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| Avatar: Fire and Ash helped drive Cineplex’s strong December 2025 box office performance, with premium screens seeing especially high demand. |
By Jon Scarr
Cineplex has released its December 2025 box office results, and the final month of the year delivered a strong finish. The company reported $67.0 million in box office revenue, coming in ahead of December 2024 and helping close out Q4 on a solid note.
It also builds directly on the momentum seen in November’s box office report, where strong franchise releases and premium formats helped steady the market heading into the holidays. December felt like that momentum finally paying off.
According to Cineplex, the month’s performance was driven by a mix of major franchise releases, premium screen demand, and strong international and event programming. It was the kind of month that reminds you why people still show up when a movie feels like it’s meant to be seen in a theatre.
December Delivers a Strong Finish
December stood out as the only month in Q4 to beat last year’s box office totals, landing at 103 percent of December 2024’s performance. That bump helped balance out softer results earlier in the quarter and reinforced how much the year-end lineup can matter.
Here’s how the quarter stacked up:
- October: $29.9M (88% of 2024)
- November: $43.8M (90% of 2024)
- December: $67.0M (103% of 2024)
- Q4 Total: $140.7M (95% of 2024)
The jump was driven by blockbuster releases and continued interest in premium screens, which remain a major pull when a big movie lands at the right time.
Avatar, Horror, and Premium Screens Lead the Month
The biggest driver of December’s performance was Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in James Cameron’s franchise. Cineplex noted that roughly 90 percent of the film’s box office came from premium experiences, which says a lot about how people are choosing to watch these bigger releases.
December also started strong with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which delivered the largest opening ever for a horror film released in December. That early momentum helped set the pace for the rest of the month.
Family and animated films also played an important role. Zootopia 2 held its momentum after launching in November, surpassing the original film’s box office performance and giving Cineplex another steady performer through the holidays.
International Films and Event Screenings Make a Statement
One of the more interesting takeaways from Cineplex’s December report was the continued strength of international and event-based programming.
The Hindi-language film Dhurandhar delivered a record-setting performance, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi-language film ever in North America. Cineplex also reported generating more than 30 percent of the film’s North American box office, which shows how important diverse programming has become across Canada.
Cineplex’s event programming had a big moment as well with the Stranger Things series finale, which screened on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The event was sold out at 97 percent of locations showing it, which is the kind of turnout that’s hard to ignore.
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| The Stranger Things series finale drew packed crowds during its Cineplex event screenings, showing how strong demand remains for shared, one-night theatre experiences. |
Looking Back at December and Ahead to 2026
Cineplex President and CEO Ellis Jacob pointed to December as a clear example of how content and premium formats continue to drive attendance, especially when the lineup hits multiple audiences at once.
With 2026 underway, Cineplex is heading into the year with a strong pipeline of new releases and growing demand for immersive premium experiences. Between major franchise films, anime releases, and one-night theatre events, the company is clearly treating variety as a strength.
December really felt like one of those months that reminds you why going to the movies still works when the right film hits. Something like Avatar almost demands a big screen. It’s the kind of movie you don’t want to watch at home if you can help it. At the same time, movies like Zootopia 2 keep things rolling after opening weekend, giving people an easy reason to head back out with family or friends.
What stood out most was how different the vibe feels when there’s something for everyone playing at once. You’ve got the big franchise crowd lining up, families making a night of it, and those event-style screenings where the whole theatre feels locked in together. It’s a totally different energy than a slow week where nothing really lands.
If December is any sign of what’s coming, 2026 could be a really solid year for theatres. When movies are clearly made to be seen on a big screen, people still show up for that experience.
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