The 2024 Christmas box office saw a flurry of activity, with several films vying for the attention of holiday moviegoers. Disney’s live-action remake, “Mufasa: The Lion King,” roared to the top, earning $14.7 million domestically. This rebounded the film’s performance after a slightly less impressive opening weekend. The prequel, exploring the origins of the iconic Lion King character, capitalized on the holiday spirit and the enduring popularity of the franchise. While not reaching the monumental figures of some of the year’s biggest releases, “Mufasa” solidified its position as a holiday season draw.
Hot on the heels of the lion king was Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated horror film, “Nosferatu.” Debuting on Christmas Day, the R-rated reimagining of the classic vampire tale, starring Bill Skarsgård, Willem Dafoe, and Lily-Rose Depp, amassed an impressive $11.5 million. This opening day performance positioned “Nosferatu” for a potentially record-breaking run for Eggers, showcasing the director’s ability to draw audiences to more niche genre fare. The film’s strong opening suggested a healthy appetite for sophisticated horror during the holiday season, often dominated by more family-friendly offerings.
Continuing the trend of established intellectual properties, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped its way to a $10.3 million Christmas Day gross, bringing its total domestic earnings to $88 million. The continued success of the video game adaptation demonstrated the staying power of the franchise, appealing to both younger audiences and nostalgic adults. While not matching the box office behemoths of the year, “Sonic’s” consistent performance indicated a solid foundation for future installments.
Adding a touch of prestige to the holiday movie landscape, the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet, premiered with a respectable $7.2 million, including preview screenings. This opening, combined with positive buzz surrounding Chalamet’s performance, projected a strong five-day total of $22 million. The film’s release provided a counterpoint to the more mainstream offerings, appealing to audiences seeking a more dramatic and biographical cinematic experience. The choice of Christmas Day for a biopic release suggested a strategy to capitalize on a diverse holiday moviegoing audience.
Holding strong amidst newer releases, the long-running musical adaptation “Wicked” conjured up another $5.4 million on Christmas Day, pushing its overall domestic total close to the $400 million mark. The film’s enduring success demonstrated the broad appeal of the Broadway adaptation, attracting audiences across generations. “Wicked’s” sustained performance throughout the holiday season showcased its strength as a consistent box office draw, even amidst strong competition from new releases.
The 2024 box office performance, while robust with an $8.2 billion gross across numerous releases, still trailed behind the $8.9 billion achieved in 2023. This disparity highlights the ongoing recovery of the film industry post-pandemic, with audiences gradually returning to theaters but not yet reaching pre-2020 levels. The success of films like “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and “Wicked” in 2024, alongside 2023’s hits like “Barbie,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” points to a resurgence driven by franchise films and established intellectual properties. However, the gap between current box office figures and the consistently $11 billion plus earnings pre-pandemic underscores the challenges the industry still faces. While certain films achieved notable success, the overall box office landscape indicates a continued process of rebuilding and adapting to the evolving movie-going habits of audiences in a post-pandemic world. The Christmas Day performance of these films provides a snapshot of this evolving landscape, highlighting the diverse offerings catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and preferences.
