Christmas weekend is where movies either become traditions or get swallowed by them. This year, the winner was clear: Avatar: Fire and Ash dominated the holiday frame globally, turning premium screens into a near-monopoly and reminding the industry what a true “event film” looks like when it lands.
The Avatar formula is still unfair in the best way: spectacle that demands the biggest screen, a built-in global audience, and the kind of visual immersion that turns casual interest into “fine, I’ll go to a theater.” Christmas is perfect fuel for that—families, time off, and a shared appetite for something that feels larger than everyday life.
Why Fire and Ash hit like a holiday juggernaut
Holiday weekends aren’t just about hype; they’re about endurance. Big releases thrive when audiences can come in waves: opening night, family outings, repeat viewings, and those “we need to get out of the house” trips. Fire and Ash is built for that rhythm—long runtime, premium formats, and the kind of talk-around-the-table visuals that sell tickets without needing spoilers.
Meanwhile, Zootopia 2 stays a 2025 box-office pillar
While Avatar grabbed the Christmas spotlight, Zootopia 2 continues to stand out as one of 2025’s top-grossing releases—the kind of movie that doesn’t just open big, but keeps earning because it lives in that sweet spot: family-friendly, rewatchable, and easy to recommend.
It’s also a reminder that the box office isn’t one race. There’s the holiday sprint (which Avatar just won), and then there’s the full-year marathon—where movies like Zootopia 2 rack up wins week after week by being the dependable choice.
The takeaway
This holiday season gave theaters exactly what they want: a global spectacle that pulls people into premium screens (Avatar: Fire and Ash) and a resilient crowd-pleaser that keeps the year’s totals towering (Zootopia 2). Different lanes, same message: when a film becomes a “must-see,” it doesn’t just sell tickets—it sets the tone for the entire market.
