'Call Me Mother' leads early MMFF 2025 box-office race

Although official figures have yet to be released, early box-office patterns from major cinemas across Metro Manila are already revealing a clear hierarchy among the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entries.

Based on audience volume, ticket queues, and information from reliable industry sources, Call Me Mother, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, and UnMarry emerged as the top three performers on the festival’s opening day last Christmas.

From the moment theaters opened on 25 December, Call Me Mother established itself as the day’s clear crowd favorite. Headlined by Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre, with a scene-stealing turn from young actor Lucas Andalio, the film drew consistently long lines across major mall cinemas.

Exhibitors and trade observers noted that the film’s strong appeal to families — a key demographic during the Christmas holiday — made its box-office dominance largely expected.

Trailing at a considerable distance was Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, which secured second place. While its reported earnings were less than a third of the top-grosser’s take, industry insiders still consider the result a solid showing for the horror anthology. Outside the MMFF window, films in the genre typically struggle to post strong opening-day numbers, but the franchise’s brand recognition and holiday foot traffic helped bolster its performance.

Taking third place was UnMarry, starring Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo. Though it opened behind the top two, the film gained momentum as the day progressed, with several cinemas reporting sold-out evening screenings. Industry watchers attributed the surge to positive word of mouth and audience interest in its relationship-driven narrative.

Trade observers believe UnMarry is well-positioned for a post-awards boost, particularly if it earns recognition during the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal, potentially allowing it to challenge the current second-placer in the coming days.

Rounding out the stronger performers, Love You So Bad also landed within the top five on opening day. Led by former Pinoy Big Brother housemates Bianca De Vera, Will Ashley, and Dustin Yu, the film drew a younger, fan-driven audience. Industry watchers expect its ranking to improve as the festival continues, supported by repeat viewings and sustained fan turnout.