From Fortune:

Despite a fluctuating 2023 for Hollywood, “Wonka” regained the top box office spot, beating out other year-end releases like “The Color Purple.” Overall, box office sales hit $9 billion, up from 2022 but still short of pre-pandemic levels. The New Year’s weekend box office was without a standout blockbuster, but “Wonka” led with an estimated $24 million. Meanwhile, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” struggled, grossing $19.5 million in its second weekend, falling short of its predecessor’s earnings. Even with special holiday weekends, many films targeted towards this time of year found success, particularly “The Color Purple,” which started off strong and raked in decent earnings.

The last weekend of the year helped Hollywood reach over $9 billion in U.S. and Canadian theaters, up 21% from 2022. Despite several production delays from actors and writers strikes, the industry managed to hit its box office goal just in time for the new year. In 2024, with top releases already being postponed, the film industry will face challenges in maintaining this upward climb. The success of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” in the last minute of 2023 proves that big box office earnings are still possible in the increasingly competitive film industry. Several movies, including “Mission: Impossible” and “Spider-Verse,” have been postponed, and Hollywood will need to be adaptive to potentially changing audience tastes. Filmmakers are hopeful, but recognize that a challenge lies ahead.

The final push to reach $9 billion highlighted what audiences are seeking – a variety of movies from big blockbusters to those of smaller scale. While “Wonka” and “The Color Purple” led the holiday movie selections, other films like “Migration,” “The Boys in the Boat,” and “Anyone But You” found success, too. The genre of romantic comedies still has a place in theaters, as proven by the earnings of “Anyone But You.” Additionally, even amid potential commercial disappointment, filmmaking remains an engrossing art, with titles like “The Iron Claw” and “Ferrari” keeping audiences captivated. Overall, successful last-minute movies propelled the industry over the $9 billion marker.



Read more: Box office topped by ‘Wonka’ and ‘The Color Purple’