A Power-Packed Weekend with Superheroes, Dinosaurs, and a Dash of Horror;
It was another action-filled weekend at the U.S. box office as Superman held onto the top spot in its second weekend, even as Jurassic World: Rebirth continued its impressive run and two new releases—I Know What You Did Last Summer and Smurfs—made their presence felt. The diverse top 10, which also included a racing drama, an indie biopic, and a beloved Disney re-release, reflected the variety audiences are gravitating toward during the 2025 summer movie season.
Superman Still Reigns Despite Steep Second-Week Drop
Warner Bros.’ Superman, directed by James Gunn and serving as the foundational title of the rebooted DC Universe, retained its No. 1 position with an estimated $57.25 million over the July 18–20 weekend. This marks a 54.2% drop from its opening weekend—steep, but not unexpected for a superhero tentpole of this scale. The film has now amassed $235.03 million domestically in just 10 days.
Playing in 4,275 theaters (up 140 from last weekend), the film earned a strong $13,391 per screen, proving that audience interest remains high, even as the post-debut dip sets in. While the drop suggests front-loaded interest, Superman is still well-positioned to cross the $300 million mark, depending on its third-week performance. With no major wide releases this coming weekend, it may retain its crown yet again.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Remains a Box Office Force
Close behind in second place is Universal’s Jurassic World: Rebirth, which added $23.4 million in its third weekend. With a 42% drop—a relatively modest decline for a franchise this size—the dino-thriller continues to draw crowds. Its domestic tally now stands at $276.18 million, surpassing Superman in cumulative earnings for the time being.
Despite shedding 470 theaters this week (now playing in 3,854), the film still managed an average of $6,071 per screen. The strong hold reflects continued interest in the franchise’s action-packed formula, nostalgic callbacks, and the return of legacy characters. As international markets continue to roll out, the film is also showing muscle overseas, with a strong global total brewing.
New Horror and Animation Offer Variety, Not Breakouts
Two wide releases opened this weekend, both delivering decent—if not spectacular—debuts.
Sony Pictures’ reboot I Know What You Did Last Summer scared up $13 million from 3,206 theaters, enough to land third place. The film’s $4,054 per-theater average indicates solid interest, particularly among younger audiences and nostalgic horror fans. If word-of-mouth holds, the film could enjoy steady weekday numbers, especially with minimal competition in the genre space.
Paramount’s animated Smurfs relaunch opened in fourth with $11 million across 3,504 theaters, averaging $3,139 per screen. The blue-hued franchise has had mixed results in previous iterations, and this entry seems to be following suit—earning modestly but not making a significant impact. Still, with families having limited fresh options, the film may stick around for a few more weeks.
F1: The Movie Keeps Pace, Dragon Continues to Fly
In fifth place, F1: The Movie continued its strong theatrical run with a $9.61 million fourth weekend (down just 26.4%). Its domestic total has now surged to $153.64 million, making it one of the biggest surprises of the summer. The high-octane sports drama has found favor with general audiences and racing fans alike, benefiting from strong word-of-mouth and premium format support.
How to Train Your Dragon, the live-action adaptation from Universal, added $5.35 million in its sixth weekend (down 32.3%), bringing its impressive domestic total to $250.73 million. While early comparisons questioned the need for a remake, the film’s staying power is now beyond dispute. As of now, it ranks as one of the year’s most successful family-oriented titles.
A24’s Eddington Opens with Indie Appeal
A24’s Eddington, a biopic steeped in intellectual drama, opened at No. 7 with $4.25 million from 2,111 theaters, averaging $2,015 per screen. While not a wide-audience blockbuster, the film is following the typical A24 model: targeted openings, gradual expansions, and long-tail cultural impact.
Critical response and awards chatter will determine how much staying power the film has, but for now, it’s a respectable start for a challenging subject.
Elio, Lilo & Stitch, and 28 Years Later Fade Out
The rest of the top ten saw familiar titles fading into late-run mode.
Disney/Pixar’s Elio earned just $2 million, bringing its total to $68.92 million after five weekends. The film’s performance has been underwhelming by Pixar standards and is unlikely to cross the $100 million mark domestically.
The re-release of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch still found takers, adding $1.5 million in its ninth weekend, pushing its cumulative lifetime gross to $418.19 million—a testament to its enduring appeal among fans old and new.
Meanwhile, Sony’s 28 Years Later added $1.34 million in its fifth frame, bringing its domestic total to $68.74 million. Despite a strong start, it has quickly slipped out of the conversation.
Final Take: Superman Leads, But Eyes Are on the Long Game
With Superman, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and How to Train Your Dragon all comfortably above the $250 million mark, the 2025 summer box office is shaping up to be solid—if not record-breaking. The mix of nostalgia, franchise familiarity, and genre variety has kept theaters buzzing.
The lack of a major release next weekend means current leaders could extend their runs. All eyes will be on Superman to see whether it can maintain momentum and overtake Jurassic World in total domestic gross—or if it will settle for second place in the long haul.
Source: Domestic weekend estimates via Box Office Mojo.
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