded tone, new storyline, and massive spectacle delivered one of 2025’s biggest cinematic events — and a giant win for Universal.

3. A Minecraft Movie (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $957.9 million

Budget: $150 million

Distributor: Warner Bros. / Legendary Entertainment

A Minecraft Movie brought one of the world’s most iconic games to the big screen — and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Mixing humor, family-friendly adventure, and a vibrant blocky world brought to life with cutting-edge VFX, the film became one of the biggest box office successes of 2025.

Directed by Jared Hess, the movie stars Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Coolidge,

with the story following four teenagers from a small Idaho town who are unexpectedly transported into the Minecraft universe. With help from “expert crafter” Steve, they embark on a mission to return home — while navigating mobs, monsters, and the dangers of the Overworld.

The movie delivered nostalgia for gamers, world-building for families, and comedy for general audiences — exactly the formula needed to become a global hit.

🧱 Box Office Performance

With a massive $957.9 million worldwide, A Minecraft Movie stands as:

• The 3rd highest-grossing film of 2025

• The 2nd highest-grossing video game adaptation ever made

• One of Warner Bros.’ biggest hits of the decade

• One of the most successful game-to-film translations in cinema history

Breakdown:

• Domestic (US & Canada): $423.9M

• International: $534M

• Worldwide: $957.9M

Gamers showed up, families showed up, and the film's crossover appeal helped it dominate the box office for weeks.

🚀 Record-Breaking Opening Weekend

What initially looked like a solid debut quickly turned into a phenomenon:

• $10.6M Thursday previews — highest ever for a video game movie

• $58M opening day

• $162.8M opening weekend (domestic)

• $313M global opening weekend

This opening surpassed:

• The Super Mario Bros. Movie (domestic opening record for a video game movie)

• Every previous April release for Warner Bros.

• Hess’s, Brooks’s, and Coolidge’s biggest opening weekends ever

It was the biggest opening weekend of 2025 at the time.

⭐ Continued Box Office Dominance

• Weekend 2: $78.5M

• Weekend 3: $40.5M (dropped to 2 in a rare two-WB-film weekend showdown)

• Fastest 2025 release to cross $200M domestic

• Surpassed Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to become the 2nd highest-grossing game movie ever

The film rarely slowed down as word-of-mouth spread among fans and families alike.

🎮 Why Audiences Loved It

• A fun, accessible story perfect for families

• Faithful recreation of the Minecraft world

• Jason Momoa’s charismatic screen presence

• Jack Black’s comedic energy

• Clever inside jokes and Easter eggs for longtime fans

Even with mixed critic reviews, audiences rated it highly — the key to the film’s long-term success.

💡 Interesting Facts

• The movie went through multiple directors and rewrites over nearly a decade before Hess took over.

• Shot in New Zealand, the film used hybrid practical-VFX techniques inspired by The Lego Movie and Ready Player One.

• Steve’s in-universe animations were made using motion-capture mixed with stylized “block physics.”

• It became one of the most expensive and ambitious video game adaptations ever attempted.

• A sequel is already set for July 23, 2027.

📺 Where You Can Stream A Minecraft Movie (2025)

After its theatrical run, the film will be available to stream on:

Max

Expected rollout:

• Digital Rental / Purchase: Around 45 days after theatrical debut

• Streaming on Max: Approximately 60–90 days post-release

This places its streaming availability around mid-to-late summer 2025.

🏁 Final Take

With nearly $1 billion at the global box office, A Minecraft Movie is one of the biggest surprise blockbusters of the year — a video game adaptation that broke records, won over families, and cemented Minecraft as a global movie franchise. Its combination of humor, world-building, and spectacle made it one of 2025’s defining theatrical events.

2. Lilo & Stitch (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $1.038 billion

Budget: $100 million

Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Lilo & Stitch (2025) became one of the biggest box office stories of the entire year. Disney’s live-action/animated hybrid remake brought its iconic blue alien to a new generation — and audiences responded with overwhelming enthusiasm.

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the film mixes heartfelt family drama, sci-fi chaos, and cutting-edge animation from ILM. With Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Chris Sanders returning to voice Stitch, the movie delivers the nostalgic emotional punch of the 2002 classic while expanding the story for modern viewers.

The result? A runaway success that blasted past the billion-dollar mark, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2025.

🌺 What the Movie Is About

The film follows young Lilo, her older sister Nani, and their close-knit Hawaiian community as they encounter “Experiment 626” — a chaotic but lovable alien fugitive. Together, they form an unexpected family bond while trying to protect Stitch from intergalactic authorities and Earthbound threats.

The live-action remake stays faithful to the original film’s themes of:

• found family

• childhood loneliness

• identity

• love

• forgiveness

But introduces new story beats and deeper character arcs.

