Business
The summer box office sizzled, but brace for a cooldown until November
Movie stills from Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and “Fantastic Four” and Warner Bros. Discovery’s “Superman.”
Courtesy: Disney | 20th Century Studios | Marvel Studios | Warner Bros. Discovery
Superheroes, dinosaurs and a genetically altered alien dog helped propel the summer box office haul above 2024 levels, but that momentum is about to stall.
Heading into the final stretch of the summer season — which started the first weekend in May and wraps up on Labor Day — the domestic box office is expected to reach at least $3.75 billion, according to data from Comscore. That’s about a 2% uptick from the previous summer.
Hollywood had hoped the 2025 summer would be a return to form for the box office, reaching the $4 billion mark, which had become the standard prior to the pandemic. Ticket sales reached that figure in 2023, thanks to the powerhouse team up of Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal‘s “Oppenheimer.” However, the the past two summers have borne the brunt of production shutdowns caused by the dual writers and actors strikes two years ago.
Last summer, Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” helped buoy the May-to-August season to $3.67 billion, much higher than box office analysts had predicted earlier in the year.
Summer box office tallies
- 2024 — $3.7 billion
- 2023 — $4 billion
- 2022 — $3.4 billion
- 2021 — $1.7 billion
- 2020 — $176.2 million
- 2019 — $4.3 billion
- 2018 — $4.4 billion
- 2017 — $3.8 billion
- 2016 — $4.4 billion
- 2015 — $4.4 billion
- 2014 — $4 billion
- 2013 — $4.7 billion*
- 2012 — $4.2 billion
* Record summer box office revenue
Source: Comscore
Hollywood had hoped that the combination of major franchise titles — a new entry from the “Jurassic World” series alongside reboots of Superman and the Fantastic Four — would be enough to fuel the 2025 summer stretch to the $4 billion mark. Yet, none of those films generated more than $350 million domestically.
In fact, the highest-grossing film of the summer has been Disney’s live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” which has tallied $421 million domestically as of Sunday. The second-highest is “Superman,” which stands at $340 million.
In previous summers, top films like “Inside Out 2,” “Barbie” and “Top: Gun Maverick” each brought in at least $600 million in ticket sales.
“What started with a historic Memorial Day weekend gave way to a mix of underperformers and crowd-pleasing hits,” said Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. “The back half of the season rebounded with several blockbusters and sleeper hits, but we continue to see audiences are highly selective when a barrage of franchise movies is out there despite many of those films generating positive reviews. Some connect in a big way, while others simply don’t catch on.”
Still, movie theater operators reported solid audience numbers and ticket sales during the second quarter, which included May and June box office figures.
“As to the strengthening industrywide box office, we firmly believe that this was not a short-lived spike, but rather, the beginning of a sustained and powerful resurgence for our entire industry,” Adam Aron, CEO of AMC, said during an earnings call last week.
Similarly, Cinemark CEO Sean Gamble noted during the company’s earnings call earlier this month that the April release of “A Minecraft Movie,” which ran well into the summer months, alongside “a steady stream of highly compelling new releases week after week, ignited a surge of summer moviegoing momentum.”
But he also warned that, as is typical in the theatrical business, August and September at the box office tend to “de-throttle a little bit.”
That is certainly the case this year, as well, but it is likely to extend well into October as well. While “Tron: Ares” and “Mortal Kombat II” are expected to draw in audiences during that month, box office analysts don’t expect a major breakout hit until late November.
“The post-summer corridor is looking a bit bereft of standout blockbusters,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “We’ll have to rely on the cumulative success of some low to mid-range performers along with what looks to be a really nice selection of awards caliber and indie films. That said, we may want to brace ourselves for a few fallow weeks at the box office.”
AMC’s Aron noted that the upcoming third-quarter box office will be “so-so given some seasonal, but not alarming softness,” but told investors to “hold onto your hats for the size of the box office in the fourth quarter.”
The turning point is expected to come Nov. 21 with the release of Universal’s “Wicked: For Good.” The highly anticipated sequel to last year’s hit “Wicked” is expected to open to over $100 million and steadily collect ticket sales through the rest of the year at the box office.
“Zootopia 2” arrives for the Thanksgiving holiday and is also expected to exceed $100 million during its opening frame.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” will cap off the year and is expected to bolster the box office during the first few weeks of 2026.
“The final months of the year have potential to be nothing short of stellar,” Robbins said.
Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal, Fandango and CNBC.
