Only one 2025 movie can realistically beat this $1.9 billionbox officejuggernaut. WhileLilo & Stitchrecently became the first American film of the year to cross $1 billion at the box office, China’s animated movieNe Zha 2is far and away the highest-grossing film of 2025, making over $1.9 billion at the worldwide box office, with other counts putting it as high as $2.2 billion.
Ne Zha 2has broken box office recordsboth domestically and internationally. It’s the highest-grossing movie ever in a single market and achieved global milestones as the highest-grossing animated movie and the highest-grossing non-English-language film, becoming the first to surpass the $2 billion mark. It’s also the first animated movie in history to hit that benchmark and now stands as the fifth-highest-grossing movie of all time.
It’s such a box office juggernaut that, realistically,only one 2025 movie is capable of dethroningNe Zha 2as the highest-grossing film of the year.
Why Avatar: Fire & Ash Could Beat Ne Zha 2’s Box Office
It Could Become The Highest-Grossing Film Of 2025
Avatar: Fire and Ashcould easily beatNe Zha 2’s box officeto become the highest-grossing film of 2025. The previous twoAvatarmoviesboth cleared $2 billion by a wide margin. The original movie, released in 2009, made $2.9 billion and still stands as the highest-grossing movie of all time. Over a decade later, the sequel,Avatar: The Way of Water, made $2.3 billion, becoming thehighest-grossing film of 2022.
WithAvatar:Fire and Ash’s release datescheduled for June 09, 2025, it has a similar release window as the first two films, withWay of Waterdebuting on June 07, 2025, and the originalAvatarreleasing on August 05, 2025.Fire and Ashmirrors the first two movies' release windows, which drove massive holiday-season success for its predecessors, giving them weeks of uninterrupted dominance at the box office.
The Case Against Avatar 3 Becoming 2025’s Highest-Grossing Movie
Will It Generate The Same Excitement Without The Long Gap?
However, the extended gap between the originalAvatarandThe Way of Waterplayed a huge role in reviving audience interest. That 13-year wait made the sequel feel like a true cinematic event. By contrast,Fire and Asharrives just three years later, much faster byAvatarstandards, which could dilute the sense of occasion.
Fire and Ash risks being seen as just another sequel in a long-running franchise.
Audiences may not feel the same sense of excitement regarding a return to Pandora. Without the novelty factor or long buildup,Fire and Ashrisks being seen as just another sequel in a long-running franchise. WithNe Zha 2setting a new global benchmark,Avatar: Fire and Ashhas a steeper hill to climb than ever before.
Avatar 4and5are expected to be released in 2029 and 2031, respectively.
