ZAMM.COM

Holiday holdovers helped Hollywood hit happy heights!

Exhibitors are enjoying a jolly start to 2025 even though no new studio films opened this weekend. That didn’t stop moviegoers from pumping about $104M into the multiplexes to see — or see again — hits like MUFASA, SONIC 3 & MOANA 2 that boosted 2024’s boxoffice to a face-saving $8.7B, per Comscore.

The message — are you listening Wall Street? — is that people really like to see movies in cinemas with friends & family & tubs of hot buttered popcorn. They may also have streaming subscriptions, but they haven’t replaced moviegoing. Streaming’s great late at night or when you’re under-the-weather or a blizzard’s raging.

Today’s 82nd annual Golden Globes Awards may help boost business next weekend, depending on who wins and if they can still benefit from being in the GG spotlight. The vintage tickets pictured above are from 1992’s 49th Globes.

The three day domestic marketplace totaled $103.66M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 36.8% from the prior weekend, but up 17.8% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $172.8M, up 51.17% from $114.3M in 2024.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING was #1 in weekend three with $23.8M (-35%) at 3,925 theatres ($6,073). MUFASA’s done $168.6M domestic and $476.4M worldwide.

Paramount/Original Film’s SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 was second in weekend three with $21.2M (-43%) at 3,746 theatres ($5,659). S3 has done $187.5M domestic and $336.3M worldwide.

Focus Features’ NOSFERATU was third in weekend two with $13.2M
(-39%) at 3,132 theatres ($4,215), up an impressive 140 cinemas. It’s done $69.4M domestic and $100.4M worldwide.

Disney’s MOANA 2 came in #4 in weekend six with $12.4M (-34%) at 3,345 theatres ($3,706). It’s done $425.2M domestically and $960.5M worldwide.

Universal/Marc Platt Productions’ WICKED was #5 in weekend seven with $10.2M (-48%) at 3,287 theatres ($3,103) — and was up 110 cinemas even though it’s now playing in PVOD! It’s done $450.8M domestic and $681.3M worldwide.

Searchlight Pictures’ awards contender A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, held on to #6 in weekend two with $8.1M (-31%) at 2,835 theatres ($2,846). It’s done $41.7M domestic.

Next weekend (1/10): Paramount’s R rated bio-musical/awards contender BETTER MAN is the story of British pop superstar Robbie Williams’ meteoric rise, dramatic fall and remarkable resurgence. It’s tracking for first choice below norm for all demos. Rotten Tomatoes critics love it at 91% and audiences are even happier at 97%.

Lionsgate’s R rated crime drama DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA stars  Gerard Butler. It’s tracking best for first choice with over-25 men (six points over norm).