The analysis of box office data reveals that from January to early May 2025, game adaptations and animated films dominated global charts. While local productions continued to resonate strongly in their home markets, familiar favorites like the MCU and Bridget Jones franchises proved their staying power at the top.
See also: The Golden Era of Game Adaptations: How Digital Fantasies Are Taking Over TV and Cinema
Originally from China, Ne Zha 2, a mythological animated film, grossed nearly $2 billion, becoming the highest-grossing animated film, the highest-grossing non-English language film, the highest-grossing film of 2025, the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the animated film with the most tickets sold. This highlights the continued influence of domestic films, particularly in China, on the global stage.
This was also evident in several CEE countries, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, and Poland. In the Czech Republic, domestic films Jak se nám to mohlo stát!? and Moře na dvoře each topped the box office for two weeks, while Na plech held the number one spot for three consecutive weeks. In Poland, Piep*zyc Mickiewicza (Screw Mickiewicz) led the box office for three weeks, and Kleks i wynalazek Filipa Golarza remained on top for two weeks at the beginning of the year. In Slovakia, Cernak remained in the first place for an impressive seven weeks.
In Hungary, Futni mentem (Gone Running) and Hogyan tudnék élni nélküled? (How Could I Live Without You?) dominated the charts during the first six weeks of 2025. Meanwhile, in Lithuania, local productions such as Pietinia Kronikas (The Southern Chronicles) and ReEmigrantai 2 outperformed international blockbusters 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.
Another animated movie present in the top ten chart is Dog Man, a family-friendly option for audiences in different age brackets. The same can also be said about Snow White, the live-action movie based on the classic Disney animation. Despite a negative reception, including a 1.7/10 IMDb score, among the lowest on the platform, and a 39% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie still made it to one of the top box office spots of 2025. Exceeding $200 million gross overall, the movie proved a safe choice for family weekends and younger audiences. Similarly, the live-action Disney movie Mufasa: The Lion King stayed on top for three consecutive weeks in countries such as Croatia and Slovenia, though it did not make the top ten.
In the second place, it can be seen that the game adaptations have continued their rise in charts. A Minecraft Movie became the second-highest-grossing video game film adaptation, quickly securing a sequel. However, the highest-grossing title in the category remains The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), with $1.36 billion worldwide. Other top-performing adaptations include Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), and Warcraft (2016). The success of these films is deeply rooted in their wide audience of gamers, who have devoted years to these games and formed a strong bond with their beloved characters.
Indeed, Minecraft is currently the best-selling video game of all time with 350 million copies across various platforms since its 2011 debut. The game appeals to multiple generations with the sandbox genre, providing unlimited freedom and creativity. So, the games, especially the nostalgic ones with big communities, attract big audiences, and adaptations loyal to the source material receive high acclaim.
Marvel Studios maintains its strong presence with Captain America: Brave New World, ranked in third place, and Thunderbolts* in fourth place. With over 17 years of storytelling and the creation of the “Infinity Saga”, the familiarity with Marvel’s franchises continues to attract audiences worldwide. Similarly, the latest entries to long-standing franchises like Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and Final Destination: Bloodlines benefit from nostalgia and brand equity. Bridget Jones has roots dating back to 2001, while the Final Destination series first debuted in 2000.
New releases in the sci-fi and horror genres are also showing strong momentum. Mickey 17, the sci-fi thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho, had a significant international impact. Meanwhile, Sinners, an American supernatural horror musical, has emerged as the latest vampire sensation since the Twilight series. Likewise, the retelling of the famous vampire, Nosferatu, was the top choice for audiences in Albania, Estonia, Latvia, North Macedonia, and Romania. The cultural proximity plays a crucial role again, since the majority of the story canonically takes place in the Carpathian Mountains, spanning across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Furthermore, the movie was filmed in the Prague castles, as well as the Corvin Castle in Romania.
This article was featured in our NATPE Budapest 2025 issue.
