• ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ grossed $64M domestically and $181.2M internationally over the weekend.
  • A24’s Marty Supreme earned $17.5M after expanding to more than 2,600 theaters.
  • Premium formats and holiday releases helped lift 2025 box office to $8.76B domestically.

Avatar holds No.1 as holiday crowds pack theaters

Disney’s Avatar: Fire and Ash continued its blockbuster run over the final weekend of 2025, taking another $64 million domestically and about $181.2 million internationally. The film’s worldwide haul climbed to $760.4 million, driven in part by strong demand for IMAX, which accounted for roughly $96 million of the global total, Disney said.

Premium formats and holiday timing

Analysts pointed to premium formats and the holiday window as key reasons audiences returned to theaters. “Premium formats (are) a huge factor for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ despite the fact that consumers are price-sensitive,” said Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore. The timing around Christmas also helped several new releases post solid openings.

Marty Supreme box office: small art-house launch to breakout hit

A24’s Marty Supreme — a sports comedy-drama centered on competitive ping-pong and starring Timothée Chalamet — landed at No. 3 this weekend with $17.5 million. The film expanded rapidly from just six theaters in New York and Los Angeles to more than 2,600 locations, fueled by awards-season buzz and viral attention online.

Who’s watching Marty Supreme?

According to A24 and industry trackers, a large portion of Marty Supreme’s audience skewed young and male. A24 dubbed the enthusiastic fan base the “Marty Army,” and roughly one-third of ticket buyers were under 25. Shawn Robbins of Fandango/Box Office Theory credited A24’s holiday marketing and awards positioning for turning a limited release into a national success.

Broader box office picture and other holiday hits

The weekend also saw strong returns for a mix of genres: Disney’s Zootopia 2 climbed to No. 2 with $20 million and has now grossed about $1.4 billion worldwide. Lionsgate’s The Housemaid and Sony’s remake Anaconda rounded out the top five, while faith-based and family titles like David and The SpongeBob Movie performed well in their lanes.

For the year, domestic box office receipts reached $8.76 billion in 2025, up slightly from 2024 but still below the industry’s pre-pandemic peak. Industry watchers say the momentum from December’s releases could carry into 2026, especially with major studio titles on the calendar including new animated and franchise films.

What to watch next

As Marty Supreme’s expansion shows, awards buzz and social media can lift smaller films into mainstream success. For studios and theaters, the holiday season offered a reminder: a balanced slate and premium experiences can still draw audiences back to cinemas.

Image Referance: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/28/business/avatar-fire-and-ash-box-office