💰 Box Office Performance

Lilo & Stitch became a global box office phenomenon, earning:

• Domestic (US & Canada): $423.8M

• International: $614.3M

• Worldwide: $1.038B

This makes it:

• The first Hollywood film of 2025 to surpass $1 billion

• The highest-grossing live-action/animated hybrid film ever made

• The second-highest-grossing film of 2025 overall

• Disney’s most successful remake since The Lion King (2019)

🚀 Record-Breaking Opening Weekend

The hype for Lilo & Stitch exploded long before opening day. Pre-sales ranked among the strongest of any PG-rated release in Disney history.

Opening weekend numbers were enormous:

• $14.5M Thursday previews

• $55M opening day

• $146M 3-day weekend

• $182.6M 4-day Memorial Day weekend

• The biggest Memorial Day opening of all time

The film beat the previous record held by Top Gun: Maverick.

It held the 1 spot for three consecutive weekends, demonstrating powerful family and nostalgia-driven appeal.

🌍 International Strength

The movie’s universal themes and global awareness helped power a massive international run.

Major territories included:

• Europe

• Latin America

• Australia

• Southeast Asia

• Middle East

Across multiple markets, Stitch became a cultural trend again — boosting sales for merchandise, plush toys, and tie-ins.

⭐ Why Audiences Loved It

Viewers connected with the film for several reasons:

• Charming performances from the young cast

• Faithful recreation of the emotional DNA of the original

• Stunning hybrid visual effects for Stitch

• A modernized Hawaiian setting and cultural depth

• A funny, heartfelt screenplay that appealed across age groups

Despite mixed critical reviews, audience word-of-mouth was overwhelmingly positive.

💡 Interesting Facts

• This is the first live-action/animated hybrid in history to cross $1B.

• Chris Sanders returned to voice Stitch — 23 years after the original.

• It became Disney’s first billion-dollar remake since 2019.

• Production was interrupted multiple times due to industry strikes.

• The film outgrossed the entire original franchise in just weeks.

• A sequel is officially in development.

📺 Where You Can Stream Lilo & Stitch (2025)

After its theatrical and digital rollout, the movie will stream on:

Disney+

Expected timeline:

• Digital PVOD: Around 45 days after theatrical release

• Streaming on Disney+: Around 60–90 days post-release

This places its streaming arrival around late summer 2025.

🏁 Final Take

With a $1.038 billion global total, Lilo & Stitch is not only Disney’s biggest family hit of the year — it’s one of the most successful remakes ever made. Combining heartfelt storytelling, blockbuster spectacle, and a beloved legacy, the film rekindled the magic of “ohana” for millions of viewers around the world.

1. Ne Zha 2 (2025)

Worldwide Gross: $2.216 billion

Budget: $80 million

Distributor: Beijing Enlight Pictures

Ne Zha 2 is not just the highest-grossing film of 2025 — it is a historic global phenomenon. Written and directed by Jiaozi, the film continues the story of Ne Zha and Ao Bing in a visually spectacular, emotionally rich sequel that has shattered nearly every box office record ever set by an animated film.

Based on Chinese mythology and inspired by the classic novel Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha 2 blends fantasy, drama, action, and spirituality with groundbreaking animation. Its success marks one of the most defining cinematic moments of modern Chinese film.

Released on January 29, 2025 — the first day of Chinese New Year — the movie quickly became a cultural event across Asia and the rest of the world.

🌊 What the Movie Is About

Picking up after the events of the first film, Ne Zha 2 follows the reborn Ne Zha carrying the spirit of his fallen friend Ao Bing. With only Ne Zha’s reconstructed body remaining, Ao Bing's soul resides within him, creating an emotionally complex partnership as they face the powerful and mysterious Master Shen.

Together, they must confront destiny, sacrifice, and an ancient threat while navigating a mythological world filled with magical realms, supernatural forces, and spectacular battles.

The film expands the scope of the franchise dramatically while staying rooted in themes of:

• rebirth

• friendship

• identity

• duty

• redemption

💰 Box Office Performance — A Global Earthquake

Ne Zha 2 has become one of the highest-grossing films in cinematic history:

• Worldwide Total: $2.216 billion

• Budget: Just $80 million

• ROI: One of the greatest in film history

• Highest-grossing film of 2025

• 5th highest-grossing film of all time

• Highest-grossing animated film ever made

• Highest-grossing non-English-language film ever made

• Highest-selling animated film based on ticket admissions

This is the first animated movie in history to cross $2 billion — a milestone previously thought impossible outside Disney or Pixar.

