Hey filmmakers. Welcome to the 246th edition of Going Bionic. First and foremost, I’d like to wish everyone Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, and happy whatever else you’re celebrating this week. I’ll be celebrating Christmas, my sister’s birthday and my seventh wedding anniversary, all before our Year-In-Review edition of Going Bionic next Tuesday, so I’m headed for quite the hectic week.
Today we’re discussing the historically horrific 2014 holiday box office, which is dying a sorry death before New Year’s Day. While the stench of the 2014 holiday box office will turn stomachs in Hollywood for several months into 2015, at least it’ll officially become “history” in nine days. So, without further ado, here’s a peek into this year’s holiday box office.
Historical Holiday Stumble
As of December 8, the domestic box office total was running $463 million, or 4.6% behind 2013. While the weak numbers are largely attributed to the anemic summer box office, this year’s holiday releases don’t offer any box office boost. The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies opened to the lowest numbers of the franchise: $54,724,334 in 3,875 theaters, giving it a $14,122 per screen average. Furthermore, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, the weekend’s second-place finisher, only wrangled $17,100,520 in 3,785 theaters. This gave it a weak $4,518 per screen average, which especially blows for a film with a $127 million budget. Thus, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, is destined to be quickly forgotten by the few people have chosen to pay to see it.
Lack Of Dominant Films During The Holiday Season
One of the most telling facts of this year’s weakened holiday box office is the fact that there have been no larger than life, box office crushing releases during the holiday season. Sure, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies will wind up making a relative killing when all of its box office receipts are counted, but many of those receipts will be collected in 2015.
Annie Could Be An Unexpected Bright Spot
Annie (2014) – However, the $65 million dollar budgeted picture only earned $15,861,939 in 3,116 theaters, giving it a $5,090 per screen average. While these numbers would normally signal failure, Annie could be saved from the fact that a) musicals usually do well during the holiday season, b) there isn’t any real family film competition and c) Annie is a known entity, so it may trigger several moviegoers to see the remake. Given the above listed factors, Annie may break the $100 million mark at the domestic box office.
Okay, that’s what I have for you on this 23rd day of December, 2014. Like always, I thank you kindly for lending me your eyes, and I’d be honored to borrow them again next Tuesday for our 2014 Year-In-Review. Until then, have a great holiday season! I can be followed on Twitter @Lonelyseal.
