10 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2025, Ranked by Critics

2025 was a noteworthy year for the film industry. While movie theaters continued to bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Netflix was acquiring Warner Bros., many questioned their future. However, the year’s biggest box office hits proved that theaters remain a vital part of how people enjoy movies.

Moviegoers had a lot of popular choices in 2025, from big-budget Hollywood films to animated movies from around the world. However, critics weren’t as enthusiastic, according to their ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Here’s a look at what reviewers thought of the year’s ten highest-earning films.

A Minecraft Movie Is Primarily for the Fans – For Better or Worse

The movie A Minecraft Movie, based on the popular game, tells the story of a group of people transported to a blocky, creative world called the Overworld. They must work together to defeat Malgosha, a villain determined to destroy creativity and take control. While fans loved the film and created tons of online content like memes and TikToks, critics weren’t as impressed.

Critics gave A Minecraft Movie mixed reviews, with scores of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 45 on Metacritic. While viewers generally enjoyed the actors and found the movie fun, many thought the storyline was weak and might be hard to follow for people who don’t play the game.

While it doesn’t quite reach the storytelling quality of other movies based on games and toys, the film is genuinely funny and heartfelt, proving it’s more than just a commercial product.

Jurassic World Rebirth Follows an All Too Familiar Path

Jurassic World Rebirth follows a group of scientists and mercenaries sent to a secluded island to collect dinosaur DNA. Their mission: to develop a cure for heart disease. They unexpectedly rescue a family stranded by a shipwreck and then have to keep them safe from the island’s many threats. While audiences generally liked the fresh start, critics weren’t as impressed.

Lilo & Stitch Isn’t as Charming as the Original

Similar to the original 2002 animated movie, Lilo & Stitch tells the story of a mischievous but lovable alien who crash-lands on Earth and is taken in by a young girl in Hawaii. Chaos and fun follow as he attempts to avoid being caught. Despite some criticism of Disney’s live-action Snow White released earlier, audiences really enjoyed this remake, making it one of only three movies in 2025 to earn over $1 billion worldwide.

As a big Disney fan, I’ve been following the buzz around the live-action Lilo & Stitch, and it seems critics are generally pretty positive – it’s scoring around 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic. However, most agree it doesn’t quite capture the magic of the original animated film. What’s really got people talking, though, are the changes they made to the story. Specifically, leaving out Gantu and Nani giving up custody of Lilo felt like a misstep to a lot of viewers, and honestly, it diminished the whole message of ohana.

Avatar: Fire and Ash Sets a Franchise Low

Avatar: Fire and Ash continues the story immediately after the previous film, showing Jake Sully and his family still grieving a loss and adjusting to life with their new Na’vi clan. Their peace is disrupted when a new tribe, the Mangkwan, becomes involved in the ongoing conflict between humans and the Na’vi. While audiences were captivated by the film’s beautiful visuals and detailed world, many critics felt the plot was too similar to the first movie.

While Avatar: Fire and Ash received generally positive reviews – scoring 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic – it wasn’t as well-received as the first two Avatar movies. Many viewers felt the plot was too similar to previous installments, and some questioned the need for further sequels.

How to Train Your Dragon Is the Superior Live-Action Remake

The movie How to Train Your Dragon follows the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who becomes friends with a dragon named Toothless, even though he was raised to believe dragons are enemies. As DreamWorks Animation’s first attempt at a live-action remake of one of its own films, it pleased fans with how closely it stuck to the original. While critics generally liked it, most still felt the animated movie was better.

While the recent adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon received decent scores – 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61% on Metacritic – it didn’t reach the heights of the original film, which scored 99% and 77% respectively. Some critics felt the new movie was too similar to the first. However, many reviewers praised its stunning visuals, strong acting, and ability to capture the spirit and charm of the original animated movie.

F1 Is a Thrilling Ride From Start to Finish

F1 The Movie tells the story of a former Formula One racer who returns to the sport after a 30-year break. He’s helping a friend keep their racing team from being sold. While dedicated racing fans had some issues with the story and how the sport was portrayed, most viewers enjoyed the movie’s exciting action. Critics agreed the plot wasn’t particularly original, but they acknowledged the film was visually impressive and delivered a thrilling experience.

With scores of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, the movie F1 impressed critics thanks to its thrilling action and Brad Pitt’s engaging performance. While the story wasn’t groundbreaking, most reviewers felt the film’s visuals and performances definitely deserved a cinematic release.

Superman Triumphantly Kicks Off a New Era for DC

As a huge cinema fan, I was really excited for James Gunn’s first DC Universe film, Superman, and it didn’t disappoint! The movie focuses on Superman facing a truly powerful adversary, but it’s not just a physical battle. He also has to deal with some shocking revelations about his family becoming public, which really throws things into question. Honestly, even with a lot of superhero movies out there lately, people really connected with this fresh take on Clark Kent, and most critics felt the same way – it’s a great movie!

The movie Superman received generally positive reviews, earning an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 68 on Metacritic. While some critics felt the film included too many characters and that the villain’s plan was a little basic, the performances, particularly from the main actors, were widely praised.

Compared to the darker, more serious tone of the previous DC movies, many viewers enjoyed the lighthearted and sincere approach of Superman, seeing it as an ideal way to begin a new series of films.

Ne Zha II Has Taken the World by Storm

Following directly after the first movie, Ne Zha 2 finds Ne Zha and Ao Bing searching for new bodies after their previous ones were destroyed while saving the day. They’re now sharing one body and must overcome a series of challenges to create new ones and prevent Ao Guang from harming Chentang Pass. The animated sequel was a huge success in 2025, earning praise from both viewers and critics.

The movie received strong reviews, scoring 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic – even better than the first film. While some viewers unfamiliar with the source material found the story and many characters confusing, most connected with its relatable messages about accepting yourself and the importance of family. The stunning, though occasionally intense, animation also made it a truly worthwhile experience.

Zootopia 2 Is a Sequel Worth Waiting For

As a huge fan of the first Zootopia, I was thrilled to see Zootopia 2 pick up the story just a week later! Judy and Nick are still getting used to being partners when they meet a snake named Gary, and that’s when things really get interesting – they stumble onto a secret about the city that’s been hidden for ages. Audiences absolutely loved it, with a lot of people saying it was even better than the original! Critics were a little more reserved, but even they agreed it was a solid sequel and definitely worth watching.

Zootopia 2 received positive reviews, earning a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 73 on Metacritic – scores comparable to the original film. Although some critics felt the story was a little too similar to the first Zootopia, most enjoyed it as a heartwarming and entertaining movie for families, with a meaningful message about overcoming prejudice. Many viewers felt the nine-year wait for the sequel was worthwhile and are eager to see what happens next in the Zootopia story.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Is One of the Most Successful Anime Movies of All Time

Following directly after the events of the anime’s fourth season, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle plunges the Demon Slayer Corps into a dangerous situation. Trapped and separated within the Infinity Castle, they’re forced to battle not only demons, but also their own personal struggles. The film’s stunning animation and emotional depth delighted fans and earned praise from critics.

Reviewers loved Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, giving it a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 67 on Metacritic. They praised the stunning animation and intense fight scenes. While a few thought the story moved slowly and used too many flashbacks, most found it emotionally powerful.

2026-01-03 07:16