Big Screens, Shrinking Hype? The 2025 Movie Matchup

With the passing of Memorial Day, we have unofficially entered the summer movie season. And with it comes the start of the big summer blockbusters. We wanted to better understand which 2025 releases people were most interested in.

Let’s dive into what we uncovered.

Overall

Interest is spread fairly evenly among top contenders, but with 28% selecting “none of the above,” overall enthusiasm appears limited rather than competitive. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” holds a slight edge with 14% selecting it as their most anticipated film. Close behind are “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (13%) and “Wicked: Part Two” (11%). Meanwhile, 28% say they aren’t looking forward to any of the listed films, signaling either general disinterest, possible interest in a different film, or disinterest overall in the 2025 film slate.

Gender

Looking at gender differences, men were especially drawn to the action-packed “Mission: Impossible” finale, with 19% listing it as their top choice compared to just 9% of women. Women showed more enthusiasm for “Wicked: Part Two,” selected by 14% versus 8% of men. “Jurassic World: Rebirth” maintained near-equal interest among both groups.

Age

Age plays a strong role in shaping movie anticipation. The 65+ group were the most disengaged, with 51% selecting “none of the above” — over three times the rate seen among 18-24 year-olds (14%). On the other end of the spectrum, younger viewers (18-24) favored “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (16%) and showed above-average enthusiasm for “Wicked,” while adults under 45 displayed broader interest across genres.

Income

Income also influenced film preferences. Respondents earning over $100,000 showed the strongest interest in “Mission: Impossible” (20%). Those in the $60,000 to $99,999 bracket leaned toward “Jurassic World” (16%) while maintaining a relatively balanced distribution across other titles. In contrast, disinterest rose significantly among lower-income respondents, reaching 35% among those earning under $20,000.

Ethnicity

Among ethnic groups, “Mission: Impossible” found greater popularity among African American and Asian respondents, both posting higher-than-average interest. “Jurassic World” performed well among Asian and Hispanic/Latino audiences, while Caucasian respondents had the highest proportion selecting “none of the above” (32%). “Avatar: Fire and Ash” was relatively consistent across groups, though slightly more favored by African American and Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Panel

A breakdown of the data by panel highlights how perspectives vary across sources. Panel M showed strong enthusiasm for “Mission: Impossible” (17%) and “Wicked” (12%). In comparison, Panel P stood out with 23% favoring “Avatar: Fire and Ash” — a 17-point difference from Panel A, where interest in “Avatar” was just 6%. Panel A also had the highest disinterest, with 42% selecting “none of the above,” compared to just 13% in Panel P.

These contrasts highlight the importance of strategic sample blending to ensure accurate representation of attitudes among consumers.