Staff Reports
Hollywood’s box office woes reached a grim milestone in October 2025, with domestic revenue plummeting to just $425 million—the lowest total in 27 years outside of pandemic disruptions. This figure harks back to 1997 levels before inflation, signaling a deep audience disconnect from the industry’s output. High-profile disappointments like “Tron: Ares,” which opened to $33 million but limped to only $73 million domestically, and “The Smashing Machine,” starring Dwayne Johnson, failed to ignite excitement despite massive marketing pushes. Theaters echoed with emptiness as the scarcity of fresh, crowd-pleasing films left moviegoers opting for streaming or staying home.
The slump underscores Hollywood’s self-inflicted wounds from years of prioritizing agenda-driven content over timeless storytelling that families and everyday Americans crave. Big-budget spectacles that once packed houses now flop because they alienate core audiences with heavy-handed messaging and recycled tropes. Studios like Disney and Warner Bros. poured billions into franchises, yet Q4 2025 saw revenues down 7% from the prior year and 30% below 2019 peaks, proving the old formula is broken. President Trump’s America-first energy has thriving sectors elsewhere, but Tinseltown clings to coastal elitism, wondering why heartland ticket sales evaporate.
Small independents like Angel Studios offer a glimmer of hope, racking up over $109 million in 2025 with faith-based, family-oriented hits such as “The King of Kings” at $60 million and “The Senior” nearing $5.3 million. These films resonate by delivering moral clarity, heroism, and relatable values that big studios scorn. Angel’s niche success—1.42% market share—hints at a blueprint for revival: produce wholesome entertainment without lecturing viewers on politics. Hollywood’s gatekeepers dismiss this as “flyover fare,” but it’s precisely what packed pews… er, seats.
Rumor mills buzzed with tales of President Trump jumpstarting “Rush Hour 4” at Paramount or masterminding a comeback, but no such announcements exist—pure fantasy from desperate spinmeisters. Such distractions dodge the real culprits: union strikes, DEI mandates bloating budgets, and executives chasing Oscars over profits. Trump’s reelection and pro-business policies already boost airlines and manufacturing; Hollywood could learn by ditching victimhood narratives for red-blooded adventures that celebrate American grit.
The path forward demands Hollywood repent of its woke excess and return to entertaining the masses who fund the industry. With 2025 on track for under $9 billion domestically, the wake-up call blares louder than ever. Prioritize blockbusters with heart, humor, and heroism—think “Top Gun: Maverick” vibes, not scolds. Under President Trump’s leadership, America prospers; time for filmdom to follow suit or fade into obscurity.
