Hollywood’s autumn box office lineup has proven to be a tale of highs and lows, as new releases from Universal and Sony struggled to catch fire overseas while an anime juggernaut continued to shatter records. The sports thriller “Him” and romantic drama “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” both faced outright rejection from international audiences, even as their studios looked to other projects for hope. Meanwhile, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” soared to become the highest-grossing anime film ever, and “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” quietly outperformed expectations in its second weekend.
According to Variety, Universal’s “Him” and Sony’s “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” were released to international markets on September 21, 2025, but neither film made much of an impression. “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell as strangers swept up in an unexpected adventure, managed only $4.5 million from 45 markets. The film’s domestic debut was similarly underwhelming, with just $3.5 million in North America, bringing its worldwide total to $8 million. The movie hasn’t yet opened in major markets such as France, Italy, and South Korea, so there’s still a glimmer of hope for recovery—but as box office analyst David A. Gross told Variety, “The film should do better in foreign markets, but the production cost was high — that’s a big number to recoup.”
Universal’s “Him,” a sports horror thriller produced by Jordan Peele and directed by Justin Tipping, fared even worse overseas, earning only $400,000 from 25 territories. The film did start stronger at home, opening with $13.5 million domestically and raising its global tally to $13.86 million. With a modest $27 million production budget, “Him” might still break even on the strength of its U.S. performance alone. As Gross noted, “Sports themes do not travel well overseas, and the sport in this film — American football — is uniquely American in its popularity. But the picture cost a reasonable $27 million to make, so it can cover its costs on domestic business alone.”
“Him” centers on a young quarterback prospect, played by Tyriq Withers, who is drafted into the NFL and mentored by a legendary player, portrayed by Marlon Wayans. The film explores the chilling sacrifices—both literal and metaphorical—required for success on the field. Yet, despite its intriguing premise, “Him” was met with harsh reviews, sitting at just 28% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of its release. Audience scores weren’t much better, and the tepid reception overseas only compounded the film’s challenges.
Undeterred by the critics, Marlon Wayans took to Instagram on September 19, the film’s opening day, to defend “Him” and encourage moviegoers to make up their own minds. In his post, Wayans wrote, “Just to be clear…I respect critics. Their job is to critique. I respect their work. It shapes our industry. But an opinion does not always mean it’s everyone’s opinion. Some movies are ahead of the curve. Innovation is not always embraced and art is to be interpreted and it’s subjective. I’ve had a career of making classic movies that weren’t critically received and those movies went on to be classics. So don’t take anyone’s opinion just go see for yourself. Love to all. ‘Him’ in theaters now.”
Wayans’s post also included screenshots of other films from his career—such as “White Chicks,” “Scary Movie,” and “A Haunted House”—that were panned by critics but ultimately found commercial success or developed cult followings. His message was clear: critical consensus doesn’t always dictate a film’s fate, and sometimes, audiences need to decide for themselves.
While Universal and Sony wrestled with disappointing returns for their new releases, Sony found solace in the runaway success of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle.” The anime epic, backed by Sony-owned Crunchyroll in North America, the UK, and Brazil, as well as Toho and Aniplex in Japan and other Asian markets, has become a global phenomenon. As of September 21, 2025, “Demon Slayer” had grossed an astonishing $555 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing anime film in history. The film added $36 million from overseas markets where Crunchyroll handled the rollout, bringing its international total to $451 million and domestic earnings to $104 million.
“Infinity Castle” is the first installment in a planned trilogy that follows a young boy’s quest to avenge his family and save his sister, who has been transformed into a demon. The film’s blend of action, emotion, and visual spectacle has captivated audiences around the globe, cementing its status as a box office titan. The success of “Demon Slayer” highlights the growing influence of anime on the international stage and underscores Sony’s strategic investment in the genre.
Meanwhile, Universal’s “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” provided a steady, if less spectacular, bright spot for the studio. In its second weekend of release, the film added $8.3 million from 35 international markets, bringing its overseas total to $27.9 million and domestic gross to $31.6 million. With a global haul of $59.5 million as of September 21, 2025, the movie is outperforming its predecessor, 2022’s “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” at the same point in its theatrical run. Still, neither sequel has managed to reach the heights of the original 2019 “Downton Abbey” cinematic feature, which grossed $194.6 million worldwide.
The mixed fortunes of this year’s releases have reignited debates about what drives international box office success. Sports-themed films, especially those centered on American football, often struggle to resonate outside the U.S. As Gross explained, “Sports themes do not travel well overseas, and the sport in this film — American football — is uniquely American in its popularity.” Conversely, anime and period dramas with established fan bases can transcend cultural boundaries and connect with audiences worldwide.
For Sony, the triumph of “Demon Slayer” offers a valuable lesson in the power of global franchises and the importance of catering to diverse tastes. For Universal, the steady performance of “Downton Abbey” suggests that beloved brands can still draw crowds, even if they don’t always reach blockbuster status. And for filmmakers like Marlon Wayans, the experience of “Him” is a reminder that critical opinion is just one piece of the puzzle—and that sometimes, it’s the audiences who have the final say.
As Hollywood studios look ahead to the rest of 2025, the box office landscape remains as unpredictable as ever. Hits and misses abound, but one thing is certain: the conversation about what makes a film succeed—whether at home or abroad—shows no sign of slowing down.