Business
Greggs to reveal trading amid pressure from cost of living and weight loss drugs
Greggs is to shed light on demand from customers as the high street bakery chain contends with the rise of weight loss treatments and cost of living pressures on shoppers.
The high street chain is also wrestling with other factors including increases to labour costs and tax changes.
As a result, on Tuesday March 3, Greggs is expected to reveal pre-tax profits of around £173 million for the year to December 27, representing a 9% drop.
In its previous update shortly after Christmas, Greggs pointed to a strong finish to 2025 as sales growth accelerated in the final quarter of the year.
Like-for-like sales growth rose from 1.5% in the third quarter to 2.9% in the final months of 2025.
Totals sales were up 7.4% in the final quarter amid a boost from the group’s continued store opening programme.
The company opened 121 stores last year.
However, analysts at Deutsche Bank said expectations “have already been set low” for 2026 and are “unlikely to change”.
In January, Greggs said it was “cautious but hopeful” about its outlook for 2026, highlighting “subdued” consumer confidence.
Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, also warned alongside its previous update that there was “no doubt” appetite-suppressing medication is having an impact on the bakery chain’s business.
It may provide more detail on how this continues to change customer eating habits.
Meanwhile, the group also announced that inflation was likely to be shallower than last year.
The group increased the price on a number of products and deals last year, so shareholders will also be keen to see how these changes have continued to impact trading.
Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Investors are keen to hear how 2026 is shaping up in the early months.
“While the picture on the cost front is beginning to look more favourable, Greggs has plenty of other challenges still to wrestle with.
“Unhelpful changes to tax rules and minimum wages, slowing UK economic growth, and cost-conscious consumers are all weighing on the outlook.”
Business
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Confirmed Martyred in US, Israeli Strikes – SUCH TV
Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, attained martyrdom in a cowardly Israeli-American aggression on Saturday.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was also martyred in the Saturday aggression, alongside many top-ranking military commanders and defense officials.
Major General Mousavi succeeded Major General Mohammad Bagheri following the 12-day war in June last year and carried forward the remarkable legacy of his predecessor.
He played a particularly vital role in the June 2025 war, leading the Iranian armed forces in their retaliatory operations that forced the Israeli regime to beg for surrender.
Mousavi previously served as the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and played an instrumental role in bolstering the might of the army.
On August 21, 2017, he was promoted from Brigadier General to Major General and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army by the Leader, replacing Seyed Ataollah Salehi.
Later, on May 28, 2019, Ayatollah Khamenei appointed him as the commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, while he continued to serve as the army’s top commander.
Mousavi was born in 1960 in the holy city of Qom in central Iran. He was a graduate of the Army’s Ground Forces Officers’ University and held a doctorate in defense studies from the Supreme National Defense University. He joined the Iranian army in 1979.
During the years of the Imposed War in the 1980s, Major General Mousavi served in the Army’s artillery unit on various fronts, including the western battlefields in Kurdistan (28th Kurdistan Division) and the southwestern fronts (33rd Artillery Group of the Ground Forces) in Khuzestan province.
He participated in many operations such as Valfajr 4, Valfajr 9, Beit al-Moqaddas 5, Qader, Nasr, and several others. He is recognized as a veteran of the war.
After the Imposed War ended in 1997, he completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course (DAFOS) and later earned a doctoral degree in defense management at the Supreme National Defense University.
From 1999 to 2005, he served as the Chief of Joint Staff of the Army, and from 2008 to 2016, he was Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Following that, from 2016 to 2017, he held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Mousavi held several significant leadership positions within Iran’s military. From 1999 to 2005, he served as the Chief of Joint Staff of the Army, later assuming the role of Deputy Commander-in-Chief from 2008 to 2016.
In 2016, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, a position he held until 2017, when he was named Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, a role he held until today.
Additionally, since May 2019, served as the Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, further solidifying his central role in the country’s military strategy and operations.
Major General Mousavi also served as the Commander of Imam Ali (PBUH) Officers’ University, where he contributed to the training and development of military personnel.
He also led the Army’s Northeast Operational Base, overseeing strategic operations in the region.
In addition, he was the Deputy for Training and the Deputy for Planning and Programs within the Army Ground Forces, playing a key role in shaping military preparedness and strategy.
Mousavi’s expertise in operations led to his appointment as the Head of Operations for the Army, and later, he became the Director of the Army Strategic Studies Center, where he engaged in high-level research and policy development.
Business
Yorkshire Cat Rescue sees rise in abandoned cats as costs increase
Yorkshire Cat Rescue in Haworth says it paid £282,000 in vet bills in 2025 and rescued 925 animals.
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