As of the seventh day of the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (December 31), the Top 4 films at the box office remain unchanged based on the unofficial reports we received: ‘Call Me Mother’, ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins’, ‘UnMarry’, and ‘Bar Boys: After School’.
Overall, MMFF 2025 is enjoying a notably strong first week in cinemas. Unlike some previous festival editions where several entries struggled early on, nearly all eight official films have already surpassed the ₱1 million mark within their first few days of screening.
Leading the pack is ‘Call Me Mother’, the family drama starring Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre. Industry buzz suggests that the film’s gross is now nearing the ₱200 million mark. Produced by Star Cinema, Viva Films, and IdeaFirst Company, the movie continues to screen in more than 200 cinemas nationwide. Its strong performance comes as no surprise, given its positive reviews, highly relatable family-oriented theme, and the undeniable box-office draw of its lead stars.
Holding steady at second place is ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins’. Despite receiving mixed critical feedback, the long-running horror franchise remains a consistent MMFF favorite, particularly among moviegoers who traditionally seek thrills and scares during the Christmas season.
At third place, ‘UnMarry’ continues to gain momentum. The film is now showing in approximately 120 cinemas across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Beyond its awards recognition, its subject matter has resonated strongly with Filipino audiences, bolstered by the mass appeal of Angelica Panganiban.
The movie is currently in a tight box-office race with ‘Bar Boys: After School’, which has also expanded to additional cinemas due to growing audience demand and the loyal following of the original ‘Bar Boys’.
Remaining in fifth place is ‘Love You So Bad’, whose ranking was reinforced by 21 fan-organized block screenings earlier in the week. The film appears to have secured its niche among viewers looking for romantic stories during the holidays.
Climbing to sixth place is ‘I’m Perfect’ from Nathan Studios. Its rise was fueled by strong word of mouth and a historic awards-night victory, where its lead—portrayed by an actor with Down syndrome—won Best Actress. The film also took home Best Picture, marking a significant milestone in Philippine cinema and drawing increased public curiosity toward the work of director Sigrid Andrea Bernardo.
Dropping to seventh place is ‘Manila’s Finest’, which nonetheless remains noteworthy after winning eight awards. The film is produced by MQuest Ventures and Spring Films.
At the bottom of the rankings, in eighth place, is ‘Rekonek’, starring Gerald Anderson, Bela Padilla, and members of the Legaspi family led by Zoren Legaspi and Carmina Villarroel. The film has yet to win any awards, with some viewers reportedly struggling to connect with its narrative.
Check out our photo coverage of the MMFF 2025 Gabi ng Parangal:
With one more week remaining in MMFF 2025, the coming days will determine which films continue to dominate cinemas and which ones begin to exit theaters. As always, titles with sustained demand are expected to remain on the big screen, while others may soon transition to streaming platforms.
