Top Movies of Summer 2025

[pcal6vb]

I voted for Thunderbolts, Elio, Jurassic World, Superman, and Fantastic Four.

I am one of those not choosing Lilo and Stitch. It has been my impression that the live action remakes of Disney cartoons have been seeing diminishing returns since the initial few hits (Maleficent, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King) but looking at box office receipts, I appear to have been mistaken. Maybe it was just critical enthusiasm that waned (or, perhaps more accurately, critical exhaustion with the "rinse and repeat" nature of remaking old films increased) with the more recent releases.

As for Lilo and Stitch, specifically, the original is a blind spot for me among Disney animated films. It came out in 2002, when I was in college and (though I was watching every Pixar release) was mostly out of the phase of watching new Disney animated films (I think 1999's Tarzan was the last one I watched on release until Wreck-it-Ralph in 2012). Based on previews/clips, the original animated Lilo and Stitch is not one I've amassed any interest in ever watching, so I guess I'm just carrying that bias, along with my perception of the Disney live-action films generally, into my prediction of mediocre live action box office success. I'll probably be wrong!

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

Like I said on page one, I voted for Lilo after watching the trailer. It looks hilarious. I'm not a big fan of the live action remakes, at all, but I'll be down for catching this in a theater.

I'm feeling better about not going for FF after Thunderbolts didn't exactly tear up the theaters. That property is cursed; the trailer looks lame, the CGI looks lamer. It may very well finally get this foursome back in the "good idea" column, but I have no faith it will make top 5 bank.

 

[camion]

I voted for Thunderbolts, Lilo, Jurassic, Superman, and Fantastic Four.

I didn't vote for any of those.

Are the polls still open?

 

[Phredd3]

So that means I cannot mock the 8 people who did not pick Lilo and Stitch. Whoever you are...

It seems like premature mocking, since the film isn't released yet, but OK, you do you. I didn't pick it, but then I also said I might finish 2-for-5, and one of the two I had in mind is already struggling. When is the last time you won this contest, anyway? Just curious.

 

[JasonEvans]

It seems like premature mocking, since the film isn't released yet, but OK, you do you. I didn't pick it, but then I also said I might finish 2-for-5, and one of the two I had in mind is already struggling. When is the last time you won this contest, anyway? Just curious.

I've never gone 5-for-5 (I feel like it has only been done a couple times) but I have had the most films picked correctly (4) a few different times.

And my Lilo mocking came after I saw a screening of the film on Monday night. It is fabulous and had all of my critic friends gushing.

The early tracking on Lilo is calling for a $160+ million opening weekend (4-day holiday weekend). It is a mortal lock to be in our top 5. It will make well over $300 million when all is said and done.

 

[Phredd3]

And my Lilo mocking came after I saw a screening of the film on Monday night. It is fabulous and had all of my critic friends gushing.

The early tracking on Lilo is calling for a $160+ million opening weekend (4-day holiday weekend). It is a mortal lock to be in our top 5. It will make well over $300 million when all is said and done.

I figured it must be based on a viewing. Well, it wouldn't be my first miss, and it won't be my last. I've certainly never gone 5-for-5. It didn't feel to me like the original did all that well at $146M, so I wasn't sure the live action one would, either, but I have to say, Disney has been pushing this one awfully hard with clever advertising, and a surprising number of people I know really want to go see it. So, yeah, it was probably stupid not to pick it.

 

[BlueDevil2K]

How do these numbers project out for the full runs for this weekend's headliners? Both seem like they're off to strong starts.

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Wild $14M Thursday Eyes Potential Disney Memorial Day Preview Record; ‘Mission: Impossible 8’ At $8M A Franchise Best – Box Office

The mega Memorial Day weekend at the box office is off to a great start with 'Lilo & Stitch' eyeing a Disney preview best for holiday at $14M and 'Mission: Impossible - Final Reckoning' Looking at $8M Franchise record.

deadline.com

 

[JasonEvans]

How do these numbers project out for the full runs for this weekend's headliners? Both seem like they're off to strong starts.

The early estimates I am seeing are close to $80 mil for Mission Impossible 8 and around $180 mil for Lilo and Stitch.

As I have been saying for a while, Lilo is a lock to make the top5 and has a decent chance to be the #1 movie of summer.

 

[Udaman]

Told you, JE, that Thunderbolts wasn’t making $200M. Will miss it by $15M. Blech. Mad at myself for picking it.

My others were Lilo, Dragon, Fantastic Four and Jurassic Park. The one I almost swapped out Thunderbolts for was Superman. That’s going to cost me the 5 for 5. Blech.

 

[JasonEvans]

Told you, JE, that Thunderbolts wasn’t making $200M. Will miss it by $15M. Blech. Mad at myself for picking it.

