Passionate Filmmaking Thrives Despite Box Office Decline

Consider This from NPR · December 30, 2025 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title:

TL;DR

Hollywood's 2025 box office revenue fell short of pre-pandemic highs, indicating that ticket sales do not solely reflect film quality or audience engagement.
Passionate filmmaking can create profound audience experiences of grief, excitement, or rage, demonstrating that artistic intent can transcend commercial metrics.
Films like "The Color Purple" and "Anatomy of a Fall" successfully combined social commentary with entertainment, proving that provocative themes can resonate broadly.
Foreign films like "The Secret Agent" and "It Was Just an Accident" used humor and resistance narratives to comment on political and personal struggles, highlighting art's role in societal reflection.
Speculative adaptations like "Hamnet" and "Frankenstein" transformed classic narratives into meditations on art, family tragedy, and the nature of humanity, showcasing the power of reimagining established stories.
Documentaries are reinventing their form through innovative approaches like actors in video games ("Grand Theft Hamlet") and sensory overload ("Architecton"), pushing the boundaries of non-fiction storytelling.
Despite box office challenges, a diverse range of passionate filmmakers produced compelling works, suggesting continued artistic vitality and audience interest in unique cinematic experiences.

Deep Dive

Hollywood faced another quiet year at the box office in 2025, with North American revenues falling short of the anticipated $9 billion, a figure that would have been the best since pre-pandemic. However, this decline in ticket sales and attendance does not necessarily indicate a lack of quality in filmmaking. Instead, it highlights a divergence between commercial success and artistic merit, suggesting that passionate, impactful cinema continued to thrive despite broader industry challenges.

The year saw a range of films that resonated deeply, moving audiences with themes of grief, excitement, and rage. Directors explored critical social commentary through compelling narratives, such as "The Color Purple," which delved into power, prejudice, and the aftermath of slavery, and Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Another," a thriller that used conventions to depict explosive political resistance against authoritarianism. Foreign films also made a significant impact, with "The Secret Agent" drawing parallels to contemporary times through its story of a man hiding from dictatorship, and "It Was Just an Accident" using humor to depict resistance in Iran, a testament to the filmmaker's generous spirit despite personal imprisonment. Literary adaptations also shone, with Chloé Zhao's "Hamnet" transforming a family tragedy into a meditation on art's power, and Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" offering a uniquely soulful creature feature. Documentaries, meanwhile, were reinventing the form, from actors performing Shakespeare within a video game in "Grand Theft Hamlet" to the sensory overload of "Architecton" and the uplifting approach to cancer in "Come See Me in the Good Life."

The implication is that while the industry may be grappling with its business model, the creative spirit remains vibrant. Films that prioritized passion and artistic vision, rather than solely commercial appeal, delivered profound experiences for audiences. This suggests that the future of cinema may lie in celebrating these deeply felt, artistically driven projects, which continue to engage viewers on an emotional and intellectual level, proving that quality filmmaking can transcend box office numbers.

Action Items

Audit film selection process: Identify 3-5 criteria for evaluating movie quality beyond box office revenue (e.g., critical acclaim, thematic depth, directorial vision).
Create a personal movie review framework: Define 5 key elements to assess for each film (e.g., narrative structure, character development, thematic resonance, technical execution, emotional impact).
Track 10-15 diverse films annually: Ensure exposure to a range of genres, directorial styles, and cultural origins to broaden understanding of cinematic quality.
Measure personal film enjoyment correlation: For 3-5 films, calculate the relationship between initial ticket sales/popularity and personal satisfaction scores.

Key Quotes

"Hollywood hoped 2025 would be its comeback year movie theaters are booming i think finally after five years rolling around in the wilderness after covid i think the movie industry is finally back"

AMC CEO Adam Aron states that Hollywood anticipated 2025 to be a significant recovery year for the film industry. Aron attributes this optimism to the perceived return of movie theaters after a challenging period following COVID-19.

"it's been a very tumultuous year at the box office tumultuous to the very end big movies released in the last week or so are pulling in big crowds we're looking at a really strong holiday period with avatar with the housemaid with the movie david we had martin scorsese's killers of the flower moon going to wide release song sung blue opened and anatomy of a fall"

Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian describes the 2025 box office as tumultuous, noting that major releases at the end of the year were drawing large audiences. Dergarabedian highlights a strong holiday season, citing specific films like "Avatar," "The Killer," "Killers of the Flower Moon," and "Anatomy of a Fall" as contributing factors.

