Photo from the internet. "Nezha 2"
The leader in box office earnings in 2025 was the animated film "Nezha 2," which was released in China in the second half of the year. By early January, its worldwide box office exceeded $2 billion, making it the highest-grossing film of the year in any genre. The majority of the revenue came from the Chinese market, allowing the project to surpass significant Hollywood releases and highlighting the growing influence of Chinese cinema on the international stage.
The sequel "Zootopia 2," which premiered on November 26, 2025, continues to successfully increase its box office earnings during the New Year period. Currently, its worldwide box office stands at approximately $1.46 billion, making it the most successful animated film in the history of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Over $1.13 billion came from international markets, while the film earned about $330 million in the USA and Canada, allowing "Zootopia 2" to surpass the previous record set by "Frozen 2" (approximately $1.45 billion).
In North America, "Avatar: Flame and Ash" is confidently leading during the holiday period, having premiered in December 2025. By early January, its worldwide earnings reached nearly $860 million, of which about $250 million came from the USA and Canada, while over $600 million came from international markets. This film remains one of the main drivers of the New Year box office and continues to attract viewers.
Another notable release of the holiday season was "Lilo and Stitch," which premiered in the fall of 2025 and is approaching the $1 billion mark in worldwide box office by the end of its run.
In Russia, one of the most significant events of the New Year box office was the film "Cheburashka 2." According to distributors, it earned over 1 billion rubles on its first day of release, marking one of the best openings in Russian cinema. The first part of "Cheburashka," released in 2023, previously set a record for box office earnings in the country, exceeding 6 billion rubles.
Traditionally, during the New Year holidays, audiences show a high interest in fantasy and family films, which is confirmed by the successful box office results.
