Looking back to the final box office weekend of 2023, it’s clear that originality won the day. With only one sequel and two franchise titles (Aquaman 2 and the Hunger Games prequel) in the top 10 for the weekend, and dull performances from both, it was a weekend where fresh, new stories helped save the day. Brandon Blake, our entertainment lawyer from Blake & Wang P.A., celebrates the films that helped us cross the coveted $9B mark in the closing moments of the year.
Originality as a Drawcard
When we were discussing the December box office, few saw the potential for Wonka, then in its third week, to vastly outperform the shiny new release of Aquaman 2. However, taking $24M over the three days, it managed to stand strong in the number 1 position. Yes, $24M for the post-Christmas holiday weekend isn’t the best figure we’ve ever seen, but in a year as unprecedented as 2023, let’s not split hairs. With a budget of $125M to recoup, Wonka is well on the way to passing $200M domestically and $500M globally by the end of its theatrical run, which is more than satisfactory.
In comparison, Aquaman 2 took just $19.5M in its second release week, with a budget of $205M to recoup. The Color Purple did well, with $45M in its first week, despite a more limited release scope than the other popular titles.
The Little Hits That Could
But despite some solid takings from these larger-budget productions, the $9B box office has a lot of thanks to give to two breakout hits. The Boy and the Heron from Studio Ghibli, which we always knew was going to attract some buzz. And the absolutely unexpected success of Godzilla Minus Zero. Without these two unexpected powerhouses continuing to hold as they did, we would not have crossed the finish line with that $9B in the kitty.
December 2023 proved to be a juggernaut of a month for specialized releases, with other small- and medium-sized releases holding well and contributing their bit. All in all, while it may not quite have been the December we predicted, they came together to make it one to remember.
Film and Television 