"Hollywood had another quiet year at the movies box office income just hasn't bounced back to pre pandemic highs but ticket sales are not always a sign of quality as proof we offer critic bob mondello's 10 best list well 10 ish"

NPR critic Bob Mondello observes that despite a quiet year for Hollywood in terms of box office revenue, ticket sales do not necessarily reflect the quality of films produced. Mondello presents his "10 best list" as evidence that strong cinematic works can emerge even when overall industry income has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

"this ain't no house party a stomping shiver inducing barn burner of a thriller that conjured all of this music's ancestors and descendants along with some sharp fanged demons you keep dancing with the devil one day he's gonna follow you home"

Bob Mondello describes "The Color Purple" as a thrilling and impactful film that draws on its musical heritage and explores darker themes. Mondello uses vivid language to convey the intensity and emotional depth of the movie, suggesting a powerful narrative that resonates with its audience.

"director paul thomas anderson uses thriller conventions to make a story of political resistance literally explosive and what i'm doing here i'm creating a closed circuit so you don't accidentally detonate your charge"

Bob Mondello explains that director Paul Thomas Anderson employs thriller elements to depict political resistance in an explosive manner. Mondello highlights Anderson's innovative approach, referencing a specific detail about creating a "closed circuit" to emphasize the controlled yet potent nature of the film's themes.

"like the secret agent it was just an accident uses humor to brighten a story of resistance this one's about an iranian guy who gets all squirrely when he hears the squeak of a prosthetic knee coming his way reminds him of prison and a sadistic one legged guard"

Bob Mondello notes that the film "It Was Just an Accident" uses humor to enhance a narrative about resistance. Mondello details how the film connects a character's fear of a prosthetic knee's squeak to traumatic memories of prison and a specific guard, illustrating the film's blend of dark humor and personal history.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"Hamnet" by Maggie O'Farrell - Mentioned as a speculative novel about Shakespeare's son, adapted into a film.
"No Other Choice" - Mentioned as a business satire about a downsized Korean worker's job search.
"Begonia" - Mentioned as a film about a big pharma exec kidnapped by individuals convinced she is an alien.

Articles & Papers

"The Color Purple" (Film) - Discussed as a film combining social commentary with entertainment, focusing on power, prejudice, and the aftermath of slavery.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" (Film) - Mentioned as a film that had a wide release.
"Song Sung Blue" (Film) - Mentioned as a film released in the last week of the year.
"Anatomy of a Fall" (Film) - Mentioned as a film released in the last week of the year.
"Superman" (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
"Wicked" (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
"How to Train Your Dragon" (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
"Lilo & Stitch" (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
"The Secret Agent" (Film) - Mentioned as a foreign film about a Brazilian man hiding from dictatorship, championing science over ideology.
"It Was Just an Accident" (Film) - Mentioned as a foreign film using humor to tell a story of resistance about an Iranian man.
"Frankenstein" (Film) - Mentioned as a Guillermo del Toro adaptation of a classic narrative, giving Jacob Elordi's Frankenstein a soulful portrayal.
"Uncut Gems" (Film) - Mentioned as an adrenaline-fueled screwball comedy about a 1950s hustler.
"The Worst Person in the World" (Film) - Mentioned as a Norwegian drama about an actress turning down a significant role offered by her father.
"Hind Rajab" (Film) - Mentioned as an international film set in the Middle East, focusing on emergency call operators in a West Bank call center.
"Dreamscapes" (Film) - Mentioned as an American epic with cinematic poetry, set in the era of steam locomotives and western expansion.
"Zero Dark Thirty" (Film) - Mentioned as an alarming nuclear thriller.
"Sarratt" (Film) - Mentioned as a story of raves, rage, and despair in North Africa.
"Blue Moon" (Song) - Mentioned in the context of lyricist Lorenz Hart's feelings about his partner Richard Rodgers' success with someone else.
"Father Mother Sister Brother" (Film) - Mentioned as a Jim Jarmusch comedy examining family dynamics.
"Is This Thing On" (Film) - Mentioned as a Bradley Cooper film starring Will Arnett, processing divorce on a stand-up stage.
"Grand Theft Hamlet" (Film) - Mentioned as a documentary where actors perform Shakespeare inside a video game.
"Architecton" (Film) - Mentioned as a documentary with dazzling sensory overload of cascading dancing building materials.
"Come See Me in the Good Life" (Film) - Mentioned as a documentary about queer artists approaching a stage four cancer diagnosis.

