The 2025 studio scorecard shows some major wins but also highlights the shifting bets being made in a dynamic market. Warner Bros. scored a huge victory with Weapons, turning a $38 million acquisition into a $148.8 million global hit. However, the upcoming slate shows studios are temporarily pulling back on their biggest bets.
Universal has arguably the biggest win of the year with the colossal $828 million success of Jurassic World Rebirth. The success of original horror titles from various studios also shows that smart, targeted investments in new ideas have been a winning strategy across the board.
Now, the betting is becoming more conservative for a short period. The fall slate is composed of smaller films from a variety of studios, including Lionsgate’s The Long Walk and Sony’s Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. These are lower-risk plays designed to keep revenue flowing during a quiet spell.
The high-stakes betting will resume in the fourth quarter. Disney is placing a massive bet on Tron: Ares and Zootopia 2, while Warner Bros. is betting big on Mortal Kombat II and Universal on Wicked: For Good. These holiday blockbusters will ultimately determine the final studio rankings for the year.
