The world of cinema in 2025 - From Trump's policies on the industry to the most successful films of the year
From US President Donald Trump's announcement, which threatened tariffs on all films produced abroad, to the dizzying success of "Kpop Demon Hunters" on Netflix that became a cultural phenomenon, the year 2025 brought many headlines from the world of cinema.
In the wake of Trump's tariff threats, the global film industry is experiencing a turbulent period, as trade policies and cultural tensions are shaping a new international reality. Hollywood is at a tipping point, where art collides with political and economic interests.
However, the global film scene continues to flourish through major festivals, prestigious awards and record productions. Not only that; the industry is looking ahead with major projects that challenge artistic and technological boundaries, promising a new decade of cinematic innovation.
Trade policies and their impact on the film industry
White House President Donald Trump said he would impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films that are then shipped to the US, a threat he has made twice this year that would change Hollywood's global business model.
This step signals the US leader's willingness to extend protectionist trade policies to the cultural industry, creating uncertainty for studios that depend heavily on international co-productions and foreign revenue.
"Our movie business has been stolen from the United States of America by other countries, just like stealing candy from a baby," Trump said.
The initial call for tariffs shocked the film world and temporarily halted projects and international financing deals as producers assessed the potential impact of the measures on financial sustainability.
Modern films often spread production, financing, post-production and visual effects across multiple countries. Following the announcement in May, a coalition of American unions sent a letter to Trump asking for fiscal incentives for domestic film production. The package is aimed at bringing more television projects back to the US.
The American film industry recorded a trade surplus of $15.3 billion in 2023, supported by $22.6 billion in exports to international markets.
Hollywood has become increasingly dependent on production centers abroad, such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, where fiscal incentives have attracted big-budget productions.
At the same time, co-productions with foreign studios have become more common, especially in Asia and Europe, where local partners provide financing, access to markets, and distribution networks.
Industry leaders also warn that a broad tariff could impact thousands of American workers engaged in filming abroad, from visual effects artists to production crews, who often work in coordination across several countries.
Oscar Awards
“Anora,” the story of a New York sex worker who starts a new life when she marries a wealthy Russian client, dominated the Academy Awards. The production won five Oscars, including best picture. In addition, director Sean Baker was named the winner for best director, original screenplay and editing, tying Walt Disney’s record for the most Oscars won by an individual in a single year. Disney won for four different films in 1954.
The film's star, Mikey Madison, was named best actress. She surprised Demi Moore, who was the favorite to win for her role in "The Substance."
Meanwhile, Adrien Brody won his second Oscar for best actor for his role as a Jewish immigrant pursuing the American dream in "The Brutalist."
Zoe Saldana was named best supporting actress for her role in “Emilia Perez,” a Spanish-language musical film. Saldana had won multiple awards for the role at other ceremonies.
While Kieran Culkin was honored as best supporting actor for his role as one of two cousins who travel to Poland to study their family roots in the film "A Real Pain."
The most successful films
Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2” was the highest-grossing production of the year, grossing $1.9 billion worldwide. The story of a mythical boy with magical powers and extraordinary martial arts skills also became the highest-grossing production in China.
“Ne Zha 2” is the sequel to the 2019 hit “Ne Zha.” The films are based on the 16th-century Chinese classic novel, “Investiture of the Gods.”
The live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” came in second with an estimated $1.04 billion in global box office receipts. Like the original film, this version tells the story of a little Hawaiian girl, Lilo, who befriends an escaped alien who crashes on Earth.
Rounding out the top five highest-grossing films were "A Minecraft Movie," with $958 million; "Zootopia 2," with $918 million; and "Jurassic World: Rebirth," which earned $869 million.
In sixth place was "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle", with revenues of $769 million.
Another live-action adaptation, "How to Train Your Dragon," grossed $636 million in ticket sales, while "F1: The Movie" became the highest-grossing film of actor Brad Pitt's career, grossing over $632 million.
"Superman" ranked ninth with $617 million, while the top ten was rounded out by Tom Cruise's latest appearance in "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," which grossed $599 million.
The animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” became a huge hit on Netflix and a cultural phenomenon. The story of a successful K-pop girl group who hold giant concerts while trying to save the world from dark forces was an instant success. The work has surpassed 325 million views, making it Netflix’s most-watched original film.
Its soundtrack has been certified platinum, and the lead single "Golden" has reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The film has inspired a relentless wave of costume and dance challenges on social media.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprised their roles from “Freaky Friday” in the sequel “Freakir Friday.” The Disney comedy follows the story of a complex mother-daughter relationship, following the success of 2003’s “Freakir Friday.” The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed over $153 million against a budget of $42–45 million.
“Downton Abbey” concluded the series with the third and final film, 15 years after the television series began in 2010. “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” follows the Crawley family and its servants in the 1930s, with patriarch Robert ready to hand over control to his daughter.
