Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Box Office Drivers

The Mojo tells us:

As of Sunday, total domestic box office earnings have surpassed $2 billion in 2014. To date, the box office is up around eight percent from last year.

If that pattern continues, 2014 would come close to being the first $12 billion year. That isn't guaranteed, though: 2014 is lagging behind 2012, 2010 and 2009, none of which even came close to $11 billion.

Two animated hits are leading the way so far this year. The LEGO Movie is number one so far with $236.9 million (as of Sunday), which accounts for nearly 12 percent of year-to-date box office. The movie ranks second all-time among February releases behind The Passion of the Christ, and is on its way to being one of the highest-grossing original animated movies ever.

Frozen is in second place so far with over $133 million. Despite opening in November, the Disney Animation blockbuster has been in the Top 10 on all 11 weekends so far this year. That makes 16 straight, which is the longest streak since Chicago in early 2003. ...

On a worldwide basis, The LEGO Movie leads 2014 releases with $379 million (over 62 percent from the U.S.)*. 300: Rise of An Empire was a fast hit overseas, and ranks second for the year with $238 million. Thanks to huge numbers in China, the Robocop remake is currently in third with $234 million. Mr. Peabody & Sherman ($149 million) and Ride Along ($142 million, most of which is from the U.S.) rank fourth and fifth, respectively.

Domestically, Warner Bros. is the highest-grossing studio in 2014 with $442 million (22 percent). ...

None of the above is surprising information.

Animated features have been the high-profit segment of international box office for some years now. It's been decades since cartoons were a sleepy backwater of the industry, which most conglomerates ignored or scarcely knew existed. Even Warner Bros., which used to be where animated features went to die, has had stupendous success which its latest theatrical offering.

Animation continues to be the part of Movieland that shines.

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