Hold onto your seats, because the film industry is witnessing a phenomenon that hasn’t been seen since Jim Carrey’s legendary 1994 streak—and it’s all thanks to a name you might not even recognize: Mason Thames. But who is this 18-year-old rising star, and how did he land three consecutive box office number ones in 2025? Let’s dive in.
Imagine blending the essence of a young Jesse Eisenberg with the charm of a pre-prime Jake Gyllenhaal, and you might get a glimpse of Mason Thames. This teen sensation has dominated the box office with three major hits this year. First, he brought the beloved Hiccup to life in the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, a summer blockbuster that captivated audiences. Next, he reprised his role as Finney, the haunted teenager in Black Phone 2, a chilling sequel that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. And finally, he starred alongside Mckenna Grace in Regretting You, a romance that—while technically claiming the top spot in its second weekend—sparked debates about its box office legitimacy. But here’s where it gets controversial: Does Thames truly deserve the hype, or is he just a product of clever casting and timing?
To put Thames’ achievement in perspective, the last actor to pull off three number ones in a single year was Jim Carrey in 1994, with Ace Ventura, The Mask, and Dumb & Dumber. Carrey’s streak continued into 1998, with eight consecutive box office hits. While Thames’ indie road-trip comedies on the horizon won’t likely match that, his current feat is still remarkable—especially considering his films span genres: a kid-friendly fantasy, an R-rated horror, and a classic romance. And this is the part most people miss: How does an 18-year-old navigate such diverse roles while still finding his footing as an actor?
Thames isn’t bad by any means. He’s got the screen presence and emotional range required to land leading roles at such a young age. However, he occasionally falls into the trap many young actors face: the echo of casting directors seeking a ‘young Jake Gyllenhaal type.’ This is most noticeable in How to Train Your Dragon, where his departure from Jay Baruchel’s animated Hiccup feels like a deliberate—yet somewhat jarring—alteration. In Black Phone 2, he leans into his signature role as Finney, a darker iteration of a Stranger Things-esque character. The sequel’s weak script doesn’t do him any favors, but Thames manages to hold his own.
It’s Regretting You that truly tests Thames’ abilities. Adapted from a Colleen Hoover novel, the film is a dual-track romance that jumps between 2007 and the present, featuring a cast that includes Allison Williams, Dave Franco, and Scott Eastwood—all playing teenagers in flashbacks. Thames plays Miller Adams, a dreamy, sensitive teen who romances Clara (Mckenna Grace). While the role gives him more room to experiment, the film’s uneven tone leaves viewers wondering if the actors were miscast or if the movie itself missed the mark. Is Thames a rising star, or just another face in Hollywood’s reluctance to build films around singular personalities?
Thames shines in his flirtatious moments in Regretting You, delivering his most traditionally charming performance of the year. Yet, the character of Miller feels underdeveloped, leaving Thames to play a composite of tropes: the outcast, the artist, the whimsical lover. Some might blame this on the perceived lack of assertiveness in modern leading men, but Thames is genuinely playing close to his age—a refreshing change from twenty-somethings clinging to teenage roles. Still, Regretting You feels like a series of experiments, with Thames and his co-stars asking: Does this work?
In an era where Hollywood hesitates to build films around individual stars—unlike Carrey’s unapologetically personality-driven hits—Thames is being tested in front of millions. His journey raises a thought-provoking question: Is Mason Thames the next big thing, or just a fleeting face in a rapidly changing industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think Thames has what it takes to become a lasting star, or is his success a product of the moment?
