Blue-skinned aliens, a family of superheroes, and a city full of talking animals helped The Walt Disney Company reclaim its crown as the most powerful force in Hollywood in 2025. With a slate packed with beloved franchises and familiar characters, Disney not only led the domestic box office but reshaped the competitive landscape in its favor.
Across the United States and Canada, full-year ticket sales climbed roughly 4% from 2024, reaching $9.05 billion, according to Comscore. Disney captured the largest share of that revenue, pulling in $2.49 billion — nearly 28% of the entire domestic market.
Trailing behind were Warner Bros. Discovery with $1.9 billion (21%) and Universal with $1.7 billion (19.7%). Together, these three studios controlled close to 70% of all domestic box office earnings, leaving little room for rivals to break through. No other studio crossed the $1 billion mark or claimed more than 7% of total ticket sales.
The Power of Franchises and Familiar Worlds
Industry analysts point to Disney’s carefully cultivated brand ecosystem as the driving force behind its dominance. According to Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, the studio benefits from a network of successful sub-brands — including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm — that consistently deliver crowd-pleasing hits.
Disney’s strongest titles in 2025 leaned heavily on proven intellectual property. Four of its releases landed in the top 10 highest-grossing domestic films, including a live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” a sequel to “Zootopia,” the Marvel entry “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” and the third installment of the “Avatar” saga.
The trend was not unique to Disney. In fact, nine of the ten highest-grossing movies of the year came from existing franchises. Warner Bros.’ “Sinners” stood out as the only original film to crack the top tier — a rare exception in a year dominated by sequels and reboots.
“Brand recognition remains a powerful advantage,” Dergarabedian noted. Films tied to established universes arrive with built-in audiences, making marketing more efficient and box office success more predictable.
Why 2026 Could Be Even Bigger
If 2025 belonged to franchises, 2026 is shaping up to double down on the same formula — especially for Disney.
The studio is preparing a return to theaters for its first Star Wars feature since 2019, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” built around fan-favorite characters from Disney+. “Toy Story 5” is set for a summer release, followed closely by a live-action “Moana.” The year will close with one of Marvel’s most anticipated chapters yet: “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Another Spider-Man adventure will also arrive in 2026 through Disney’s ongoing partnership with Sony. While Sony will take the lion’s share of ticket sales, Disney stands to benefit handsomely from merchandise tied to the character’s continued presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Competition will remain fierce. Warner Bros. is lining up “Supergirl” and “Dune: Part Three,” Universal will unleash “Minions 3,” “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” and “The Odyssey,” while Lionsgate and Sony are banking on new installments in “The Hunger Games” and “Jumanji.”
Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, sees plenty of room for optimism. With a calendar stacked with fan-driven franchises, family-friendly adventures, and filmmaker-led blockbusters — plus fresh contenders from horror, comedy, and indie cinema — 2026 could become one of the industry’s strongest years in recent memory.
Staying on Top in a Franchise-First Era
As Hollywood continues to favor recognizable worlds over risky originals, Disney’s strategy appears tailor-made for the moment. By blending nostalgia, blockbuster storytelling, and cross-platform franchises, the studio has built a pipeline that not only wins at the box office but shapes the industry’s future.
With its 2026 slate already stirring global anticipation, one thing seems clear: Disney ruled the 2025 box office — and here’s how it could stay on top in 2026 is not just a headline, but a preview of Hollywood’s next chapter.
