Posted on 12/21/2017 10:36:09 AM PST by EdnaMode
The final number for the 2017 North American box office haul will decline by at least 2% from last year’s record-setting $11.38 billion — even with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” being a blockbuster.
As of Dec. 19, the domestic total for the year was $10.35 billion, or 3.1% behind the same time frame a year ago. So the final 12 days of the year would have to generate slightly more than $1 billion to match last year’s total — a highly improbable scenario, according to box office tracker comScore.
“I think the final number for 2017 will come in between $11.1 billion and $11.2 billion,” Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with comScore, told Variety.
That would mean that the final earnings will finish in the same range as 2015’s $11.14 billion — the second-highest year on record. It will be only the third time that the industry has made it to $11 billion. Grosses hit $10.8 billion in 2012 and $10.9 billion in 2013, then slid to $10.4 billion in 2014.
Moviegoing in 2017 was hampered by a slow summer season — the first in more than a decade to fall short of $4 billion — and a disappointing October. Gains in September, when “It” smashed records, and November plus the stellar performance by “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (with $261.1 million in its first five days) have kept prospects alive for a year above $11 billion.
The final 12 days of the year are one of the heaviest moviegoing periods in North America. The last dozen days of 2016 totaled $703.3 million, led by “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” taking in $208 million. In 2015, the final 12 days totaled $814.1 million as “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” dominated with $464 million.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” will probably fall between those two movies with around $300 million for the last 12 days of 2012. The tentpole, which took in $278.8 million in its first six days, won’t have to go it alone. Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is off to a solid start with $7.2 million on its opening day at 3,765 North American sites on Wednesday. The first numbers point to a six-day gross between $45 million and $55 million range for the six-day period that runs through Christmas Day.
Fox’s Hugh Jackman musical-drama “The Greatest Showman” showed a first-day number Wednesday of $2.5 million at 3,005 locations — which would probably leave “Showman” with a six-day total of about $20 million, in line with recent forecasts.
Tracking for Universal’s comedy “Pitch Perfect 3,” which opens on Dec. 22, has been projected for a four-day opening in the $27 million to $29 million range at 3,400 North American theaters. Paramount is launching “Downsizing” on Dec. 22 at about 2,600 North American locations with box office expectations in the $10 million to $12 million range during the Friday-Monday period. Warner Bros. is also releasing “Father Figures” on Dec. 22 at about 2,800 venues as part of its output deal with Alcon with forecasts for the Friday-Monday period of about $10 million.
Sony will launch the year’s final wide release on Christmas Day with “All the Money in the World” at about 2,000 sites. Director Ridley Scott managed to revamp the thriller in six weeks, completely cutting Kevin Spacey from the film following sexual harassment and assault allegations against the actor. Christopher Plummer replaced Spacey in the role of J. Paul Getty and has already been nominated for a Golden Globe.
Yep, most of the time, when an industry usually admits there is a problem, it’s already worse than what they are willing to let on.
Last year was record-setting, but they’re upset that this year is down 2%? really?
Simple answer to this.
Make Better Movies.
There. Problem solved.
Starwars fans hate the last Jedi. It’s headed for sub 50% fan ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
The top 10 movies earn a huge % of the profits, and most of them have huge budgets. A lot of films are losing money.
It will be interesting to see how much it drops this weekend.
An Inconvenient Sequel, The Most Hated Woman In America, Mother, Okja, Beauty and the LJBTCSBeast, Star Wars The SJW Strikes Back... When you compete with SNL and CNN for the preachiest most unwatchable topics, you need to charge the same as them.
Hollywood and the NFL. . .two icons America would be better off without.
I’m surprised theaters are still in business. Who wants to spend outrageous prices to sit in a sticky seat surrounded by stinky strangers who talk throughout the movie? It’s so much easier and less expensive to watch it at home in your comfy chair with your own inexpensive snacks and a pause button so you can use your own potty.
It’s a give-up when people are looking for any excuse to get out of the house.
I’m surprised its only 2%
I don't think I've used a "potty" in 50 years.
Who in their right mind (key word is right) will pay today’s movie prices and go in the theatre to have what you believe insulted through out the movie.
As you noted our “beat me again” down trodden maschocists, can get insulted and beatings for free on the nets’ nightly Hate Trump and his Deploreable shows.
Horror movies did huge business this year. Otherwise it would have been much worse.
Somethings to put it in perspective.
1-Ticket prices are up.
2-The economy has perked up. More people w/ money.
(and yet they aren’t spending it at the theater.)
Let’s see what happens next year, when more people have even more disposable income from the tax cuts.
Stop selling popcorn for $10 a bag.
We used to go to movies and lose ourselves in the story . . . lose awareness of our surroundings.
Now, I’m so offended by the feminist cliches . . . women have to boss the men . . . men have to be put in their place . . . women are stronger than men . . . Christians are evil and sex is primary . . .
I never “enter” the story now days.
The last movie I watched in a theater was “Elizabeth” (2007) with Cate Blanchett.
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