Welcome to the Monday Morning Hangover Report
Every Monday on the Monday Morning Hangover Report, we dive into the weekend’s box office: the winners, the surprises, and the story behind the theatrical numbers so you know what audiences were actually spending money to see and what that means for the film calendar ahead.
We’re going to keep it short since it’s late AND it’s the holidays…
Weekend Box Office Breakdown
| Rank | Film | Weekend Gross | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avatar: Fire and Ash | $88,000,000 | Event blockbuster grab, huge holiday debut. |
| 2 | David | $22,017,322 | Strong opening for Angel Studios’ animated musical. |
| 3 | The Housemaid | $18,950,000 | Solid thriller debut. |
| 4 | The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants | $16,000,000 | Family animation holds well in holiday window. |
| 5 | Zootopia 2 | $14,500,000 | Disney classic still pulling crowds in Week 4. |
| 6 | Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 | $7.25M | Continued leggy horror performance. |
| 7 | Wicked: For Good | $4.3M | Musical hold in a crowded season. |
(All figures are weekend estimates based on BoxOfficeMojo data.)
Weekend Highlights & Insights
Avatar: Fire and Ash Rises to the Top
James Cameron’s latest unleashed itself with an $88M domestic debut, the second-best global opening of 2025 and a major kick-off to the holiday movie season. While it lands below the peak of its predecessor (2022’s The Way of Water) and below expectations, it still brings a serious theatrical surge and reminds audiences that blockbuster spectacle still thrives on the big screen.
David Delivers Early
Angel Studios scored a noteworthy weekend with its animated musical David, which debuted with $22 million. Its performance suggests family content that taps both faith-based and musical markets can find a niche even next to mega-franchise competition.
The Housemaid & SpongeBob Carve Space
Lionsgate’s The Housemaid opened respectably in third place, showing mid-tier thrillers still have room in a packed frame while The SpongeBob Movie continues to draw younger crowds and repeat family business.
Zootopia 2 Still Walking
Disney’s mega-opening from earlier in the month is still earning solid returns, which is a testament to the extended family season and international strength that helped the franchise continue to snowball.
Horror Still Finds a Niche
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 continues its run with modest returns, showing horror’s dedicated audience base even in the face of holiday blockbusters.
🎭 Wicked Winds Down
After a huge start, Wicked: For Good now sits deeper in the chart. Its longevity underscores the show-tune musical market’s ability to sustain legs, particularly with holiday crowds who want spectacle without kids attached.
What’s Next: Holiday + Year-End Outlook
Christmas Week Is Huge With blockbuster energy back in play, the next weekend (Dec 26–28) is poised to be one of the richest of the year. Avatar: Fire and Ash could vault to new heights as theaters fill with holiday audiences. Industry tracking suggests sustained demand through New Year’s.
More Wide Releases on Deck As December creates space between tentpoles, we’ll see expansion from films like Hamnet and other specialty fare, plus potential late pushes from adult dramas aiming for awards buzz.
Expanded Play for Family Titles The SpongeBob Movie and other family draws are positioned to ride the wave while schools are out and parents look for broad-appeal options.
International Power Still Mattering With Avatar posting a colossal $345M worldwide, Disney’s latest global run shows that international audiences will continue to influence Hollywood’s box office narrative into early 2026.
Year-End Push The final weeks of the year traditionally reward films with legs, strong word-of-mouth, or niche appeal. Titles that carve out smart positioning, whether through counter-programming or event screenings, can still surprise the chart.
🍹 Final Pour
The holiday surge is officially here. Avatar: Fire and Ash may have opened a bit softer than some expectations, but it still brings a theatrical blockbuster back to the top of the charts in a big way. Between animated favorites, family outings, and new entries with unique hooks, this December weekend feels less like a lull and more like the starting line for the seasonal box office sprint. Pour something warm, because the next three weekends are going to be packed. 🍸🍿
