‘Tis the season for cinema magic! The year-end holiday box office has been set aglow with the vibrant hues of The Color Purple, leaving audiences spellbound and craving for more. This musical adaptation of Alice Walker's beloved novel has burst onto the scene with a bang, earning a dazzling $18.1 million on Christmas Day from a whopping 3,142 theaters. It's the second highest grossing opening ever for a film on Christmas Day, taking the crown as the best since 2009.
With big names like Oprah and Steven Spielberg among its producers, The Color Purple oozes star power. Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Colman Domingo lead the cast in this retelling of the Tony-winning Broadway show, helmed by director Blitz Bazawule. The film has been met with praise, scoring an A CinemaScore and leaving audiences humming its melodious tunes long after the credits roll.
Not to be outshone, The Boys in the Boat took the spotlight alongside The Color Purple. This MGM and Amazon adult drama, directed by the talented Michael Mann, sailed to success on its Christmas Day opening, raking in an impressive $5.7 million from 2,557 locations. Starring Joel Edgerton and Callum Turner, this film also received an A CinemaScore and proved to be a pleasant surprise for moviegoers.
On the other hand, Michael Mann's Ferrari, another Christmas Day release, revved its engines and managed to earn $2.9 million from 2,330 sites, though it landed with a slightly lower B CinemaScore. But let's face it, when The Color Purple is in the mix, it's hard for anything to steal the spotlight!
Although The Color Purple triumphed over James Wan's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in terms of Monday gross, Aquaman 2 emerged as the true hero of the long Christmas weekend. The superhero sequel splashed its way to a four-day opening of $38.3 million from 3,706 theaters domestically. While it may not have broken any records, Aquaman 2 made a mighty splash overseas, amassing a whopping $80.1 million from 72 markets. With a chunk of $30.4 million coming from China alone, it's clear that Aquaman still holds a special place in the hearts of fans around the globe.
However, it seems that even superheroes are not immune to the fatigue theory. Aquaman 2's opening fell short when compared to the disappointing start of The Marvels, a recent box office letdown from rival Marvel Studios. Could it be that audiences are growing weary of the never-ending stream of superhero stories? Only time will tell!
While the year-end holiday box office brought some much-needed cheer to the industry, it's important to note that the overall revenue was a mixed bag. Compared to the same stretch in 2022, the four-day weekend saw an 11 percent increase in revenue. Yet, when compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark of 2019, the numbers were down by a significant 46 percent. It's clear that the industry still has some hurdles to overcome.
Warner Bros. dominated the holiday season, with Aquaman 2, Wonka (another musical), and The Color Purple capturing audience attention. Wonka, featuring the talented Timothée Chalamet, took the runner-up spot on the four-day holiday chart, earning a respectable $28.4 million from 4,213 sites and bringing its domestic total to $85.9 million. This delectable musical is also making a splash overseas, with an impressive haul of $171.3 million, resulting in a global tally of $257.2 million.
The success of Wonka and The Color Purple is a testament to the enduring magic of musicals. They are wowing audiences and proving that this genre is far from being an endangered species. The Color Purple, in particular, deserves a standing ovation for claiming the third spot on the holiday chart, despite playing for just one day. Talk about a show-stopping performance!
The holiday box office charts also saw an animated presence, with Illumination and Universal's Migration swooping in at fourth place, though with the lowest start in Illumination's history. The film's future remains uncertain, with muted business overseas, projected to reach a modest $22 million from 43 markets. Will this tale of animated wonder soar higher in the upcoming weeks? We shall eagerly await the final verdict.
Meanwhile, Columbia/Sony's Anyone But You, an edgy romantic-comedy, embraced fifth place with an estimated $8 million from 3,055 theaters during the four-day period. And A24's The Iron Claw, led by Zac Efron and bringing the drama of wrestling to the big screen, grappled its way to the sixth spot, exceeding expectations with a commendable $6.8 million from 2,774 cinemas. It seems that audiences were divided by gender, with females favoring the romantic-comedy and males turning out for the wrestling drama.
Over on the specialty box office front, Andrew Haigh's captivating All of Us Strangers, distributed by Searchlight Pictures, made waves in four locations in New York and Los Angeles. This awards contender garnered an estimated location average of $36,000 for the four-day period, outshining the competition and claiming the highest spot on the Christmas Weekend chart.
The year-end holiday box office has certainly been a rollercoaster ride, filled with highs and lows. While some films dazzled with their performances, others struggled to find their footing. As the industry continues to navigate the ever-changing landscape, it's clear that audience preferences and market trends can be as unpredictable as a plot twist. All we can hope for is that the next cinematic chapter will be filled with even more entertainment, excitement, and delightful surprises.
