Image: Jonathan Bailey/Instagram
People Magazine鈥檚 Sexiest Man Alive for 2025, Jonathan Bailey, is the highest-grossing box office star of 2025, something most Hollywood stars only dream of and strive for.
The Bridgerton favourite and openly gay actor, who plays charming Prince Fiyero in Wicked: For Good, has been named the highest-grossing box office star of 2025, thanks to a blockbuster year that鈥檚 seen him in the leading cast of two major franchises that have hit theatres this past year.
Wicked: For Good, the second film in the hit musical film series, has reportedly grossed USD $226 million globally on its opening weekend. Additionally, the film brought in USD $147 million at the domestic box office. The film has set a record as the biggest opening weekend ever for a Broadway stage-to-screen adaptation.
The first Wicked film earned US$759 million worldwide, and many expect the fan-favourite sequel to land high up on this year鈥檚 top-ten list as it continues to run in theatres around the world.
Bailey鈥檚 charming and eye-catching performance and personality as Prince Fiyero was only half of his journey to taking over as the year鈥檚 box office celeb.
In July 2025, the British heartthrob also joined the Jurassic World universe as palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which has grossed around US$868 million worldwide. Jurassic World: Rebirth聽ranks fourth, behind Ne Zha 2, the live-action Lilo & Stitch remake, and A Minecraft Movie, as 2025鈥檚 highest-grossing film.
A milestone for the LGBTQ+ community
The actor鈥檚 high box-office moment is a significant moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in the mainstream film industry.
For years, LGBTQ+ actors and Bailey himself have been warned that coming out could cost them leading roles. These pieces of advice were given to him by queer men in the industry. Bailey shared in 2020 with the that he feels pressure to prove himself as 鈥渆xcellent鈥� as a known gay actor in big franchises. Pressure he鈥檚 clearly living up to in 2025.
Adding to his and the LGBTQ+ community鈥檚 wins is the fact that Bailey was named 2025鈥檚 Sexiest Man Alive, marking the first time an openly gay man has taken the title and appeared on the cover. His Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda, cheered him on in an Instagram post calling him 鈥渢he kindest and most beautiful鈥�, and his other co-star, Marissa Bode, who plays Nessarose, commented, 鈥渢hose abs.鈥�
This month, Bailey also appeared on Sesame Street, alongside Elmo, before dancing with long-time queer icons Bert and Ernie in an iconic and joyful cameo that delighted viewers of all ages.
For the LGBTQ+ community, the British actor鈥檚 2025 takeover feels more than just a lucky year. It represents that queer talents can be part of the leading casts in blockbuster franchises, entertain audiences, and be featured on the jaw-dropping covers of magazines.
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