The year concluded on a high note for the film industry as “Wonka,” a whimsical musical fantasy headlined by Timothée Chalamet as a youthful Willy Wonka, claimed the top spot at the box office on New Year’s Eve. Grossing $22.7 million over the weekend and an estimated $29.5 million over the four-day holiday stretch, the movie’s domestic earnings soared to $140.2 million, a robust accomplishment considering its $125 million production budget. Globally, the Warner Bros. release has amassed approximately $400 million.
In a contrasting tale, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” continued to struggle, yielding $18.3 million over the weekend and $23.5 million during the four-day period. This placed it in second position but brought its domestic revenue to a less-than-expected $81.8 million. While the international market provided some relief with a global collection exceeding $250 million, the film’s expensive production costs—exceeding $200 million alongside hefty marketing expenses—present a challenge to break even. The sequel’s underperformance marks the end of Warner Bros.’ efforts to replicate Marvel’s success with the DC Extended Universe, prompting a reboot in the company’s approach to superhero films under the guidance of newly appointed heads James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Universal and Illumination’s “Migration” secured third place, earning $17 million over the weekend and an estimated $22 million across the extended holiday, amounting to a domestic total of $59.1 million. Although it falls short of the blockbuster status achieved by previous Illumination releases like “Sing” and “Despicable Me,” its modest production budget of approximately $70 million sets a hopeful trajectory for continued post-holiday momentum.
“The Color Purple” from Warner Bros. clinched the fourth spot, raking in $11.7 million over the weekend and an anticipated $14.8 million during the holiday stretch, contributing to a cumulative domestic earning of $47.1 million. With critical acclaim in its corner, the film eyes a strong presence in the upcoming awards season. Conversely, “Anyone But You,” a Sony Pictures romantic comedy featuring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, struggled to gain traction despite a budget-friendly production cost of $25 million. The movie garnered $8.7 million during the weekend and is projected to reach $11 million for the holiday period, resulting in a lackluster domestic total of $27.1 million.
Overall, the domestic box office for 2023 surpassed $9 billion, marking an improvement from 2022’s total ticket sales of $7.4 billion. However, this figure still falls short of the pre-COVID revenue of $11.4 billion from 2019. While the industry continues its recovery from the pandemic, it remains on the path to regaining pre-pandemic momentum.