People

Adam Aron - CEO of AMC, discussed in relation to the movie industry's comeback after COVID.
Paul Dergarabedian - Mentioned on CNBC discussing the tumultuous year at the box office.
Bob Mondello - NPR movie critic, mentioned for his top movies of the year list.
Pedro Pascal - Actor, remembered his days of obscurity as a waiter.
Ryan Coogler - Mentioned for unleashing "The Color Purple."
Paul Thomas Anderson - Director, mentioned for using thriller conventions in his filmmaking.
Steven Locke - Mentioned as being awarded the medal of honor.
Chloe Zhao - Director, mentioned for her adaptation of "Hamnet."
Guillermo del Toro - Director, mentioned for his "Frankenstein" adaptation.
Jacob Elordi - Actor, mentioned for his role in Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein."
Josh Safdie - Director, mentioned for "Uncut Gems."
Hind Rajab - Mentioned for her real voice recorded while trapped in a car, embedded in a film.
Terrence Malick - Mentioned in relation to the cinematic poetry of "Dreamscapes."
Kathryn Bigelow - Director, mentioned for her film "Zero Dark Thirty."
Lorenz Hart - Lyricist, mentioned in relation to his feelings about his partner Richard Rodgers.
Richard Rodgers - Mentioned in relation to his partnership with Lorenz Hart.
Jim Jarmusch - Director, mentioned for his comedy "Father Mother Sister Brother."
Bradley Cooper - Director, mentioned for his film "Is This Thing On."
Will Arnett - Actor, mentioned for his role in "Is This Thing On."

Organizations & Institutions

NPR - Mentioned as a public media organization and a source for podcasts and news.
AMC - CEO Adam Aron discussed the movie industry's comeback.
CNBC - Mentioned as the source where Adam Aron and Paul Dergarabedian were interviewed.
Comscore - Mentioned in relation to box office revenue figures.
NPR Plus - Mentioned as a supporter program offering perks like bonus episodes.
Red Crescent - Mentioned in the context of emergency operators fielding calls in a film.

Other Resources

Avatar (Film) - Mentioned as a big movie released in the last week of the year.
The Housemaid (Film) - Mentioned as a big movie released in the last week of the year.
The Movie David (Film) - Mentioned as a big movie released in the last week of the year.
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (Podcast) - Mentioned for listeners to hear stories of famous actors' days of obscurity.
The Color Purple (Film) - Mentioned as a film combining social commentary with entertainment.
One Battle After Another (Film) - Mentioned as a film that is of the moment and uses thriller conventions.
The French 75 (Vigilante Group) - Mentioned in the context of "One Battle After Another."
The Wicked Witch (Character) - Mentioned in relation to the film "Wicked."
Agent Cobra (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
Bubbles (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
Blue Dog (Film) - Mentioned as a reboot or sequel that had a big year.
The Secret Agent (Film) - Mentioned as a foreign film about a Brazilian man hiding from dictatorship.
It Was Just an Accident (Film) - Mentioned as a foreign film using humor to tell a story of resistance.
Hamnet (Film) - Mentioned as an adaptation of a speculative novel about Shakespeare's son.
Uncut Gems (Film) - Mentioned as an adrenaline-fueled screwball comedy.
The Worst Person in the World (Film) - Mentioned as a Norwegian drama about an actress.
Hind Rajab (Voice) - Mentioned as the real voice embedded in a film about emergency call operators.
Dreamscapes (Film) - Mentioned as an American epic with cinematic poetry.
Zero Dark Thirty (Film) - Mentioned as an alarming nuclear thriller.
Sarratt (Film) - Mentioned as a story of raves, rage, and despair in North Africa.
Oklahoma (Musical) - Mentioned in relation to Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers.
No Other Choice (Film) - Mentioned as a business satire.
Begonia (Film) - Mentioned as a film about a big pharma exec.
Father Mother Sister Brother (Film) - Mentioned as a Jim Jarmusch comedy.
Is This Thing On (Film) - Mentioned as a Bradley Cooper film.
Grand Theft Hamlet (Film) - Mentioned as a documentary.
Architecton (Film) - Mentioned as a documentary.
Come See Me in the Good Life (Film) - Mentioned as a documentary.