After the phenomenon of ‘Barbenheimer’ in 2023, no one would have imagined that Hollywood would have such a hard time repeating the same success. The public seemed to be very committed to the traditional cinematic experience with box office results that helped to regain hope after the losses caused by the pandemic. However, the reality could not be more different a year later with figures that lead more than one to wonder if the end of the classic American summer blockbuster has come.
For example, by the end of July last year, the six highest-grossing films of 2023 had already been released: Barbie, Super Mario Bros.: The Movie, Oppenheimer, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast and Furious X and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, with results ranging from $1.445 billion to $690 million. However, just as we approach the halfway point of the current year, only two productions come close to these data, and downwards: Inside Out 2 with $835 million raised at the time of writing this article and Dune: Part 2 ($710 million).
At the moment, no film has managed to get close to the billion mark as has been happening every year since the reopening of cinemas after the pandemic: Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 ($1,912 million), Avatar: The Way of Water ($2.32 billion)Top Gun: Maverick ($1,496 million) and Jurassic World: Dominio ($1,003 million) in 2022. And, of course, Barbie ($1,445 million) and Super Mario Bros: The Movie ($1.361 billion) last year.
However, There are reasons for the industry and traditional film lovers to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Because although the economic disappointments that Argylle, Furious, Madame Web, Dangerous profession, IF either Ghostbusters: Ghost Apocalypse resonated strongly, we should not underestimate what has been achieved by franchises such as Godzilla and Kong: The New Empire, Garfield, Bad Boys: Until Death and Planet of the Apes: New Kingdom. In some cases, they have even surpassed their predecessors in box office receipts or come close to doing so, demonstrating that the power of some brands remains intact.
Although the main reason to give a vote of confidence to the future of the market is found in the calendar. Because unlike in recent years where the most commercially successful was released in the middle of the year, in 2024 it would be different.
A powerful second half of the year
The month of July will begin with a saga that always sweeps as Despicable Me 4followed by Tornadoes, the sequel to the 1996 hit that will bring the popular disaster movie back to theaters. And with none other than a current hotshot like Glen Powell. While the month will close in style with the film that could take the chestnuts out of the fire for the world of cinema: Deadpool & Wolverine. Not only is this the third film of Marvel’s foul-mouthed antihero, but it’s also the long-awaited reunion of the character with the mutant Hugh Jackman 15 years later (and many rumors involved).
Among dozens of other premieres, where there will be stories for all tastes, another saga will also return with Alien: Romulus (August), the remake of The Raven (August), the long-awaited Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (September) with the same actors and Tim Burton in command. The action comedy Wolfs (September) with George Clooney and Brad Pittas well as the acclaimed horror film The substance that could lead to Demi Moore until the Oscar.
And to put the cherry on top of the last quarter awaits us Joker 2: Folie À Deux (October), the sequel to the highly successful Smile (October), the third Venom film with Tom Hardy after destroying the previous ones (October), the reunion of Tom Hanks and Robin Wright with the director Robert Zemeckis 30 years after Forrest Gump in Here (November). Not forgetting the long-awaited musical Wicked (November) with Ariana Grande and Moana 2 (November).
While the year will close strongly thanks to a superhero adaptation that has been generating excitement like Kraven the hunter with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Mufasa: The Lion King to conquer the box office at Christmas and Nosferatu to close the calendar.
So should Hollywood continue to fear the worst? I don’t think so.
We could question whether streaming is capturing the public’s attention more than ever to explain the results of the first half of the year. Whether it is a problem related to the local economy and the increase in the family basket that makes cinema a luxury expense for many families. But, perhaps, I wonder if Hollywood does not have some responsibility by releasing an oversupply of blockbusters that exceeds the demand available in a market competing with the comfort of home viewing. Although it could also be a combination of all these factors.
The calendar confirms that Hollywood will continue to push hard to attract mass audiences. There will be plenty of options. Even in 2025 with Marvel warming up its engines with Captain America: Brave New World (February), Thunderbolts (May) and The Fantastic Four (July), along with the return of Bridget Jones (February), Mission Impossible 8 (May), the spin off of John Wick with Ana de Armas (Ballerina, June), Jurassic World 4 (July) and Superman (July), while Disney jumps into the void (with the debate that apparently awaits it) with the live-action version of Snow White (March), Pixar premieres Elio (June) and How to train your dragon dares the adventure of live action with the adaptation of the first film (June).
In turn, Warner Bros. will venture into the universe of Minecraft in March and Mel Gibson hopes to repeat the feat of Passion of Christ squeezing religious fervour with the sequel that, supposedly, could see the light during Holy Week.
Without forgetting the Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski (June) which, according to rumors, could be one of the most expensive in the history of cinema with an estimated budget of $300 million (The Telegraph).
In short, the world of cinema will not have started on the right foot so far in 2024 with lower results than in previous years, but that does not mean that we should give up on it. It is better to be optimistic that there is still much to see and discover. The industry is cooking up great releases ahead and can still make a splash.
This article was written exclusively for Yahoo en Español by Cine54.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE | IN VIDEO
Hugh Jackman impulsively accepted his role in Deadpool and Wolverine
The unusual legend that haunts ‘The Wizard of Oz’: did it actually show a suicide?
The movie that made Tom Cruise go viral in the worst possible way
The little gem about love and maturity nominated for an Oscar that does not deserve to be undervalued
