Overview
- Industry estimates place the 2025 U.S./Canada total around $8.7–$8.9 billion, a marginal uptick from 2024 yet roughly 20–21% below 2019.
- Hits such as A Minecraft Movie, Zootopia 2, and Avatar: Fire and Ash lifted results, and originals like Ryan Coogler’s Sinners broke out, but no release cleared $600 million domestically.
- The year’s grosses were lopsided, with a weak first quarter and an October slump that fell to a 27-year low, underscoring the risks of concentrated release windows.
- Financial strain persisted for exhibitors as AMC’s shares fell about 60% in 2025 and a reported $72 billion Netflix bid for Warner Bros. Discovery heightened uncertainty about theatrical strategies.
- Studios have queued a heavy 2026 slate and trades project roughly 115 wide releases, with titles like The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and Toy Story 5, while some commentators forecast a possible $10 billion year contingent on consistent output.