"Wicked: For Good" set a record for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical, grossing $150 million in the U.S. and Canada during its opening weekend.
International festivals and awards
The revenge thriller "It Was Just An Accident" by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who was banned from filming for 15 years by the Tehran government, won the top Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival.
With this award, Panahi manages to receive the main awards at the three largest European festivals, after the Golden Bear in Berlin for "Taxi" in 2015 and the Golden Lion in Venice for "The Circle" in 2000. The 65-year-old director dedicated the award to all Iranians, emphasizing that the most important thing was Iran and its freedom.
At the Venice Film Festival, American director Jim Jarmusch surprisingly won the Golden Lion with his production "Father Mother Sister Brother," a three-part meditation on the relationships between parents and their adult children.
Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania's "The Voice of Hind Rajab" came in second place. The film uses real-life audio of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the war in Gaza and was greeted with a 24-minute standing ovation during its premiere.
Disappointments and controversies
However, there has been no shortage of disappointments this year. Disney's "Snow White" was embroiled in controversy that put the new version of the classic Snow White tale at the center of a culture war.
The project, with a budget of around $270 million, has become part of the American debates about race, the 2024 elections and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The film also faced negative reactions for casting a black actress in the lead role. The protagonist Rachel Zegler added to the controversy when she published Instagram posts after the 2024 elections, criticizing those who voted for the president.
Israeli-born actress Gal Gadot, who plays the queen in the film, has sparked calls for a boycott after making pro-Israeli comments. Meanwhile, Zegler has been openly pro-Palestine on the X platform, further straining the situation. The film grossed an estimated $205 million.
Walt Disney's Pixar animation studio also recorded its worst performance in its 30-year history with the release of "Elio." The film follows a lonely 11-year-old boy, Elio Solis, who reluctantly becomes Earth's intergalactic ambassador after being sent to a planet called the "Communiverse."
Although “Elio” received an 83% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it only earned $20 million in the U.S. and $34 million in international markets during its opening weekend. The film had a budget of $150 million. By early December, its total revenue had reached $154 million.
Acclaimed actor Robert De Niro, who plays two main characters in “Alto Knights,” failed to attract a wide audience, as the film grossed only $10 million. Based on true events, the film, with a budget of about $45 million, is set in 1950s New York, where De Niro plays two rival Italian-American mafia bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.
The Weeknd's psychological thriller "Hurry Up Tomorrow," inspired by the singer's personal experience of losing his voice during a live concert, also failed to make the cut. On a budget of $15 million, the film grossed just $7.8 million.
Alec Baldwin's Western production, titled "Rust," was met with a lukewarm response almost four years after the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was accidentally shot by Baldwin on the set of the film in October 2021.
The bullet was mistakenly placed by the film's lead gunman, Hannah Gutierrez, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 and released on parole in May. Baldwin also faced the court system, but a judge in New Mexico dismissed the charges against him.
Upcoming projects
Oscar-nominated Denis Villeneuve has been announced as the director of the next James Bond film, taking the helm of one of Hollywood's most enigmatic agents and one of the longest-running film franchises. The Canadian director and screenwriter is known for films such as "Sicario," "Dune," "Dune: Part Two," "Blade Runner 2049" and "Arrival."
The next James Bond film will be the first to be produced by Amazon's MGM Studios, which took control of the saga this year through a joint venture with long-time rights holders Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The production has yet to cast a lead actor following Daniel Craig's departure in 2021. The next Bond film will be produced by producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
Sony Pictures announced that the story of The Beatles will be told through four films, each from the perspective of one of the band members, to be released in April 2028. Director Sam Mendes revealed the cast: Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson will portray John Lennon, while Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn will play Ringo Starr and George Harrison, respectively.
The films will be released "close to each other," according to Mendes, who described it as "the first movie experience that can be enjoyed as a marathon in the cinema."
Meghan Markle is returning to acting with a role in the film “Close Personal Friends.” The production will also star Lilly Collins, Brie Larson and Henry Golding. Markle’s last role was in the TV series “Suits” before she married Prince Harry in 2018.
Also this year, production on the new “Harry Potter” television series began at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, north London. HBO released a photo of 11-year-old Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin, wearing the young wizard’s signature glasses and Hogwarts uniform, filming the first scene of the first episode. The three main characters also include Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Warner Bros. Discovery announced the series in April 2023 as part of plans for the Max platform, which combines HBO Max with Discovery programming.
Like the successful films starring Daniel Radcliffe, which earned $7.7 billion globally from 2001 to 2011, the series is based on the books by author JK Rowling, who is one of the executive producers.
The series features a new cast, including John Lithgow as headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hogwarts guard Rubeus Hagrid, and Paapa Essiedu will play Professor Severus Snape.
Each season will be dedicated to one of Rowling's books. The series is expected to premiere in 2027 and is planned to span 10 years.
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