Rethinking the Flop: A Year to Celebrate in Film

As cinema enthusiasts look back each December to evaluate the year in film, my thoughts were clear by the close of 2025: it was indeed a banner year. Conventional box office figures, however, told a less favorable story. Pre-pandemic, box offices consistently recorded annual earnings between $10 billion and $11 billion. This time, they're expected to not even hit $9 billion.

"It appears it's the second consecutive year of stagnancy for the industry," declared Michael Sherrill, COO of Alamo Drafthouse, as reported by Variety. Yet, those fixating only on box office statistics might overlook a year teeming with exceptional films. This is one of many reasons to reconsider the significance we assign to box office numbers.

Hidden Treasures on Screen

While not every year produces phenomena like 'Barbenheimer,' which amassed $2.4 billion in 2023, 2025 brought forth numerous noteworthy films. Titles such as '28 Years Later,' 'Blue Moon,' 'Sentimental Value,' and 'Splitsville' presented cinematic brilliance, though most grossed under $11 million globally.

For instance, 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' achieved $598 million at the box office. Still, the film struggled to turn a profit due to escalating production costs, disclosed by The Hollywood Reporter. Another highlight was 'Black Bag,' a sophisticated thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett as espionage-involved spouses entangled in a web of deception. This visually captivating movie kept the suspense alive and featured stellar performances.

Launched in March, 'Black Bag' grossed $44 million, appealing to a predominantly 'adult' audience. However, reports from CinemaUnited and the National Research Group indicate that younger generations, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are crucial in keeping cinema vibrant. Their viewing habits suggest a limit to the reach of adult-centric films in today's market. By comparison, another thriller directed by Soderbergh, 'Out of Sight,' almost doubled those earnings in its 1998 release.

Embracing Quality Over Quantity

Another gem from 2025, 'Sorry, Baby,' stands out as Eva Victor's directorial debut. In this film, Victor portrays a professor coming to terms with a personal trauma involving sexual assault—delivering a performance that was heartfelt, comedic, and affirming. Despite only grossing $3 million, the film succeeded as a small indie project with just a $1.5 million budget and limited theatrical exposure.

Similar in financial performance was 'Splitsville,' a film that provided some of the year's biggest laughs. The lesson? A movie's small earnings or 'flop' label shouldn't deter you. Absent the marketing blitz of blockbusters, these films are still worthy of your attention.

Shifting Paradigms in Cinema

Even this year's highest earners were deemed flops by traditional Hollywood measures. Films like 'Superman,' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' and 'Captain America: Brave New World' made substantial global earnings, yet they didn't reach the towering successes of previous superhero films. The movie 'Thunderbolts' managed $382 million worldwide but was still branded a flop by critics at outlets like Variety and Screen Crush.

In recent years, viewing habits have evolved; more people prefer streaming films from home. U.S. surveys revealed a 22% drop in frequent cinema attendance between 2019 and 2025. Meanwhile, Netflix recorded unparalleled user statistics, while streaming platforms like YouTube and Tubi saw a significant increase in viewership. Clearly, the expectation for films to earn billions is unrealistic now.

Reassessing Financial Focus

The film industry has increasingly scrutinized the costs associated with movie production and marketing compared to box office earnings. This places films like Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners' under harsh criticism, despite its artistic depiction of seldom-seen settings. Earning over $360 million on a $90 million budget, the narrative turned sour as critics overlooked the creative merits and Coogler's innovative rights deal set for the year 2050.

An outdated narrative persists, wherein one judges a film's worth by its opening-weekend performance—a mindset humorously criticized in Nancy Meyers' 'The Holiday' two decades ago. As we reflect on works like 'Sinners' and 'Black Bag,' let's remember that the true value of cinema lies in its capacity to inspire and evoke emotion.

With 2026 upon us, it’s time to let go of financial anxieties and embrace the rich storytelling and artistry that cinema offers.