Hollywood wrapped up the year 2023 with a mix of highs and lows. While the box office saw a boost in ticket sales compared to the previous year, it fell short of pre-pandemic levels by about $2 billion. The New Year's weekend box office lacked any major blockbusters, with a variety of films vying for attention. The musical "Wonka" reclaimed the top spot for the third weekend in a row, earning an estimated $24 million over the weekend and $31.8 million including the Monday holiday. Warner Bros.' "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" struggled in its second weekend, bringing in $19.5 million and a total of $84.7 million so far.
One standout film during the holiday season was "The Color Purple," an adaptation of the 2005 stage musical. The Warner Bros. release debuted on Christmas Day and led all movies with $18 million. It has since grossed $50 million, with audiences giving it an "A" CinemaScore. The film, produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, and Quincy Jones, is expected to perform well during awards season.
Overall, the box office in the US and Canada reached $9 billion for the year, surpassing the previous year by 21%. However, this still falls short of the $11 billion-plus years prior to the pandemic. The industry faced challenges due to production delays caused by actor and writer strikes, leading to the postponement of some highly anticipated films. The strikes may continue to impact the industry in 2024, with several releases already pushed back.
Despite the absence of a true blockbuster during the holiday season, a variety of films managed to attract audiences. "Wonka" appealed to families, while "Migration," "The Boys in the Boat," "Anyone But You," and "The Iron Claw" found success with different demographics. Sony Pictures' "Anyone But You" proved that romantic comedies can still thrive in theaters, while Michael Mann's "Ferrari" faced commercial challenges despite critical acclaim.
The year 2023 demonstrated that when there are films that people want to see, they will come to the theaters. However, the industry will need to adapt to changing audience preferences and hope for another major hit like "Barbie" to reach previous levels of success.