The Walt Disney Studios has once again claimed the top spot at the global box office, racking up an impressive estimated US$6.58 billion in worldwide ticket sales in 2025, surpassing its major Hollywood rivals. The studio excelled in both international and domestic markets, generating around US$4.08 billion overseas and US$2.49 billion in the US and Canada, according to figures compiled as of December 31.
This achievement marks Disney’s strongest global performance since 2019, when it reached pre-pandemic highs, and secures its position as the number-one studio for the ninth time in the last decade. The studio’s success can be attributed to a lineup of blockbuster releases, led by “Zootopia 2,” which brought in approximately US$1.48 billion by year’s end. Other noteworthy films include “Lilo & Stitch,” which grossed US$1.04 billion, and “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” contributing an additional US$833 million.
In 2025, Disney’s films attracted around 700 million moviegoers to theatres, dominating the domestic box office for 19 weeks and maintaining traction well beyond initial viewing weekends.
Looking ahead, 2026 promises a diverse slate of upcoming releases, including “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” scheduled for Memorial Day weekend on May 22, “Avengers: Doomsday” on December 18, and “Toy Story 5” on June 19. The year will also feature Pixar’s original film “Hoppers” debuting on March 6, a live-action adaptation of “Moana” on July 10, and Disney Animation Studios’ “Hexed” on November 25. Sequels such as “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” launching on May 1, and Searchlight’s “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” on March 27 are also part of the lineup. Additional titles include “Send Help” on January 30, “The Dog Stars” on August 28, and “Whalefall” on October 16.
In a statement, Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, expressed his gratitude, saying, “This has been an exceptional year for our Studio, with three billion-dollar hits from three different studios, alongside numerous other strong performers. It highlights the power of storytelling from our creative teams and the remarkable efforts of our marketing and distribution teams, and everyone involved in making these successes happen. I’m grateful to our Studio team and the incredible talent we collaborate with – and to audiences worldwide.”
While final global box office figures for 2025 are yet to be confirmed, Gower Street Analytics projects a worldwide total of US$33.5 billion as of mid-December. This represents almost a 12% increase from 2024’s US$30 billion, fueled by US$17.2 billion from international markets (excluding China), US$9 billion from North America, and US$7.4 billion from China. The UK-based analytics firm anticipates further growth in global box office revenues, forecasting a rise to US$35 billion in 2026.