Well, you said it was going to make $160 mil and I mostly chimed in to dispel that ridiculous notion. It will be just a shade under $175mil after this weekend. I do largely agree with you that it will end up short of $200 mil, probably around $190 mil when all is said and done. The big question is if five other films will pass that mark. It seems decently likely that will happen but it is not a sure thing and I am really unsure which film will break out to be a fifth $200 mil flick.

Meanwhile, Lilo and Stitch is going to have an opening weekend (plus holiday) that will put it on the cusp of $200 mil. That film is gonna make $300+ and has a shot to be the biggest movie of the summer.

MI8 is on course to a $77 mil 4-day weekend, a good number but not enough to make it an obvious choice to reach our top 5. It will probably be fairly close to Tbolts when all is said and done. Need to see how word of mouth does.

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

Well, you said it was going to make $160 mil and I mostly chimed in to dispel that ridiculous notion. It will be just a shade under $175mil after this weekend. I do largely agree with you that it will end up short of $200 mil, probably around $190 mil when all is said and done. The big question is if five other films will pass that mark. It seems decently likely that will happen but it is not a sure thing and I am really unsure which film will break out to be a fifth $200 mil flick.

Meanwhile, Lilo and Stitch is going to have an opening weekend (plus holiday) that will put it on the cusp of $200 mil. That film is gonna make $300+ and has a shot to be the biggest movie of the summer.

MI8 is on course to a $77 mil 4-day weekend, a good number but not enough to make it an obvious choice to reach our top 5. It will probably be fairly close to Tbolts when all is said and done. Need to see how word of mouth does.

It's a record setting # for Memorial Day Weekend. Pretty impressive for a re-run.

 

[JasonEvans]

Just wanted to note something at the start... the Memorial Day weekend set a record with $325.66 million in ticket sales in the US and Canada. That beats the previous Memorial Day record set in 2013 of $314 million (Fast and Furious 6, Hangover III, Star Trek Into Darkness, and some animated film I have totally forgotten called Epic were the big boxoffice leaders back then). Considering how moviegoing has declined in recent years, setting an all-time record is a big deal! It could also be a sign that this is going to be a major bounceback summer for Hollywood as boxoffice analysts often say "moviegoing begats moviegoing" because folks who go to the movies see trailers for films they want to see next. It is especially true for families as children can get into a habit of seeing movies and when they pester mom and dad to see something, mom and dad often give in.

Put another way, the massive weekend for Lilo could be a good sign for How To Train Your Dragon, Elio, The Bad Guys 2, and Smurfs.

As for the weekend as it relates to our contest...

As I have been saying for days, if you did not pick Lilo then you are not going 5-for-5. It earned $183 million over the 4-day holiday and is likely on its way to being a $400 million dollar film at the domestic boxoffice. Yeah, I think that will be enough to make our top 5. It got an A Cinemascore and is at 94% in the RT audience score so it is going to generate strong word of mouth.

Mission Impossible 8 is going to be a really close call for the top 5, I think. It earned $77 million and got an A- Cinemascore, which is fairly good. If I had to make a bet right now, I would say that I don't think it will catch Thunderbolts, but it is probably going to be close. We really need to see how it holds up midweek and especially next weekend. If it drops more than 60-percent then that could be a real problem. The John Wick: Ballerina film coming out in 2 weekends could steal some of MI8's legs.

Thunderbolts did $11.6 mil an is now just a shade under $174 million in total boxoffice.

 

[camion]

What I'm getting from all of this is that Thunderbolts's total boxoffice has a chance to beat Lilo's holiday weekend take.

 

[Kdogg]

Just wanted to note something at the start... the Memorial Day weekend set a record with $325.66 million in ticket sales in the US and Canada. That beats the previous Memorial Day record set in 2013 of $314 million (Fast and Furious 6, Hangover III, Star Trek Into Darkness, and some animated film I have totally forgotten called Epic were the big boxoffice leaders back then). Considering how moviegoing has declined in recent years, setting an all-time record is a big deal! It could also be a sign that this is going to be a major bounceback summer for Hollywood as boxoffice analysts often say "moviegoing begats moviegoing" because folks who go to the movies see trailers for films they want to see next. It is especially true for families as children can get into a habit of seeing movies and when they pester mom and dad to see something, mom and dad often give in.

Put another way, the massive weekend for Lilo could be a good sign for How To Train Your Dragon, Elio, The Bad Guys 2, and Smurfs.

As for the weekend as it relates to our contest...

As I have been saying for days, if you did not pick Lilo then you are not going 5-for-5. It earned $183 million over the 4-day holiday and is likely on its way to being a $400 million dollar film at the domestic boxoffice. Yeah, I think that will be enough to make our top 5. It got an A Cinemascore and is at 94% in the RT audience score so it is going to generate strong word of mouth.

Mission Impossible 8 is going to be a really close call for the top 5, I think. It earned $77 million and got an A- Cinemascore, which is fairly good. If I had to make a bet right now, I would say that I don't think it will catch Thunderbolts, but it is probably going to be close. We really need to see how it holds up midweek and especially next weekend. If it drops more than 60-percent then that could be a real problem. The John Wick: Ballerina film coming out in 2 weekends could steal some of MI8's legs.

