“Great Legs” Prove Vital as Box Office Rebuilds in 2025
LOS ANGELES – A surprising trend is reshaping the 2025 box office landscape: films demonstrating strong “legs” – sustained audience interest over weeks – are driving a remarkable industry recovery. While initial weekend numbers remain crucial, the ability of movies to maintain viewership is proving crucial for profitability, defying earlier predictions of a post-pandemic box office slump. This shift signals a rebuilding filmgoing culture where word-of-mouth and repeat viewings are once again powerful forces.
The success of films with strong ”legs” is particularly evident in unexpected places. Reboots initially slated for streaming have significantly outperformed expectations. Disney’s “Freakier Friday” earned nearly $150 million domestically, while the live-action “Lilo & Stitch (2025)” remake grossed $423 million domestically – both exceeding internal projections given their original direct-to-streaming plans.These results demonstrate studios can unlock significant revenue by opting for theatrical releases even for projects initially conceived for streaming platforms.
Beyond reboots, a wider variety of genres are finding success through sustained audience engagement. two R-rated horror films, “Weapons” and “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” broke into the top 10 domestic summer box office earners.A24’s romantic dramedy ”Materialists” has surpassed $100 million globally. This indicates audiences are embracing diverse content when it resonates and maintains appeal beyond opening weekend.
Though, not all blockbusters thrived. Pixar’s “Elio” and “Mission: Unachievable – The Final Reckoning” experienced setbacks, with the latter earning $600 million globally but falling short of its $800 million breakeven point due to a $400 million production budget. Despite these losses, the overall trend points toward a revitalized filmgoing experience, with studios finding ways to monetize streaming content through theatrical releases and audiences demonstrating a willingness to return to cinemas for films that capture their attention and hold it.