The holiday box office has taken on a different look and feel this year, with no major blockbuster dominating the marketplace. It appears that the tide is failing to lift all boats as the overall performance of films remains lackluster. Interestingly, Warner Bros.’ new release, Wonka, emerged as the highest-grossing film on Wednesday, earning $8 million at 4,213 theaters. While this may seem like a significant accomplishment, it is worth noting that this figure is only 3% higher than Disney’s 2018 musical, Mary Poppins Returns, at the same point in time. Mary Poppins Returns went on to collect $171.9 million in the United States, indicating that Wonka still has a long way to go.
Traditionally, the Wednesday following Christmas has been a day dominated by record-breaking films. In the past two years, Avatar: The Way of Water and Spider-Man: No Way Home claimed the top spot with impressive earnings of $20.5 million and $20.3 million, respectively. However, the tables have turned this year, with Wonka leading the pack with significantly lower ticket sales. Furthermore, the second-highest-grossing film on Wednesday was Illumination/Universal’s Migration, which earned $6.26 million, followed by Warner Bros./DC’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom with $5.9 million. These figures suggest a noticeable decline in box office revenue compared to previous years.
Aquaman 2 and Comparisons to Other DC Films
Despite a somewhat underwhelming performance, there is some good news for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It is projected to surpass the box office earnings of DC’s previous film, Shazam: Fury of the Gods, which collected $57.6 million. However, when compared to Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, Aquaman 2’s earnings during its first six days align closely with the latter’s figures. The Marvels earned $53.5 million in its initial week and ultimately finished with $84.4 million. These parallels between Aquaman 2 and The Marvels highlight the current state of the box office, where even successful films are struggling to achieve remarkable milestones.
Interestingly, while individual film performances may be lackluster, the overall marketplace has seen an increase in revenue. On Tuesday, December 26, the box office earnings reached an estimated $46.9 million, representing a 24% increase compared to the same day the previous year. Similarly, Wednesday saw $38.3 million in ticket sales, a 19% year-over-year increase. These figures indicate that while the box office is struggling to produce standout hits, there is greater depth in terms of adult-oriented and holdover films. This shift in the market landscape may reflect changing consumer preferences or a lack of truly compelling new releases.
A Challenging New Year Ahead
As the year comes to a close, the prospects for the New Year’s box office appear bleak. The number of wide releases scheduled for the period between January and April has decreased from 44 in 2023 to only 29 in 2024. This decline suggests a lack of confidence or availability in the market, which will likely result in a less enticing movie lineup for audiences. With only a handful of films to look forward to, the New Year’s box office may experience a significant drop in ticket sales and overall revenue.
Impacts on Individual Films
Examining specific films’ performances, Warner Bros.’ The Color Purple, which had a promising start on Christmas Day with $18.15 million, has experienced a steady decline since then. On Wednesday, the film earned $3.9 million, a 45% drop from Tuesday. Although the film has accumulated a running total of $29 million in just three days, it currently lags behind Les Misérables at the same point in its release in 2012. Les Misérables finished its domestic run with $148.8 million, indicating that The Color Purple still has a long way to go to achieve similar success.
As the New Year’s weekend approaches, early industry estimates suggest that Wonka, Aquaman 2, and The Color Purple will each earn approximately $20 million over the four-day period. While these figures may seem impressive, they are relatively modest compared to previous years’ New Year’s box office earnings. The combination of a soft leading film and a limited number of releases sets the stage for a lackluster start to the year.
Other Films in the Mix
Aside from the top performers, other films have also made their mark at the holiday box office. Sony’s Anyone but You earned $2.6 million on Wednesday, showing a small increase of 1% from Tuesday’s earnings. Amazon MGM’s The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney, secured sixth place with $2.46 million. A24’s The Iron Claw earned $1.4 million, and Neon’s Ferrari saw $1.2 million in ticket sales. Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes rounded out the list with $1.1 million. While these films may not be topping the box office charts, they are contributing to the overall revenue and providing choices for audiences during the holiday season.
The current state of the holiday box office reflects a changing landscape in the film industry. With no standout blockbuster dominating the market, ticket sales have been relatively moderate across the board. While overall revenue has increased, individual films are struggling to generate significant earnings. As the New Year approaches, the lack of wide releases and the underperformance of leading films are likely to result in a challenging start for the box office. Only time will tell if audiences can look forward to a resurgence in the industry in the coming months.