As the United States gears up to celebrate the 249th anniversary of the birth of our nation, the summer movie schedule is in full swing. Known in the past for being a time of blockbuster hits that create hundreds of millions of dollars for studios, this weekend remains on par—despite cost-of-living concerns—as audiences flock to theaters for high-speed action, AI thrills, and family fun.
Audiences nationwide aren’t just drawn by star power but by immersive cinematic experiences. From premium IMAX screenings selling out to fan communities buzzing online, the blend of nostalgia and cutting-edge visuals is fueling Summer 2025’s box office revival. Whether you crave pulse-pounding chases or heartfelt animated adventures, moviegoers are making theaters their weekend destination.
As expected F1: The Movie had audiences racing to theaters for a solid $55 million, seizing first place in the US box office and $144 million worldwide. Not too bad for a $200 million budget, which it will surely recoup as the summer rolls along. The two-and-a-half-hour feature stars Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood) as an over-the-hill race car driver enlisted by his friend Rubén (Javier Bardem; No Country for Old Men) to help his F1 team fight for a win. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), the fast-paced, action-packed, beautifully filmed movie should remain in the top ten for most of the summer.
Also opening this weekend was the sequel to the 2022 sci-fi horror hit M3GAN 2.0. Announced just one week after the original, the joke-filled scares of its predecessor have been toned down, to the disappointment of some critics. To date, it has earned $10.5 million domestically, and though a third installment isn’t confirmed, it seems only a matter of time.
Of course, no summer line-up would be complete without family fare. Three of this weekend’s top six grossers were kid-friendly films—two live-action remakes and one animated feature. How to Train Your Dragon dropped to number two, behind F1: The Movie, but still beating M3GAN 2.0 by over $9 million. To date, it’s grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide on a $150 million budget.
Also outpacing M3GAN 2.0—though by a mere $500,000—is Elio, now in its second week. This sweet Disney/Pixar outing follows a boy mistaken for Earth’s ambassador by intergalactic aliens, delivering heartwarming adventure that parents can enjoy worry-free. With more animated films on the way this July, it will be interesting to see how long Elio stays in the top ten.
Rounding out the top ten this weekend are a romance, Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal; and two action blockbusters, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Ballerina. With eight weeks still to go before the official end of the summer movie season, it remains to be seen who will take the top spot next, what other blockbusters await release, and who won’t make it to the deep end. Regardless, Summer 2025 is off with a bang.
Tags: f1 the movie, box office, blockbuster, summer 2025