Thunderbolts did $11.6 mil an is now just a shade under $174 million in total boxoffice.

Does any organization track the number of tickets sold. I'm glad the box office numbers were good but that's about a 5% difference from the record. The price of a movie ticket is up more than that in twelve years in my area.

 

[-jk]

Does any organization track the number of tickets sold. I'm glad the box office numbers were good but that's about a 5% difference from the record. The price of a movie ticket is up more than that in twelve years in my area.

Sure. But Hollywood wants dollars reported - the growth line looks better!

Isn’t GWTW still the all-time ticket leader?

-jk

 

[camion]

Sure. But Hollywood wants dollars reported - the growth line looks better!

Isn’t GWTW still the all-time ticket leader?

-jk

I remember seeing GWTW in a theater.

I was born more than decade after it was first released.

That's some long legs there for a movie.

 

[Kdogg]

Sure. But Hollywood wants dollars reported - the growth line looks better!

Isn’t GWTW still the all-time ticket leader?

-jk

Definitely box office money (adjusted for inflation). Avatar is number one none adjusted and two adjusted.

 

[pfrduke]

Just wanted to note something at the start... the Memorial Day weekend set a record with $325.66 million in ticket sales in the US and Canada. That beats the previous Memorial Day record set in 2013 of $314 million (Fast and Furious 6, Hangover III, Star Trek Into Darkness, and some animated film I have totally forgotten called Epic were the big boxoffice leaders back then). Considering how moviegoing has declined in recent years, setting an all-time record is a big deal! It could also be a sign that this is going to be a major bounceback summer for Hollywood as boxoffice analysts often say "moviegoing begats moviegoing" because folks who go to the movies see trailers for films they want to see next. It is especially true for families as children can get into a habit of seeing movies and when they pester mom and dad to see something, mom and dad often give in.

Put another way, the massive weekend for Lilo could be a good sign for How To Train Your Dragon, Elio, The Bad Guys 2, and Smurfs.

As for the weekend as it relates to our contest...

As I have been saying for days, if you did not pick Lilo then you are not going 5-for-5. It earned $183 million over the 4-day holiday and is likely on its way to being a $400 million dollar film at the domestic boxoffice. Yeah, I think that will be enough to make our top 5. It got an A Cinemascore and is at 94% in the RT audience score so it is going to generate strong word of mouth.

Mission Impossible 8 is going to be a really close call for the top 5, I think. It earned $77 million and got an A- Cinemascore, which is fairly good. If I had to make a bet right now, I would say that I don't think it will catch Thunderbolts, but it is probably going to be close. We really need to see how it holds up midweek and especially next weekend. If it drops more than 60-percent then that could be a real problem. The John Wick: Ballerina film coming out in 2 weekends could steal some of MI8's legs.

Thunderbolts did $11.6 mil an is now just a shade under $174 million in total boxoffice.

I was a contributor this weekend - went and saw MI:8 Friday night (the last hour was exciting, the first hour was a mess, the plot was ridiculous, and some of the character choices were not well thought out) and then took the family to Lilo & Stitch Saturday (loved the movie, had not seen the cartoon so it was all new to me, definite tears at various points but given one of our kids I'm basically a goner at anything with a character struggling with the idea of bad conduct /= bad person). And our kids are beating the drum for Superman and Fantastic 4 (and were very intrigued by the trailer for Elio).

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

The CGI does look awful in the trailer. I'm feeling better about holding out on FF.

According to Hollywood scooper Jeff Sneider (of The InSneider), First Steps got mixed reviews following a public test screening in Los Angeles earlier this week. According to Sneider, the biggest causes of concern among some audience members were the lack of character development and questionable CGI usage.

https://www.cbr.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-test-screening-reactions-revealed/

 

[JasonEvans]

Weekend report--

Lilo and Stitch only dropped 57% from its opening weekend (which was a holiday). It made $63 million and now stands at just over $280 mil in total domestic boxoffice. It has been a lock to make our top 5 for weeks and looks like it could be a $400 mil film. Wow!

Mission Impossible 8 had a pretty good hold too, also dropping 57% to pull in 27.3 million. It now stands at $122.6 million in total boxoffice. Still up in the air as to whether MI8 will catch Thunderbolts in the long run. I think it probably will but this one could be really close.

Thunderbolts did $4.8 mill in its 5th weekend. It is now at $181.8 million in total. It should get to right around $190 million when it is finished. Will that be enough to hold off MI8? That could be the determining factor in our top 5 (though HTTYD may get a boost of good vibes from Lilo and that could lift it into the top 5).

Final Destination: Bloodlines made $10.8 million this weekend to each $111.7 mil. It won't be a contender but -- wow -- no one saw a number like this for an old horror franchise.

No other summer movies are contenders to even make $100 mil this far.