“Call Me Mother,” which stars Vice Ganda, Nadine Lustre and child actor Lucas Andalio, led the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) box office race on its opening day on Dec. 25, 2025, in cinemas nationwide, based on revenue estimates from multiple cinema industry sources, including producers and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Sources from producers, theater operators and MMDA-linked monitors reported that the Jun Robles Lana-directed “Call Me Mother” earned an estimated P49 million on its first day of screening.
The same sources said “Call Me Mother” added about P29 million on its second day, which sustained its lead over the seven other MMFF entries.
Industry estimates placed “Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins” in second place with about P20 million in ticket sales on opening day.
“UnMarry,” which stars Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo, ranked third and recorded strong audience turnout, with reports of sold-out evening screenings in several cinemas.
“Bar Boys: After School” placed fourth as cinema operators reported group and barkada moviegoers choosing the Carlo Aquino-led film, which also features Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, Kean Cipriano, Will Ashley and Odette Khan.
In fifth place, according to the same monitoring sources, was the romantic drama “Love You So Bad,” starring Will Ashley, Bianca de Vera and Dustin Yu.
“I’m Perfect,” which features Earl Amaba and Krystel Go, both actors with Down syndrome, ranked sixth in the opening day box office tally.
“Manila’s Finest,” headlined by Piolo Pascual and Enrique Gil, placed seventh among the festival entries based on estimated earnings.
“Rekonek,” which stars Gerald Anderson, members of the Legaspi family, Bela Padilla, Andrea Brillantes and Gloria Diaz, ranked eighth in the early box office race.
Aggregate estimates from producers and MMDA-associated sources placed the combined opening day gross of all eight MMFF entries at about P98 million.
The same estimates indicated that roughly half of the festival’s opening day gross came from ticket sales of “Call Me Mother.”
The MMFF organizing committee and MMDA did not release official box office figures for the opening day as of press time, consistent with the festival’s practice in previous years.
Vice Ganda acknowledged the film’s strong opening in a social media post late on Dec. 25 and thanked audiences who watched the movie in cinemas.
The comedian wrote that the cast and team visited theaters and that the audience support made the star feel overwhelmed with gratitude.
As of the time of reporting, the MMFF jury had not yet announced the winners of the 51st edition’s competition categories.
The 51st MMFF jury is headed by acclaimed screenwriter, director and author Doy del Mundo, whose filmography includes the documentaries “People Media” (1978) and “Lupa” (1982).
Festival organizers held the 51st MMFF Gabi ng Parangal awards night on Dec. 27, 2025, at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
Ahead of the official festival run, MMFF organizers staged an MMFF Golf Tournament, where one participant won a brand-new car from Geely Philippines.
The MMFF committee announced that proceeds from the 51st edition of the festival will support the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, the Optical Media Board and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
