Carrie Salo

The year 2025 marked a significant period in film history, characterized by numerous box office achievements and anniversaries for major studios. Shochiku and Gaumont celebrated 130 years, while 20th Century Studios and Republic Pictures reached their 90th anniversaries. Studio Ghibli marked its 40th year, and Laika its 20th. A notable event was the entry of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Broadway Melody" into the public domain.

The highest-grossing films of the year demonstrated a shift in global box office power. Animated films, especially "Ne Zha 2" and "Zootopia 2," shattered previous records, with "Ne Zha 2" becoming the highest-grossing non-English language film and the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It was also the first non-Hollywood studio production to achieve this. "Zootopia 2" continued this trend, setting new records for fastest animated films to reach $1 billion and becoming Disney's highest-grossing animated film. International productions also saw substantial success, with "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" becoming the highest-grossing Japanese and anime film globally. The year also saw franchise milestones, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe surpassing $32 billion and the Avatar series reaching over $6 billion.

The year 2025 was a milestone year for several prominent film studios. Shochiku and Gaumont both celebrated their 130th anniversaries, marking over a century of cinematic contribution. Additionally, 20th Century Studios and Republic Pictures commemorated their 90th anniversaries. In the realm of animation, Studio Ghibli celebrated its 40th anniversary, while Laika marked its 20th. A significant event for film history was the entry of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Broadway Melody" (1929) into the public domain. This film holds historical importance as the first sound film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

2025 witnessed unprecedented box office achievements, particularly by animated and international films. "Ne Zha 2" emerged as a dominant force, surpassing previous records to become the highest-grossing non-English language film and the highest-grossing animated film ever. It was the first non-Hollywood studio production to achieve such a feat, breaking Disney's long-standing hold on the title. "Zootopia 2" continued this trend, becoming the second-fastest animated film to gross $1 billion worldwide and ultimately surpassing "Inside Out 2" to become Disney's highest-grossing animated film of all time. The "Zootopia" franchise also surpassed $2.8 billion. "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" achieved significant success, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese and anime film globally, setting records in Japan and the US for international and anime releases.

Beyond individual film achievements, several film franchises reached significant financial milestones in 2025. The Marvel Cinematic Universe became the first film franchise to gross over $32 billion with its releases. The "Avatar" film series surpassed $6 billion with the release of "Avatar: Fire and Ash." The "Superman" franchise also crossed the $3 billion mark. In the horror genre, "The Conjuring: Last Rites" achieved the largest opening weekend for a horror film. "Nobody" became the highest-grossing 2D animated film in China. Notably, 2025 marked the first year since 1940 where the two highest-grossing films of the year were both animated features, highlighting a shift in audience preference and market dominance.