Disney Studios had its best year at the box office since before the Covid-19 pandemic, grossing more than $6 billion worldwide after several films grossed more than $1 billion, while “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is set to generate more sales over the Christmas weekend.
Key data
According to sales figures reported by Hollywood trade publications on Wednesday, Disney Studios is already ahead of its year-end box office sales in 2024, which totaled $5.46 billion, according to the company.
Disney’s big year was helped by two big international hits: The live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” grossed $1.03 billion upon its release in May, while “Zootopia 2” surpassed the $1 billion mark earlier this month after opening over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
“Zootopia 2” was fueled by massive overseas sales, grossing an estimated $993 million globally, including about $539 million in China alone, according to the latest statistics tracked by Box Office Mojo as of Wednesday.
Meanwhile, global box office sales for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” surpassed $450 million on Wednesday, approaching the $1 billion mark ahead of the long Christmas holiday weekend, typically one of the best weekends of the year for movie theaters.
Key background
With more than $6 billion in box office sales, 2025 has become Disney’s biggest year in theaters since 2019, when the studio grossed more than $11 billion, plus another roughly $2 billion from Disney-owned 20th Century and Searchlight, Deadline reported.
The studio has earned more than $6 billion just five times in total, from 2016 to 2019. Disney’s run in the 2010s was boosted after acquiring Marvel Studios in 2015, which produced blockbusters that grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, including “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019 and “Black Panther” in 2018. “Star Wars” sequel trilogy was also released for Disney between 2015 and 2019, grossing more than $4.4 billion at the box office in total.
Tangent
Box office sales have not recovered since the pandemic, with disappointing domestic box office numbers for summer blockbusters, plus one of the worst Octobers in decades. However, at least one other studio has posted strong box office sales so far this year. Warner Bros. was the first studio this year to surpass $4 billion in sales, surpassing that mark in September. The studio, which is currently in the crosshairs of two takeover bids from Paramount and Netflix, also had a strong 2025 with blockbusters like “Superman” and “A Minecraft Movie,” as well as blockbusters like “Sinners.”
What to pay attention to
Disney could get another boost if “Avatar: Fire and Ash” continues to dominate the box office this holiday season. Both 2009’s “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” have grossed more than $1 billion at the box office. “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $89 million in North America last weekend, a solid debut, but still behind the box office success of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which grossed $134.1 million in 2022. However, both films benefited from continued sales after the opening weekend, as well as overseas sales. The first “Avatar” grossed $2.7 billion worldwide during its original theatrical run, but only opened with $77 million at the domestic box office.
This text was originally published in Forbes US.
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