In this episode of The Boxoffice Podcast, Daniel Loria, Chad Kennerk, Rebecca Pahle, and Albert Lawrence discuss the year’s biggest stories, trends, and moviegoing moments in theatrical exhibition for 2025. On the Story of the Year, the team discusses the potential sale of Warner Bros. and its implications for the industry at large. Warner Bros. is named Distributor of the Year for an all-time-great-caliber slate, and independent filmmaker is recognized as the Industry Figure of the Year for his defense and promotion of the theatrical experience. The Viral Marketing Campaign of the Year goes to A Minecraft Movie’s Chicken Jockey, and Sony’s Demon Slayer Infinity Castle is singled out as the box office surprise of the year. In this engaging conversation, the hosts discuss the standout performances of 2025, and their favorite movies and movie-going moments of the year.

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What to Listen For

00:00 Intro 

01:00 The Power of Collective Moviegoing

02:15 2025 Industry Recap and Episode Overview

03:10 Story of the Year Warner Bros Sale

06:05 Netflix and Theatrical Windows Shift

07:00 Movie of the Year Debate Minecraft vs Ne Zha 2

09:30 Industry Figure of the Year and Consolidation

12:20 Exhibition Trends Event Cinema and Anime

15:55 Distributor of the Year Warner Bros

20:05 Viral Marketing of the Year Log Truck Campaign

24:00 Viral Moviegoing Moment Chicken Jockey

26:05 Anime Breakout and Demon Slayer Box Office

28:50 Biggest Box Office Disappointments of 2025

33:00 Best Performances of the Year

39:00 Favorite Moviegoing Moments

48:00 Best Needle Drops in Movies

51:30 Top Movies of 2025