The domino effect of a hit like Weapons, which grossed $148.8 million, can inspire a studio, but a sudden calendar gap poses a new set of challenges for the entire industry. While 2025 has proven audiences will show up for originality, theaters now face a period with few such draws.
The year has been a cascade of positive results. The success of Jurassic World Rebirth ($828 million) and other surprising hits created significant momentum. Executives noted that people respond to “something fresh and exciting,” a lesson that has rippled through Hollywood.
However, the next row of dominoes is spaced much further apart. The late summer and early fall schedule is sparse, forcing theaters to adapt. The industry is betting that a volume of releases in September—including The Long Walk and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle—can collectively bridge the gap to the next blockbuster.
The next major domino to fall is Tron: Ares in October, which is expected to trigger a chain reaction of big releases. Predator: Badlands, Wicked: For Good, and Zootopia 2 are all lined up to create a powerful end-of-year surge for the box office.