Posted on 10/15/2018 5:21:07 PM PDT by EdnaMode
Hollywood rode a powerhouse summer lineup to post double-digit gains in box office and attendance, setting itself up to hit a new full-year record haul in 2018 as long as the holiday season delivers.
According to figures just out from the National Association of Theatre Owners, summer box office totaled $4.398 billion, up more than 14% over the previous year. Admissions hit nearly 483 million, up 12%. Each of the top five grossers in the third quarter qualifies as an upside surprise: Mission: Impossible Fallout; Ant-Man and the Wasp; Crazy Rich Asians; Hotel Transylvania 3; and The Meg.
For the third quarter, which spans July, August and September (with the last of those months featuring It last year but no comparable mega-hit this year), the gains were a bit more modest. Box office in the quarter totaled $2.7 billion, up 6%, with admissions hitting 307 million, up 7%.
Year to date, the average ticket price has been $9.14, NATO said, and $9.11 during the summer.
Total box office for the year through October 14 was at $9.325 billion, up 9% over the off-year levels of 2017, while admissions topped 1 billion, up 6% from last year. Hollywoods high-water mark came in 2016, when it piled up almost $11.4 billion in grosses.
NATO pointed to some encouraging audience trends, noting that the third quarter was the second consecutive period when the share of box office accounted for by 18-to-24-year-olds increased year over year. That demo kicked in 26.4% of total grosses in the quarter, compared with a shade less than 26% in the year-earlier period.
Moviegoers younger than 10 years old and older than 55 also posted significant gains in the quarter. Under-10s, undoubtedly drawn to more family titles in the marketplace, accounted for 5.18% of the box office, up from a shade under 4% a year ago, while the 55-plus demo rose to 6.71% market share from 5.79%.
Original movies are performing at a historically low rate. The only movies based on an original screenplay to make the top 20 so far are A Quiet Place and The Meg. Everything else is sequel, franchise movie, or based on a best selling book.
Superhero Movies YTD: 2018: 2,670.7 2017: 1,537.9
Non Superhero Movies YTD: 2018: 6,648.8 2017: 6,921.6
I had no idea that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization rated movies.
What an alliance!
I saw Christopher Robin and Crazy rich Asians....both twice. That’s it
0 dollars from me.
I’m going to rent Crazy Rich Asians when it comes out on DVD. Looks like a really good movie.
It is a delight
Reminiscent of the old romantic comedies
Zero from me also. I do want to see Crazy Rich Asians because it had a good review from Freepers, but I can wait.
Good to know. :D
Not a penny from me!
Perhaps its just the strong economy and people with more disposable income to waste in the theaters.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.