The 2025 summer box office was the worst Hollywood has seen since 1981

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“Survive till ’25,” was the Hollywood mantra, as though the appeal and quality of the product had nothing to do with that survival.

“Is it time for Hollywood to concede that a lot of moviegoers in North America are never coming back? That movie theaters have permanently lost 20 to 25 percent of their customers?” the Times asked.

Yes, but for only one reason — which has nothing to do with the pandemic, streaming, or early releases to the home video market. And that single reason is … appeal.

If streaming and theatrical windows and the pandemic caused the worst summer box office in 44 years, why did the summers of 2022, 2023, and 2024 produce better box office results?

The Times does, in a roundabout way, admit that part of the problem is quality, as in tired franchises that don’t deliver like they once did: Superman, Jurassic Park, all things Marvel, etc.

Let’s face it, though — movies suck today. So far, of all the movies released this year, I can only see myself bothering to watch F1: The Movie, Sinners, and Weapons again. What does that tell you?

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