This marks Disney’s fifth time surpassing the $6bn mark, following similar milestones in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
The Walt Disney Studios has once again topped the global box office, posting an estimated $6.58bn in worldwide ticket sales in 2025 and finishing the year ahead of its major Hollywood rivals. The studio also led on both international and domestic fronts, generating $4.08bn from overseas markets and $2.49bn in the US and Canada, according to figures calculated as of December 31.
The result marks Disney’s strongest global performance since the pre-pandemic peak of 2019 and secures its ninth number-one studio ranking in the past decade. A slate of high-performing releases powered the studio’s dominance, led by Zootopia 2, which amassed an estimated $1.48bn by the end of the year. Lilo & Stitch followed with $1.04bn, while Avatar: Fire and Ash contributed a further $833m to the total.
The Walt Disney Studios’ films drew an estimated 700m moviegoers to theaters in 2025, holding the #1 domestic box office spot for 19 weeks and extending the reach of its hits well beyond opening weekend.
Upcoming titles scheduled for release in 2026 include The Mandalorian and Grogu, set for the Memorial Day weekend on May 22, followed by Avengers: Doomsday on December 18 and Toy Story 5 on June 19. The year’s slate also features Pixar’s original film Hoppers on March 6 and a live-action adaptation of Moana opening on July 10, alongside Hexed from Disney Animation Studios on November 25. Sequels arriving during the year include The Devil Wears Prada 2, launching the summer season on May 1, and Searchlight’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come on March 27. Additional releases include Send Help on January 30, The Dog Stars on August 28 and Whalefall on October 16.
In a statement, Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, said: “This has been a fantastic year for our Studio as we’ll ultimately have 3bn hits from three different studios, plus a number of other strong performers throughout the year. It showcases the strength of storytelling across our creative teams and the great work of our marketing and distribution teams, along with everyone who helps make these successes possible. I’m thankful to our Studio team, and the amazing talent we’re fortunate to work with – as well as audiences all around the world.”
Overall worldwide box office figures for 2025 have yet to be finalised, but Gower Street Analytics forecast a global total of $33.5bn as of mid-December. This would represent an increase of almost 12% compared with 2024’s $30bn, driven by $17.2bn from international markets excluding China, $9bn from North America and $7.4bn from China. The UK-based data firm is projecting global box office revenues to rise further to $35bn in 2026.
