NEW YORK. Hollywood’s rollercoaster year of 2023 concluded with “Wonka” reclaiming the No. 1 position at the box office, accompanied by robust sales for “The Color Purple,” contributing to a total of $9 billion in ticket sales. While surpassing 2022 figures, the industry still fell short by about $2 billion compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The New Year’s weekend lacked a single blockbuster, unlike the previous year when “Avatar: The Way of Water” dominated theaters. Instead, a diverse range of films, including “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “The Boys in the Boat,” “Migration,” “Ferrari,” “The Iron Claw,” and “Anyone But You,” vied for attention in this lucrative box office period.
“Wonka,” directed by Paul King and starring Timothée Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka, remained the top choice. In its third weekend, the Warner Bros. release earned an estimated $24 million from Friday through Sunday and $31.8 million, including estimates for the Monday holiday, bringing its domestic total to $142.5 million.
Despite Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” trailing in second place with $19.5 million in its second weekend, the DC superhero film struggled to match its predecessor’s success. The original “Aquaman” grossed $215.4 million over a similar period in 2018, more than double that of the sequel. Internationally, the sequel added $50.5 million.
Sales during the Christmas to New Year’s period, treated as Saturday every day due to school breaks and work holidays, showcased the success of various releases. Blitz Bazawule’s “The Color Purple,” an adaptation of the 2005 stage musical, debuted on Monday, leading Christmas sales with $18 million and reaching $50 million by the end of the week.
Jeffrey Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ distribution chief, emphasized the strategic release timing, stating, “The excitement of awards season could really help ignite a bigger box office.” The film, with producers Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, and Quincy Jones, is nominated for multiple Golden Globes and expected to contend at the Oscars.
Although 2023 marked the first time since the pandemic that the industry surpassed $9 billion in U.S. and Canadian theaters, the total still fell short of pre-pandemic levels. The impact of strikes and delayed productions, notably “Dune: Part Two,” influenced the uneven year. As Hollywood faces challenges in 2024, with postponed releases and changing audience preferences, the industry remains optimistic about regaining its pre-pandemic strength.
“It’s an $11 billion business. We’re climbing our way back,” said Goldstein. “This next year is going to be a big challenge because of the strikes. But we’re seeing very clearly in 2023, when there are movies out there that people want to see, they come.”
The final weekend of the year featured a diverse lineup of films, including successful releases like “Migration,” “The Boys in the Boat,” “Anyone But You,” and “The Iron Claw.” Despite a challenging year, Hollywood’s ability to adapt and deliver a mix of films resonating with audiences has left the industry optimistic about the future.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
- “Wonka,” $24 million.
- “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” $19.5 million.
- “Migration,” $17.2 million.
- “The Color Purple,” $13 million.
- “Anyone But You,” $9 million.
- “The Boys in the Boat,” $8.3 million.
- “The Iron Claw,” $5 million.
- “Ferrari,” $4.1 million.
- “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” $2.9 million.
- “The Boy and the Heron,” $2.5 million.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