🚀 Record-Breaking Opening in China

The Chinese box office witnessed unprecedented numbers:

• Day 1: ¥1.64B ($11.1M) — biggest opening day ever

• Day 3: ¥5.52B ($37.4M) — biggest 3-day opening in Chinese history

• Day 4: ¥7.31B ($49.55M)

• Day 5: >¥3B total

• Day 6: >¥4B — fastest ever to reach this milestone

• Day 8: >¥5B ($684M) — broke domestic records

• Day 9: >¥6B

• Day 12: >¥7B — surpassing Wolf Warrior 2 & Lake Changjin

• Day 40-ish: Crossed $2B worldwide

It became the highest-grossing film ever released in a single country, surpassing the record set by Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the US.

🌍 International Success

Outside China, the film continued breaking records:

🇺🇸 United States

• $7.2M opening weekend — 6× more than the first film

• Biggest US debut ever for a Chinese animated film

• Highest-grossing non-English animated release in US history

🇸🇬 Singapore

• Record-breaking first day

• Fastest Chinese film to cross SG$6M

Other strong markets included:

• Malaysia

• Vietnam

• South Korea

• Australia

• UK special event screenings

• Middle East

• European festival circuits

Its universal themes helped it cross cultural boundaries with ease.

⭐ Why Ne Zha 2 Became a Global Sensation

• Gorgeous, state-of-the-art animation

• A darker, more mature storyline

• Emotional hero-villain partnership between Ne Zha & Ao Bing

• Strong mythology woven into modern cinematic storytelling

• A massive built-in fanbase from the first film

• A Chinese New Year release date

• Enormous word-of-mouth and social media buzz

This film captured both national pride and international curiosity, creating a blockbuster unlike anything before it.

💡 Interesting Facts

• First animated film in history to earn over $2 billion

• Highest-grossing non-American film ever made

• Highest-grossing Asian film of all time

• Jiaozi spent years on script and animation development

• The film’s emotional depth led to many adult repeat viewers

• Limited screenings in the US sold out instantly

• The Ne Zha franchise crossed 10 billion yuan ($1.37B) with just two movies

📺 Where You Can Stream Ne Zha 2

After its extended global theatrical run, the film will become available to stream on:

Netflix

(Note: Netflix holds global rights for many major modern Chinese blockbusters, including this franchise.)

Expected timeline:

• Digital Release (PVOD): 45–60 days post-theatrical

• Streaming on Netflix: Expected around early-to-mid 2026 due to its long-running Chinese release

This timing may shift since the film continues to perform extremely well in cinemas.

🏁 Final Take

Ne Zha 2 is not just a movie — it’s a global milestone. With $2.216 billion earned on an $80M budget, it stands as one of the most profitable and groundbreaking films ever made.

It is the highest-grossing animated film of all time, the biggest global release of 2025, and a powerful symbol of how international cinema continues to reshape the global box office landscape.

A once-in-a-generation achievement — and the new benchmark for animated storytelling.

🎬 Conclusion — 2025 Is a Box Office Year for the History Books

If there’s one thing the 2025 box office has proven, it’s this:

Global cinema is changing — fast, boldly, and in the most exciting ways possible.

2025 will go down as one of the most transformative and record-breaking years in modern film history.

This year delivered unprecedented breakthroughs:

• A $2.2 billion animated phenomenon (Ne Zha 2)

• A billion-dollar live-action/animated hybrid (Lilo & Stitch)

• A near–$1B video-game adaptation success (A Minecraft Movie)

• A massive revival of iconic franchises

• A surge in international cinema reshaping global movie trends

• Family films, gaming IPs, Japanese anime, and Chinese mythological epics dominating the charts

In short: 2025 was the year every rule was broken and rewritten.

Hollywood hits roared.

Asian films rose to global dominance.

And audiences worldwide reconnected with theatrical moviegoing in ways few predicted.

🌍 What This Means for the Industry

2025 proved that global cinema is no longer driven by one region — it’s a worldwide, multi-cultural ecosystem where:

• Chinese megahits lead global charts

• Japanese anime continues its unstoppable momentum

• Western studios find massive wins through nostalgia and franchise reinvention

• Video-game adaptations hit peak profitability

• Hybrid live-action/animated films dominate family markets

The year showcased an industry not in decline — but in evolution, fueled by bold storytelling and cross-cultural appeal.

🚀 What’s Next?

With December releases still ahead, some films may climb higher — but the top 10 as of now reflects a year defined by:

• creativity

• risk-taking

• international collaboration

• and an audience hungry for big-screen experiences

From epic fantasy to heartfelt animation, gritty action to sci-fi spectacle, 2025 delivered a cinematic buffet unlike anything before.

⭐ Final Word

The box office didn’t just rebound in 2025…it exploded.

And as we head into the final stretch of the year, one thing is undeniable:

Movies are back — bigger, louder, and more global than ever.

Stay tuned — the final numbers of 2025 are just around the corner.