'Ne Zha 2' and 4 Other Highest-Grossing Movies of 2025 So Far, Ranked by Box Office
These are the major cinematic triumphs that defined the past year.
2025 has proven that the magic of the big screen knows no bounds, and here are the five highest-grossing films of the year.
We discuss which projects captured the hearts of viewers worldwide, which franchises strengthened their positions, and which movie topped this prestigious list.
5. 'How to Train Your Dragon', 2025
Budget: $653M
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
How to Train Your Dragon is an almost frame-by-frame reproduction of the original animated film.
The plot continues to revolve around the conflict between the teenage Hiccup and the cruel adult world. The inhabitants of Berk view dragons as enemies, but Hiccup is no warrior. He's a sensitive, awkward, and observant young man.
When he manages to shoot a dragon for the first time, he finds himself unable to finish it off. This act becomes the starting point for the rest of the story – his friendship with the Night Fury named Toothless turns the Viking world upside down.
4. 'Jurassic World: Rebirth', 2025
Box Office: $866M
IMDb Score: 5.9/10
In Jurassic World: Rebirth, dinosaurs return to the big screen without the commotion and destruction, offering viewers a touch of nostalgia instead.
Despite its title, Rebirth doesn't attempt to recreate the universe – rather, it takes a step back to a simpler time of an island, a laboratory, and dinosaurs.
In order to develop a revolutionary cure for heart disease, a pharmaceutical company sends an expedition to islands that are now inhabited by prehistoric animals. The team must collect blood samples from three of the largest marine, land, and flying dinosaurs.
3. 'A Minecraft Movie', 2025
Box Office: $958M
IMDb Score: 5.6/10
From the start, A Minecraft Movie took on too much. Adapting such a complex game is daunting, and simplifying the source material for a blockbuster is futile.
This is why Jared Hess' film fails on several fronts. The basic adventure plot doesn't live up to the original's potential, and the characters feel one-dimensional.
Steve discovers a cubic sphere that opens a portal to another world. He then finds himself captured by the evil Malgosha. Four other unfortunate souls are then transported to this world. Now, alongside Steve, they must confront the villains and find a way to return home.
2. 'Lilo & Stitch', 2025
Box Office: $1B
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
From the beginning, the adaptation of Lilo & Stitch seemed to be a purely commercial venture. However, director Dean Fleischer Camp doesn't recreate the original film shot for shot. Instead, he alters the compositions, characters, and tone of the story.
Scientist Jumba created a super-intelligent monster named Experiment 626. The blue, six-legged, toothy creature escapes from prison, steals a spaceship, and reaches Earth, crashing on the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i.
While fending off his pursuers, 626 gains the trust of six-year-old Lilo and her older sister Nani, who have lost their parents. A social worker gives Nani a week to get her affairs in order, but the uncontrollable monster plunges her life into even greater chaos.
1. 'Ne Zha 2', 2025
Box Office: $2.2B
IMDb Score: 8.0/10
The animated hit Ne Zha was released in China in 2019. Despite its modest budget, the movie grossed an impressive $700 million and spawned a sequel.
Ne Zha 2 surprised even its creators by surpassing $2.2 billion at the box office and beat Disney and Pixar projects to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
A young boy named Ne Zha is gifted with uncontrollable powers and embarks on an epic, adventure-filled journey through magical worlds to save his parents and friends.
