Research — May 28, 2026

Major studios shave film slate costs by 2.8% to help boost profit by 36.8%

The major studios released 97 films in theaters in 2025, the largest number since the COVID-19 pandemic; however, 19 of those films were re-releases and the other 78 were new films. The number of films released by major studios has been increasing nearly every year since 2020, approaching the 112-film average over the 2011-2019 period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 97 films from 2025 are estimated to generate nearly $22.14 billion in total revenue, up 5.9% from the $20.92 billion generated by the 86 films released in 2024. Total estimated revenues are approximately 74.7% of the $29.65 billion from the 2019 films. Total costs for the 2025 films are down 2.8% to $15.91 billion, spurred by a 4.3% drop in negative costs and a 9.3% drop in domestic prints and advertising (P&A) costs, resulting in net profit growing 36.8% to $6.23 billion and a 28.2% margin. The 104 films from 2019 made $7.29 billion in net profit and had a 24.6% margin.

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A line graph shows major studio film releases from 2011 to 2025, with a sharp drop in 2020 and gradual recovery after.

A line graph shows major studio film total revenue and costs from 2011 to 2025, with a sharp drop in 2020.

A bar chart shows major studio film net profits from 2011 to 2025, with a sharp drop in 2020 and gradual recovery after.

Walt Disney Co.'s Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures had the top slate again in 2025, largely thanks to "Zootopia 2" and "Lilo & Stitch," which grossed a combined $2.91 billion in worldwide box office. The studio's 14 films are estimated to generate $6.15 billion in total revenue over their lifecycles and cost $3.74 billion. The result is $2.41 billion in net profit and a 39.2% net profit margin. Disney's "Zootopia 2" was 2025's top film by projected net profit. We estimate the film will take in $1.34 billion in net profit from $1.98 billion in total revenue and $639.8 million in total costs.

We estimate the 2025 film slates for five other major studios will turn a profit: Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.'s Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. with $1.34 billion, Comcast Corp.'s Universal Pictures with $1.01 billion, Sony Group Corp.'s Columbia Pictures Industries Inc. with $730.2 million, Walt Disney Co.'s 20th Century Studios with $638.1 million and Lionsgate Studios Corp.'s Lionsgate Films with $197.8 million.

At the other end of the list, we estimate Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon MGM Studios' eight 2025 films will fall short of profitability, with a $5.3 million loss. The studio had one successful 2025 release, "A Working Man," which we estimate will earn a $54.2 million net profit, but none of the seven others came close to that performance. The studio's eight films averaged $27.6 million in worldwide box office against an average negative cost of $21.2 million.

Paramount Skydance Corp.'s Paramount Pictures was at the bottom of the list with its eight films estimated to lose a combined $85.5 million over their lifecycles. The studio was weighed down by its two big-budget outings in 2025. "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" and "The Running Man" combined for $666.2 million in worldwide box office, against a combined negative cost of $495.5 million in negative costs. Overall, its eight-film slate in 2025 averaged $151.2 million in worldwide box office, with an average negative cost of $91.2 million and an average domestic P&A cost of $34.7 million.

A horizontal bar chart shows Walt Disney Studios leading 2025 film revenues, followed by Warner Bros. and Universal.

A horizontal bar chart shows Walt Disney Studios has the highest 2025 film slate costs, followed by Warner Bros. and Universal.

A horizontal bar chart shows Walt Disney Studios leading 2025 film net profits, with Paramount reporting a net loss.

Average domestic box office decreased 10.3% from $85.1 million in 2024 to $76.4 million in 2025. Average international box office increased 5.9% to $111.2 million, resulting in an average worldwide box office of $187.6 million. Average total revenue decreased 6.1% to $228.3 million and average total costs were down 13.8% to $164.0 million. The larger decrease in costs compared to the decrease in revenue had average net profit growing 21.3% from $53.0 million in 2024 to $64.3 million in 2025.

Line graph shows average total revenue, total costs, and net profit for major studios from 2010 to 2024, with a sharp dip in 2020.

Economics of TV & Film is a regular feature from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan's TMT offering, providing exclusive research and commentary.
This article was published by S&P Global Market Intelligence and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.