Reel Relief: Escaping Economic Angst at the Movies

Published: April 17, 2025.

• Ditch the tariff talk for tickets to the big screen—we highlight key macro trends and company-specific happenings in the entertainment industry

• 2025 had been running light at the box office, but recent motion pictures have offered a boost, including one major title in China

• Kids movies, rom coms, horror shows, and a '90s revival are some key themes we profile

With all that’s happening with tariff uncertainty, let’s lighten the mood a bit. How does a long holiday weekend with an afternoon trip to the movies sound? The Wall Street Horizon team is totally in. Springtime is here, the sun will rise again, and Hollywood is cranking out some gems. Join us.

Improving Numbers

According to Box Office Mojo by IMDbPro, “A Minecraft Movie” has revived 2025’s motion picture storyline. Through April 13, the Warner Bros. (WBD) film grossed over $280 million. It has led ticket sales for 10 days running through last Sunday, helping to bring this year’s US box office revenue to $1.85 billion, about on par with the same period in 2024. Through March, 2025 had lagged year-ago sales by more than 11%, per Box Office Mojo.¹

Strong Sales Ahead? Or Will the Industry Lay an Egg?

All eyes are now on Easter weekend, which includes Good Friday—a bank holiday and an opportunity for families to get out to the theaters. There's a modest sense of optimism that even if a macro slowdown transpires, consumers may keep treating themselves to small and local excursions, and movies can be a reliable low-budget get-out-of-the-house entertainment option. 

Larger fun and leisure expenses, such as sporting events and concerts, or protracted discretionary categories, like overseas vacations, could be the first to get slashed from household budgets. 

This Year Tracks 2024’s YTD Ticket Sales

Source: IMDbPro Box Office Mojo

To cap off 2024, Disney (DIS) and Marvel's (MRVL) "Deadpool & Wolverine," Pixar's "Inside Out 2," Disney Animation's "Moana 2" and Universal's (UVV) "Wicked" collectively delivered a box office boost. Full-year ticket sales were lower year-on-year, however, reaching just $8.74 billion domestically in 2024.²

Disney snatched the crowd for the most movie-goer revenue, claiming 25% of US ticket sales.³ According to CNBC, 2025’s box office will likely fall shy of the $10 billion mark and remain below the $11 billion pre-COVD benchmark. Internationally, though, it’s a different tale.⁴

The Big China Story

“Ne Zha 2” has been an absolute blockbuster. Investors with their heads in the trading sand following the market’s day-to-day might not know about this one. Released on Valentine’s Day in the US, it has grossed a paltry $20.9 million. Totals from Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) are unimpressive, too.⁵ But in China, it’s a gaudy gross at $1.86 billion, making global sales likely to top $2 billion before long.⁶

And that’s an important point—the movie industry isn’t centered within North American borders any longer. Indeed, US exceptionalism (in this instance) is a relic of the past. Moreover, the at-home entertainment dimension is a force to be reckoned with. Major players like Disney, Universal, and Paramount (PARA) continue to battle convenient streaming options dominated by Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon (AMZN). 

Netflix Takes a Backseat

Our data show that Netflix may be chilling on its movie production pace. The $393 billion market cap Communication Services sector company stole the show in 2024. Over the next four months or so—through the July 4 holiday and much of the summer—it's slated to release just eight major motion pictures. 

On the other hand, Lionsgate Entertainment (LGF.A) is expected to produce 11 big movies through early August. Comcast (CMCSA), Warner Bros, Disney, and Sony Group are also prolific over the rest of the second quarter through early Q3.

Upcoming Movie Release Count



Source: Wall Street Horizon

“A Minecraft Movie” tops the 2025 box office, but there have been other success stories. Disney’s “Captain America: Brave New World” will almost certainly eclipse the $200 million mark Easter weekend, while “Mufasa: The Lion King” has notched $126 million in sales this year after tallying just under $100 million last December.⁷

New Releases

Entertainment analysts now look forward to fresh titles. “Captain America: Brave New World” debuted digitally earlier this week, along with Amazon’s “A Working Man” and Universal’s “A Woman in the Yard.” Netflix is slated to release iHostage on Good Friday; Warner Bros is banking on “Sinners” to score big numbers—it hits the silver screen and IMAX theaters on the 18th.

Twists and Turns to Pique All Interests

“Thunderbolts,” “The Accountant 2,” and “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith” are some upcoming blockbusters that will hopefully wow audiences. Looking for a date-night flick? There are high hopes for “Pride & Prejudice,” a 20th-anniversary re-release, which comes out on April 20. Adam Sandler fans, your time will come; ”Happy Gilmore 2” hits the Netflix library on July 25. 

Before that, TC fans will look forward to “Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning” on May 23. Meanwhile, the major Independence Day blockbuster may be “Jurassic World Rebirth.” Sticking with this 90s jaunt, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” aims to hook in horror-film aficionados beginning on July 18.

The Bottom Line

So, there’s really something for everyone in the months ahead. Theater traffic caught a boost recently after a sluggish start to 2025, and the international plot is even more compelling. This holiday weekend may kick off a busy spring and summer box office season. Consumer spending trends, just like some big forthcoming releases, will be watched.

1 Domestic Yearly Box Office, Box Office Mojo, April 15, 2025, https://www.boxofficemojo.com
2 Domestic Yearly Box Office, Box Office Mojo, April 15, 2025, https://www.boxofficemojo.com
3 Disney wins the 2024 box office as year-end receipts offer a welcome boost, CNBC, Sara Whitten, January 15, 2025, https://www.nbcchicago.com
4 Wall Street is watching for a $10 billion domestic box office in 2026. Disney could get it there, CNBC, Sarah Whitten, February 2, 2025, https://www.cnbc.com
5 Ne Zha 2, Box Office Mojo, April 15, 2025, https://www.boxofficemojo.com
6 Demon-child movie wows China – and smashes global box office records, The Guardian, Amy Hawkins, March 16, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com
7 Domestic Yearly Box Office, Box Office Mojo, April 15, 2025, https://www.boxofficemojo.com​

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