Box Office Shocks: The Rise of Global Cinema in 2025
Explore the surprising global box office hit Ne Zha 2—an original animated film that made $2 billion mostly in China. Discover why it stands out in a market dominated by sequels, remakes, and franchises.
This week on the Film Dweeb Podcast, we dug into the August box office—and it's full of surprises.
"Weapons" held the #1 spot for a second straight week, proving once again why horror movies deliver big on small budgets. With minimal stars and high concept, horror taps into something essential: our love for being scared.
"The big story is Weapons—horror movies are always such a bang for your buck. They're low budget, you don't need too many stars, and the concept usually sells," notes host Chris.
But there's more happening: international cinema, particularly movies from Asia, are making their way into the U.S. top 10. This shift signals growing diversity in what American audiences are seeing on the big screen—a re-release from India even cracked the top charts after a decade.
Key Takeaways
Horror remains the box office king in 2025, driven by low budgets and big concepts.
1 movie has generated nearly $2 billion dollars in one country alone, and it’s not a Hollywood movie.
Indian movies and other international films are making unprecedented gains in U.S. theater rankings.
Re-releases and streaming blur timelines and bring classic or cult films back into the spotlight.
Changing tastes reflect a global shift in what audiences want from their moviegoing experience.
Stay tuned for more insights every week on Film Dweeb Podcast, where we track the trends that are shaping the cinema of tomorrow.