Mufasa and Sonic continue the box office race heading into Promising 2025

What a way to start 2025! the Local fund Office pulled in total $42.9 million On New Year’s Day. This is higher than in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

One major difference is the breadth of films that are currently doing well at the box office.

1. Mufasa: The Lion King | $10.3 million | 13 days
2. Sonic Hedgehog 3 | $8.95 million | 13 days
3. Moana 2 | $5.1 million | 36 days
4. Nasiratu | $4.96 million | 8 days
5. evil | $4.6 million | 41 days
6. Completely anonymous $3.1 million | 8 days
7. Baby Girl | $1.4 million | 13 days
8. Gladiator 2 | $1.04 million | 41 days

Eight different films broke the million-dollar barrier. This was not the case in previous years.

In 2022, there were only five images: Spider-Man: No going home, Singing 2, King’s man, The American underdogand Resurrection of the Matrix.

In 2023, only four exceed $1 million: Avatar: Water Road, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverand Whitney Houston: I want to dance with somebody. (Three series and a documentary).

2024 saw a similar range to 2025, with eight films exceeding $1 million, but the ceiling was lower.

1. Wonka | $6.6 million | 18 days
2. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | $5.2 million | 11 days
3. Immigration | 5 million dollars | 11 days
4. Anyone but you $2.8 million | 11 days
5. Purple color | $2.6 million | 8 days
6. Boys in the boat | $2.2 million | 8 days
7. Iron Claw | $1.3 million | 11 days
8. Ferrari | 1 million dollars | 11 days

Our take on the New Year’s Day box office

Also note the longevity of the winning films in 2025. Three of them have been out for more than a month. This tolerance is always a good sign, as long tails tend to go along with a healthy, casual theater-going crowd.

Core theater audiences tend to see things in the first two weeks of release, which is reflected in the 2024 numbers. All but Wonka He had been out for less than 14 days.

I read the 2025 numbers not only as a sign that theaters have brought back more of their core audiences, but that they have gained ground in the battle with streamers. People don’t just wait The second wrestler, Moana 2and evil To press Netflix or Max. They are still excited to see these movies on the big screen.

While the success of blockbuster sequels is to be expected, it’s exciting to see three R-rated films—Nosferatu, Completely anonymousand BabygirlThey make up nearly a quarter of the total box office. It shows that the audience’s appetite is not just for PG films made for mass consumption. Thoughtful, serious, author-driven works still have value.

Overall, this seems to bode well for everyone who loves watching movies in theaters.