“Avatar: Fire and Ash” ruled New Year’s Eve, but overall U.S. ticket sales closed 2025 slightly under what Hollywood hoped.
As 2025 came to a close, Hollywood found itself in a familiar spot: celebrating a few big wins while quietly worrying about the bigger picture. On New Year’s Eve, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” once again proved its power, topping the domestic box office with $8.1 million and reminding theaters why James Cameron’s world of Pandora still matters.
The Disney release has been a major holiday draw, pulling in just over $250 million domestically in its first two weeks and performing even better overseas. With global earnings expected to pass $1 billion in the coming days, the film has become one of the few true event movies keeping crowds coming to theaters during the year’s final stretch.
But while “Avatar” gave exhibitors something to cheer about, the wider industry ended 2025 on a more cautious note. U.S. and Canadian theaters sold an estimated $8.87 billion in tickets this year, a 1.5% increase over 2024, but still short of the $9 billion many analysts had predicted. Before the pandemic, annual ticket sales often reached or exceeded $11 billion, and attendance has yet to fully recover.
One reason totals haven’t fallen further is higher ticket prices. Premium formats like IMAX and large-format screens continue to boost revenue, even as fewer people head to the multiplex. In short, theaters are making more money per ticket — but selling fewer tickets overall.
Behind “Avatar,” Disney’s “Zootopia 2” held strong in second place, earning $4.6 million on New Year’s Eve. Its domestic total now stands at an impressive $337.9 million, making it one of the year’s biggest family hits.
Third place went to A24’s “Marty Supreme,” an indie drama starring Timothée Chalamet as a ping pong hustler. The film earned $2.4 million, pushing its domestic total to around $39 million. While critics have praised the movie, its $70 million production budget, plus heavy marketing costs, means profitability remains a challenge.
In fourth place, Angel Studios’ “David” added another $2.4 million, lifting its domestic haul to $58.5 million. Sony’s horror-comedy “Anaconda” rounded out the top five with $2.2 million, bringing its total to $31.7 million.
Several other films also benefited from the holiday crowds. Lionsgate’s thriller “The Housemaid,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, earned $2.1 million, reaching $56.2 million domestically. Focus Features’ musical drama “Song Sung Blue,” featuring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, matched that daily total, though its overall run sits at a more modest $16.9 million.
The holidays also highlighted a growing trend: alternative content. Many theaters screened Netflix’s “Stranger Things” finale, which sold 1.1 million seats across more than 620 locations. Netflix did not reveal box office totals, but the turnout showed that fans are willing to leave the couch for the right experience.
New Year’s Eve is traditionally a slow night at the movies, as people choose parties over popcorn. Theater owners are hoping that post-holiday fatigue — and fewer social plans — will help ticket sales bounce back as 2026 begins. For now, “Avatar” may be carrying the torch, but the industry is still searching for its next full recovery moment.
