Disney Keeps Its Box Office Crown

In a thrilling summer at the box office, Disney held onto its leading position in 2025, but it was Warner Bros. that stole the headlines. With blockbuster hits like *Weapons*, *Superman*, and the groundbreaking *F1: The Movie* starring Brad Pitt, Warner Bros. secured a remarkable second-place finish. The studio, once thought to be in a precarious position, has rebounded spectacularly under the leadership of Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.

Surprising Hits and Anticipated Releases

As summer approached, Warner Bros.' *Weapons* and *F1* weren't even on the radar in Fandango's annual list of the most anticipated films. That list accurately predicted *Jurassic World Rebirth* as the top contender, raising eyebrows about Universal and Amblin’s capability to reboot the beloved franchise for the third time—over three decades after the original *Jurassic Park*.

Jurassic World Rebirth Takes the Lead

*Jurassic World Rebirth* emerged as the summer's second-biggest film, raking in an astonishing $855.6 million worldwide, trailing only Disney's live-action *Lilo & Stitch*, which became the sole film this year to gross over $1 billion, totaling $1.33 billion as of early September. This nostalgic reimagining has resonated with families and Gen Z alike, proving the financial power of tapping into beloved childhood tales.

Warner’s Winning Streak Continues

Warner Bros.' resurgence is primarily driven by *F1: The Movie*, which crossed the $613 million mark by Labor Day—an achievement that was unexpected considering the lead actor's advanced age and the general lack of popularity of Formula One in the U.S. This ambitious project, financed by Apple Original Films with Warner Bros. as a distribution partner, has changed perceptions around sports films at the box office.

Cultural Phenomena Emerge

Mid-August also saw the release of Zach Cregger’s *Weapons*, which turned into a cultural phenomenon, amassing over $250 million against a modest $38 million budget. This follows the success of *Sinners*, another original project from Abdy and De Luca, which surpassed $455.7 million globally.

Superhero Fatigue Hits Us Hard

While *Superman* has earned $611 million globally, marking a long-awaited win for DC over Marvel, it faces a backdrop of superhero fatigue that’s impacting box office returns, especially abroad.

Universal's Steady Performance

Meanwhile, Universal has maintained a solid position this summer, buoyed by *Jurassic World Rebirth* and *How to Train Your Dragon*, which grossed $629 million globally as the studio ventured into live-action adaptations—a first for DreamWorks Animation.

Challenges for Paramount and Sony

Paramount and Sony encountered their own challenges. Paramount navigated the uncertainty surrounding the Skydance merger while releasing *Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning*, and Sony found itself without a summer blockbuster due to labor strike delays.

Overall Box Office Performance

As of September 2, Comscore reported a slight downturn in summer revenue, showing domestic earnings at $3.672 billion, down just 0.10% from the previous year. This closely aligned with initial forecasts, reflecting a summer full of surprises and shifts in the film industry.

Studio Revenue Breakdown

Stay tuned as we dive into an in-depth breakdown of domestic, international, and global revenues for the major studios this summer.