Summer 2025 hasn’t just delivered heatwaves and blockbusters, and it’s been a full-blown box office battleground. With major titles like Jurassic World: Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps landing within weeks of each other, this month has tested franchise power, fan loyalty, and the ever-evolving rules of the theatrical game. As studios double down on big IPs to keep the box office numbers climbing, July gave us a glimpse into what the future of tentpole cinema might actually look like.
Let’s get into the biggest winners, the surprises, and what the numbers tell us about where audiences are placing their bets this summer.
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Universal’s dino-machine may not be stomping to record highs this time, but Jurassic World: Rebirth has managed to carve out a solid legacy. After four weekends, the film has collected $301.5M domestically and $708.4M worldwide. That makes it the lowest-grossing entry in the Jurassic World series, but still a bona fide bonafide hit considering its $450M break-even threshold. A relatively light 45% drop in its fourth weekend shows decent staying power, especially against newer superhero competition.
With an IMAX re-release scheduled for August 8, Universal is clearly positioning Rebirth for a long tail. It may not match its predecessors, but the franchise still proves dinosaurs remain a box office draw—even in a crowded summer.
Superman (2025)
James Gunn’s Superman is flying high into its third weekend, pulling in $24.9M and dropping just 57% from last week. That brings its domestic total to $289.5M and worldwide haul to $502.7M in just 17 days. Importantly, the film continues to track neck-and-neck with 2016’s Batman v Superman, now sitting at 98% of its comparative domestic gross, despite BvS having launched during a quieter spring corridor.
Going toe-to-toe with The Fantastic Four in the same window hasn’t derailed its run. Instead, it signals that Gunn’s vision is resonating with fans, potentially ushering in a stronger, more consistent era for the DCU. With momentum on its side, Superman might just become the highest-grossing solo Superman movie to date.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Marvel Studios kicked off Phase Six of the MCU with a bang. The Fantastic Four: First Steps debuted with $118M domestically and $218M worldwide—the strongest opening in the franchise’s history and well ahead of 2007’s Rise of the Silver Surfer, even when adjusted for inflation. It’s a long-overdue victory for Marvel’s First Family, who’ve endured three prior misfires across two decades.
This reboot feels like more than a reset; it’s a reclamation for Marvel Studios. Directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman and penned by Avatar: The Way of Water’s Josh Friedman, the film ditches the origin story trope and drops audiences into a team already mid-career, navigating a retro-futurist world inspired by 1960s sci-fi. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach bring charisma and balance to a cast that’s been praised for its chemistry.
Critics and fans agree. With Rotten Tomatoes scores sitting at 87% (critics) and 93% (audiences), First Steps is being hailed as Marvel’s most satisfying outing since No Way Home. Variety called it a “fresh start,” while The Hollywood Reporter framed it as a much-needed course correction. With a $200M production budget and a $500M profitability target, the film’s strong debut sets it on a promising path—though how it holds in the face of next weekend’s triple threat (The Naked Gun, The Bad Guys 2, and Together) will be critical.
F1: The Movie
Now five weekends in, Warner Bros. and Apple’s F1: The Movie refuses to slow down. With $165.6M domestic and $509.7M worldwide, the high-octane drama has quietly become a breakout hit. A 37% weekend drop and an upcoming IMAX re-release point to a confident long-term strategy, and the film now holds the title of highest-grossing road-racing movie ever.
It’s also Apple’s biggest theatrical success to date—and proof that prestige and crowd-pleasing spectacle aren’t mutually exclusive.
Smurfs (2025)
Paramount’s attempt to revive the Smurfs fell flat. The reboot has only pulled in $22.8M domestic and $69.1M worldwide after 10 days, and it’s unlikely to reach the $145M needed to break even on its $58M budget. The audience just isn’t there this time around, and with higher-profile releases dominating, this blue crew is likely to fade from the marquee sooner than expected.
Box Office Takeaways: July 2025
- Year-to-date box office is 12% ahead of 2024 — a sign of recovery and resilience.
- Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman show that superhero fatigue is nuanced; quality still drives turnout.
- Jurassic World holds strong, even as the lowest entry in its series.
- F1: The Movie proves there’s room for original hits alongside the IP giants.
- The next test? Mid-August’s trio: The Naked Gun, The Bad Guys 2, and Together.
In a summer where franchise fatigue and streaming pressures loom large, July’s box office numbers prove there’s still magic in the big screen experience. From comic book comebacks to dinosaur epics and prestige racing dramas, audiences are turning out for movies that deliver more than just a promise!
And as the second half of summer rolls in, the competition is only heating up.
