The Walt Disney Company has officially become Southeast Asia’s number one Hollywood studio of 2025, wrapping up a blazing box office run this year with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Lilo & Stitch and Captain America: Brave New World leading the charge as the studio’s top-performing releases in the Philippines.
This weekend, fans in the Philippines felt the heat of Avatar: Fire and Ash on the big screen, as the film grossed US $2.4M at the box office.
Globally, The Walt Disney Company has crossed US $5 billion at the box office in 2025 — the first and only studio to hit this milestone this year, and the only one to do it in back-to-back years. It also marks Disney’s third time hitting US $5 billion since 2018; no other studio has reached that figure even once in the same period. Leading the charge was Zootopia 2, which drove this momentum with the highest global debut of 2025, the fourth-largest global opening of all time, and the biggest global launch for any animated film in Disney history.
“Disney’s #1 Hollywood studio position in Southeast Asia is a testament to how our stories truly resonate,” said Rachel Fong, Executive Director and Studio General Manager, The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia. “Our enduring connection with fans in the Philippines is rooted in quality storytelling across our brands and franchises, delivering universally impactful messages—like the power of community in Zootopia 2 and Thunderbolts* or the importance of family in Lilo & Stitch and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. What draws audiences even deeper is how we extend the movie experience beyond the screen, with localised marketing activations and dubbed soundtracks that let fans fully immerse themselves in our stories, wherever they are.”
This weekend, Avatar: Fire and Ash strengthened Disney’s box office leadership, delivering a strong US$2.4M opening.
To engage fans in the Philippines and spotlight Avatar: Fire and Ash as the movie to watch this year, we lit up the town with a series of fiery activities that brought the beloved franchise to life. From iconic out-of-home takeovers and immersive mall installations to striking cinema pop-ups, Filipinos were invited to celebrate the visual spectacle of Avatar as it ushers in new clans and characters. Anchoring every activation were the fiery “A” and Varang, designed to spark intrigue and introduce the bold new elements of the franchise’s third instalment.
Both Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water rank among the top 10 highest-grossing MPA films of all time in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, while in Singapore, each release topped the box office in its respective year (2009 and 2022). Avatar: The Way of Water is also the biggest IMAX box office hit of all time in Indonesia and Thailand.
The third installment in the phenomenally successful Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, opens exclusively in cinemas worldwide on December 19, 2025. James Cameron returns audiences to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with Marine-turned-Na’vi leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and the Sully family. The film features a screenplay by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver, with a story by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Josh Friedman, and Shane Salerno. The cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, David Thewlis, Jemaine Clement, Giovanni Ribisi, Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Brendan Cowell, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Duane Evans Jr., and Kate Winslet.
Catch Avatar: Fire and Ash exclusively in cinemas today. Book your tickets at https://www.disney.ph/movies/avatar-fire-and-ash
