MMFF 2025: A clear box-office winner emerges

The 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival is proving once again that Filipino audiences continue to show up for stories that resonate—whether through emotion, spectacle, or bold storytelling. As cinemas wrapped up the crucial holiday stretch, early box-office figures reveal not only a clear frontrunner, but also the widening gap between crowd favorites and quieter festival entries.

Leading the race by a commanding margin is Call Me Mother, which has emerged as the undeniable commercial juggernaut of this year’s MMFF. Its strong word of mouth, repeat viewings, and emotional pull have translated into numbers that dwarf the rest of the lineup. The film’s performance underscores how stories anchored in family, identity, and heartfelt drama continue to strike a chord with local moviegoers, especially during the holiday season when shared viewing becomes part of the celebration.

Trailing far behind but firmly holding second place is Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, proving that horror remains a reliable MMFF staple. While its earnings are significantly lower than the top grosser, its placement reaffirms the genre’s enduring appeal, particularly among younger audiences seeking thrills amid the festive slate.

The middle of the rankings paints a more competitive picture. Titles like Bar Boys: After School and UnMarry are locked in a close race, suggesting a divided audience drawn to both socially grounded narratives and relationship-driven dramas. Their near-identical grosses reflect how festivalgoers are spreading their attention across multiple films rather than rallying behind just one alternative hit.

Meanwhile, Love You So Bad and I’m Perfect occupy a modest yet respectable space, buoyed by niche followings and advocacy-driven conversations. These films may not be leading the box office, but their presence in the conversation highlights the MMFF’s role as a platform for diverse voices and stories that go beyond pure commercial ambition.

At the lower end of the list are Manila’s Finest and Rekonek, titles that have struggled to draw large crowds amid stiff competition and limited screening schedules. Still, their inclusion in the festival speaks to MMFF’s continued balancing act—celebrating mainstream appeal while giving space to smaller, more experimental works.

The box-office figures, shared by talent manager and showbiz insider Ogie Diaz through his vlog, offer a snapshot of audience behavior in the first crucial days of the festival run. As history has shown, rankings may still shift in the coming weeks, but the early numbers already tell a story of dominance, genre loyalty, and the ongoing challenge of standing out in a crowded MMFF lineup.

MMFF 2025 Box-Office Results

As reported by Ogie Diaz via his vlog (as of 30 December 2025)

1. Call Me Mother – ₱186.4M

2. Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins – ₱66.5M

3. Bar Boys: After School – ₱25.9M

4. UnMarry – ₱25.6M

5. Love You So Bad – ₱19M

6. I’m Perfect – ₱12.5M

7. Manila’s Finest – ₱10.8M

8. Rekonek – ₱4.9M