Credit: Walt Disney AnimationIt’s been a lean year at the box office, not just for Disney but for most studios. Superhero movies and family favorites that once guaranteed $1 billion have fallen short this year.
While Disney is the only American studio with a billion-dollar hit, Lilo & Stitch, it has still been a disappointing year for the studio. Marvel films, which in years past would have easily gone past a billion dollars, failed at the box office or performed below expectations. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts*, and Captain America: Brave New World combined brought in $1.31 billion and are currently 10, 13, and 14, respectively, on the year’s top box office films.
Walt Disney Studios didn’t fare much better. The live-action Snow White, Freakier Friday, and Pixar’s Elio combined to make $512 million, and none of them is in the top 20 of this year’s box office hits. And that doesn’t include Tron: Ares, which still has not finished its box office run, but is looking like a major disaster for Disney.
It would always be hard for Disney to top 2024, which saw the studio release three billion-dollar hits: Moana 2, Inside Out 2, and Deadpool & Wolverine. And Disney added The Lion King: Mufasa with an additional $722 million.
But all hope isn’t lost for Disney. The studio still has two major blockbusters looming, almost as if they backloaded the year.
James Cameron’s third Avatar film, Fire and Ash, will be released in theaters just before Christmas. The first two films combined for just over $5 billion at the box office.
But the film that could save Disney’s year is Zootopia 2. Much like Inside Out 2 and Moana 2, the film has a built-in audience and known characters. And earlier reports indicate that it could be a monster hit.
According to box office theory, Zootopia 2 is expected to bring in between $115-$130 million on its opening weekend, which happens to be Thanksgiving weekend, a time Disney has traditionally dominated. The original Zootopia only made $75 million in its opening weekend, but it went on to earn over $1 billion.
With Disney bringing Star Wars, Avengers, and Toy Story back to the big screen in 2026, Zootopia and Avatar’s box office could be a launching pad for a massive year-long success for the studio. But with Wicked: For Good crashing the party the weekend before, 2025 could end on a sour note for Disney.
Which remaining 2025 movies are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments.