Box Office Blues: In the realm of cinema, November turned out to be a sluggish month, aptly coined “Slow-vember” by industry analysts. The movie theaters’ performance reflected this sentiment, as some of the season’s most anticipated releases failed to generate the expected box office buzz. According to data from research firm Comscore, domestic theaters grossed approximately $553.6 million in November, marking a 12% decline from the previous year and still falling significantly short of the levels seen before the pandemica gap of over $400 million.
Traditionally, Novembers were a reliable revenue source, often raking in close to a billion dollars, buoyed by the extended Thanksgiving weekend. However, the November of 2023 struggled to recapture that magic. The holiday corridor, measured from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after, saw a gross of $173 million, a slight improvement from the previous year but noticeably behind the pre-2020 average of around $270 million.
Key contributors to this disappointment included underwhelming performances from major releases like ‘The Marvels’ and ‘Wish.’ These films, riding on the historical success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney animated films during the Thanksgiving period, failed to meet the high expectations set for them. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, pointed out the unexpected underperformance of these films, stating, “The Marvels and Wish are two films that, based on the impressive historical track record of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney animated films during the Thanksgiving period, were expected to generate much bigger box office than was realized by both films.”
Additionally, the simultaneous release of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” and “Trolls Band Together” may have contributed to a potential audience overlap, particularly among female viewers, within a short time frame.
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The article also underscores external factors affecting the box office, such as the SAG-AFTRA strike, which hindered actors from promoting upcoming movies. Moreover, the much-anticipated sci-fi blockbuster, “Dune: Part Two,” was removed from the November slate and rescheduled for a March 2024 release, further dampening the month’s overall performance.
Despite these challenges, the central theme emerges that no movie reached the “event-level, must-see status for casual moviegoers” that was common in previous holiday seasons, as noted by Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at Box Office Pro.
The pressure is now on the last month of the year, December, to potentially salvage the industry’s overall performance. However, projections suggest a similar slump, given the delay of the “Ghostbusters” sequel to the following year and doubts about whether “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” can match the box office success of its predecessor. The article points out the significance of upcoming films exceeding expectations to inject strong momentum into the industry as it transitions into 2024.
So far in 2023, domestic theaters have grossed $8.26 billion, approaching but still $740 million shy of the anticipated $9 billion plus expected for the full year. The article concludes on a hopeful note, emphasizing the promising lineup of movies in various genres, budgets, and potential awards contenders. The industry anticipates these films to perform at or above expectations, paving the way for a robust start to 2024.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the #1 movie right now 2023?
In 2023, the domestic box office is set to be dominated by some highly anticipated releases. Warner Bros.’ Barbie movie is expected to take the top spot, followed by Universal Pictures’ The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Columbia Pictures’ Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is also expected to make a strong showing. With 38 more releases on the list, it’s shaping up to be an exciting year for moviegoers.
What was the box office flop of 2023?
The Marvels has raked in a whopping $197.9 million at the global box office, while The Flash has surpassed it with a total of $270.6 million. Renfield, on the other hand, has only managed to earn $26.4 million worldwide. Wish has done moderately well with a total of $83.5 million. Fans of D&D can look forward to Honor Among Thieves, while Shazam: Fury of the Gods is also set to hit the big screen soon. Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny are also highly anticipated releases.
Why is devotion flopped?
Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in Navy history, and his wingman Tom Hudner’s relationship is the subject of Devotion’s true story. The movie received mostly positive reviews, but its tragic ending, where Brown dies in combat during the Korean War, may have contributed to its underperformance.
What was the biggest box office flop?
Discover the top 19 biggest box office bombs of all time, ranked for your viewing pleasure. From Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas to John Carter, these films failed to make a splash at the box office. Cutthroat Island, Mortal Engines, Strange World, The 13th Warrior, The Flash, and The Lone Ranger also make the list. Despite their star-studded casts and high production values, these movies just didn’t resonate with audiences. Check out the full list to see if any of your favorite films made the cut.