The analysis of box office data from January to early September 2025 shows that game adaptations, animated features, and franchise reboots continue to dominate the global charts. In our MIPCOM 2025 issue, we delve into the trends that dominated the 2025 Box Office, both in CEE and global markets.
2025 Box Office Trends in CEE and Global Markets
Domestic Productions
Leading the market is Ne Zha 2, a Chinese mythological animated film that grossed nearly $2 billion. The title has become the highest-grossing animated film in history, the highest-grossing non-English-language film, the top film of 2025, the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the animated movie with the most tickets sold worldwide. This performance demonstrates the growing global influence of domestic productions, particularly from China, in the global charts.
The same trend is visible in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where domestic cinema has proven highly competitive. In the Czech Republic, Na plech led for three consecutive weeks (January 23-February 9), while Dzob dominated for four weeks (July 31-August 24), outperforming international blockbusters like The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Weapons. In Poland, Piepzyc Mickiewicza (Screw Mickiewicz) led for three weeks (January 24-February 9), and in Slovakia, Černák held the number one spot for an impressive seven weeks (January 30-March 16), and in Albania, Drop was the top movie for four weeks between April 12-May 4.
In Hungary, Futni mentem (Gone Running) and Hogyan tudnék élni nélküled? (How Could I Live Without You?) topped the charts for the first six weeks of 2025, while in Lithuania, Pietinia Kronikas (The Southern Chronicles) and ReEmigrantai 2 outperformed major international titles like Captain America: Brave New World and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. These trends highlight the strong appeal of cultural proximity and the continued support for domestic cinema across the region.
Family and Animated Films
Beyond Ne Zha 2, family-oriented content continues to drive significant revenues. Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake reached second place globally, while DreamWorks’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon secured the fifth spot. These titles confirm findings from Ampere Analysis’ recent report “Family Films Fuel the Box Office: A Growing Power in Hollywood Today and Tomorrow,” which highlighted that families are high-value consumers, as 53% of global internet users aged 18–64 attend the cinema live with children, compared to 46% without.
This trend is further supported by CEE box office data. In Slovenia, Smurfs led for two weeks, while The Bad Guys 2 dominated for four weeks in Slovenia and five weeks in Estonia during August. Meanwhile, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King topped charts in Croatia and Slovenia for three consecutive weeks, though it did not enter the global top ten.
The Rise of Game Adaptations
In third place globally, A Minecraft Movie has become the second-highest-grossing video game adaptation, quickly securing a sequel. The category leader remains The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which grossed $1.36 billion worldwide. Other successful adaptations include Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), and Warcraft (2016). The popularity of these films reflects the size and loyalty of the global gaming community.
Upcoming projects, such as The Legend of Zelda (Sony), Elden Ring (A24), Silent Hill (Davis Films & Hassell Free Productions), Resident Evil (Sony), Call of Duty (Paramount), and Split Fiction (Story Kitchen), indicate that studios will continue to follow this lucrative trend.
Read Also: The Golden Era of Game Adaptations: How Digital Fantasies Are Taking Over TV and Cinema
Long-Standing Franchises
Franchise longevity remains a powerful factor in driving the audience to the theaters. Jurassic World: Rebirth (fourth place) continues the legacy of a brand that began in 1993. Rebirth has returned with popular actors Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, and dominated the charts for weeks, with its fans spanning across the age brackets. In Albania, the film led for seven consecutive weeks (July 5-August 17), while in North Macedonia it dominated for eight weeks starting in July.
Similarly, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s (eighth place) goes back as early as 1966 with a TV series, before becoming a phenomenon with the 1996 movie starring Tom Cruise. In The Final Reckoning, Cruise’s final portrayal of Ethan Hunt created an “end of an era” event that drew both longtime fans and new viewers.
Cultural Phenomena
F1: The Movie, ranked sixth, shows how global sports properties can translate into box office success. Formula 1’s booming international popularity, boosted by Netflix’s Drive to Survive, combined with the star power of Brad Pitt, delivered a rare sports drama breakthrough into the global top ten. In Lithuania, the movie was the #1 release for four weeks starting from June 27.
Superheroes: Marvel and DC
Another example of franchise longevity, Marvel Studios continues to hold global attention with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (ninth place) and Captain America: Brave New World (tenth place). With over 17 years of storytelling and the creation of the “Infinity Saga”, Marvel benefits from brand familiarity and audience loyalty.
Meanwhile, Marvel’s main rival, DC, returned strongly with Superman, ranked seventh. After years of mixed reviews towards DCEU movies, such as Batman v Superman and Wonder Woman 2, DC’s new leadership under James Gunn has revived interest. In accordance, the sequel to Superman, Man of Tomorrow, is confirmed for release in July 2027 already. Gunn’s approach demonstrates how superhero brands can evolve by balancing nostalgia with new creative direction.
This article by Gökçe Kızılçelik was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIPCOM 2025 issue.
