# Most Discussed Movie Universes Expanding in 2025
The year 2025 has proven to be an exciting time for movie franchises and cinematic universes, with several major entertainment properties continuing their expansion and capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. These interconnected film worlds have become central to how major studios approach filmmaking, creating opportunities for storytelling that spans multiple films, television shows, and other media platforms.
## The Marvel Cinematic Universe Continues Its Reign
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began in 2008, remains one of the most dominant forces in entertainment. The MCU has established itself as a powerhouse that shows no signs of slowing down, with planned films extending through 2029. This means that Marvel Studios has committed to nearly a decade of interconnected storytelling that will continue to build upon the foundation laid by previous films and shows.
The franchise’s most significant achievement came with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which became a cultural phenomenon and demonstrated the power of interconnected storytelling. Even years later, this film remains a benchmark for what cinematic universes can achieve when they successfully bring together multiple character arcs and storylines into a cohesive narrative experience.
The MCU’s approach to expansion involves carefully planning how different characters and storylines will intersect, creating a complex web of narratives that keep audiences engaged and invested in the overall universe. This strategy has proven remarkably effective, as fans continue to speculate about future crossovers and character appearances.
## Disney’s Live-Action Adaptations and Expanded Universe Strategy
Disney has made significant strides in 2025 with its live-action film adaptations, particularly with the success of Lilo and Stitch, which became the highest-grossing Hollywood film at the global box office for the calendar year. This achievement demonstrates Disney’s ability to leverage its beloved animated properties and reimagine them for contemporary audiences.
The success of Lilo and Stitch extended far beyond the theatrical experience. The film earned 14.3 million views during its first five days on Disney Plus, making it the second-biggest Disney live-action premiere on the platform ever. This cross-platform success shows how modern cinematic universes operate across multiple touchpoints, creating a unified entertainment experience.
The merchandise and retail success of Stitch has been particularly noteworthy, with retail sales of consumer products merchandise for the character, including sales by Disney’s licensees, eclipsing 4 billion dollars in fiscal 2025. This demonstrates how successful cinematic universes generate revenue streams that extend well beyond box office earnings, creating a comprehensive entertainment ecosystem.
## Star Wars Returns to Theaters
The Star Wars franchise is preparing for a significant theatrical return in 2026 with The Mandalorian and Grogu, a standalone film that will bring the Star Wars universe back to theaters for the first time since J.J. Abrams’ The Rise of Skywalker. This represents an important moment for the franchise, as it signals Disney and Lucasfilm’s commitment to continuing Star Wars storytelling on the big screen.
Pedro Pascal will reprise his iconic role as Din Djarin, the main character from the popular Disney Plus series The Mandalorian. The film will also feature Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, the son of Jabba, and Sigourney Weaver in an undisclosed role. This casting demonstrates how cinematic universes now seamlessly blend characters and storylines from streaming platforms with theatrical releases.
## The Expansion of Horror Franchises
Horror franchises continue to be important players in the cinematic universe landscape. The Insidious franchise, which began in 2010, has garnered a collective 750 million dollars in box office revenue worldwide. The series has developed a cult-like following, with audiences returning repeatedly to experience the otherworldly beings that seek to terrorize the world of the living.
The most recent installment, Insidious: The Red Door from 2023, scored 189 million dollars worldwide at the box office, proving that horror franchises can maintain audience interest across multiple films. The franchise’s ability to evolve while maintaining its core identity has made it a reliable performer for studios looking to expand their horror universes.
Additionally, a sequel to Violent Night is in development, with Stranger Things star David Harbour returning as Mr. Claus. The first film grossed over 70 million dollars at the global box office and received positive critical reception. This demonstrates how even unexpected franchises can generate enough audience interest to warrant expansion and continuation.
## The Role of Streaming in Cinematic Universe Expansion
One of the most significant changes in how cinematic universes operate in 2025 is the integration of streaming platforms into the overall strategy. Disney Plus has become a crucial component of how Disney expands its franchises, with shows like High Potential becoming the number one original broadcast series across all platforms for the second season in a row among adults aged 18 to 49.
The success of shows like Alien: Earth on Disney Plus and Hulu, which became FX’s biggest premiere ever on the platform, shows how streaming services are now integral to cinematic universe expansion. These platforms allow studios to develop characters and storylines that can eventually cross over into theatrical releases, creating a more interconnected entertainment experience.
## The Global Reach of Modern Cinematic Universes
The expansion of cinematic universes in 2025 reflects a truly global approach to entertainment. Korean content like Tempest has found success on Disney Plus, demonstrating how cinematic universes are no longer limited to American-produced content. This globalization of cinematic universes means that audiences worldwide can engage with diverse storytelling traditions within interconnected narrative frameworks.
The success of these various franchises and universes in 2025 shows that audiences continue to crave interconnected storytelling experiences that span multiple films, television shows, and other media platforms. Studios have recognized this demand and are investing heavily in expanding their cinematic universes, with plans for new theme parks, cruise ships, and other experiences that extend these universes beyond traditional film and television.
The year 2025 represents a maturation of the cinematic universe model, where studios have learned how to effectively manage multiple storylines, characters, and platforms to create cohesive entertainment experiences. As these universes continue to expand through 2026 and beyond, audiences can expect increasingly sophisticated approaches to interconnected storytelling that blur the lines between different media formats and create truly immersive entertainment worlds.
