Despite a $2B-$3B shortfall in the post-COVID annual domestic box office, 2024 is projected to reach approximately $8.72B, reflecting a 3% decline from 2023’s $9B, according to calculations from Comscore and Deadline.

Initially, many anticipated that 2024 would conclude with only $8 billion, so exceeding that by $720M in a year significantly impacted by strike aftermath is commendable. The first quarter saw fewer major releases, and notably, there was no Marvel Studios film to kick off the summer in early May; that didn’t happen until late July with “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which achieved the highest opening of the year at $211.4M.

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Before the first weekend in May, the domestic box office was trailing 20% behind the 2023 total. As of yesterday, the U.S./Canada box office for 2024 was only 3% behind 2023, indicating significant recovery. This rebound highlights the importance of quality content, as the more prominent films released from summer onward have been crucial in attracting audiences back to theaters.

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The number of films opening with $20M or more in 2024 decreased from 40 in 2023 to 34. However, the number of titles achieving $100M+ openings remained consistent at five: “Inside Out 2” ($154.2M), “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211.4M), “Beetlejuice” ($111M), “Wicked” ($112.5M), and “Moana 2” ($139.7M).

The count of films grossing over $100M fell from 24 in 2023 to 22 in 2024. Nevertheless, the number of titles grossing more than $200M (eight titles) and $300M+ (five films) remained stable. According to NATO and Comscore, PG-rated films generated $2.8B at the box office, an increase from $2.1B in 2023.

The domestic market continues to show a divide between successful franchises and original films. While IP-driven blockbusters and original genre films generally perform well, other mid-tier films often struggle. Original projects require targeted marketing strategies, and the industry faces the challenge of re-engaging former frequent moviegoers who have shifted their habits in a post-pandemic, streaming-dominated environment.

Below is a summary of how major studios performed over the past year:

Disney: $2.219B (+17% over 2023) from 30 titles (new and carryovers). This total includes revenue from 20th Century Studios and Searchlight. Disney’s success is attributed to CEO Bob Iger’s strategy of focusing on fewer, high-quality films from established franchises. Disney remains the only major studio to surpass $2B in the post-COVID era and has produced two films grossing over $1B globally this year: “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Top 3 movies: “Inside Out 2” ($652.9M), “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($636.7M), “Moana 2” ($403.9M).

Longest window (to PVOD): “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” (both 67 days).

Shortest window (to PVOD): “The First Omen” (53 days).

$100M+ hopes for 2025: “Captain America: Brave New World” (Feb. 14), “Snow White” (March 21), “Thunderbolts” (May 2), “Elio” (June 13), “Fantastic Four: First Steps” (July 25), “Tron Ares” (Oct. 10), “Predator: Badlands” (Nov. 7), “Zootopia 2” (Nov. 26), and “Avatar: Fire & Ash” (Dec. 19).

Universal Pictures: $1.88B (-3% from 2023) from 31 titles (new and carryovers). Universal has had success with five films grossing over $100M in 2024, including “Wicked: Part One,” which became the third-highest grossing film of the year at $403.98M.

Top 3 movies: “Wicked” ($403.98M), “Despicable Me 4” ($361M), “Twisters” ($267.7M).

Longest window (to PVOD): “Despicable Me 4” (34 days).

Shortest window (to PVOD): Multiple titles at 18 days.

$100M+ hopes for 2025: “How to Train Your Dragon” (June 13), “M3GAN 3.0” (June 27), “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (July 2), “Wicked: For Good” (Nov. 21), and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” (Dec. 5).

Warner Bros: $1.164 billion (-17% from 2023). Despite not having a blockbuster like 2023’s “Barbie,” Warner Bros still crossed the $1 billion mark. The studio’s performance was bolstered by films like “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

Top 3 movies: “Beetlejuice” ($294.1M), “Dune: Part Two” ($282.1M), “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” ($196.3M).

Longest window (to PVOD): “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong” (46 days).

Shortest window (to PVOD): “Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim” (14 days).

$100M+ hopes for 2025: “Companion” (Jan. 31), “Minecraft” (April 4), “Sinners” (April 18), “Superman” (July 11).

Sony: $1 billion, maintaining its performance from 2023 with 28 titles. The studio focused on co-financing to ensure profitability across various projects, including “Garfield” and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”

Top 3 movies: “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” ($193.5M), “It Ends With Us” ($148.5M), “Venom: The Last Dance” ($139.7M).

Longest window (to PVOD): All at 46 days.

Shortest window (to PVOD): “Afraid” (18 days).

$100M+ hopes for 2025: “Karate Kid: Legends” (May 30), “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (July 18).

Paramount: $879.5M (+5% over 2023) from 12 titles. The studio had five No. 1 openings and notable successes with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which outperformed Disney’s “Mufasa” during the Christmas box office.

Top 3 movies: “Gladiator II” ($164.5M), “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” ($151.4M), “A Quiet Place: Day One” ($138.9M).

Longest window (to PVOD): “Mean Girls” (39 days).

Shortest window (to PVOD): All at 32 days.

$100M+ hopes for 2025: “Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning” (May 23), “Running Man” (Nov. 7), “Spongebob Squarepants” (Dec. 19).

Lionsgate: $252.2M (-57% from 2023) from 22 titles. After a significant surge in 2023, Lionsgate faced challenges this year with none of its films reaching No. 1.

Top 3 movies: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” ($39.9M), “The Strangers: Chapter 1” ($35.2M), “Imaginary” ($28M).

Longest window (to PVOD): “Megalopolis” (56 days).

Shortest window (to PVOD): “Never Let Go” (14 days).

$100M+ hopes for 2025: “Ballerina” (June 6), “Michael” (Oct. 3).

Amazon MGM: $249.7M (-8% from 2023) from 9 titles. The studio is focused on theatrical releases for mass and mid-mass appealing films, although it lacked a $100M-grossing tentpole this year.

Top 3 movies: “Red One” ($96.7M), “The Beekeeper” ($66.2M), “Challengers” ($50.1M).

Potential Breakouts for 2025: “The Accountant 2” (April 25), “Mercy” (Aug. 15).

A24: $201M (+47% from 2023) from 24 titles. A24 achieved over $200M, with a significant portion coming from “Civil War,” which became their second-highest grossing film of all time.

Top 3 movies: “Civil War” ($68.6M), “Heretic” ($26.6M), “We Live in Time” ($24.6M).

Potential Breakouts for 2025: A24 is yet to produce a $100M grossing film, but upcoming titles include “Death of a Unicorn” and “The Smashing Machine.”

Person

Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu, Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, Tom Cruise, Bob Iger, Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, James Mangold, Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, David Ellison, Ana de Armas, Dwayne Johnson, Ben Affleck, Timothee Chalamet, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie

Company Names

Disney, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount, Lionsgate, Amazon MGM, A24

Titles

Wicked, Deadpool & Wolverine, Inside Out 2, Moana 2, Beetlejuice, Dune: Part Two, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Furiosa, Joker: Folie a Deux, Captain America: Brave New World, Snow White, Thunderbolts, Elio, Fantastic Four: First Steps, Tron Ares, Predator: Badlands, Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire & Ash, Nosferatu, A Quiet Place: Day One, Gladiator II, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Strangers: Chapter 1, Imaginary, Red One, The Beekeeper, Challengers, Civil War, We Live in Time, The Iron Claw, Heretic, Death of a Unicorn, Marty Supreme, The Smashing Machine

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