2018 brings superheroes, struggling singers, and record box office revenue
2018 brings superheroes, struggling singers, and record box office revenue
This year has been the mighty superhero that rescued the movie industry from the villain that was 2017, when box office sales hit a 25-year low and summer blockbusters flopped. Box office revenue hit $11.1 billion this week according to Comscore, the company that tracks box office receipts. Revenue is also 10 percent ahead of last year.
One reason is “Black Panther,” which started 2018 off strong, and raked in more than $700 million domestically.
“It powered the biggest month of February ever,” said Comscore senior analyst Paul Dergarabedian, who added that April, June, September and October experienced record sales because of films like Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Incredibles 2,” and “The Nun.” Big new releases are on the way before the end of the year, including Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” which is expected to help drive total box office revenue up to near $12 billion.
“We’re just on this record pace,” Dergarabedian said. “Certainly, we’re going to beat 2016’s record of $11.4 billion.”
Part of the success of the industry this year has been a slate of fantastical stories that appealed to both children and adults, driving them to movie theaters so they could watch plots unfold on the big screen.
“Rather than just sitting at home and watching something on your couch, they’re able to go out and experience the movie with amazing sound,” said Heather Torres, who runs the entertainment business master’s program at Full Sail University.
Another reason for Hollywood’s big year? Big chains like AMC giving face lifts to theaters, and movie goers enjoying more perks like reclining chairs, wine, and hot food delivery.
“You have people who may not have come for a while. You know, you hear a lot of responses like, ‘Wow, this is what a theater is now,'” said Patrick Corcoran, with the National Association of Theater Owners.
Add to that, average ticket prices went up slightly, which adds to box office revenue. Most of that revenue goes to the big studios, theaters make most of their money off concessions.
Click the audio player above to hear the full story.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
