Markus Castro
Call Me Mother Movie leads unofficial MMFF 2025 opening-day box office
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Call Me Mother has emerged as the undisputed box office hit at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025, kicking off the season with a bang. According to early unofficial tallies, Call Me Mother raked in roughly ₱49 million on its opening day (December 25), easily leading the pack and accounting for nearly half of the total box-office haul of the eight-film festival lineup.
What makes this achievement especially exciting is how Call Me Mother seamlessly blends warmth, humor, and emotional depth into a cohesive, emotionally satisfying story. The film doesn’t simply alternate between jokes and heavy moments; instead, it allows these elements to coexist in a way that feels natural and deeply human.
This balance is anchored by standout performances from Vice Ganda and Nadine Lustre, whose chemistry, comedic timing, and nuanced acting give the film its heart and momentum. Their portrayals ground the narrative, making even the most outrageous or humorous scenes feel rooted in real emotion and relatable experience.
The movie’s carefully crafted mix of sharp comedy, generational and family conflicts, and heartfelt drama has clearly resonated with Madlang People, drawing them back to theaters in remarkable numbers. On Christmas Day, many cinemas reported sold-out screenings, with audiences eager to experience the film’s humor and emotional punch together on the big screen.
For many viewers, watching Call Me Mother has become a shared holiday event—one that reinforces the joy of communal moviegoing and the enduring power of Filipino stories to bring people together.
A Big Turnout for MMFF 2025
This year’s MMFF feels like a celebration of community and Filipino storytelling. From the vibrant Parade of Stars to packed screenings nationwide, moviegoers have embraced the festival atmosphere, making long lines and sold-out shows a familiar sight in malls and theaters.
Organizers are hopeful that the festival’s total grosses will at least surpass those of recent years, buoyed by strong turnout and the decision to return to an eight-film slate that allows each entry room to shine.
Other Leading Films in the Race
While Call Me Mother stands firmly at the top, the competition behind it is lively:
- Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins continues the beloved horror franchise’s box-office tradition, landing in second place with a respectable opening performance.
- Unmarry follows closely in third, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth and evening sold-out screenings that hint it could gain further momentum.
- Bar Boys: After School has carved out a fourth-place spot with dedicated audiences, while Love You So Bad and I’mPerfect have also drawn their own loyal crowds. The crime thriller Manila’s Finest and the family drama Rekonek round out the lineup.
What’s particularly heartening about MMFF 2025 is that even films outside the top three are finding their audiences — proof of renewed enthusiasm for a range of genres from romantic drama to gritty thriller. With the MMFF 2025 Gabi ng Parangal (Awards Night) still to come, and with the festival’s run stretching into early January, there’s plenty of time for shifts in both accolades and box-office momentum.
Whether you’re drawn to laughter, chills, or heartfelt storytelling, this year’s MMFF has something for every Filipino movie lover — and Call Me Mother has set the pace with a joyous, crowd-winning start.
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