Burning up number one

The UK box office saw a sharp rise this weekend, with overall grosses for the top 15 titles reaching £14,195,954 — up 42% from last week and 22% from the same weekend last year. A major franchise debut led the charge, while seasonal classics and restorations provided strong counter-programming.

Weekend roundup

• Avatar: Fire And Ash — £9,015,796 opening; 673 screens; Week 1. This marks the 136th top-grossing opening of all time, just behind Gladiator II, and the 6th best of 2025 behind Lilo & Stitch. It compares with Avatar (£8,509,050 in 2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (£11,187,562 in 2022). A commanding debut that dominated the market.

• Zootropolis 2 — £1,879,320; Week 4; down 32%. Total now £18,640,723, ranking as the 358th top-grossing film of all time, just behind Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. Despite the drop, its cumulative performance remains impressive.

• Wicked: For Good — £1,072,380; Week 5; down 42%. Total now £42,775,033, elevating it to the 78th top-grossing film of all time, just behind Finding Dory. A steep fall this weekend, but its overall milestone cements its blockbuster status.

• Dhurandhar — £386,899; Week 3; down 35%. Total now £1,999,949. A mid-table performer that has nearly crossed the £2,000,000 mark.

• Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 — £373,346; Week 3; down 63%. Total now £6,202,380. Despite the sharp decline, it has cleared £6,000,000, a notable achievement for the horror sequel.

• Home Alone (Re: 2018) — £267,348; Week 369; up 47%. Total now £4,165,550. A remarkable long-tail performer, boosted by seasonal demand.

• Bha Bha Ba — £157,431 opening; 110 screens; Week 1. A modest new entry with limited footprint.

• It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) (75th Anniversary) — £166,600; Week 212; up 196%. Total now £2,149,250. A perennial holiday favourite that continues to draw audiences decades later.

• Elf (20th Anniversary) — £152,107; Week 108; up 82%. Total now £2,479,087. Another seasonal surge, pushing its lifetime gross higher.

• The Muppet Christmas Carol (30th Anniversary) — £130,487; Week 160; up 126%. Total now £1,457,315. A strong anniversary boost for the beloved family title.

• Die Hard (30th Anniversary) — £79,548; Week 368; up 289%. Total now £1,412,970. Its enduring appeal as a holiday action classic continues to shine.

Holdovers and milestones

• Wicked: For Good has now reached £42,775,033, placing it among the top 80 films of all time.• Zootropolis 2 has crossed £18,640,723, securing a place in the top 400 all-time UK grosses.• Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 has surpassed £6,202,380, a strong result for a genre sequel.• Seasonal titles including Elf, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Die Hard all posted significant percentage gains, underscoring the power of festive programming.

Quick Take

The weekend was defined by Avatar: Fire And Ash, which delivered a commanding £9,015,796 debut and instantly joined the ranks of the year’s biggest openers. Seasonal classics surged, with It’s A Wonderful Life, Elf, and Die Hard all posting triple-digit gains. Meanwhile, Wicked: For Good and Zootropolis 2 crossed major lifetime milestones, cementing their place among the UK’s all-time performers.

Ones to watch next week

Next week’s slate includes: The K‑pop concert film #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR THE MOVIE is set to deliver strong per‑screen averages, while Bowie: The Final Act offers prestige appeal that could draw both fans and general audiences. Family audiences are expected to turn out in force for The Spongebob Movie: Search For Squarepants, while Anaconda and Champion provide genre and mainstream options to broaden the slate. Vrusshabha brings significant Indian market strength, ensuring a diverse mix of titles likely to perform well.

• #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR THE MOVIE (Concert)

• Anaconda

• Bowie: The Final Act

• Champion

• The Spongebob Movie: Search For Squarepants

• Vrusshabha

Final Take

A blockbuster debut from Avatar: Fire And Ash lifted the UK box office by 42% week-on-week, while festive favourites and anniversary screenings added depth to the market. With a varied slate of concert films, restorations, and family titles arriving next week, momentum looks set to continue into the holiday period.