Hollywood’s hopes for a 2025 turnaround in the movie theater business are off to a weak start. Original films like “Novocaine,” “Black Bag,” and “Mickey 17” are failing to draw sizable crowds, while sequels from once-reliable franchises are underperforming.
The latest box office numbers show that Paramount’s “Novocaine” earned $1.8 million internationally, despite its modest $18 million production cost. The film opened with a decent $8.7 million in North America but fell short of expectations globally. Steven Soderbergh’s spy thriller “Black Bag” also struggled with $4.2 million from 37 overseas markets.
However, Disney’s superhero adventure “Captain America: Brave New World” is one of the lowest-grossing Marvel movies of all time. Despite its $180 million budget, it has underperformed compared to other films in the franchise.
The film industry faces a tough challenge in getting audiences back to theaters. With many consumers opting for streaming releases, the competition for viewers’ attention has increased. As one commenter noted, “Everything is trash” – and people are choosing to wait for the inevitable streaming release instead of spending money on mediocre movies in theaters.
Despite this, some films are performing better than expected. China’s blockbuster smash “Ne Zha 2” has grossed over $2 billion since its release. Its success highlights the importance of understanding global markets and tailoring content to meet consumer demand. As the industry looks ahead to 2025, it will be crucial to adapt to changing audience preferences and find new ways to attract viewers back to theaters.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/box-office-rebound-captain-america-paddington-black-bag-mickey-17-struggle-1236338854