As the May–Labor Day window closed, North American ticket sales for summer 2025 essentially matched last year’s total — a near tie with $3.67 billion in 2024 and only a $7 million shortfall this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That new tabulation exposes a striking change: foreign markets and mid-size releases lost momentum, and more viewers now prefer waiting for streaming. The result? Studios can no longer count on overseas windfalls. Paul Dergarabedian (Comscore) and JustWatch data in the story underline the urgency for studios to rethink theatrical strategy.
What Summer 2025 Box Office Matching 2024 Really Means For Studios
- May–Labor Day 2025 North America receipts nearly matched $3.67B from 2024, a $7M shortfall.
- Comscore: Domestic box office fell six consecutive weekends beginning July 18.
- JustWatch: Share Preferring To Wait For Streaming rose to ~36%, hurting mid-size films.
- Vietnam’s Hollywood box-office share plunged from 50% to 14%, weakening foreign returns.
Why The 2025 Overseas Ticket Slide Is The Biggest Studio Risk Today
Studios built 2025 slates assuming foreign audiences would cover U.S. soft patches — that hedge is evaporating. The Hollywood Reporter found multiple markets (China, Southeast Asia, Vietnam) paying far less attention to Western tentpoles, shrinking the once-reliable offshore cushion. If foreign windows no longer deliver the historic 40–60% of grosses, studios face bigger losses on high-cost franchises and smaller margin for error on release timing. What changes now: studios must decide whether to cut volume, shift release windows, or up marketing spend — fast.
Who’s Saying “I’m Very, Very Nervous” — Executives And Analysts React
The industry reaction in the story is blunt: “I’m very, very nervous for the future,” says one top studio executive about today’s slate glut and shrinking audiences. Analysts (Comscore, JustWatch) point to a mix of factors — streaming patience, crowded tentpoles, and weaker foreign demand — that turned early-season gains into a late-summer slump. The debate now splits studios and exhibitors: some want more theatrical product; others warn of oversaturation.
Summer Box Office Clobbered by Kryptonite: Domestic Revenue Barely Matches Last Year https://t.co/KlOgbgrxOw
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 31, 2025
Which Markets Shrank Most In 2025 — Data Showing Global Shifts
The numbers in the article show a clear pattern: family-friendly IP like Lilo & Stitch remained resilient worldwide, but male‑skewing tentpoles lost traction overseas. China and Southeast Asia are increasingly favoring local films; THR highlights Vietnam’s collapse in Hollywood share (from 50% to 14%). Comscore’s weekend-by-week tracking also shows six straight domestic down-weeks after July 18, erasing earlier year-over-year gains and making the season essentially flat versus 2024.
The Numbers That Change The Game For Summer 2025 Revenues
| KPI | Value + Unit | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| May–Labor Day Domestic Total | $3.663B | -$7M vs 2024 |
| Vietnam Hollywood Share | 14% | Down From ~50% Pre-Pandemic |
| Example: Superman Foreign % | 43% of Global Cume | Lower Than Man Of Steel’s 57% |
Domestic revenue nearly matched 2024, but weak foreign share and market erosion threaten profitability.
What Studios Must Change Before 2026 To Stop Revenue Slides
Studios must stop assuming foreign markets will fill U.S. gaps. Expect three likely moves: compress theatrical windows for mid-size films, reduce the volume of overlapping tentpoles, and invest in marketing that targets regional tastes. For moviegoers, that could mean fewer franchise overloads and clearer release calendars — but will studios act before 2026? You’ll want to watch early Q1 slate announcements for the answer.
Sources
- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/global-summer-box-office-overseas-2025-domestic-1236357631/
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Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.